Hollyoaks actor calls out viewers who complain about LGBT storylines

English actor Kieron Richardson has hit back at Hollyoaks fans who complain about the show’s LGBT+ storylines in a new Channel 4 advert.

Channel 4’s campaign features actors and presenters from the channel, each delivering a complaint based on actual feedback from viewers.

In the advert, 33-year-old Hollyoaks actor Richardson is shown kissing his real-life husband Carl Hyland before saying, “I’m not homophobic, but do we have to have gay kissing at dinnertime?” and then chomping a turkey leg.

Called “Complaints Welcome”, the campaign also features a star-studded cast, including Great British Bake Off’s Prue Leith and Grand Designs host Kevin McCloud.

Leith looks straight into the camera while her mouth is full from eating a piece of cake and says, “Tell Prue not to talk with her mouth full… So uncouth.”

McCloud – dressed in royal-like garments and being given tea by a construction worker – says, “He’s too posh.”

And rapper Big Narstie says, “Too black!”

Katherine Ryan on an operating table in the Channel 4 ad. (Channel 4/YouTube)

And Catastrophe comedian Sharon Horgan says, “This just confirms my suspicion that women aren’t funny.”

Female comedian Katherine Ryan, in a surgical setting, says, “Too much Botox,” while Sandi Toksvig, astride a motorbike in Top Gun leathers, says, “She looks like Tom Cruise.”

Sandi Toksvig on a motorbike in the ad. (Channel 4/YouTube)

In a statement accompanying the advert, Channel 4 said, “We’ve made a film featuring our talent bringing to life genuine complaints which viewers have made about them. We understand that not every programme, or even every presenter, is going to be everyone’s cup of tea.

“That’s because Channel 4 was set up to be different, to provoke debate, take bold creative risks and represent unheard voices from all around the country. So sometimes we may cause a bit of a stir, but that’s part of our job.”

• Nov 29 2023

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