Actor Russell Tovey has admitted his dad wanted him undergo hormone treatment to "cure" him after he came out as gay.
The Being Human star, 39, opened up about his sexuality to his parents when he was 18.
However, he has revealed they had some trouble accepting it.
Speaking to The Sunday Times Magazine, Russell explained: "I don't think either of my parents were homophobic, they just didn't know any gay people or anyone with gay kids. They had nothing to cling to.
"My dad thought it could be cured."
Russell's mum Carole, added: "George [Russell's dad] had a hard time with it. It took him about three years to come to terms with it
"I think it was to do with pride, his idea of what makes you a man. He thought we'd somehow made Russell gay.
"He said: 'We'll get him hormone treatment'. He found it hard to see that Russ was happy and we had to accept it."
The actor went on to insist his dad was worried about his son and just wanted to protect him.
Russell went on: "He was scared about what my life would be like.
"To him, being gay was a road of pitfalls and unhappiness; out of love he wanted to correct this weakness, to put cotton wool around me and protect me from all that.
The telly star insisted he now has a "great relationship" with his dad.
Russell has been with his fiancé Steve Brockman since 2016. They split in 2018, but got back together the following year.
