Ex-EastEnders star John Partridge reveals secret bedroom rule for gay couples when he was on the soap
John Partridge said a rule applied to his and co-star Marc Elliott's bedroom scenes in EastEnders.
Former EastEnders star John Partridge says either he or co-star Marc Elliott could have their shirts off in steamy bedroom scenes.
The 54-year-old actor played gay man Christian Clarke in the hit BBC soap from 2008 until 2012, before he briefly returned in 2015 and 2016, and during that time, he found love with Syed Masood - who hid his homosexuality from his strict Muslim family.
After having a relationship in secret, the characters entered a civil partnership during the October 16, 2012, episode.
But John - who is openly gay - said EastEnders bosses had a strict bedroom rule for his scenes with 45 year old Marc.
Appearing on ITV's Good Morning Britain on Wednesday (24.09.25), he revealed to anchors Susanna Reid, 45, and Richard Madeley: "Funny thing is, when I was in EastEnders, when Marc Elliott and I would do any scenes in the bedroom, only one of us was allowed to have our shirt off.
"Because we were a gay couple.
"You see, any other scenes in any other soaps, or any other TV dramas, heterosexual couples are allowed to show as much skin as they like, but we were not allowed to do that, and that was recently."
Quizzing John, Richard, 69, asked: "So did you toss a coin for who was allowed to [take their shirt off]?"
The actor quipped: "Well, needless to say, that I was the one who had his top off."
John added: "But that just goes to show that it is alive and well."
The star appeared on Good Morning Britain to speak about his new play, The Code - which highlights struggles that were faced by gay actors in 1950s Hollywood.
John plays William "Billy" Haines - whose silent acting career ended because of his sexuality, and then went on to become an interior designer - in the "dark comedy" show, which is at the Southwark Playhouse Elephant and runs until October 11.
Speaking about William, John said: "In 1930, Billy Haines was the biggest box office drawer at MGM through that golden period of Hollywood.
"By 1933, he was the first victim of cancel culture, and that was for being gay.
"Other artists at the time, like [Ramon] Novarro, [Rudolph] Valentino, Cary Grant, were all posed with the same question - give up your gay lover or lose your career. They chose the former, Billy chose the latter."
After John and Richard said they could not name a single gay leading man in Hollywood who is openly gay, John said: "Why is that? What's the reason for that?
"I hate to say it - but there is no other word for it - but homophobia. That's what it is.
"You cannot be a leading man in Hollywood if you are gay."
