Dusty O Has Charlie At Home!

I first met the lovely and charming Charlie Condou two decades ago when he was very much part of the Soho nightclub scene. He was a hardcore clubber living in a flat on the Charing Cross Road and hanging out with Robbie Williams. We both went on to appear in ‘Gimme Gimme Gimme’ (he had an episode and I had one line). We have both written for newspapers and magazines… him the Guardian and me QX! This is where the similarities in our careers ended, however, and soon after that fame called and Charlie has for almost five years played Marcus, a bisexual character in the biggest soap of all time, Coronation Street. I invited him round for tea and cake to my latty in Kings Cross to chew the cud about old times and new times, fame and being a dad to two gorgeous kids.

DUSTY: Do you miss the old clubbing days? You were quite the “man about town” then.

CHARLIE: I feel I kind of did my time. I was going to clubs from the age of 14. I was brought up in Soho. My parents still live there. I could not have been more in the middle of the gay scene than I was. I was out every night for years, but I got to a point where I thought, “I’m done”. My 20’s could not have been more hedonistic, but I just got burnt out. I never got to the point where I needed rehab or anything, but it could have easily have gone that way. For the last five years, since we had the kids, I have been getting up at the crack of dawn, so it’s not really been an option. I’m 41 now and kind of the grumpy old man who says turn that noise down.

Since playing Marcus you have become a spokesperson for the gay community whether you like it or not. How do you feel about that?

I am glad I have had the opportunity and platform to do what I have done. There are currently three gay men in Corrie and all are completely different and completely relevant and representative. I was recently nominated for a GLAD award in the States and was told I should avoid using the word “queer”. Why? I prefer the word pansy anyway! [Laughs] There is always someone who will be offended. People have been upset about the storyline for Marcus getting together with Maria on Corrie, but I am there to do a job, act. I don’t write it. That story line may not be common for gay men, but it happens and I think we have moved on and that people are aware that some people’s sexuality is more complicated than others. I was surprised at the amount of bi-phobia it created.

Has being in it spoiled the fun of watching it? It is such an iconic British institution.

I see it in a different way but it is so nostalgic for me, too. I recently watched all the scenes when Hayley died and was in tears at the end of it. It was all so well written. I watched it as a fan and not as someone who knows the other actors. The chemistry between them was so brilliant.

You have two kids. Everyone has an opinion on the gay parent issue. Did you always want kids and do you get any stick for it?

I always knew I wanted to be a dad. When I first decided to go ahead with it, I got a bit of stick from some gay mates who thought I was conforming to heterosexual stereotypes, but I see it as the opposite. I wanted to show that gay people can do this and do it as well as heterosexual parents. I think things have changed now in society. What I wanted to show was that sexuality aside being a parent is ordinary and normal and there is no reason that gay people can’t be just as boring as anyone else! I adore my kids. I am far too busy trying to bring up two well-rounded and adjusted individuals to worry too much about what other people think.

Was it fun doing the sexy scenes with Todd? He is rather sexy .

Sex scenes are never sexy no matter who you are doing them with. There is too much technical stuff going on with cameras and you trying to make it look real. There was a point where he turned to me after about three hours filming where I was on top of him and said, “I can feel it on my leg.” He is straight but such a great guy and so cool with it all.

Come on, tell me, how do you leave the street? 

<<<At this point Charlie reveals all and it’s fantastic, but I would never ruin it for you! So watch and see!>>>

 

Photos by Marc Abe 

Advertisement

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here