Sir Ian McKellen isn’t mincing words when it comes to sexuality. The veteran actor, 85, who came out as gay in 1988, has made his feelings very clear about young people, particularly actors, who choose to stay closeted rather than being open and honest about their sexual preferences.

When Sir Ian McKellen performed the first same-sex kiss on British TV in the 1970 BBC production of Christopher Marlowe’s Edward II, he was not yet out. In fact, it would be another 18 years before the Lord Of The Rings icon would come out as gay.