BBC The Graham Norton Show: Olly Alexanders life from forgotten role in Lewis to musician ex and
The BBC's The Graham Norton Show is used to big names, gossip and controversy, and tonight's line-up is sure to offer lots of exciting revelations.
Years & Years singer Olly Alexander will be taking the sofa once more after having to cancel a previous planned appearance on the show due to catching covid-19.
From acting to singing to politics, Alexander's talents have given him a diverse career - but who is he really? MyLondon has all you need to know ahead of today's show.
Who is Olly Alexander?
The actor and musician was born in Harrogate, North Yorkshire in July 1990. He knew he had ambitions to perform at an early age and realised them by participating in school plays.
He was bullied at school for his outlandish dress sense, but now he is an outspoken campaigner and advocate of gay rights, often talking about how being homophobia affected his mental health in the past. He is very close with his mother and brother, often mentioning them in interviews.
What has Olly Alexander been in?
Alexander has had a very successful acting career and had an agent by the age of 16 after auditioning for a part in Skins.
His first role was in the film Summerhill and after that credits started rolling in for the star. He played a leading role in West End play Peter and Alice. His more recent filmography includes The Riot Club, indie film Funny Bunny and God Help The Girl.
Alexander also appeared in an episode of TV drama Lewis in 2009.
But of course he is best known for his starring role in Channel 4 series It's A Sin. The show chronicles life as a gay man in the 1980s and 1990s, including depicting the outbreak of AIDS. Alexander received huge critical acclaim for his portrayal of Ritchie.
He even appeared in a celebrity version of The Great British Bake Off, although we're sure Alexander doesn't class that as acting!
What about music?
Olly Alexander's band Years & Years formed in 2010 and the group released their debut single in 2012. Their second single, Real, was released in 2014.
The band then garnered national attention after their most popular single, King, went straight to No.1 in the UK charts in March 2015. Following this, their album Communion shot to No.1 in the album charts too.
They released a second album called Salo Panto in 2018. Then in March 2021 the name became Alexander's solo project.
Years & Years was named as the BBC's Sound of 2015 and were nominated for four BRIT awards the following year.
From break-ups to open relationships
Alexander is currently single. The singer used to be in a relationship with the violinist from Clean Bandits, Neil-Amin Smith. The pair were an item in 2015 but split up at the end of the year.
He admitted that after the relationship ended he almost quit Years & Years altogether.
The singer opened up about being in an open relationship in 2017. He told BBC journalist Evan Davis: "My last relationship was an open relationship which was the first time. You have to be very honest with your partner."
He added it was something both he and his then-boyfriend wanted. Alexander continued: "If someone is going to fall in love with someone else that’s going to happen whether you like it or not. It doesn’t matter if you are in an open relationship."
Getting personal
The popstar has often made personal divulgences to fans and in interviews, including that he wants to see more male artists using male pronouns in their songs to increase LGBT+ representation in music.
He has been a long-time advocate of safe sex and HIV screening, and has been honest about his mental health struggles, discussing his battles with self-harm and bulimia.
During his appearance at Glastonbury in 2016, Alexander made a spur-of-the-moment speech about being queer and societal prejudices in the wake of the shooting at an Orlando gay nightclub, Pulse.
He said: "Now, as a queer person, as queer people, we know what it’s like to be scared. We know what it’s like to live with fear; it’s part of our every day."
Alexander was widely praised for the speech online, and later opened up about how devastated he felt in the wake of the shooting.
Finally... an unlikely adoption?
Last month Olly Alexander was interviewed by Lorraine Kelly on daytime TV. After the encounter, Kelly tweeted that she would "like to adopt" the Years & Years singer, adding "he's an angel!"
But Alexander's mum was having none of it - although she said she understands why Kelly feels that way. She suggested the presenter could be an "on-screen aunt" instead. Sorry Lorraine, but it seems Olly is quite popular with his own family!
Do you have a story you think we should be covering? If so, email elizabeth.haigh@reachplc.com.
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