WICKSY'S GAY PANIC; heartthrob dumps his lover as secret life is leaked.
TORMENTED EastEnder Michael French has dumped his gay lover in what appears a desperate bid to save his "macho man" career, the Daily Mirror can reveal.French, randy David Wicks in the soap, was terrified he'd lose his heart- throb image as Britain's No1 screen womaniser.
The 34-year-old star ditched his lover, fellow actor Bryan Lawrence, after a passionate five-month affair.
But last night, after his closet gay life was "outed", he faced fresh anguish - and a bitter tirade from his jilted boyfriend.
Lawrence, 33, told a friend: "I thought it was pretty serious. I even met Michael's parents.
"But the minute he realised his secret was going to get out he completely cut off contact with me.
"He will not take my calls. I cannot understand it. Michael cut me off because of his career but what about me?"
Fellow Eastenders stars already had their suspicions that Michael had a male lover.
The pair first met 12 years ago when they auditioned for a stage show. Then, five months ago, Lawrence appeared as a cop in the show.
Flirting
French fell for his good looks and asked him out.
A friend revealed: "On their first date two girls came up to them in the bar and started chatting them up.
"Although Bryan was flirting with them for the sake of appearances, Michael didn't bother to pretend.
"He had eyes only for Bryan and it was obvious where his interest lay.
"Bryan kicked out a guy called Phil he'd been seeing for a couple of months.
"Michael tried to be secretive about their relationship, but he he wasn't very discreet.
"He was always spending nights in Bryan's bed."
Last September French invited his lover to join him for five days in a luxury villa he rented in Corsica. And on their return he started looking for a new home near Lawrence's flat in Fulham, West London. Lawrence proudly confided friends that his famous lover had paid thousands of pounds refurbishing the kitchen at the flat.
Admitted
And at Christmas they admitted their relationship to their respective parents at a families' get-together.
Last night one EastEnders star said: "They became virtually inseparable and saw each other most evenings."
The pair went shopping and drinking together, dined in restaurants and took a holiday to Prague.
They appeared to be a couple of straight men out for a good time, rather than lovers.
But it all came to an abrupt halt as French apparently became aware that his secret was to be unveiled. And it was the end of his first serious homosexual relationship.
In recent months gay pals had begged him to come out of the closet. One said: "It has been obvious for some time to many of us that Michael was suffering great inner turmoil.
"On the one hand he knew that he is definitely gay, but he has felt that his career relied upon him being straight."
A question mark now hangs over Lawrence's future with EastEnders - as producers fear the split could lead to friction.
French was even considering quitting the soap when his contract comes to an end this summer to pursue leading roles.
He has met TV scriptwriters about doing a drama with him as leading man - building upon his macho Albert Square character in EastEnders.
Lawrence said bitterly: "He is pretty arrogant and believed his future lay in strong, straight roles.
"This development will almost certainly mean he will be forced to stay in Albert Square."
Lawrence has appeared on several TV shows including London's Burning, The Bill, Goodnight Sweetheart and Love Hurts.
Like French, he has not been upfront about his gayness. He, too, was keen to keep "manly" roles in soaps and occasional TV commercials.
But unlike French, he was openly gay within the tightly-knit homosexual community.
Hiding
The two men visited French's parents, former grocer David and mother Sheila at their country home in Abridge, Essex.
Days later French's parents met Lawrence's father, ex-Fulham football ace Billy Williams, at his home in Surrey.
Last night French was in hiding at his parents' pounds 200,000 home.
His mother only emerged across the gravel driveway to say her son would not be making any comment.
She said: "I wouldn't come into the driveway because we have three dogs and they are on the loose.
"Michael has absolutely nothing to say but he thanks you for your interest."
An EastEnders source said: "Michael has gone to ground because he does not know what to do. He knows he might struggle to get straight roles now."
A BBC spokeswoman said: "This is a personal matter and we would not comment."
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| Author: | Hughes, Chris |
|---|---|
| Publication: | The Mirror (London, England) |
| Date: | Mar 25, 1996 |
| Words: | 775 |
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