Dales actor keen to raise awareness

Emmerdale actor Matthew Bose has revealed that he thinks raising awareness is the only purpose of being a celebrity.

The 34-year-old – who plays gay Paul Lambert in the Yorkshire soap – feels he has a responsibility not to misrepresent the sections of the homosexual community who identify with him.

The show is believed to be planning its first gay marriage, with Matthew's character getting engaged to lover Jonny Foster next week.

The actor told The Sun: "I think the entire idea for Emmerdale to tackle civil partnerships is great, I'm very happy about it. I think it's very complicated, because even the gay community is split over whether partnerships are a good thing or not.

"When I was brought on board, I think part of it was because I was very sure about how Paul should be played, and how best to work against stereotypes.

"This whole storyline wouldn't work if we'd played Paul from the beginning as someone who was defined by his sexuality. They now know he’s a lad who’s struggling with his mother, a father he didn’t know he had, and all these other issues. He just happens to be gay, but it doesn't define him."

Matthew added: "It brings home how the only useful thing about celebrity is raising awareness. To me, celebrity serves no other purpose than that."