Hollyoaks actor Peter McPherson bravely shares HIV diagnosis during emotional interview on Virgin Radio Pride

Virgin Radio

21 Jun 2024, 10:20

Hollyoaks star Peter McPherson has candidly revealed the moment he learnt of his HIV diagnosis. 

The actor, who played Gareth in the Channel 4 soap, bravely opened up about the moment he shared his diagnosis with his family during an emotional interview on Virgin Radio Pride. 

Joined by husband David Allwood, Peter recalled how he started to get “really ill” and eventually landed in hospital. 

He explained: “They did all these tests and they couldn't find anything. And they said, 'You know, you're a gay man. Have you been having unprotected sex?' And I said, 'Yes.'

"And they said, 'Okay, we've booked you into the sexual health clinic here in the hospital. We're going to check you out. Go straight there. They'll be expecting you and they'll do the test.'"

On that advice, Peter went to a local clinic for a rapid test, with his dad accompanying him.

After learning of his positive result, Peter had to break the news to his father. He tearfully recalled: “The first thing he said was, 'How long has he got left to live?'

"The lucky thing is that I was surrounded by medical professional people - the people who could explain, people who could tell him what was going to happen. They put him at ease.

"They were really, really great. Like, 'No, it doesn't, it's not like that anymore. You know, he's not going to die. He's going to live a long, healthy life.' And then we went to the hospital straight after, did more tests there. And then when I got home, I had to break the news to my mum.

"So in one way, I'm really fortunate that my parents and my family have always known from day one. I've never had to keep a secret from them."

He continued: "They've always, you know, [been] supportive. Every time I get tested, like, I got tested last week, got my results and I'm like, I'm still undetectable. My kidney and all this is, you know, great."

Peter was already living with HIV when he met husband David, and revealed how he shared his diagnosis. He said: “We were in Singapore at the time and, because I was always told it's really important when you have a sexual partner that you tell them...

"When I was first diagnosed there was two camps, there was people on treatment straight away and then there was delayed treatment because they didn't know how it would affect in the long term.

"So, I was delayed but, yeah, I told you straight away and I was gobsmacked by David because he knew his stuff and he wasn't phased by it and that just put me at ease straight away."

On the reason why he wanted to open up about his HIV status, Peter shared: "It's how I am in my work as an actor. My thing is never to like hide behind a mask and a character.

"It's always to reveal and to be open and to be honest. And I've never got anything other than positivity back."

Catch Peter’s interview on the Virgin Radio Pridecast.