Sebastian Croft Reveals Traumatic Outing Experience

Sebastian Croft, 24, has revealed how he was outed as gay during his teenage years at a private boarding school in Oxfordshire, a traumatic experience that led him to quit education at 16 ^[1]. The Heartstopper star, known for his role as Ben Hope, described the period as 'a really lonely and difficult time' after a fellow student disclosed their secret relationship ^[3]. He said he doesn’t blame the boy, acknowledging he was also struggling with his own identity.

Croft, who began his career as a child actor in Oliver! and later played Young Ned Stark in Game of Thrones, said the contrast between his life on stage and screen—where he felt liberated—and his school environment was stark ^[3]. He now speaks openly about his queerness and co-founded the Queer Was Always Here initiative with actor Connor Jessup to support LGBTQIA+ refugees.

Meanwhile, on the BBC’s Celebrity Traitors, Croft is part of a high-stakes game where players are divided into Faithfuls and Traitors. In recent episodes, Maya Jama and James Acaster were accused by fans of 'GCSE drama' yawning in an attempt to murder in plain sight ^[1]. Viewers on X noted the suspicious behaviour, particularly suspecting Ross Kemp, known for his paranoia, to catch on ^[2].

Joe Lycett, who called for recruitment as a Traitor, was revealed as a Faithful and banished, leaving Miranda, 53, visibly emotional after their close bond ^[1]. Fans now speculate whether Ross or Jerry Hall will be the next to fall, with many believing the excessive yawning was too obvious to go unnoticed ^[2].

Croft, who once tried to curate a 'serious actor' image, now embraces projects like Celebrity Traitors as a way to explore authenticity and joy ^[3]. The story was first reported by Daily Mail Showbiz and Daily Mail.