CHARTOPPER Olly Alexander has slammed "ridiculous" complaints about his BBC New Year’s Eve performance, saying it was people being uncomfortable with a "gay man being himself on stage".

And the Wyedean singer and actor, who first performed on stage as a pupil at Monmouth Comprehensive, claims he was also a "target" in his school days for his flamboyant dress.

The Coleford-raised Years and Years singer told Times Radio that Section 28 banning the promotion of homosexuality in schools was only lifted in his final year, and said: "The time I was at secondary school, gay people just didn’t really exist, in a way I think.

"I mean, literally because of Section 28. I just had a year in secondary school by the time it was removed.

"But obviously, like all the staff, no-one was suddenly equipped then to kind of understand how to deal with potentially queer kids or homophobic bullying.

"So that was just really rife in my school, it was just really common to be picked on, being called gay or a poof.

"And I had long hair and wore crazy clothes and liked to wear make-up to school sometimes, I was definitely a target."

The 31-year-old singer’s first solo album Night Call released last week has gone straight to the top of the charts, after his dazzling New Year’s Eve performance attracted 179 complaints for being "too sexual".

Olly added: "I’ve had this in the past where, you know, I’m not doing anything remotely sexual on stage, but because of something I’m wearing, people complain that it’s not family friendly.

"And it’s just so ridiculous, so, I mean, you have to laugh.

"But you know, I can only assume this is because I’m gay. Certain people might be a bit uncomfortable with just a gay man being himself on stage, but who knows?"

The star, who played a gay man in the hit Channel 4 drama It’s A Sin, also said he wants to do more acting in the future, but insists he won’t be the next Doctor Who after being linked with the role.

Speaking on Lorraine on ITV, he said: "I mean it would be amazing, but I’m definitely not the Doctor.

"But I love the show and I can’t wait to watch it when it gets rebooted, because it’s going to be good."

Instead, he said: "I’d love to play a sexy witch with magic powers."

Olly first appeared in school productions like Guys and Dolls and The Caucasian Chalk Circle and the Coleford Music Festival co-founded by his mother Vicky before heading to London and fame.