Gay plot ‘tough’

CITIZEN Khan star Adil Ray believes a Muslim homosexuality plot in Channel 4 school drama Ackley Road may prove a tough watch for some Asian viewers.

And the actor, who plays a businessman bankrolling the new integrated academy, says that’s just as it should be.

He says: “You’re not going to represent the entire Asian community – there will be some who won’t like the story but that is what writers should be doing. We should be pushing a viewer to say, ‘I feel very uncomfortable with this woman who is wearing a hijab one moment and being a lesbian the next’.

“It’s good. They should feel uncomfortable and they should crush any prejudices they have.

“Sexuality is a tough cookie amongst the Muslim community and it’s great that we’ve tackled it in this show.”

In one of the early plots, teenager Nasreen – played by Amy-Leigh Hickman – comes out to her family and friends.