ACTIVE FEATURE
Shipwrecked star – and Attitude sales executive – SEAN LINEKER lifts the lid on the show’s sexy secrets, being trolled and body- image insecurities
Shipwrecked’s Sean Lineker is back on dry land - but still making waves
How did the opportunity to appear on Shipwrecked come about?
The casting people DM’ed me on Instagram, I responded but didn’t think anything would come of it. I wasn’t actually that bothered about appearing on the show, which may have benefitted me because I’d say a some of the others [ at the audition] cared more.
Why do you think they reached out to you in the first place?
I have a big Instagram following — more than
61,000 followers — and, within that, quite a prevalent gay following. They wanted to cast a gay guy and were looking for a certain type of person.
What did you hope to gain from the experience? Fame?
I already have a career, working at Attitude. Everything on social media is an extra to that, whereas a lot of the other people on the show were either [ full- time] “influencers” or models. The reason I went on was to show other people who I am as a person.
Why did you feel the need to do that?
I get trolled a lot online. People say bad stuff about me: that I don’t smile in photos, and probably don’t have a personality. I wanted to show that there’s more to me than the pictures I post.
Did you have any reservations about signing up?
Gay guys, in my experience, can be nasty and I’ve had that on a lesser level with Instagram. When I signed up, I prepared myself for the likelihood that there would be negative comments on a greater scale. Another thing that played on my mind is the fact that my dad still doesn’t know I’m gay. He left our family a few years ago. So, if he watched, it would be the first time he’d see me as the person I am now.
When did you last speak to him?
Five or six years ago. He served in the army and, when he left the service, he suffered badly with post- traumatic stress disorder. He left my mum, filed for divorce and we haven’t heard from him since.
You said you’re judged a lot by your fellow gays. What kinds of things do they say?
If you put yourself out there, you’re going to be in the firing line for people to insult you. They’ll screenshot photos and write, “shallow, vapid gay” just because you’ve posted a picture of yourself at the gym.
Would you describe yourself as a “muscle gay”?
That’s what I hate, putting people into certain brackets. Two years ago, I went topless at a Sink The Pink party and I guess I’m not the “stereotypical” person to go to STP. Someone took a screenshot of a picture I’d posted, put an emoji over my face and put the comment: “OMG, muscle gays are taking over.” It’s supposed to be a night for everyone. That was just gays going in on other gays. We all know what it’s like growing up gay, so why is everyone coming for one another?
What sort of preparations did you make for Was having the “perfect” beach body high on your agenda?
Shipwrecked? I obviously wanted to look my best but I actually over- ate before I went because I thought we wouldn’t get a lot of food on the island! Then we were given cereal, pasta and rice pudding the whole time. You also forget the cameras are there
“I hate putting people into certain brackets”
and don’t really care what you look like. By the end, I’d go to interviews and hadn’t even brushed my teeth.
One particular islander caught your eye, Chris. When did that spark first ignite?
We had similar interests and just hit it off straightaway. It was never forced. It felt so natural, being on a deserted island without the distractions of London.
Do you find it difficult to date in the capital?
Everyone is looking for the bigger, better deal. I don’t feel gay men are particularly faithful, either. The relationships that I’ve had have ended awfully. I just don’t think London is a healthy place to have a relationship. But maybe that opinion will change.
Would you describe Chris as your usual type?
Chris is tall and good- looking but I wouldn’t say that he was my usual type. His personality won me over.
When did you share your first kiss?
I was on Shark island originally while Chris was on Tiger. He sent me a note saying he was gutted and that he really liked me. It was so cute, although at first I thought he was playing games. I made the decision to switch islands and from that night on, we shared a log bed together.
Have you kept the note?
I’ve still got it. It’s in a box in my cupboard.
How close did, or indeed could, you get with Chris on the island?
We never had sex, but we did do stuff off camera...
Were there places you could sneak off to for, erm, alone time?
There were places you could go. I know a few of the other cast members did as well. You could definitely go and do stuff without it being on camera.
Were the crew aware that cast mates were getting off with each other?
A few realised. It was never spoken about but they supplied condoms and lube. I don’t know if people had sex but they certainly did things.
Given the setting, was the lube at least tropical- flavoured?
I never used it [ laughs].
How did you get along with the other gay guy, Kush, on the show?
I got on really well with him when I was there but since leaving I’ve heard that he said stuff about me, that I’m just another muscle gay, all the stuff I’d get back in London. I don’t know how true this is because I haven’t spoken to him. I’ve seen him since but didn’t bring it up.
What is the situation with you and Chris now? Are you still together?
It’s complicated. I said on the show that as soon as we return to London
“Everyone is looking for the bigger, better deal”
it would go to shit — and it did. Chris started going out a lot, which I was unhappy with, and I sa w flirty messages on his phone from other guys. He’s slightly younger than me and I think I’m more ready to settle down than he is. We still talk every day and he’ll always be in my life because of the experience we had together. When I was growing up gay, I never saw anyone like Chris on [ reality] TV, having a relationship. You know, Love Island is all straight people. So even if all that comes out of the show is someone younger seeing that, it’s fine.
Are you ruling out rekindling the romance?
I wouldn’t rule it out but he’d have to change a lot of things to make it work.
You post a lot of topless pictures on Instagram. Have you always felt so confident about your body?
I don’t think I’ll ever be completely confident. I used to be quite fat. Sometimes I think maybe I suffer from body dysmorphia. A lot of gay guys do. I look at pictures of my body and I’m never happy with it.
What prompted you to start working out?
I started going to the gym when I was 16 because I got free membership at my dad’s army gym. Then I went to university, drank too much and got overweight. When I moved to London, I felt pressure on the gay scene to look a certain way and be in better shape, so started taking the gym seriously.
How often do you train?
I started going four times a week, which went to five then six. I also struggle with anxiety. I’ve always kind of had it, but it grew worse as I got older, until I went to the gym. I worry too much and over think everything. At the gym, it goes away. You can just listen to music and work out.
If I was to take control of your Instagram for a day, how many dick pics could I expect to receive?
A lot [ laughs] — and messages from people wanting to smell my socks!