‘The Walking Dead’ actor hints that character is a closet gay

The Walking Dead

actor Norman Reedus has fuelled speculation that his character, Daryl, is gay.

Daryl, who has featured on the zombie drama since its first season, has forged relationships with fellow apocalypse survivors Carol Peletier (Melissa McBride) and Beth Greene (Emily Kinney) over the years, but has yet to embark on any explicitly romantic relationship.

The show’s creator recently spoke about Daryl’s sexuality, revealing that the idea of him being gay has “been discussed” behind-the-scenes. Find out more here.

Now Reedus has revealed in an interview that the idea of Daryl being gay – but in the closet – has also been put forward to him.

“I remember Frank Darabont [the show’s former Executive Producer], after the first season, we were at a party in L.A. He said, ‘I’ve got an idea for Daryl. He’s gay. Would you be interested in that?’ I was like, ‘Let me hear you out.’ He said, ‘Well, he’s prison gay. Like, you’ll catch him looking at a member of the same sex, but if you mention it to him, he’ll just stab you and be like, What the f***? He will never admit it,'” the actor told GQ.

“I was like, ‘That’ll blow minds – let’s do that.’ And he said, ‘I knew I hired you for a reason,'” the actor added.

Season five of The Walking Dead begins in the UK on October 13 on Fox, a day after it premieres in the US.