The pop star, 43, who insists he is now 'proud' of who he is and is coupled-up with boyfriend Rodrigo Reis, 27, felt so much 'shame' and was so afraid of people's reaction to him being gay that he decided not to tell anyone for years.

Speaking to Johnny Seifert on the Secure The Insecure Podcast, the Blue singer said: 'I think when I came out 12 years ago, it was at a time of my life I thought I was ready to come out, and before then I felt very scared to come out.

Personal struggles: Duncan James, 43, says it was easier to suppress his attraction to other men in the past than to be open about his sexuality 

'I think programmes like Ru Paul’s Drag Race has really helped. Going back 20 years, there was not any of those shows or queer people on television in that respect. 

'Sadly, it just was not as accepting as it was now and I think for me back then, I felt the fear, I felt the shame and it was better to just suppress all that and not let anyone know that, that was what was going on inside me. 

'But now I am out and I am proud and I am much happier in myself.'

Loved-up: The pop star insists he is now 'proud' of who he is and is coupled-up with boyfriend Rodrigo Reis, 27 

Duncan, who shares 16-year-old daughter Tianie with former girlfriend Claire Grainger, previously publicly identified as bisexual in a newspaper interview in 2009 but later came out in 2012 to his fellow Blue band member Simon Webbe.

He is now in a relationship with Brazilian Rodrigo, with Duncan speaking out about their long-distance romance in November.

The performer met Rodrigo in Belgium two years ago while he was there for a gig with Blue.

Loose Women: Duncan James reveals struggles in coming out as gay

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ https://linktr.ee/jacksonlibon ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ #face #instagram #amour #take #couple #pourtoi #tiktok #psychology #beyou #near #love #foryou #money #ForYouPizza #fyp #tpmp #theend #cheri #TikToker #couplegoals #famille #relation #doudou #youtube #twitter #tiktokers #love #reeĺs #shorts #instagood #follow #like #ouy #oyu #babyshark #lilnasx #girl #happybirthday #movie #nbayoungboy #deviance #autotrader #trading #khan #academy #carter #carguru #ancestry #accords #abc #news #bts #cbs #huru #bluebook #socialmedia #whatsapp #music #google #photography #memes #marketing #india #followforfollowback #likeforlikes #a #insta #fashion #k #trending #digitalmarketing #covid #o #snapchat #socialmediamarketing