Weekend with Junaid Ahmed: ‘I hope I can inspire other families to accept their children’
The Towie star on being the UK’s first openly gay Muslim reality TV personality, staying connected to his culture, and his love of desi-English breakfast
Junaid Ahmed is a TV personality known for his role in ITV’s The Only Way Is Essex (Towie). He joined the cast in 2022, becoming the first openly gay Muslim reality star on mainstream TV.
On the show, he’s known for his glamorous appearance and never shying away from a scandal.
Ahmed is also an advocate for queer Muslims and speaks openly about his experience, having been disowned by his family at the age of 18 for being gay. Now 30, the Towie star lives in Chigwell, Essex with his partner and co-star Joe Blackman.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What does your Saturday morning look like?
I always come downstairs and make coffee for myself and my partner. I love a chilled Saturday morning, a nice home cooked breakfast, watching telly, fresh orange juice, and just really nice vibes.
Related content
Who makes the breakfast?
Me. I’m in charge of most things, in my relationship and my day-to-day life. I just like things in a particular way. So if I take control, it makes it much more seamless.
What’s on the menu?
When I was growing up my mum used to make a traditional English-style breakfast, with some desi changes, which I’ve incorporated in my relationship now. We love eggs, beans, hashbrowns, toast. My boyfriend would usually have bacon, but we’ve substituted that for turkey rashers, and he now comes to halal food shops with me.
Are there a lot of halal food shops in your area?
I’ve lived in Chigwell in Essex for years now, and there’s halal food shops, there’s halal restaurants, there’s everything for everyone. I think people don’t really see that side of Essex. They just think of Towie — glitz, glam, girls in rollers and high heels. But Essex is so diverse, there’re mosques, there’s such a lovely community of Asian people.
What’s your favourite restaurant in Essex?
If you’ve been to Essex, you would have heard of Sheesh. Everyone loves Sheesh. I’ve been going there for about 12 years now, so I know them all so well. It’s the best chicken shish you’ll have in your whole life, but it’s also a night out.
What is your favourite date night?
A lovely home cooked dinner, candles on, incense on. Really romantic and wholesome. From reality TV, people think I love a row and an argument, but I’m so chilled now. I’m not what I used to be anymore.
What are you watching on TV?
The Real Housewives of London. Oh my god, I’m obsessed.
What are your weekends like when you’re filming Towie?
I’m very grateful because this is the life I’ve always dreamed of, but it is very full on. When we’re filming Towie we’re on a three-day week filming schedule, so I always want to do nothing on the weekends. I’m socially drained, so I just want to relax — no one talk to me.
Early riser or late sleeper?
If I could, I’d stay in bed till about 12. But whatever time I get up, I read namaz every single day. Something people don’t know about me is that I absolutely love praying. I’m a very proud Muslim. I’m very open with my sexuality and who I am as a person, and my relationship is between me and God. And if that means me praying every single day to find peace in myself, that’s what I’m going to do.
How else do you stay connected to your culture?
I lost a relationship with my family because I’m so public with who I am. It really hurts me, so to feel a bit closer to them, I do things my mum used to do when I was younger — like praying, putting incense on at night, and making my desi-English breakfast.
Even though my family doesn’t accept me for who I am, it’s never going to change my relationship with God, my religion and my culture. I can’t help who I’ve fallen in love with, I can’t help my sexuality. And I will do anything I can to keep my religion at the core of who I am as a person.
Related content
You live your life very much in the public eye, how has that been for you?
I have had thousands of messages from queer Muslims thanking me. Growing up, I never had someone of my skin colour and sexuality on television to relate to, and now I am that person — I’m the first and only openly gay Muslim reality TV star on a mainstream show.
There’s thousands of queer Muslims out there, but because it’s such a taboo in our religion and culture, people are scared to come out and be who they want to be. But if I’m that voice for people, I can break those barriers and make a difference. I hope I can inspire other families out there to accept their children. That’s all I want to do.
What can you tease about your future on Towie?
I want people to understand I’m not just a boy who screams down Brentwood high street. There’s a lot more to me. I want to incorporate more of being a gay Pakistani Muslim on reality TV, the struggles that come with it, and just showing the world that we’re just like everyone else.
