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Gillian Anderson Banned Her Children From Watching Sex Education

Gillian Anderson Banned Her Children From Watching Sex Education

Anderson stars in the show as Dr Jean Milburn, a sex therapist who repeatedly embarrasses her teenage son Otis

Jess Hardiman

Jess Hardiman

Gillian Anderson has revealed she doesn't let her children watch Sex Education, in a bid to save her blushes.

Anderson, 53, stars in the show as Dr Jean Milburn, a sex therapist who dishes out advice to many of Moordale Secondary School's students and their parents - while also repeatedly embarrassing her teenage son Otis with her candid approach to discussing intimacy.

Netflix

But it seems the show's themes can prove a little uncomfortable for the star when she's around her family, saying she doesn't want her kids to watch it.

Speaking on The Radio Times Podcast, Anderson was jokingly asked by presenter Jane Garvey if she thought parents letting their kids watch the show was a 'cop out' in sex education, leaving the series to do the hard work for them.

Anderson - who is mum to Piper, 26, and sons Oscar, 14, and Felix, 12 - said the show shouldn't serve as a 'substitute' for educating youngsters about the birds and the bees, as it doesn't necessarily cover everything they should know, admitting she was also 'in denial' that her own kids had tuned in.

Netflix

She explained: "In my own experience I think they need to know that even if it's awkward, they can come, and it's a safe environment for them to come and say anything they need to say, or admit to anything they need to admit to.

"And unless we extend that to that safety net to them, they're not going to know that.

"So I think that perhaps it's a bit of both."

She added: "But I have to say I am living happily in the denial that my children do not watch the show - so I'm with you in one regard!"

Garvey then asked: "So you don't know whether they've watched it or not, or you hope they haven't?"

Alamy

Anderson replied: "I hope they haven't.

"When it first came out, I told them they weren't allowed to.

"I have no control over what they do at their friends' houses. I have no control over what their friends show them!"

Anderson also spoke about the 'vital' importance of some of the programme's messages, continuing: "I have had the conversations with them about certain aspects of the show - and also the importance of certain aspects of the show - and conversations that are had that aren't usually had on television that are very important, if not vital, for young people to hear.

"The degree to which the show is both colour-blind and accepting of everybody, no matter how they wish to show up in the world, I think is one of the most important things that is represented.

"[...] So if that is all one gets from it, then it is doing an exceptional job."

Watch season three of Sex Education on Netflix now.

Featured Image Credit: Alamy

Topics: Entertainment, TV and Film, Sex Education