'I am not ashamed of being a virgin at 47'

Author opens up about feeling 'different' and 'timid' from a young age

- MIRANDA PELL

AN AUTHOR says he is still a virgin at 47 as he is “petrified” to be intimate with anyone - and he has now opened up about his life in a new book.

Andrew Brookman, from Pontypridd, says that since school he has always been “timid” and struggled with bullying.

His parents divorced when he was aged 10 which, he says, fuelled his fear of being social, getting into a relationship or being intimate with anyone.

Andrew explained that he did not want to go through arguments and had a “fear of life” so felt he would “rather be on my own”.

And he says his fears also stemmed from suppressing his sexuality, and from homophobia he saw at the time he was growing up.

As he grew up, Andrew says he struggled with an addiction to porn.

But now he is starting to open up about his sexuality and is no longer ashamed of being a 47-year-old-virgin.

He feels he can relate to those on Channel 4’s new TV show, Virgin Island - a unique course in intimacy to help participants overcome the fears that are holding them back - which is currently looking for new contestants for a second series.

Andrew, a cleaner, said: “I've never been in a relationship.