If there is one character we’re most excited to see return to our screens in season three of Sex Education (on September 17th, FYI): it’s Eric Effiong. The comedic King, played by Ncuti Gatwa, Eric was nominated for a BAFTA this year for best male comedy performance, losing out to This Country’s Charlie Cooper.
Frankly, Ncuti deserved better, as does Eric Effiong on the show generally. At least, that’s what fans are saying after seeing teasers for the new season. Stills released by Netflix show Eric hand-in-hand with his on-screen beau, Adam Groff who notoriously bullied Eric while still hiding his sexuality from his abusive father.
When Adam was first revealed to be secretly gay, backlash ensued. By portraying an outright homophobe as closeted, writers were accused of using a lazy, damaging trope that perpetuates a narrative that all homophobic men are secretly gay. Not only is that entirely incorrect, it puts the onus of homophobia on the LGBTQ+ community by inferring that it’s an inter-community issue.
Thankfully, the ensuing writing and development of Adam’s character – and his relationship with Eric – has put some at ease. But it doesn’t change the fact that Eric deserves better.
It’s not just in his relationship, but friendships too – so much of the series surrounds Otis’ issues with his sex life and unrequited love for Maeve Wiley. While Eric constantly hypes and helps Otis, aware of every struggle he faces, Otis seems to know little about his best friends battles with religion, race and sexual identity. Remember that one particularly harrowing scene where Otis prioritises Maeve’s issues over Eric’s birthday, resulting in Eric alone dressed as Hedwig and ultimately assaulted in a homophobic attack?
Well, according to Ncuti, that’s all set to change – as season three will have a much greater focus on Eric’s life. Particularly, when he travels to Nigeria to reconnect with family – a country where homosexuality is criminalised and punishable by up to 14-years in prison for sex acts between men.
‘I felt a lot of pressure, I think we all did, to get that storyline right. Eric is half Nigerian and half Ghanaian, and this trip back to Nigeria is a huge part of his journey this season,’ Ncuti said in an interview with Netflix. ‘He reconnects with his family, and they’re all so strong and tight-knit. Eric’s very proud of his heritage, and yet it’s an undeniable fact that being gay is illegal in Nigeria.
‘Through this trip, we see him explore how complex it is to embrace and combine all aspects of his identity and personality,’ Ncuti continued. ‘I’m not Nigerian, so I felt very strongly that this aspect of his story had to be done authentically.’
Who is Ncuti Gatwa?
Ncuti is actually Rwandan-Scottish, born in Kigali and raised in Scotland by his mother. ‘I grew up with a single mum, an immigrant mum who couldn’t speak the language, no money, three kids on her back, coming from Rwanda, and she’s done a sterling job with all three of us,’ he said of his upbring to the Sunday post. ‘She just seemed to get through whatever hardship came her way. I think that’s made me quite a resilient person. I look at my mum and I’m like, “If my mum can get through that, I can get through this.”’
A graduate from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland – with a BA in acting – he began his career on the 2014 sitcom Bob Servant. In 2015, he played a supporting role on miniseries Stonemouth, before moving to theatre work in Kneehigh Theatre’s adaption of Michael Morpurgo's The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips, called 946. Just three years later, in 2018, he was cast in what would become his breakthrough role as Eric Effiong on Sex Education, quickly garnering critical acclaim – including on BAFTA Scotland Award and nominations for best male comedy performance at the BAFTA Television Awards two years on the run.
In his movie debut this year, we saw him star in The Last Letter From Your Love alongside Felicity Jones and Callum Turner. We can only imagine what the future holds for such an incredible talent…
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