He may be an actor recognised the world over, but Joe Locke says one of the best things about returning to the Isle of Man is that nobody seems particularly bothered by his fame.

The former Ballakermeen High School pupil has spoken about his love for the island in a new interview with international magazine GQ, four years after his first appearance in the publication.

And despite his success, Joe says returning home allows him to be himself again.

‘Most people in the Isle of Man couldn’t give less of a s*** [about my fame], it’s great, because I can just go home and be Helen’s son, Joe, again.’

The actor, who rose to fame in Netflix series Heartstopper, has reflected on his extraordinary journey from island schoolboy to international star.

The GQ feature, titled ‘Joe Locke on fame, finding himself, and home on the Isle of Man’, explores how he has navigated celebrity life while maintaining his connection to home.

In 2022, Joe appeared in the magazine alongside Heartstopper co-star Kit Connor, with the pair discussing their sudden rise to fame.

Four years later, he has returned for a solo interview, offering a more personal insight into his experiences.

One of the biggest challenges came when he had to return to Ballakermeen High School after filming a Netflix series that attracted 53 million viewing hours in its first three weeks.

Having experienced the independence and responsibilities of professional acting, Joe found adjusting to the rules and routines of school particularly difficult.

His classmates, however, were far from starstruck.

Recalling the contrast between his two worlds, he told GQ: ‘I’d go to an exam, get on a plane to London, go to an event, go to a party, get drunk, and then fly back to school the next morning, I was like, “You’ll never guess whose parties I was at last night,” in History class. And everyone was like, “I don’t care, Joe. Why are you telling me?”’

Joe described the island as ‘a beautiful and safe place’, adding that it ‘felt sheltered from the rest of the world’.

Meanwhile, his acting career continues to go from strength to strength.

Joe is currently making his West End debut in Clarkston, a play by Samuel D. Hunter, with performances scheduled until late November.

The production follows a young gay man diagnosed with Huntington’s disease.

But although his career continues to take him away from the island, Joe has no intention of losing his connection to his Manx roots.

He admits he does not expect to return to live here permanently, but hopes the Isle of Man will remain part of his future.

And if he eventually has children, he would like them to experience the place he still considers home.

‘I’d love to have a house there. And I don’t know if I’m going to have children, but if I did, I’d love the Isle of Man to be a part of their lives.’