STANLEY Baxter has come out as gay in a new tell-all biography. 

The Glasgow-born comedian and impressionist has spoken about his sexuality and details of his marriage he intended to be found out after he had died.

A new biography, written by friend and former-Herald journalist Brian Beacom, has been in the works for over twenty years and was supposed to be published after Baxter’s death, reports the National. 

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But, fearing a rival, unauthorised biography, the pair decided to release the book now. 

In it, Baxter talks about his difficult relationship with his late wife Moira. He confirmed that she tragically took her own life by overdosing while he was abroad. It later emerged that she had not been taking prescribed anti-psychotic medication after a struggle with mental illness. 

Baxter refused to reveal his sexuality for decades, fearing prosecution and career ruin before homosexual sex was decriminalised in Britain.

He and his close friend Kenneth Williams, who died of an overdose in 1988, were “united by their loathing of their sexual preference and sense of being trapped”.

He said: “There are many gay people these days who are fairly comfortable with their sexuality, fairly happy with who they are. I’m not. I never wanted to be gay. I still don’t.

“The truth is, I don’t really want to be me.”

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Moira was aware of Baxter’s sexuality before they were married and the book claims they maintained a close relationship despite his affairs with men and women. 

Writing in the book’s foreword, Baxter said of its author: “Not all my relations with the press in Scotland have been highly satisfying but one relationship has and that’s with the man whom I’ve chosen to write my biography. He not only has my good wishes but my gratitude.

“The process of working on the book over almost 20 years has been enjoyable, except in the difficult areas, but the writer was kind and patient, and in the end, all was revealed.”

The book also details Baxter’s friendship with Paisley-born John Reid, who is also gay and is the former manager of Elton John. 

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Beacom said: “John [Reid] has been encouraging Stanley to see people won’t hate him, they will love him,” Beacom says. “He’s learning that.

“Stanley loves the light and the applause. He wanted to switch it back on. He will get attention from this, he will be celebrated.”