Ricky Gervais, one of Britain’s most celebrated comics, says homophobic parents are child abusers.

He made the comments while being interviewed on CNN’s Piers Morgan show in the US on Friday night (17 February).

He said: ‘It’s when I see some of these religious fundamentalists saying that they’ve told their five-year-old children that if they turn out gay, they will burn in hell. That to me is child abuse. That’s nothing to do with religion or spirituality. That’s child abuse.’

The actor and writer said he is an atheist, he respects the idea of religion.

The Life’s Too Short sitcom star also stuck up for LGBT people when asked why he thought many Republican politicians took the anti-gay stance, and if they did it because of their beliefs.

He said: ‘Just because they’re offended by someone being gay, it doesn’t mean they’re right.

‘It’s a strange thing that gay – being gay – is a choice. No, being gay isn’t a choice, you know? I want to go, “Look, you try it, then. If it’s a choice, have a go”.’