Gok Wan hits back at 'vile' online hate and admits there's a 'long way to go' after Berlin terror attack

Gok: Oh, it's so much fun. It's the largest Pride in the UK. They're expecting around half a million people to attend, so it's brilliant. It's a real celebration – the right level of party meets political.

Gok: I literally love it. I feel like a child again, which is brilliant, and at the ripe old age of 51, who would have thought that I might venture into anything new with work?

Even though I've been DJing for 15 years, it's only really been in the last five years that it's really taken off. It's a huge extension of who I am, what I do, and what I love to do. It brings so much joy to so many people.

Gok:  I'm playing down on the seafront on what they call the 'street party' at 9:30 pm. My set is going to be very vocal, very party, a little bit sassy and just joyful, hopefully.

I really love Brighton; I get to party down there quite a lot. Living in London, which is so fast-paced, the minute you get into Brighton, everyone seems a little bit more relaxed, especially in the summer.

Gok:  I'm playing down on the seafront on what they call the 'street party' at 9:30 pm. My set is going to be very vocal, very party, a little bit sassy and just joyful, hopefully.

I really love Brighton; I get to party down there quite a lot. Living in London, which is so fast-paced, the minute you get into Brighton, everyone seems a little bit more relaxed, especially in the summer.

Gok: My dressing room rider… I have face wipes, a box of tissues, jelly sweets, always. There's Coke Zero on there, soda water, lime cordial, some form of tortilla chips and there's sushi.

Gok: Oh, good question. I know Mel C, I know Jesse Ware. I've not met Raye. I've got a feeling like I might have met Diana Ross on a talk show years ago. I can't remember. The Blessed Madonna is my favourite DJ in the world.

I'm genuinely very excited, and in the wake of what's just happened in Berlin [the terror attack at Berlin Pride that killed one and injured 29], it's really important that we continue with these Pride celebrations, bringing together the community and allies, and we continue to show countries around the world that aren't as privileged as us that we have a voice, and we have a community, and we are standing together – we've still got a long way to go, clearly.

Gok:  It means visibility. It's political for me, 100 per cent. It means that we get an opportunity to support our siblings around the world where they're not allowed to be themselves for how they're born - they're illegal simply for being born.

It's making sure that they know we are with them. We may not be living through their laws, and we may not be in the same country as them, but we are standing with them and we support them.

The world has changed so much from when I was growing up, coming out, and joining the community, meeting my people, so to say. There were very few gay people on TV, and in the media, and now we have loads.

However, like the attacks in Berlin, laws going backwards around the world, and all the transphobia that's going on, we still have a long way to go.

Gok: Yeah, mainly stuff online now. Whereas when I was younger, it might have been stuff in the street or in the club; that rarely happens now. But I still get messages; I still get queer hate on DMs, because we are very reachable, aren't we?

When we were growing up, people didn't have your home address, they didn't have access to you, and so there was a distance. Nowadays there isn't, so people feel that they can do it. Some of the stuff is absolutely bloody vile, it's awful, and yes, I get it like everyone else.

Gok: Yes, we do report it. I think we have a responsibility. Because a lot of people think, well, what can you do about it? Nothing's going to be done, but if everyone feels like that, then it almost gives license to these people to carry on.

They can hide behind their keyboards. They can be as cruel as they like, they can wish terrible things on you, and it's all allowed. But laws have changed, and some of the hate speech [is] completely illegal. But they don't feel like they're ever going to get caught.

Things like Saturday are really important, because it's on the television, it's in the newspapers, it's celebrated. Great icons like Raye and Diana Ross, who are also allies, are supporting and their followers see it around the world.

Gok: Ever! And at this age, it kills me, I'm knackered all the time. At 52 years old, I put my body through the paces.

In the summer, if I'm working Thursday, Friday, Saturday, it's three days of travel and also jumping around for hours on stage, and I'm not a gym bunny. I used to run – I don't anymore – so the dancing and DJing is my weekly exercise. It has kept me fit.

I'm really happy where I am with my life. I've never been healthier; I'm in a good place, and I have been for quite a while now. I attribute that to DJing, my job and my great circle of friends.

Gok:  I'm still hugely proud of it. I'm so incredibly grateful to be part of such a big social movement of its time.

I think that the message still needs to be shouted about. I think there's still a lot of body shame that goes on. People are still very confused about the skin that they live in and their identity, so there's still a long way to go.

Gok: Yeah, I do. I've just finished working with JD Williams - I've been with them three years. I'll always do that [styling]. I guess that's my heartland, what I've done since I was a kid.

Gok: Personality, fun, comfortable… got to be able to dance in it. You've got to be able to fit everything into one small crossbody bag. Accessorize to the hilt –  it's when you can really decorate yourself like a Christmas tree and go absolutely to town. Sequins, sparkles and then throw on a pair of cowboy boots - somehow it just works.

Gok:  Do you know what, I would like to win the World Series of Poker. I love poker.

It takes years and years to become a master poker player and understand it. It's such a complicated game; it's a real mathematician's game. I've been studying it for probably three years now. I'm getting it. I would love, at some point, to go pro and to win the WSOP.

Gok: I'm not cooking professionally at the moment, but I'm sure I will... that's in the blood.