Hugh Sheridan proposes to boyfriend Kurt Roberts at his Adelaide Fringe show Hughman

Just months after officially coming out, actor Hugh Sheridan has popped the question to his new love on stage at the Adelaide Fringe.

Just months after coming out, Hugh Sheridan has become engaged to new boyfriend Kurt Roberts, popping the question at the premiere of his new Fringe show.

The Adelaide performer stunned his home crowd – and Roberts – by getting down on one knee and proposing to his new beau, who was sitting in the front row. He handed him a specially chosen white diamond ring from Adelaide jeweller James Thredgold - studded with diamonds and a ruby on the inside.

The happy couple hugged and kissed before an ecstatic Sheridan ran back on stage and declared: “I just got engaged!”

Shirtless and waving a rainbow flag, Sheridan later received warm congratulations from family and friends, including his sister Zoe, as he debuted his first one-man show, Hughman, at Gluttony.

Sheridan also flew Roberts’ family - after he had rung earlier in the week and asked permission for Roberts’ hand in marriage - to be in the audience at the opening night for the grand gesture.

“We haven’t been together that long - I didn’t want them to think we are insane,” Sheridan shared with The Sunday Mail the morning after the proposal.

“But I do know very much in my heart he is a perfect partner - a good person to balance me out. I just knew he was the right one.”

Roberts was completely shocked by the proposal.

“I literally had no idea it was coming - I thought I was getting pulled on stage to dance or something ... I was like “please, no’ Then it dawned on me.”

The pair have basically been inseparable since Christmas.

“I just love that Hugh is the most beautiful, genuine, caring person and the most positive influence I have in my life,” Roberts shares, “It’s been such an amazing time and I can’t wait for our future.”

Roberts says he remembers seeing Sheridan at Carols in the Domain in 2016, and has only one watched one episode of Sheridan’s breakout show Packed to the Rafters - and that was a mere few weeks ago.

“He hasn’t watched anymore - so he’s possibly not a fan,” Sheridan jokes.

“But I loved Hughman,” Roberts adds.

Sheridan: “He did actually say afterwards ‘by the way - the show is amazing’ and I was like ‘But, what about the proposal?’

The couple have been together since around Christmas, initially opting to keep the budding romance quiet.

His first publicly gay relationship and first romance in four years, Sheridan, 35, has since opened up about his “immediate attraction” to Roberts, 29, when the pair met at a Sydney party in November last year.

Hugh Sheridan and boyfriend Kurt Roberts. Picture: Steven Chee

However, the TV, stage and screen star said the feeling was, initially at least, not quite mutual.

“I had just published my big essay about my sexuality and I could see that he saw me and thought, ‘oh no, too hard’,” Sheridan laughed.

“I would say that by all accounts, he had zero interest.

“He is quite shy and not at all from the world that I am involved in.

“But I was pretty persistent. I messaged him and he didn’t respond. And then we caught up again with some mutual friends around Christmas and that’s when I realised I just needed to slow down and give him some space.

“So then I started to get very old-school about the whole thing.

“There was no rushing. We just went out for dinners and took things very slowly and I did everything by the book because I knew, deep down, that this guy was a keeper.”

A couple of months later, Sheridan this week officially “shacked up” with Roberts, general manager of digital lending at Commonwealth Bank, who moved into the actor’s Bondi apartment.

Hugh Sheridan with his partner Kurt Roberts at M Suites the morning after he popped the question. Picture MARK BRAKE

The white gold engagement ring from James Thedegold Jeweller. Picture: MARK BRAKE

Before that, he had been “brave and fearless” about showing himself.

“Then everything changed,” Sheridan said. “I was told to keep things a secret and hide parts of who I was because people told me I would never get work as an actor. And then as the years went by and I had relationships with both men and women and I decided that I would just keep all of that aspect of my life private. But then lately I have been thinking about that guy that I was at 16 … so I thought ‘nope, no more hiding’.

“ I’ve met the most amazing person. It’s Mardi Gras … (this weekend) and I have a responsibility to be truthful about things.”

Hughman is at the Moa in Gluttony until March 13.

FULL PICTURE CREDITS

Wardrobe: Camilla Franks

Photographer: Steven Chee@stevenchee

Stylist: Fleur Egan@fleureganstyle

Hair: Brad Mullins@bradmullinshair

Makeup: Noni Smith@nonismithmakeup