Heartthrob Paul Mescal is spotted on a shirtless jog wearing his famous chain

He claims he’s nothing like his character Connell Waldron in hit BBC drama Normal People.

But after Paul Mescal was spotted shirtless and wearing a chain with a pendant around his neck, some fans might beg to differ.

The Irish star, 24, who has become an overnight sex symbol after his appearance in the adaptation of Sally Rooney’s novel, showed off his physique while out running in east London.

Viewers will be used to seeing Mescal shirtless, as the series includes frequent sex scenes – but fans have noted that the one item Connell never seems to remove is his necklace. 

The accessory now has its own Instagram page with 148,000 followers.

Normal People tells of the on-and-off relationship between two Irish teenagers from different backgrounds as they move from a small rural town to Dublin and into adulthood.

Beloved jewellery: Viewers will be used to seeing Mescal shirtless, as the series includes frequent sex scenes – but fans have noted that the one item Connell never seems to remove is his necklace

Mescal recently joked that his character Connell’s silver chain necklace will ‘always be more popular’ than he is.

He spoke to Nick Grimshaw on BBC Radio 1 show where he discussed all things about the Sally Rooney novel adapted drama.

Talking about Connell’s silver chain necklace and the fan page dedicated to it on Instagram, Paul joked: ‘It’s slightly terrifying. I’d be slightly embarrassed if the chain account took over my follower count. 

Celebrity status: The accessory now has its own Instagram page with 148,000 followers

‘But it’s probably going to happen at some time so I better just reconcile that fact, that the chain will always be more popular than I am.

‘It was a couple of days after the show aired I saw like a little page started somewhere and now it’s like this beast that’s growing legs. I think it’s just so funny because… it’s a chain.’

Mescal went on to admit that he wore chains himself before the BBC show and never got the attention that Connell has. 

He continued: ‘I’m not going to abuse anybody who thinks chains are sexy but I wore chains and necklaces before and I definitely didn’t get the attention that this chain is getting.

‘So hopefully we’re doing a good thing for chains all around the world and we’ll see them getting the correct respect that they deserve. We’ve been sleeping on chains far too long in my opinion.’ 

Mescal this week revealed that he is single and looking for love, telling the I’m Grand Mam podcast he was keen to start dating once the lockdown is lifted.

However, he warned: ‘If anybody ever dates me I am not Connell and nor do I want to be him.’

Famous chain: The Instagram account, @connellschain, has 49 posts of different pictures that feature the famous necklace

Single and ready to mingle! Paulr evealed that he’s single and looking forward to dating (pictured in January) 

The Irish heartthrob said: ‘I stopped using [apps] weeks before… because I didn’t like it anyway. To be honest I’m really looking forward to dating.

‘I’m trying not to think of it being weird because… look, we’ve been in lockdown for months. I’ve had no kind of opportunity to be like meeting somebody new or being remotely intimate with anybody.’

He added: ‘I think we’re at the point where I want to get married and settle down. But you know that kind of hysterical thing where if lockdown ever happens again, I’m making sure that I’m married. But yeah, I am looking forward to dating!’

Paul’s interview comes after he revealed that his granny had to issue warnings to other family members about the nature of his raunchy Normal People sex scenes. 

The Irish heartthrob said: ‘I stopped using [apps] weeks before… because I didn’t like it anyway. To be honest I’m really looking forward to dating’ 

The star spoke with co-star Daisy Edgar-Jones, who plays Marianne in the drama, on last Friday’s episode ofThe Graham Norton Show. 

Paul said: ‘My granny warned my great aunt that there were a lot of sexy bits and that when she felt those were about to happen she should go off and do something else…

‘In episode two when we started kissing she took the dog out… 

‘But she underestimated the time it would take and as she came back in we were right in the throes of it all… I suggested that a good long chore or a couple of cups of tea would do the trick next time!’

Co-star: The star spoke with co-star Daisy Edgar-Jones (pictured), who plays Marianne in the drama, on last Friday’s episode ofThe Graham Norton Show 

As well as the sexy scenes, the duo discussed the fact the show has just reached the 30 million viewer mark, as Daisy said: ‘It’s hard to believe people like it when we’re sitting in our bedrooms. It’s surreal.’

Paul went on: ‘That’s not even a number I can compute. It sounds really good and brilliant but it’s not something either of us anticipated. It’s just been good news after good news. It’s crazy!’    

The 12-part drama is based on Sally Rooney’s bestselling novel about the turbulent relationship between working-class Connell [Mescal] and well-heeled Marianne [Edgar-Jones], it has been praised for its unflinching take on sexuality.

Watch Normal People on BBC3, or on Stan in Australia.