Journalist Tim Walker reflects on rare chat wh gay star Harry Andrews

Contents:

• RSELL TOVEY: HE MAY BE PROUD BUT IS THE ‘WORST GAY EVER’ ACTUALLY SORRY?
• 10 GREAT BRISH GAY FILMS
• THE REAL REASON STEVE HOWEY CAME OUT AS GAY, EVEN THOUGH HE'S STRAIGHT

RSELL TOVEY: HE MAY BE PROUD BUT IS THE ‘WORST GAY EVER’ ACTUALLY SORRY?

The only thg I n give to young gay people is that when I was growg up there were no role mols that were blokey, that were men. Everybody was flamboyant and mp, and I remember gog, 'That's not me, so even though I thk I am gay, I don't thk I f to this world.

I’m sat baffled and sadned that a misfired articulate quote of me has brand me worst gay ever, ” he said on Twter. You n also e this list of notable gay Brs to start your own people Freebase / Public domaFreddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara; 5 September 1946 – 24 November 1991) was a Brish sger, songwrer, rerd producer, and lead volist of the rock band Queen.

10 GREAT BRISH GAY FILMS

This may e as a surprise om a untry where male homosexualy was illegal until as recently as 1967, and where gay marriage ntu to ffle right-wgers, swivel-eyed or otherwise. We’ve narrowed down the list to films easily available on DVD, although honourable mentn mt go to the über-rare Two Gentlemen Sharg (1969), a swgg slice of the 60s that hted at terracial homosexualy.

Sign up to BFI Flare emailsGet the latt #BFIFlare news and ticket release list should really be a Top 11 – the omissn of Sunday Bloody Sunday (1971), the first Brish film to feature a gay kiss, is borrle excable. Tom Shkolnik’s betifully observed The Comedian (2012), which a possibly gay, possibly bi thirtysomethg (Edward Hogg) tri to make as a standup the pal, also narrowly missed cln. A few d homosexuals n be found  Aled Hchck’s early work (check out the swishy drsmaker 1925’s The Pleasure Garn), while Ivor Novello’s films play up the flamboyant star’s androgyny, playg very odd, allegedly heterosexual men  The Lodger (1926) and The Man whout Dire (1923).

THE REAL REASON STEVE HOWEY CAME OUT AS GAY, EVEN THOUGH HE'S STRAIGHT

The ma tr may be straight, but the mera’s love of Pl Robon’s torso – the film was directed and produced by gay men – hts at an even more taboo love story. One of the first spottgs of the GBF (Gay Bt Friend), a creature maligned and adored equal measure.

Although ma at a time when homosexualy was unmentnable on screen, Hale’s gtur and waspish livery clearly the character as not the marryg kd.