Vic: Created by Gary Jati, Mark Ravenhill. Wh Derek Jabi, Ian McKellen, Franc la Tour, Iwan Rheon. Freddie Thornhill (Sir Ian McKellen) and Stuart Bixby (Sir Derek Jabi) are an old gay uple who have been together for nearly fifty years. Their liv now revolve around entertag their equent guts and hurlg sults at each other at every opportuny." data-id="ma
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THE LONG CALL VIEWERS APPLD ITV DRAMA FOR GAY TECTIVE LEAD ROLE: ‘THIS REPRENTATN IS IMPORTANT’
* bbc gay series *
The UK has been pecially strong this regard, mirrorg s mendable rerd of excellent gay cema. Followg this creria, programm as diverse as Brishead Revised (1981), Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003), Six Feet Unr (2001-05), The Wire (2002-08), Glee (2009-) and Morn Fay (2009-) don’t make the cut, spe their strong sendary queer characters (the ternatnal succs of Morn Fay particular, broadst untri where homosexualy is still illegal, uld help liberalise attus, followg the marriage of Cameron and Mchell, two of the most popular characters). Will & Grace (1998-2006) was a huge h, but s portrayal of gay men was clichéd and too few of the jok land (although try tellg that to the often hysteril stud dience).
Homoeroticism throbs subtly throughout, but only the remarkable two-hour epilogue do e to the fore, through a fantastic and nightmarish journey through the md of Biberkopf. Dpe bomb threats to the stud and protts om relig groups, the episo was broadst 1997, wh Ellen fally utterg the words “I’m gay”, accintally speakg the words to the microphone at an airport check- sk.
Some crics bemoaned the foc on gay issu, and ratgs fell, leadg to the show’s ncellatn. Queer as Folk (1999-2000)This one me out of nowhere, a shamels and often outrageo seri that gave a kickg to the perceptn of gay men as sexls bt iends to female protagonists and stead put them centre stage, showg them to be as flawed, selfish and sex-hungry as everyone else – more so, fact. Its first episo, featurg 29-year-old Stuart rimmg a horny 15-year old, was unapologetilly provotive, and upset both the tabloids and many gay viewers, who were alarmed by s subversive characters.