June is Pride Month which celebrates the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. This month aims to highlight the voices of those within this community and to share and celebrate stories.
Television in the UK has seen a huge increase in LGBTQ+ representation with the comedy show Big Boys becoming a massive hit, the romance drama Heartstopper marking its third season and new reality guilty-pleasure I Kissed A Girl racking up huge viewing figures since its release last month.
With the massive pop culture storm that was Baby Reindeer, people were enthused by the character Martha but sometimes overlooked the protagonist's journey with his sexuality. There are many shows that follow LGBTQ characters that you may be unaware of. So, in honour of pride, we have compiled a list of the must-watch British shows to binge this month.
READ MORE Love Island 2024's biggest villa changes as plot twist means new Hideaway rules
READ MORE Taylor Swift fan who's been Eras Tour three times shares advice - what to pack, wear and more
1. Lost Boys and Fairies
BBC's new show Lost Boys and Fairies follows the story of a gay couple, Gabriel and Andy's journey to adoption. The three-part series is said to be filled with "humour, music, redemption and love."
The series is based on the creator and writer Daf James' real-life experience of adopting two young children with his husband. Speaking to the BBC about his story, he revealed that he "couldn’t not write about it".
He continued: "It felt very dramatic, it felt insane, it felt beautiful, extraordinary, remarkable… it was such a complex well of emotions." Daf added: "It’s not only a queer story... it is a bilingual show on primetime BBC One," as it includes both English and Welsh.
Watch the Lost Boys and Fairies here.
2. Dead Hot
Another show released this year is Dead Hot, a British comedy and thriller. Protagonists Elliott and Jess are both grieving the disappearance of Peter, Jess' twin brother and the love of Elliott's life.
According to the Guardian, Dead Hot is like "Skins meets Queer as Folk." The reviewer continued: "It starts to get weird, leaning towards the spooky, though it tickles horror under the chin rather than grabbing it by the scruff of the neck.
"You might jump, and you might wince at some of the goriness, but it is much more comfortable as a zany caper than as a thriller. The weirdness is largely aesthetic, and, as a result, it never really chills the bones."
Dead Shot is available to watch on Amazon Prime, you can start a 30-day free trial now and can continue your subscription for £8.99 or cancel your subscription before the end of your 30 days. Find out more here.
3. Gentleman Jack
Calling all Bridgerton fans - Gentlemen Jack is a period drama following Anne Lister who shakes up her ancestral home by restoring its fortunes and finding herself a wife.
The series has released two seasons and boasts an impressive 92 per cent score on Rotten Tomatoes. A top critic on the site said: "A rare and genuine treat. It’s a full-blooded, full-bodied period piece with and vibrant and authentic inner life that is fully relatable yet true to its own time."
Another added: "Capitalizing on the extraordinary story of Lister, Season 1 unpacks gender performance, sexuality, and female desire; the script is full of thoughtful, sardonic writing."
You can catch both seasons on BBC iPlayer. Find out more here.
4. This Is Going To Hurt
The comedy-drama series This Is Going To Hurt follows the honest depiction of what life is like as a junior doctor on the wards. The story is based on the gay British comedy writer Adam Kay’s account whilst working for the NHS.
Not only does this story discuss the political issues within the healthcare system but also follows the romantic life of the character. Within the original novel, his sexuality was unclear but this was changed within the television adaptation.
You can watch This Is Going To Hurt on BBC iPlayer. Find out more here.
5. Feel Good
Feel Good is a "semi-autobiographical romantic comedy" starring Mae Martin as a fictionalised version of their real self. Mae is a Canadian comedian who meets George a middle-class English woman.
The pair begin dating but is troubled by Mae being a former drug addict and George's reluctance to open up about her sexuality and tell friends and family about her relationship with Mae. The comedy series has six episodes available to watch on All 4.
Story Saved
You can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.
