Queers – Episode: Man On The Platform (No. 1) – Picture Shows: Mark Gatiss – (C) BBC – Photo by Richard Ansett/Courtesy of BBC America.
BBC America’s eight part series Queers sees eight established writers respond to the 50th anniversary of The Sexual Offences Act which partially decriminalized homosexual acts between men in the UK, will air throughout the day on October 11 – now known as National Coming Out Day.
BBC AMERICA’S QUEERS TO PREMIERE WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, ON NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY
EIGHT-PART SHORT FILM SERIES, CURATED AND DIRECTED BY MARK GATISS, STARS ALAN CUMMING, BEN WHISHAW, AMONG OTHER AWARD WINNING ACTORS
- BBC AMERICA’s Queers sees eight established writers respond to the 50th anniversary of The Sexual Offences Act which partially decriminalized homosexual acts between men in the UK, will air throughout the day on October 11. All eight films will be available on October 12 on VOD, at BBCAmerica.com and on the BBC AMERICA App.
- Curated and directed by Mark Gatiss (Sherlock), the films star award winners Alan Cumming (Battle of the Sexes), Ben Whishaw (London Spy), Rebecca Front (Humans), Russell Tovey (Quantico), Gemma Whelan (Game of Thrones), Ian Gelder (Game of Thrones), Kadiff Kirwan (Black Mirror) and Fionn Whitehead (Dunkirk).
- The films are written by Matthew Baldwin, Jon Bradfield, Michael Dennis, Keith Jarrett, and Gareth McLean, who are writing for television for the first time, alongside established screenwriters Jackie Clune, Brian Fillis and Gatiss himself.
- Taking in 1957’s Wolfenden Report, the HIV crisis and the 1967 Sexual Offence Act itself, the eight monologues will explore some of the most poignant, funny, tragic and riotous moments of British gay history and the very personal rites-of-passage of British gay men through the last one hundred years.
- The series is produced by BBC Studios Pacific Quay Productions and is a co-production of BBC and BBC AMERICA.
SCHEDULE AND SYNOPSES
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11
10:00AM ET
FILM ONE – A GRAND DAY OUT
1994. As the government votes on lowering the age of male homosexual consent, 17-year-old Andrew comes to London for the first time – with unexpected results. Starring Fionn Whiteheadand written by Michael Dennis.
3:00PM ET
FILM TWO – SAFEST SPOT IN TOWN
As the Blitz hits London, Fredrick is grateful that he survived in a very unlikely place of refuge. Starring Kadiff Kirwan and written by Keith Jarrett.
6:30PM ET
FILM THREE – THE PERFECT GENTLEMAN
Bobby is a swaggering man about town. But Bobby has a secret. Can it survive when it really matters? Starring Gemma Whelan and written by Jackie Clune.
10:00PM – 11:15PM ET
FILM FOUR – SOMETHING BORROWED
Steve, a groom to be, anxiously prepares his wedding speech. But now the big day is here, what has been won and what has been lost? Starring Alan Cumming and written by Gareth McLean.
FILM FIVE – THE MAN ON THE PLATFORM
Written in response to the 50th anniversary of the Sexual Offences Act, a young man returning from the trenches of the First World War recollects a love that dared not speak its name. Starring Ben Whishaw and written and directed by Mark Gatiss.
FILM SIX – MISSING ALICE
Alice and her husband share a secret but with the publication of the Wolfenden Report in 1957 it may not need to be a secret anymore. Starring Rebecca Front and written by Jon Bradfield.
2:15AM – 3AM
FILM SEVEN – MORE ANGER
Actors can easily feel typecast. But it’s 1987 and with AIDS hitting the headlines a promising new part looks like a game-changer for Phil. Starring Russell Tovey and written by Brian Fillis.
FILM EIGHT – I MISS THE WAR
The 1967 Sexual Offences Act will revolutionise everything, won’t it? Well, perhaps not as far as dapper gent Jackie is concerned… Starring Ian Gelder and written by Matthew Baldwin.
Twitter: @BBCAMERICA Hashtag: #QueersBBCA