Seven 'brilliant' queer shows to binge-watch this Pride month

Daily Mirror

5 hours ago

June is Pride month, and what better thing to throw on your screen than some of the best LGBTQIA+ series out there, from reality shows to period dramas and romance?
Pride month is officially here, and for those days you're not spent celebrating with friends at festivals and parades, you can still embrace the moment while cosied up at home. Turn on your TV, tuck into your blanket and allow these queer shows to add a touch of magic to your month.
Whether you're wanting to see some familiar queer faces in a reality TV show or fall in love on screen, there's so much great LGBTQIA+ storytelling waiting to be shared. To make life a little easier, we've compiled a quick list of what there is on offer, across all genres, that you may not have seen just yet.
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Overcompensating (Amazon Prime)
This new addition from Amazon Prime is the talk of the town this month, as the comedy drama sees a guest appearance from Charli XCX. Not to mention, a whole load of cameos from online queer comedians, including the creator and lead actor, Benito Skinner, better known as Bennydrama.
Viewers can watch him star as a high school jock, fresh into college at Yates University, grappling with his sexuality. The popular kid is a closeted gay guy and finds himself in all kinds of situations to mask his true identity and fit in with his heterosexual classmates.
Feel Good (Netflix)
Feel Good is a semi-autobiographical comedy-drama created by and starring Mae Martin. The non-binary actor plays a fictionalised version of themself as they struggle to cope with addiction and their attachment to their girlfriend George.
Charlotte Richie, known for her roles in Fresh Meat and Call The Midwife, stars as Mae's complicated partner whom they live with. In a series of hilarious, quintessentially British and awkward moments, George struggles to come out to her loved ones but falls madly in love with Mae. The touching TV show also stars none other than Friends actress Lisa Kudrow, who plays Mae's over-the-top Canadian mother.
Queer Eye (Netflix)
The 2018 reboot of an old reality show saw Queer Eye turn into an impressive nine-season run, with its all-LGBTQ+ hosts gaining traction worldwide. Five experts in their fields – fashion, grooming, interiors, cooking, and lifestyle – transform the lives of everyday people in an attempt to improve their lives, using their years of experience and knowledge.
Travelling across the US, the Fab Five team are met with people from all walks of life, including those that may even have views against the queer community, where they face an even bigger task. It is emotional and heartwarming as you see people who don't take the time for themselves be given the gift of compassion, care and, of course, a whole new makeover.
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It's A Sin (Channel 4)
One short series packs in a strong punch in what is a highly acclaimed show with an outstanding cast. It's a Sin is set in 1980s London, during the AIDS crisis, and follows the lives of young men, who moved to the city in search of a new life and were met with tragedy.
While the series is a celebration of the queer community in the 80s, it retells a vital and heartbreaking story of the young homosexual men that lost their lives to AIDS. Not only that, but it deals with the prejudice the community faced as a result of the HIV virus at the time.
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Killing Eve (BBC iPlayer)
Killing Eve is an unstoppable spy thriller that follows an investigator tasked with capturing an insane assassin, Villanelle. As she chases down her latest case, her obsession becomes stronger, and Villanelle enjoys the thrill of being wanted. Each episode sees their unusual connection grow into toxic mind games that leave you questioning what is genuine and what is all one big mind game.
The first two series were critically acclaimed, starring Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer, who went on to win numerous BAFTA Awards and Golden Globes for their roles. The obsessive pair's violent, emotional and sexual relationship grows and flows throughout the four seasons of the show, and all of them are available to binge-watch on BBC iPlayer and Netflix.
Heartstopper (Netflix)
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This is a heart-warming coming-of-age show, based on a teen fiction novel with the same name, that tells the touching story of two young boys falling in love. It deals with a group of teenagers as they face coming out, friendship struggles, first times, sexuality and identity.
Heartstopper gained critical acclaim and high praise for its tasteful portrayal of LGBTQ+ people and went on to receive a number of Emmy nominations. Within just a few days of its release, it became one of the top ten most-watched English language shows on Netflix and remains a staple queer show for many TV fans.
Gentleman Jack (BBC iPlayer)
A period drama based around a 19th-century lesbian love affair, Gentleman Jack is seeped in history and makes for the perfect binge-watch. Set in the Yorkshire hills during the 1830s, it follows Anne Lister, an industrialist and landowner, whose real-life diaries helped to build the plot of the show.
Decades upon decades later, the diaries were discovered, many of which were written in a secret code that details a lifetime of the businesswoman's lesbian relationships. Each episode takes you on a journey, based on these stories, in what becomes a sensual and steamy romance.