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News.com.au
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Some of the most iconic queer film and TV moments including the kiss that changed Aussie TV forever
When Lana and Sky (Bridget Neval and Stephanie Mcintosh) locked lips on Neighbours in 2004, it was a groundbreaking moment for Australian TV. It also created controversy, with talkback radio flooded with calls from more conservative viewers arguing the kiss was 'inappropriate' for a 6.30pm timeslot. Thankfully, times have changed. So much so that when Mcintosh reprised her role for the show's 35th anniversary in 2020 (this time her character marrying Lana), she noted: 'It's refreshing that a same-sex relationship is no longer something out of the ordinary and there is no fuss around it.' Since that 2004 kiss, we have seen dramas such as Wentworth, Bump and Offspring showcase female love stories. Brooke Blurton has romanced men and women as the first bisexual Bachelorette and Dannii Minogue has played matchmaker to same-sex couples on British dating show I Kissed A Girl. Minogue, a longtime LGBTQIA+ ally, believes that representation matters just as much in fictional storytelling and reality TV, previously telling The Binge Guide, 'My friends and our casts tell me the same thing after watching [ I Kissed A Girl ]: 'My life would have been so different if I had a TV show like this when I was growing up.'' Given the demand, she is hopeful that one day Australia will have its own version of the series. For Lilydale Films head of content Ric Forster, the dawn of the streaming age means the 'one-size-fits-all' approach to TV has given way to an era of more inclusive storytelling. 'There's been a shift in society in the last 10 years, thanks to the so-called 'woke movement', which unfortunately has some negative connotations but has actually been hugely positive,' Forster tells The Binge Guide. 'You see a lot more conservative shows exploring this space now, which is fantastic. But when you look back, when they used to introduce a gay character – usually as a guest – the story seemed to be geared around acceptance. 'Audiences have seen that 100 times now, frankly. And so, what we've done is skip that part of the story. And we've certainly seen a better response from our audience, who really just want to see the romance.' Having grown up watching the original Heartbreak High on TV, Forster created the YouTube series Flunk in 2018 to capture teenage angst for a new generation. After receiving hundreds of letters from fans about the romance between two girls on the show, Forster realised audiences were hungry for authentic queer romances on screen, and created a string of spin-off films to meet that demand. Making this sort of content isn't without its challenges, and Forster notes that some countries still censor programs that feature same sex-couples and advertisers 'don't tend to support it, either'. 'I remember that we put LGBTQI in the title of a video and it instantly got demonetised,' he reveals. Nonetheless, Forster's films are finding audiences around the world. Likening the Victoria-based film series to the blockbuster Marvel cinematic universe, Forster says films such as The Sleepover and My First Girl Crush have an ardent fan base and network of interlocking stories and characters. 'They're quite small scale, but they've clicked,' he says. 'Historically, in queer content the characters either had to either break up in the end or there were typically downbeat endings. 'So something we've done, off the audience feedback, is to inject a little bit of that Hallmark feeling with some positive, happy endings. I think that means so much to the audience.' But I'm A Cheerleader: Natasha Lyonne (Poker Face, Orange Is The New Black) plays a cheerleader who is sent to a gay conversion therapy camp to 'cure' her but instead comes to embrace her sexuality. My First Girl Crush: Part of a trilogy, the film sees shy schoolgirl Ingrid (Jessica Li) juggling the pressures of her Chinese-Australian family and her growing feelings for her best friend. The Sleepover: Heidi and Tabby (Madelyn Sheahan and Georgia Crisfield-Smith) attend a friend's sleepover for the first time since their break-up. Will sparks fly or will these exes decide to move on as friends?
New European
21-05-2025
- Politics
- New European
PMQs Review: U-turn if you want, the lady's not listening
Were Kemi Badenoch the interviewer, and her interviewee not only turned up to the studio clad in a garish yellow jumper proclaiming 'I THREATENED TO OVERRULE HIM', but also beginning the grilling by loudly singing 'I threatened to overrule him' to the tune of Katy Perry's I Kissed A Girl, it is entirely possible the Tory leader would have still asked the question 12 times. That was the takeaway from today's PMQs. In 1997, then Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman famously asked home secretary Michael Howard the same question 12 times in an interview. Evaded over and over again on a point central to a scandal which has long since been forgotten, the rottweiler repeated, 'Did you threaten to overrule him?' while Howard found various artful ways to avoid confirming or denying the threat. (On Paxman's final show, 17 years later, Howard confirmed he did not threaten to overrule whoever it was he was accused of threatening to overrule, thus rendering the whole thing a complete waste of everybody's time). Keir Starmer committed the cardinal sin of prime minister's questions today: he created news. PMQs is not supposed to be the place to do news: it is for avoiding saying anything interesting, hopefully clobbering your opponent around the head a few times and allowing a backbench MP from Dimwit-upon-Sea to ask if you'll join him in congratulating his local non-league team on making the play-offs. So it was not without shock that Starmer had something to say, and had tasked an obscure backbench MP to tee him up with a question straight from the whips' office. 'While the economy is showing signs of improving, many pensioners are still impacted by the cost of living crisis,' asked Sarah Owen (Luton North). 'People in Luton who have worked hard all their lives are seeing their precious savings slip away. Will the prime minister tell us what measures he will take to help struggling pensioners in towns like mine?'. Starmer took a deep breath, engaged the clutch and prepared to swing his metaphorical car in the opposite direction. Following a preamble about the absolute state his predecessors left the economy in, he said: 'I recognise that people are still feeling the pressure of the cost of living crisis, including pensioners, and as the economy improves, we want to make sure that people feel those improvements each day as their lives go forward. 'That is why we want to ensure that more pensioners are eligible for winter fuel payments as we go forward. As you would expect, Mr Speaker, we will make only the decisions that we can afford, and that is why we will look at that as part of a fiscal event.' And there you go: an actual, screeching, 180-degree U-turn on the most contentious act of the Labour government's programme since returning to office almost 10 months ago. All performed in front of the leader of the opposition. Surely even Kemi couldn't stuff this up? Except, of course, she could. To be fair, she could have been thinking about something else entirely while Starmer performed a humiliating U-turn both expensive and almost certainly too late to win back any support lost: the exact wording of her first question, what to have for dinner tonight, whether the mooted cuts to Loose Women would have an impact on her post-leadership career plans. Whatever, she wasn't listening. 'It was extraordinary listening to that last answer from the prime minister,' said the woman who'd not been listening. 'Inflation was two per cent when the Conservatives left office; it is now nearly double that. When will he recognise that it is Labour's Budget that is driving up inflation?'. What? Starmer couldn't believe his luck. 'What the right honourable lady forgot to say was that inflation rose to more than 11% on the Conservatives' watch, and she did not say a word,' he began, before launching another attack on the Tories' record and oddly quoting George Osborne's podcast approvingly. Had she missed it? Following a second question (also on inflation) and third (on tax rises), by the fourth she finally asked her question. 'I shall ask him a simple question. It requires only one word: yes or no. Is he planning to U-turn on winter fuel cuts?,' she asked the man who, just a few minutes ago and two sword-length's away, had announced he was planning to U-turn on winter fuel cuts. 'I made it clear in my earlier answer that as the economy improves, we want to take measures that will impact people's lives, so we will look at the threshold, but that will have to be part of a fiscal event,' repeated Starmer. 'I made it really easy for the prime minister, ' fumed Badenoch. 'It was a simple question – yes or no – and he could not answer it. I wonder how the public feel about a man who cannot give a straight answer to a simple question.' And on she went: 'Hands up who here wanted winter fuel cuts? Not a single one of them. The fact is, this prime minister is destroying them. They need to look at what they are doing to the country.' The Tory leader might have been better turning around and asking for a show of hands among her own MPs as to who still wanted her, or might prefer a leader with an ability to think even slightly on their feet – this had been woeful. A few weeks ago, Keir Starmer made a joke at PMQs and it was genuinely funny. It is with some regret that we must report he has taken the lesson from it that he is a comedian, and he must be stopped immediately. Or we will get more of this sort of nonsense in response to a question about immigration from Reform foghorn Lee Anderson. 'It is very good that the honourable member is standing in for the honourable member for Clacton today,' joshed the prime minister of Nigel Farage, reported to be on holiday in France. 'There was no sign of him yesterday at the EU summit. He was the first through the e-gates to somewhere in the south of France: Nice work if you can get it!'. Alas for Starmer, the Hansard recording doesn't note that he pronounced 'Nice' like the French city, in France, like where Farage is. Geddit? It is to Badenoch's shame that, following this joke and the first handbrake turn of his premiership yet, the prime minister still came out on top in this session.
The Irish Sun
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Take our quiz and see if you can match the celebrity to their court room sketch
THEY'RE not the sketches these celebrities would be drawn to. All have appeared in court at one time or other – either as the accused or as a witness – but little did they know what they had coming to them . . . from the person drawing the pics. 13 Court room sketches of Kim Kardashian have surfaced this week Credit: Getty The courtroom sketch of reality TV star Kim Kardashian, testifying this week in Paris after she was the victim of a jewellery heist, was so bad it had one online wag saying it looked like her from 'three faces ago'. But she is far from the only star to have fallen victim to an iffy illustration. With a few clues, see if you can match the dodgy doodles to the real-life celebs in our fun quiz. Answers below. READ MORE ON CELEBS 13 A) SCRUFF SKETCH . . . but for Pete's sake, former hellraiser is podgier now that he fills his face wtih French cheese Credit: Priscilla Coleman 13 B) STARE CRAZY . . . maybe this portrait merely Skims the surface but the vain reality star will not be best pleased Credit: Reuters 13 C) CORRIE BLIMEY . . . poor old soap veteran hardly looks a picture of fun in this most calamitous caricature Credit: Priscilla Coleman 13 D) ART TOPPER . . . this would be rather flattering if it looked anything whatsoever like the I Kissed A Girl hitmaker Credit: BackGrid 13 E) OH, DO BEEHIVE . . . the big hair tells the story but maybe this artist should just go back to black and white Credit: Priscilla Coleman 13 F) TYCOON THE MICKEY . . . whoever hired the artist here must be cutting costs in the US Department of Justice Credit: BackGrid 13 G) HEAD KOOK . . . celebrity chef is as yummy as her puds but the strange ingredients here seem all wrong Credit: PA:Press Association 13 H) DAFT PUNK . . . a right Pistol take, this, and just a Rotten job. God save the artist if this fella had anything to say on it Credit: Alamy 13 I) SHEER MISERY . . . but the hair + eyes could = a pretty good likeness, though opinion may be ÷ on that Credit: PA 13 J) LO BLOW . . . the Mean Girls actress looks all of that, and more, but likeness to the star is not glaringly obvious Credit: Alamy 13 K) DON'T BE SO ROO'D . . . footie player turned coach turned pundit needs to call the referee on this foul play Credit: PA 13 L) TATT YOU? . . . The Price is fright here, and the hair and body art are bang on, even if she rarely hides her chest Credit: PA ANSWERS A) Pete Doherty B) Kim Kardashian C) Bill Roache D) Katy Perry E) Amy Winehouse F) Elon Musk G) Nigella Lawson H) John Lydon, aka Johhny Rotten I) Ed Sheeran J) Lindsay Lohan K) Wayne Rooney L) Katie Price
Scottish Sun
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Take our quiz and see if you can match the celebrity to their court room sketch
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THEY'RE not the sketches these celebrities would be drawn to. All have appeared in court at one time or other – either as the accused or as a witness – but little did they know what they had coming to them . . . from the person drawing the pics. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 13 Court room sketches of Kim Kardashian have surfaced this week Credit: Getty The courtroom sketch of reality TV star Kim Kardashian, testifying this week in Paris after she was the victim of a jewellery heist, was so bad it had one online wag saying it looked like her from 'three faces ago'. But she is far from the only star to have fallen victim to an iffy illustration. With a few clues, see if you can match the dodgy doodles to the real-life celebs in our fun quiz. Answers below. 13 A) SCRUFF SKETCH . . . but for Pete's sake, former hellraiser is podgier now that he fills his face wtih French cheese Credit: Priscilla Coleman 13 B) STARE CRAZY . . . maybe this portrait merely Skims the surface but the vain reality star will not be best pleased Credit: Reuters 13 C) CORRIE BLIMEY . . . poor old soap veteran hardly looks a picture of fun in this most calamitous caricature Credit: Priscilla Coleman 13 D) ART TOPPER . . . this would be rather flattering if it looked anything whatsoever like the I Kissed A Girl hitmaker Credit: BackGrid 13 E) OH, DO BEEHIVE . . . the big hair tells the story but maybe this artist should just go back to black and white Credit: Priscilla Coleman 13 F) TYCOON THE MICKEY . . . whoever hired the artist here must be cutting costs in the US Department of Justice Credit: BackGrid 13 G) HEAD KOOK . . . celebrity chef is as yummy as her puds but the strange ingredients here seem all wrong Credit: PA:Press Association 13 H) DAFT PUNK . . . a right Pistol take, this, and just a Rotten job. God save the artist if this fella had anything to say on it Credit: Alamy 13 I) SHEER MISERY . . . but the hair + eyes could = a pretty good likeness, though opinion may be ÷ on that Credit: PA 13 J) LO BLOW . . . the Mean Girls actress looks all of that, and more, but likeness to the star is not glaringly obvious Credit: Alamy 13 K) DON'T BE SO ROO'D . . . footie player turned coach turned pundit needs to call the referee on this foul play Credit: PA 13 L) TATT YOU? . . . The Price is fright here, and the hair and body art are bang on, even if she rarely hides her chest Credit: PA
Metro
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
I Kissed A Boy's trans contestant isn't hoodwinking anyone - neither is the BBC
I Kissed A Boy is the BBC Three gay dating show that – as the title suggests – throws a pack of hungry single queer men into a Spanish villa to kiss a boy and hopefully find a connection. Among the cast this year is Lars, a 23-year-old hotel receptionist who lives in Wolverhampton who says he's a 'hopeless romantic and sick of single life'. He's also the first transgender contestant they've had across two series of I Kissed A Boy and one series of I Kissed A Girl. Lars has been matched with Jack D, the painfully adorable hospital pharmacist who is fed up of dating apps and just wants a man he can share a 'nice pastry and a pint with'. The premise of the show sees the boys kiss before they've managed to get a word in to see if sparks fly from initial attraction alone. Of all the snogs, Lars and Jack D clearly had one of the most exciting connections in there. They dashed off from their cheeky kiss to join the others and they were visibly excited that matchmakers had thus far worked their magic and appeared to get this coupling spot on. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video But Lars was yet to tell Jack D about his identity, a moment of trepidation that many trans men and women can relate to. Revealing their past to a total stranger, particularly in this climate when transphobia is thriving more than I've ever seen it before, must be absolutely terrifying. When Jack asked what his normal type is, Lars explained: 'Mine's quite interesting because I'd say I identify more as queer. I'm basically a trans man… I was born female but realised when I was about 15 something's really not right. I always knew I liked guys but I didn't feel like a straight girl, I felt like a gay guy.' Lars then acknowledged not all gay guys would be interested in a trans man, 'and I understand that', he said. Jack replied: 'Stuff like that doesn't matter to me at all… you're a man, I like men.' In a later confessional, Jack added: 'When he told me, I honestly had a bit of a lump in my throat because I was just a bit honoured that he actually shared this part of his life with me. I've always said that I'm open to dating a trans man and it absolutely doesn't change anything at all with Lars.' It is a consensual, quite beautiful, coupling, which is hopefully going to teach so many of its viewers how special a gay-trans relationship can be. That is, should they stay together (which, as it stands, looks promising). Sure enough, the usual anti-trans suspects who would otherwise show absolutely no interest in a BBC Three gay dating show, have caught wind of Lars. Cue their completely irrational and totally misguided spiel that has made the loudest noise around I Kissed A Boy, with many claiming they've filed complaints against the BBC. Essentially, they have complained about a consensual relationship between two people. I don't want to give specific tweets or online discussions about Lars and Jack the oxygen they're craving, but you can probably imagine the gist: 'How dare the BBC force a woman onto a gay man?' It's had people absolutely seething, even being compared to sexual assault. It is the epitome of how absurd transphobia has become in the United Kingdom. As far as I can see, it's often straight people telling gay men who they can and can't be attracted to. Straight people, once again, defining the parameters of being LGBTQ+. I haven't actually spent much time thinking about if I'd date a trans man. I have – to my knowledge – met so few of them it's just not even really been a possibility. But Lars seems smart, kind, and he's got a fun streak running through him – when I was single, he'd have ticked all of my boxes. Not to expose my shallowness, but he's also one of the best looking men on the show. If he was 10 years older (or ideally I was 10 years younger) I'd be pretty chuffed to match with Lars. I suppose I'll settle for my 37-year-old boyfriend who has to sleep with a cuddly hippo instead. Sadly, it didn't come as a surprise that the anti-trans mob relished in its attack on Lars with completely unfounded claims Jack had been tricked into kissing a woman, even when he made it crystal clear he was attracted to trans men. What did catch me off guard though was seeing how many gay men were making completely ridiculous claims that they were being pressured into dating trans men and that the BBC was shaming gay men who wouldn't date Lars. At no point does anyone in I Kissed A Boy suggest all gay men should be attracted to trans men. At this point in the series, Jack D is the man for Lars and vice-versa – there's no agenda to make the entire cast queue in a line for Lars, and even if they were, it would be their own choice. If any gay men do feel shamed just by watching a gay-trans relationship, that's not coming from the BBC – that's all on you. I can't believe that I even have to argue that Jack D is no less gay because he's attracted to Lars. I'm as gay as it gets and I know if I was younger and good looking enough to be Lars' league, I'd be attracted to him too. It hardly bears repeating how heartbreaking the bullying of trans people has become. More Trending Every week, there's something new for the most obsessed anti-trans people to waste their life getting upset over. And more often than not, it often boils down to trans people being just a little bit present – even if it's just appearing on a gay dating show. This hysteria has been out of control for some time. Unfortunately, by and large, trans women have arguably felt more under threat and unfairly presented as the threat to civilisation – and bathrooms. But look at what happens when a gentle trans man just innocently appears on television looking for love. View More » It's completely grotesque what this country has become, but thank god we have men like Lars and Jack D on television to show how wonderful a gay-trans relationship can be. Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing Share your views in the comments below. MORE: BBC's 'best crime drama ever' vows to be even better in season 3 MORE: I found the new Final Destination incredibly relatable for a painful reason MORE: Traitors fans 'gutted' one rumoured celebrity won't be taking part
