A look back over last month’s viewer logs has prompted me to focus this week’s blog on Channel 4’s coverage of gay issues across its programming. The channel has a remit to appeal to the tastes and interests of a culturally diverse society, and is proud of its track record in reflecting sexual diversity as part of that broad objective.
Last year, Stonewall named Hollyoaks its Broadcast of the Year for the the programme’s “sympathetic and convincing handling” of the love affair between characters John-Paul McQueen and Craig Dean. This hugely popular storyline recently concluded, attracting praise from www.afterelton.com and Tim Teeman at The Times, who described Hollyoaks as “…a prince among soaps, a once ugly duckling transformed into a beautiful, if crazed, feather-ruffling swan.”
We have received a mix of comments from viewers about the Hollyoaks storyline. Some have praised the way that sexual stereotypes have been debunked while others have claimed that showing relationships between homosexual characters is inappropriate at the time that Hollyoaks is transmitted. This point was addressed directly by the commissioning team in an earlier blog post, where it was pointed out that relationships are an important part of teenage life and are therefore a perfectly legitimate subject for an early evening show like Hollyoaks, whether homosexual or heterosexual.
Rick and Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in All the World, a cartoon set in a village only occupied by gays and lesbians, recently prompted a number of gay E4 viewers to write in and tell us how upset they were by a programme that found humour in subjects such as HIV. Make Me a Christian also attracted some criticism from viewers for including a contributor’s opinion that sexuality is something that can be changed.
Arguably the bar has been set high by programmes such as Queer as Folk, which although first broadcast almost ten years ago, is still remembered with fondness and often quoted in research groups when people are asked about programmes which make Channel 4 distinctive. Is this the yardstick against which other programme are measured? What do you think about that way the channel represents gay issues and characters?
If you have watched any of these programmes or any other Channel 4 programme and want to express a view, we would love to hear from you.
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I enjoyed the McDean storyline in Hollyoaks because it showed a love story of two people who just happened to be gay/bisexual. It’s a story that could happen to anybody. In that sense, it subtly moved beyond treating gay characters in a “special” category, and made them just regular people.
“…others have claimed that showing relationships between homosexual characters is inappropriate at the time that Hollyoaks is transmitted.”
Are these people living in the dark ages?
I agree with “relationships are an important part of teenage life and are therefore a perfectly legitimate subject for an early evening show like Hollyoaks, whether homosexual or heterosexual.”
I’m glad you don’t let a minor amount of narrow minded comments affect what is broadcast on Hollyoaks.
I enjoy the storylines :).
I was SO pleased when the McDean storyline began as it was an honest and moving love story which dealt with all the complexities of teen romance and ‘coming out’. That dealt with, bringing other characters like Kieron and Spike into the story allowed the portrayal of normal, fairly angst-free gay relationships, which is so important for young people dealing with their sexuality. I can’t see what there is to be offended by - just very sweet loving relationships! Hopefully now Kris and Ravi will continue the tradition into the future…
I hope Channel 4 never bows to the sadly homophobic individuals who object to homosexual relationships being depicted as healthy, happy and normal.
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