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If you’re a queer person who watches television – as almost all of us naturally do – you are told a lot of things. You are told that TV is gayer now than it ever was. It’s true enough: where once the very idea of depicting same-sex romances on screen was taboo, now LGBT+ characters are everywhere you look. You are told that TV series such as Netflix’s Heartstopper, with its earnest and sentimental exploration of young queer romance, are seismic and significant. You are told again and again, if only a series like this existed when I was growing up. You are told that queer joy is an end in itself.

But we shouldn’t believe all we are told. It’s true that Heartstopper, which returned for its third season earlier this month, is an affirming and well-intentioned fairytale – and maybe even a necessary one. Queer people, however, deserve more than just fairytales. The vision of gay life that Netflix’s effusively received drama offers is one that’s utterly palatable and comprehensible to straight audiences, one that shies away from the more interesting realities of queer existence.

Kit Connor, one of the show’s stars, recently summed up the show’s appeal in an interview with the i: “In queer media, gay sex can often be just super hyper-sexual… which is in many ways true, but not all gay sex is just that, you know?” If the idea that gay sex shouldn’t be too sexual seems blatantly oxymoronic, just watch a bit of Heartstopper, and you’ll see that such a contradiction is indeed possible to synthesise. Season three goes further than previous years in its depiction of sexuality – but it’s much the same animal as before.

The shortcomings of Heartstopper as TV’s modern gay success story are thrown into even starker clarity by another series that aired this month: FX’s school-set comedy English Teacher (streaming on Disney+ in the UK). Created by and starring Brian Jordan Alvarez, the actor and internet personality behind the cult YouTube gem The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo, English Teacher is one of the very best series of 2024, and one of the funniest sitcoms in years. It’s also deeply, unapologetically gay. If Heartstopper offers idealised queer joy for young and impressionable “baby gays”, then English Teacher captures, and satirises, queer reality for jaded adults.

The finale of season one, released on Tuesday, begins with a familiar enough scene. A child in a Texan high school approaches his teacher after class, and confides in him a secret: he thinks he might be gay. He’s gone to this teacher, Evan Marquez (Alvarez), because he is an out gay man; he’s asking for advice. Evan, bewildered by the question, scowls at him: “What!? You’re scared to come out? It’s 2024, just go in the hall and say, ‘I’m gay’!”

It’s a brilliantly unsentimental rug-pull, one that flies in the face of the sort of bottomlessly gentle storytelling that now pervades queer stories on screen. “If you want somebody to talk to, go to one of the many out gay kids at this school,” he says, adding: “But be careful: don’t talk to one of those non-specific queer kids who may or may not be doing it for clout… Those people are mostly straight. Don’t tell anybody I said that.” It’s the sort of joke that most modern queer series would baulk at – sharp and mean-spirited and politically incorrect. But it’s also honest.

In shows such as Heartstopper (and the likes of Sex Education or Schitt’s Creek), there is often a self-imposed need to portray queer people in a sanctified light. It’s easy to see why this is – it’s a corrective to decades of erasure or otherwise bigoted portrayals across all media. But sainthood has a limited horizon. In opting for something spikier and messier – problematic characters, sexual frankness, messy and unconventional situationships, a gleeful air of not giving a f*** – English Teacher manages to find affirmation in truth.

There is a place for fantasies such as Heartstopper. But it’d be nice if queer shows made for queer adults got a fraction of the attention. At a certain point, it’s time to grow up.

Season one of ‘English Teacher’ is streaming now on Disney+

BIG Brother fans are convinced Rosie and Nathan’s romance is fake after they appeared to take their romance to the next level.

ITV2 viewers insisted their courtship is a ‘showmance’ following the discovery of a used condom in their shared bedroom with the other housemates.

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In the opening scene from tonight’s installment, Izaaz asked: “Why is there a condom on the floor?” before the camera cut to a smirking Rosie and Nathan.

The dental assistant, who was renamed Baked Potato following a dare in the first week, said: “I’m coming over here, I don’t give a s**t anymore,” as she made her way to Nathan’s bed.

But fans weren’t buying it and rushed to X, formerly Twitter with their confusion.

One asked: “WHAT TF HAPPENED LAST NIGHT PLEASE WHY IS THERE CONDOMS?”

Someone else said: “This Nathan/Baked Potato romance just feels slightly fake,” with another agreeing: “I don’t care for this baked potato and Nathan romance, I’m sorry.”

A fourth fumed: “Rosie fake AF. Knows a showmance increases your odds of staying in till the end.”

Someone else said: “Sorry but I’m not buying this… it’s giving concocted showmance…”

Shortly afterwards, Rosie was asked by Big Brother whether she had fallen for the pork salesman.

Despite their bedroom PDA, she replied: “He’s fine. If I were to meet him on the outside world, I would not like him.”

She went on to say: “He’s a tall lanky bastard but maybe I am as well.”

Fans were surprised when the pair revealed saucy feelings for one another during Thursday night’s show.

Nathan confessed he felt attracted to Rosie just minutes before she walked into the Big Brother house.

But Lily also leapt in with a surprise kiss.

The romance blossomed between Nathan and Rosie after a fire alarm evacuation where cameras recorded a secret chat.

The pair discussed dating each other when they get out, with Nathan asking Rosie if she’d like to visit a winery together when they emerge from the house.

But viewers have been speculating that it is all little too pre-planned and organised – and there must be more than meets the eye.

Big Brother is presented by Will Best and AJ Odudu and is on its second series on ITV and ITVX.

Big Brother 2024 cast

A brand new batch of Big Brother housemates are living it up in the famous compound.

Meet the cast of the 2024 series:

• Rosie, 29, dental assistant from Cornwall.
• Emma, 53, aesthetics business owner from Altrincham.
• Segun, 25, charity videographer from Watford.
• Nathan, 24, pork salesman from Dumfries.
• Daze, 24, climate activist from London.
• Khaled, 23, sales manager from Manchester.
• Martha, 26, NHS administrator from Scarborough.
• Lily, 20, Chinese takeaway server from Warrington.
• Ali, 30, Forensic psychologist from London.
• Thomas, 20 amputee footballer from Carlisle.
• Ryan, 28, marketing and events from Stockport.
• Hannah, 24, HR consultant from West London.
• Izaaz, 29, sales consultant from London.
• Sarah, 27, spa account manager from Shrewsbury.
• Marcello, 34, youth mentor from East London.
• Dean, 35, barber from East London

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THE second housemate to be evicted from the 2024 edition of Big Brother has been revealed.

AJ Odudu and Will Best took to the airwaves as another contestant was booted out of the infamous ITV compound.

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Lily, Ali, Daze, and Martha were the first four housemates who were chosen to face eviction.

The quartet were the first to be nominated by their fellow Big Brother housemates.

ITV2 viewers cast their votes in droves as they voted to evict the second housemate.

It was climate activist Daze who was revealed to have received the most votes by the presenters.

After the announcement, her fellow co-star dramatically broke down in tears.

Lily was sat next to Daze of the round sofa area and immediately went to hug her best pal in the house.

“It’s going to be fine,” insisted the reality star as she tried to get her house bestie to stop crying.

However, Daze was ordered to leave the premises immediately as she said her goodbyes.

The 24-year-old didn’t seem too bothered as she was resigned to her fate in the social experiment competition.

She enthusiastically made her way onto the platform to be greeted by cheers from the crowd outside.

However, many fans were absolutely gutted by the results as they took to social media in droves to complain about the decision.

Many thought that some of the other nominees should have been eliminated in her place.

On X – formerly known as Twitter – one person suggested: “What an odd choice, should’ve been Ali evicted instead!”

A second stated: “Sad to see Daze go… brought many debates, drama and laughter to the #BBUK house. After tonight I’m afraid I’d have had Martha go. Unpredictable eviction!”

Big Brother 2024 cast

A brand new batch of Big Brother housemates are living it up in the famous compound.

Meet the cast of the 2024 series:

• Rosie, 29, dental assistant from Cornwall.
• Emma, 53, aesthetics business owner from Altrincham.
• Segun, 25, charity videographer from Watford.
• Nathan, 24, pork salesman from Dumfries.
• Daze, 24, climate activist from London.
• Khaled, 23, sales manager from Manchester.
• Martha, 26, NHS administrator from Scarborough.
• Lily, 20, Chinese takeaway server from Warrington.
• Ali, 30, Forensic psychologist from London.
• Thomas, 20 amputee footballer from Carlisle.
• Ryan, 28, marketing and events from Stockport.
• Hannah, 24, HR consultant from West London.
• Izaaz, 29, sales consultant from London.
• Sarah, 27, spa account manager from Shrewsbury.
• Marcello, 34, youth mentor from East London.
• Dean, 35, barber from East London

“Daze was such a safe eviction, should have been Ali or Lily,” exclaimed a third fan.

While a fourth user suggested: “This abysmal eviction get ar daze back in.”

And a fifth added: “Out of the four Daze was a distant second behind Martha for eviction, and when I say distant I mean DISTANT.”

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Big Brother is available to watch on ITV2 and stream on ITVX.

BIG Brother fans will be in for a treat next week as a new eviction twist has just been revealed.

AJ Odudu and Will Best revealed the huge news on the ITV2 studio spin-off show, Late and Live.

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It was announced that next week will see the introduction of a twist that has never been done before in Big Brother.

Two housemates will be chosen to take up the coveted position of heads of house.

From there, the leaders will then put the rest of the contestants in sets of pairings.

AJ explained: “Tomorrow night the joint head of house will go to the secret basement, where they will be tasked with pairing up the rest of the housemates into duos.

Turning to the panel of Oti Mabuse, Sian Welby and evicted housemate Daze, she asked: “Will we see some tactical pairings from the heads of house?”

However, Will Best then revealed that each duo will then be forced to decide on their eviction nominations together.

“All the duos will nominate together as a pair and remember, the heads of house will be immune,” he explained to the live studio audience.

The Big Brother account on X, formerly known as Twitter, further confirmed the news.

It wrote: “As exclusively revealed on Big Brother: Late and Live, next week is double trouble!

“Not only will two housemates receive Head of House status, all housemates will also make their nominations in pairs.

Viewers couldn’t help but respond to the news with a rush of excitement as they also took to the social media platform.

One viewer said: “Omg I love this twist. Love them introducing more gameplay this year!”

A second suggested: “Nomination pairs is going to be interesting.”

“Nominations in PAIRS??? OH WOW,” exclaimed a third user.

And a fourth fan added: “OH NOMINATIONS IN PAIRS I LIKE THAT.”

Big Brother 2024 cast

A brand new batch of Big Brother housemates are living it up in the famous compound.

Meet the cast of the 2024 series:

• Rosie, 29, dental assistant from Cornwall.
• Emma, 53, aesthetics business owner from Altrincham.
• Segun, 25, charity videographer from Watford.
• Nathan, 24, pork salesman from Dumfries.
• Daze, 24, climate activist from London.
• Khaled, 23, sales manager from Manchester.
• Martha, 26, NHS administrator from Scarborough.
• Lily, 20, Chinese takeaway server from Warrington.
• Ali, 30, Forensic psychologist from London.
• Thomas, 20 amputee footballer from Carlisle.
• Ryan, 28, marketing and events from Stockport.
• Hannah, 24, HR consultant from West London.
• Izaaz, 29, sales consultant from London.
• Sarah, 27, spa account manager from Shrewsbury.
• Marcello, 34, youth mentor from East London.
• Dean, 35, barber from East London

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Big Brother is available to watch on ITV2 and stream on ITVX.

‘HORRIFIED’ Big Brother fans threatened to turn their TVs off as Lily sucked Martha’s toes during tonight’s episode.

ITV2 viewers couldn’t believe their eyes when 20-year-old Lily performed the ‘grim’ act in the hot tub with her housemate.

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Cosied up next to Khaled, she blurted out, “Martha, let me suck your toe,” to which the NHS administrator replied: “No way, that is minging!”

Khaled joked, “She will though,” before Sarah manoeuvred her leg in the Chinese takeaway worker’s direction.

Martha cried: “Lily, no, oh no Lily,” as she did the deed.

She added afterwards: “Oh Lily, I’m so sorry. That is so disgusting.”

Marcello set his toe-sucking price at £8,000 as Lily playfully stuck her foot out of the water, teasing her co-stars to take the offer.

She then turned to Thomas, but he quickly declined her advance.

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, one wrote: “Sucking toes.. wiping bogeys on people.. Lily is weird i’m sorry.”

Someone else added: “Lily sucking Martha’s toe. I CANNOT DO THIS ANYMORE.”

A third said: “Lily actually sucked Martha’s toe and then asks people to suck her toe.”

One more fumed: “I need Lily gone next week she is so grim with all her screeching and toe sucking.”

It’s not the first time show fans have been left “disgusted” with Lily’s antics.

They previously watched on as she picked her nose and ate her bogeys.

The Warrington-native had been up for eviction tonight, but it was climate activist Daze who was revealed to have received the least amount of votes.

Ali and Martha had also been up for the boot.

Big Brother 2024 cast

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A brand new batch of Big Brother housemates are living it up in the famous compound.

Meet the cast of the 2024 series:

• Rosie, 29, dental assistant from Cornwall.
• Emma, 53, aesthetics business owner from Altrincham.
• Segun, 25, charity videographer from Watford.
• Nathan, 24, pork salesman from Dumfries.
• Daze, 24, climate activist from London.
• Khaled, 23, sales manager from Manchester.
• Martha, 26, NHS administrator from Scarborough.
• Lily, 20, Chinese takeaway server from Warrington.
• Ali, 30, Forensic psychologist from London.
• Thomas, 20 amputee footballer from Carlisle.
• Ryan, 28, marketing and events from Stockport.
• Hannah, 24, HR consultant from West London.
• Izaaz, 29, sales consultant from London.
• Sarah, 27, spa account manager from Shrewsbury.
• Marcello, 34, youth mentor from East London.
• Dean, 35, barber from East London

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KATE Garraway gets festive ahead of her first Christmas without her husband Derek.

The GMB host, 57, told woman&home magazine on sale on Thursday, she wanted it to be fun and happy for their two children.

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“It’s been a tough few years for them,” she added.

Derek died at 56 in January after a lengthy Covid battle.

Kate recently opened up on her first wedding anniversary without Derek following.

The Good Morning Britain star emotionally told The Sun how the special day went following Derek’s passing in January.

Kate appeared at this year’s National Television Awards as she and her children Darcey and Billy collected the gong for Derek’s Story, which followed the final year of his life.

It came just a day after Kate marked what would have been her 20th wedding anniversary to the late political adviser.

She said: “I think everyone says the first year is the hardest, I don’t know if that would be the case, but you do have all the milestones that really trigger memories and that one I found personally very difficult.

“Because, whereas Easter, the kids’ birthdays, we’re very sad with him not with us, that would have been made all about the whole family when he was alive, whereas in this instance it felt like a very personal day between him and I.”

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