Attitude Awards TV Moment of the Year: James and Austin’s CBB bromance
While it’s popular for people to sneer at notorious reality TV show Big Brother, it should be remembered that over the past twenty years it has been integral in representing the LGBTI community probably more so than many other programme.
Cast your mind back to series one, which saw Irish lesbian Anna Nolan capture our hearts and and become the show’s first runner-up. A year later, the great British public crowned super sweet trolley dolly Brian Dowling as the victor of the following series. Long before Caitlyn Jenner became the global trans role model we all know and love, viewers embraced Portuguese trans woman Nadia Almada after making her the worthy winner of 2005’s series.
Big Brother and its celebrity spin off, Celebrity Big Brother, continues to represent all aspects of the community. However, this summer’s series of CBB captivated the world through the unlikely but heart-warming relationship between handsome gay hottie Austin Armacost and gorgeous star of The Apprentice, James Hill.
A gay guy and straight guy being mates may not be a big deal to most, but watching the pair share a bed, indulge in ‘man tubs’ and enjoy intense personal conversations, was simply heart-warming and, in its own way, progressive. Like a gay version of When Harry Met Sally, their platonic relationship became the subject of much debate about whether gay and straight men can really be just friends. But as time went on James and Austin proved they absolutely could, and this award celebrates the fascinating dynamic between these two very different men. Never before have gay and straight relationships been studied so deeply by a mainstream audience.
We’ve got a full, in-depth and at times very cheeky interview with the pair in the special Awards issue of Attitude, out to download from 11pm tonight (Wed October 14) from attitudedigital.co.uk and in shops tomorrow. Tonight, at the 2015 Attitude Awards in association with Virgin Holidays, we’re thrilled to present James and Austin with the TV Moment of the Year award. Congrats, lads!
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In pics: CBB’s James and Austin pair up for steamy shower routine