Gays on TV: Your guide to the week’s best LGBTQ TV and film

Words: Hugh Kaye

Having garnered huge praise on its release, Bohemian Rhapsody (Sky Movies Premiere, Saturday 21 Sept, 8pm) finally reaches TV screens.

For the one or two of you who don’t know, Rami Malek won an Oscar for his portrayal of legendary Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, although some fans have pointed out that the story has been somewhat sanitised.

Staying with the music theme, there are classic performances from Elton John and David Bowie in The Old Grey Whistle Test: ’70s Gold (BBC4, Fri Sept 27, 10pm).

Meanwhile, RuPaul is one of the guest as The Graham Norton Show (BBC1, Fri 27 Sept, 10.35pm) returns for a new series.

Mama Ru will be talking about bringing Drag Race to our shores. Elsewhere, gay funnyman Stephen K Amos is one of the guests on QI (BBC2, Fri 27 Sept, 10pm).

On a more serious note, a drag queen is worried that being bipolar will have a negative effect on her love life so makes an appointment at The Sex Clinic (C4, Weds 25 Sept, 11.05pm). A male stripper also needs help with a rash…. That might be interesting!

And for those of you who can’t get enough of the sparkly outfits, try Strictly: It Takes Two (BBC1, Mon 23 Sept, 5.15pm) where Rylan Clark-Neal will be on hand with all the gossip from behind the scenes of the main show.

Two films to finish with: first there’s The Talented Mr Ripley (BBC2, Sat 21 Sept, 11.15pm). Although the gay story takes a bit of a back seat to the other goings-on, no one can forget the Matt Damon bathroom scene. Lucky Gwyneth Paltrow!

Finally, one for our lesbian readers. Thelma (C4, Weds 25 Sept, 2.20am) focuses on a religious student whose repressed sexuality awakened by a university classmate.

Over on Netflix, catch up with season eight of Shameless USA with Cameron Monaghan – brilliant as the Joker character in Gotham – as gay brother Ian.