Harvey: TV channels “aren’t sure how to market” gay shows
By Will Stroude
Jonathan Harvey has said that TV channels still “aren’t sure how to market” shows which have gay people at their centre.
Harvey wrote 1993’s groundbreaking play-turned-movie Beautiful Thing, about two inner city gay teenagers who fall in love, and went on to create two BBC sitcoms with prominent gay characters, Gimme Gimme Gimme and Beautiful People. He has also been a member of the Coronation Street writing team since 2004.
However, the 46-year-old writer argues that outside of the primetime soaps, British televison still lacks shows that have central gay characters.
“Apart from soaps I’d be hard pushed to think of too many British dramas with gay characters at the centre of them,” Harvey says in the latest issue of Attitude. “And often when you make TV that has gay people at the centre of it, the channels aren’t sure how to market it.”
“When I did Beautiful People on BBC2 – which had two gay teenagers at the centre of it – it was out at the same time as Gavin and Stacey, which was being plugged everywhere while I only saw one advert for my show. Some of the actors didn’t even know it was on!”
Harvey’s comments echo those of screenwriter Russell T Davies, who told Attitude last month that the ratings decline of mainstream soaps could have an adverse effect on gay representation on British TV. Read more here.
Harvey also talks about his experiences in the TV industry as a gay writer and the critical reaction to his sitcom Gimme Gimme Gimme, which ran for three series between 1999-2001 and attracted criticism from some viewers over James Dreyfus’ portrayal of effeminate gay character Tom.
The full interview can be found in the new issue of Attitude, which features Tom Daley on the cover and is available to download now at pocketmags.com/attitude or to order via post at newsstand.co.uk/attitude. You’ll be able to pick up a copy in shops from next Wednesday (July 23).