‘In the Flesh’ star Luke Newberry joins E4’s Banana

In the Flesh

star Luke Newberry has been cast in E4’s new eight-part gay drama series Banana.

The 24-year-old actor will star in one of the drama’s standalone 30-minute episodes as Josh, a young law student who has to confront his past.

Newberry’s character will first appear in the show’s Channel 4 companion series Cucumber, before his story is fully explored in a later episode of Banana.

Newberry received a BAFTA nomination earlier this year for his performance as Kieran Walker, a former zombie who is probably gay, in BBC Three’s acclaimed drama In the Flesh.

Describing Banana earlier this year, creator Russel T Davies said: “The joy of Banana is in the beautiful, charming, witty and sometimes heart breaking stories of a wide variety of characters, be they gay, lesbian, transgender or anything in-between. The fact we have a bunch of brilliant and wildly talented young people in it, and making it, will give it even more bite and an exciting edge.”

Filming is now underway in Manchester, where the events of Banana take place. Andrew Hayden-Smith, who is also set to appear in the series, recently shared the first picture from the show’s set – click here to see it.

Meanwhile, Rufus Hound and Ardal O’Hanlon have recently joined the cast of companion series Cucumber – click here to find out more.