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ITV Pridecast is the podcast about all things LGBT+ brought to you by ITV. Join Liam McConkey where he speaks to people from across the community and finds out where...
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ITV Pridecast is the podcast about all things LGBT+ brought to you by ITV. Join Liam McConkey where he speaks to people from across the community and finds out where they are on their journey. As well as that, listen for all the latest LGBT+ news, events, and the things that matter to you.
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ITV Pridecast
ITV Pridecast
Being the Executive Producer on the Netflix hit show, Heartstopper (with Patrick Walters)
28 JUN 2024 · In the latest episode of the ITV Pridecast, Liam McConkey and Jack Marshall catch up with Patrick Walters, the executive producer behind the highly successful Netflix series Heartstopper.
Walters, who has been a pivotal force at See-Saw Films which produces the series, has steered the show's first two seasons to critical acclaim. As anticipation builds for the next instalment, premiering in the autumn of this year, Walters shares an insight into his journey, the collaborative process to make Heartstopper, and the importance of representation in media.
Walters has been at the helm of Heartstopper since its inception. His collaboration with Alice Oseman, the creator of the graphic novels, which the series it’s based on, has been instrumental in translating the characters and their stories to the screen. It’s clear that Walters and Oseman have sought to stay true to the vision of the novels while bringing it to life in a way that resonates with so many audiences.
During the show Walters also shared insights into the casting process and the off-screen dynamics among the actors. He emphasised that, seeking those who not only fit the roles but also brought a sense of authenticity and passion to their performances has been essential to the success of the show. The chemistry seen on-screen is a reflection of the genuine friendships and camaraderie among the cast members, which he says has been wonderful to witness.
As we look forward to the third season, Walters provided a glimpse of what's to come. The new season will explore new dimensions of the characters' lives and relationships, diving deeper into their stories at a more mature part of their adolescent development. As we countdown to the new season, it's clear that Walters and his team remain committed to delivering a series that continues to inspire and entertain and show that LGBTQ+ content can be a huge hit.
The history of ITV Pride
27 FEB 2024 · - Warning: This episode includes swearing and references to homophobic slurs which some listeners may find upsetting.
With celebrations ongoing for LGBTQ+ History Month, the latest ITV Pridecast looks back at the history of the ITV Pride network and the people who’ve shaped it into what it is today.
Since 2012, ITV has had a dedicated network to support and champion LGBTQ+ colleagues across the company. On this episode Liam starts off by chatting with Andy Collinson, one of the founders of ITV Pride and the network’s first chair. He discusses why he decided to set up the group and why promoting diversity and inclusion has helped in making ITV a more representative place to work. As well as his commitment to support LGBTQ+ colleagues, Andy also chats about the many roles he had whilst working as a journalist at ITV Wales.
On top of that Liam also chats with AJ Dean, one of ITV Pride’s most supportive allies. AJ is a Publicity and Engagement Manager for ITV in the North and works closely with the teams at Emmerdale and Coronation Street. She chats about how she first got involved with supporting ITV Pride through her friendship with the legendary Coronation Street creator, Tony Warren. AJ discusses how Tony shared stories to her about growing up as a gay man in Manchester and the difficulties he faced. She also talks about how she helped organise ITV’s attendance at Manchester Pride for the first time and how proud she felt that Tony Warren got to see Coronation Street being represented at the event.
Liam’s final guest on the show is Matt Scarff, the original host of the ITV Pridecast. Matt has now moved onto working for BAFTA but during the show he shares his happy memories of working for ITV and his inspiration in creating the ITV Pridecast. As well as chatting about the fun he had in hosting the Pridecast with his co-host, Georgina Marcantonio, Matt also talks about becoming the chair of the ITV Pride network and the work he did to promote diversity and inclusion. He also discusses the important role ITV Pride has in making colleagues aware of the issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community and creating a safe space for people across the business.
What does it mean to be non-binary? (with Ali Hannon)
17 JAN 2024 · In the latest ITV Pridecast Liam chats to Ali Hannon about their story of being non-binary. Ali also talks about trying to create more inclusive spaces for people to be their true authentic selves and looking beyond the binds of gender norms and expectations.
In recent times the wider public has become more aware of people who identify as non-binary. With the likes of high profile figures like Sam Smith and Jonathan Van Ness coming out, it has put the spotlight on what it means to be non-binary. The LGBTQ+ charity https://www.stonewall.org.uk/defines non-binary as ‘an umbrella term for people whose gender identity doesn’t sit comfortably with that of man or woman’. For some non-binary people, this leads them to reject those descriptions completely and ultimately they choose to use the pronouns they/them instead of he/him or she/her.
On the face of it, questioning or rejecting a specific gender identity can seem confusing and going against the ‘norm’ in society. Gender is something society prescribes to us at birth and many of us live our lives unconsciously accepting the expectations and connotations that come with gender. The behaviour expected of gender has of course become entrenched over time, which in turn has created expectations of how a ‘man’ and ‘woman’ is expected to behave.
In that case, gender can be rather inflexible when it comes to ways of behaving and creates parameters which might not be fully akin to a person’s true authentic self. But for people who identify as non-binary, they do not feel that the expectations of gender fit with them and therefore they choose not to identify in this way or uphold the stereotypes or connotations of gender.
One aspect around being non-binary that can be confusing for people who don’t identify in this way, is separating the issue of gender from sex. This is where more work is needed if society is to have a greater understanding of this topic. According to the Council of Europe’s website, sex refers to ‘the different biological and physiological characteristics of males and females, such as reproductive organs, chromosomes, hormones, etc. Gender refers to "the socially constructed characteristics of women and men – such as norms, roles and relationships of and between groups of women and men.’
On this ITV Pridecast, Liam McConkey is joined by Ali Hannon to chat more about being non-binary. For Ali, they felt they didn’t fit into either expectations that come with being a ‘man’ or a ‘woman’ and decided that being non-binary was a better fit for their identity. Through their business, Leading Culture, Ali works to challenge the perceptions and stereotypes that come with gender in order to help companies create inclusive environments where staff can flourish as their authentic selves.
In the episode, Ali talks about how they came to realise they’re non-binary and how important the support is they’ve had from those closest to them. They also discuss why the conversation around expectations of gender must be opened up and challenged. That is especially the case if gender norms start to cause someone harm in their life, which Ali very poignantly shares their own experience of.
The transcript of this episode is available at: https://storage.googleapis.com/imagehosting1/All%20Purpose/ITV%20Pridecast%20-%20Ali%20Hannon.pdf
Why we should all get regularly tested for HIV
14 DEC 2023 · On this episode of the ITV Pridecast, Liam McConkey visits the Coronation Street Visitor Experience in Media City to chat with Naomi Sloyan, one of the soap’s location managers, about living with HIV. Alongside Naomi is Darren Knight from the George House Trust, the charity which offers advice and support on anything to do with HIV. Both discuss the importance of testing and how effective HIV treatment is helping peoplelive long and healthy lives.
In 2022, 39 million people across the globe were living with HIV. The treatment for and awareness of the condition has significantly changed over the years, but even with effective medication, stigma and misconceptions still exist about the virus.
For a long time, HIV has often been stereotyped as a condition affecting mainly gay or bisexual men. But now in some parts of the UK the number of new HIV diagnoses among heterosexual people is higher than it is for gay and bisexual men.
Naomi Sloyan knows just how crucial it is to get tested for HIV. In 2014 she unknowingly contracted the virus after being in a brief relationship with a man. However it wasn’t until several years later that she started showing symptoms and was diagnosed with HIV in March 2018.
In that period between her contracting HIV and then being diagnosed with it, Naomi had not been sexually active, but says if she had it would’ve been picked up sooner because she would’ve had sexual health tests done. But despite being very ill for around a year before her diagnosis, medical professionals did not think to test her for HIV. That was until one consultant who was trying to work out what was making her unwell, recommended a test.
After taking one Naomi’s results came back positive and she was finally able to know what had been causing her to be so ill. Soon after she started receiving effective treatment from the sexual health clinic and within two months she was back at work as a location manager at Coronation Street, something she’s been doing for 25 years.
Naomi shares her story with Liam McConkey on this ITV Pridecast which was recorded in the run-up to World AIDS Day on 1st December. She discusses why all people should go and get regularly tested for HIV and no one should assume that they cannot contract it. Naomi also talks about the support out there for people when they get diagnosed and why it’s vital to understand what it means to be undetectable and untransmittable (U=U).
Joining them on the Pridecast is Darren Knight, the CEO of the George House Trust. The charity has been helping support people with HIV since 1985 and is based in the north east of England. The organisation says its purpose is to inspire people living with HIV to live healthy and confident lives. Darren shares how people can do just that and the support his charity and many others provide to anyone affected by HIV.
He also chats about the importance of understanding the terminology in this subject area, especially regarding the difference between HIV and AIDs and what it means to be U=U. As well as that, Darren talks about the stigma for people with HIV and how we must continue to challenge it.
If you want any more information on anything to do with HIV, visit the websites below which offer a range of information and support:
- George House Trust: https://ght.org.uk/
- World AIDS Day: https://worldaidsday.org/
- Terrence Higgins Trust: https://www.tht.org.uk/
- NHS information on HIV: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hiv-and-aids/
Being gay and a professional footballer (with Zander Murray)
11 OCT 2023 · A warning this episode refers to homophobic slurs that some listeners may find upsetting.
Zander Murray lives and breathes football. The 31-year-old from Glasgow currently plays for the Scottish League Two club, Bonnyrigg Rose, as a striker. Last year he gained considerable attention, having scored his 100th career goal. However that wasn’t the only reason he found himself in the media spotlight. In September 2022, Zander decided to go public about being gay, becoming the first out professional footballer in Scotland since Justin Fashanu. On National Coming Out Day for 2023, Zander shares his story on the ITV Pridecast.
Zander opened up about his sexuality only months after 18 year-old Blackpool striker Jake Daniels did the same. Both men are part of just a handful of footballers in the world who are openly gay, and of that very small number, none find themselves in the higher leagues of football’s elite. The sport has sadly held onto a legacy of homophobia and discrimination, both on-and-off the pitch, with many in the game still fearful of coming out and the reaction they will get from both the media as well as fans.
For Zander though, he could no longer keep his sexuality a secret. Since coming out, and alongside his career as a footballer, he has now taken on an ambassador role, where he’s trying to create an environment where LGBTQ+ players can comfortably be themselves and live authentically.
He is hoping we will reach a day where a male footballer coming out won’t make the news headlines. Zander believes it’s about time that the men’s game takes inspiration from women’s football, where there is far greater inclusivity for LGBTQ+ players. It’s only then he believes that football will have caught up with wider society and can become a safe space for any player. Joining Liam McConkey to co-host this episode is Jamie Summers who is a journalist for ITV News in London.
From the Coronation Street cobbles to championing bisexual awareness (with Dolly-Rose Campbell)
22 SEP 2023 · As Coronation Street’s Gemma Winter-Brown, it would be an understatement to say the last nine years have been a whirlwind for Dolly-Rose Campbell. She is the latest guest on the ITV Pridecast and discusses her role in Corrie and also being bisexual and the importance of bi-visibility.
Arriving in the soap in 2014 for an initial six episodes, Dolly-Rose introduced us to the boisterous bundle of energy that is of course Gemma. As a friend of Kylie Platt, Gemma started life on the nation’s favourite street by bringing turmoil to the door of the Platt family, alongside cunning drug-dealer Callum Logan.
Despite an abrupt arrival into Weatherfield, over time the rowdy and rather unruly Gemma became a regular fixture, making friends with the most unlikely characters, including Corrie legends Rita Tanner and Norris Cole. Under their wing, Gemma finds herself distancing herself from the troublesome Eccleston estate, becoming a firm favourite on the cobbles of Coronation Street.
As time goes on, Gemma starts to work alongside Chesney Brown at the kebab shop, Prima Doner. After jumping from one bad relationship to another, both then eventually end up together and to their shock - and that of the nation - Gemma falls pregnant with quadruplets. Not only does that create soap history, writers decide that one of the babies will be deaf, allowing both Gemma, and in turn Dolly-Rose, to learn sign language and demonstrate the importance of having this kind of representation on the show.
Earlier this year, Dolly-Rose once again made Corrie history by tying the knot with Chesney, wearing a two-metre wide orange dress that even had a seven-metre long train. And not only that, Gemma lit up the aisle with fairy lights attached to her dress. Dolly-Rose herself played an integral part in the dress’ design, wanting something befitting of Gemma’s flamboyant character. And she knew just how that could be achieved. She convinced the writers to allow Manchester Drag Queen, Liquorice Black, to design and make the outrageous but very beautiful gown, something which is now on display at the Coronation Street Exhibition museum, for all to see.
For Dolly-Rose, it was important to have a Drag Queen create such an iconic garment in order to showcase the artistry and talent of many in the LGBTQ+ community. Creating that space for visibility is incredibly important to Dolly-Rose and it’s something she’s been keen to do when raising awareness about bisexuality.
She says she knew early on in life that she was bisexual and it was actually to her surprise that everyone else wasn’t. For her, celebrations and recognition around bi-visibility is crucial if perceptions around bisexuality are to be changed and accepted in society. Joining Liam to co-host this episode is Aimée Metcalf, who works as a Junior Creative on Brand Licensing at ITV.
Bringing a lighter side to TV news and interviewing the world’s most famous celebrities (with Richard Arnold)
31 AUG 2023 · On a daily basis, Richard Arnold is welcomed into people’s homes across the UK when he brings the entertainment and showbiz news to ITV’s Good Morning Britain. He’s been providing the lighter side to British breakfast television for more than twenty years with his great warmth, and of course his humour. On this ITV Pridecast, he chats to Liam McConkey about his career during the last two decades and shares some of the incredible stories about the people he’s met along the way.
Richard first became a household name on our screens in 1997 on GMTV, when at around 07:50 each morning he would present ‘Pick of the Day’- a rundown of some of the best things on TV that evening. That regular feature saw him referred to as the ‘ten-to-eight boy’, and for many people he became part of the fixtures and fittings of their daily routines. Richard continues to play that role now on Good Morning Britain as the show’s Entertainment Editor and has done so for almost a decade.
During his time reporting on entertainment news he’s not only critiqued an array of television programmes, he’s also interviewed some of the most famous people on the planet. From stars of the “small screen” to those in Hollywood, Richard has chatted with, as well as learnt from, some of the best in showbusiness. During this episode he shares stories of having his lip-wiped by the one and only Barbra Striesand, to receiving great praise from the late Sir Michael Parkinson on his interview technique and style.
In the years Richard has been reviewing TV and films, he says he’s also seen how the nature of dramas have changed and this is certainly so when there’s an LGBTQ+ storyline involved. As a gay man himself, he says there’s been a significant shift in the response from audiences towards LGBTQ+ characters. He recalls the tabloid outrage when Colin famously kissed Barry with a peck on the forehead in the 1987 episode of Eastenders, which made history as the first ever gay kiss in a UK soap opera. Fast-forward to today, and Richard says TV and film is leading the way in producing LGBTQ+ content for so many audiences to watch and love, which is making a big difference in people’s lives.
You can watch Richard on weekday mornings on Good Morning Britain on ITV1.
The gay Evangelical campaigning to end so-called “conversion therapy” (with Jayne Ozanne)
30 JUL 2023 · Being LGBTQ+ and a person of faith might appear somewhat at odds with one another. The prejudice and discrimination that’s often projected onto members of the LGBTQ+ community by religions all over the world can lead many to turn away from faith. In the UK especially, and with regards to Christianity in particular, more and more people appear to be choosing a different path. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/culturalidentity/religion/bulletins/religionenglandandwales/census2021, less than half of the population in England and Wales described themselves as Christian and those with ‘no religion’ was the second most common response.
However for someone like Jayne Ozanne, faith is something at the centre of her life. She describes herself as a gay Evangelical and works to try and ensure all LGBTQ+ people feel a sense of belonging and inclusion when it comes to their faith. For Jayne, the church must do so much more to make everyone feel included, or it risks creating its own demise. She chats to Liam McConkey and Dougie Robertson in this ITV Pridecast episode about embracing her identity as a gay Christian and wanting to inspire others that a person’s sexuality and religion can coexist without having to shun one for the other.
One way in which people have often tried to suppress their sexuality in favour of their faith is through the practice of so-called “conversion therapy.” This is an area that Jayne has taken a keen interest in and she is currently the founder and chair of the UK’s Ban on Conversion Therapy. The LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall, defines conversion therapy as ‘any intervention that seeks to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.’ It adds, ‘conversion therapies work towards one goal and that goal is to ‘cure’ someone from being lesbian, gay, bi, trans, ace, intersex and/or queer.’
The whole issue of conversion therapy gained significant media attention in 2018 when ITV News reporter, Paul Brand, showed that https://www.itv.com/news/2018-11-12/an-itv-news-undercover-investigation-exposes-the-uk-church-that-claims-you-dont-have-to-be-gay. That led to calls for it to end, with even the Prime Minister at the time, Theresa May, vowing to ban it saying conversion therapy “had no place in modern Britain.”
Five years on and three different Prime Ministers, conversion therapy is still not illegal in the UK. There have been delays and u-turns on the policy but in June 2023, the UK Government said a bill was ready to be presented to Parliament. That however, appears to have a significant loophole that would allow conversion therapy to continue if a person volunteered for it. In response, the UK Government says it’s “committed to protecting people at risk from conversion practices” and scrutiny of the bill will allow for analysis and the addressing of any “risk of unintended impacts.”
For Jayne, the u-turns and delays on a potential ban led her to resign from the government’s LGBT Advisory Panel in 2021 due to its slow progress. Having gone through conversion therapy herself, Jayne says this long overdue ban is needed if people are to be finally protected from the harm that the practice can cause.
It’s a topic that Dougie also has first-hand experience of. He grew up in a fundamentalist religious background which has strict ideals, and being gay certainly wasn’t one of them. In https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/gay-conversion-therapy-cure-religious-parents-teenager-prayer-lgbt-action-plan-a8428656.html, Dougie spoke very openly and movingly of spending years trying to ‘pray the gay away’ and if he’d been offered conversion therapy he would have taken it. For him now, Christianity is no longer a part of his life but he says he fully supports the work of people like Jayne who are trying to create a much more inclusive church that does not practice or act as the facilitator for conversion therapy.
Support networks
https://galop.org.uk/- it works to support victims and survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence, hate crime, honour-based abuse, forced marriage and conversion therapy. Call on 0800 999 5428. There’s a free online chat service on their website or email: https://galop.org.uk
https://mermaidsuk.org.uk/contact-us/ - supports transgender, nonbinary and gender-diverse children and younger people until their 20th birthday as well as their families. Contact on 0808 801 0400 or email https://mermaidsuk.org.uk
https://lgbt.foundation/ - offers a range of support to LGBTQ+ people, which includes wellbeing help and support. Contact on 0345 330 3030 or email helpline@lgbt.foundation
https://switchboard.lgbt/- offers advice and support to LGBTQ+ people including a helpline and its email and web-chat service. Call 0300 330 0630 or email hello@switchboard.lgbt
ITV Pride Day: Celebrating Pride in 2023
29 JUN 2023 · Every year ITV now has its very own Pride Day and it’s a chance to celebrate and support LGBTQ+ people across the company and in the wider community. This year, ITV Pride Day was held at the start of Pride month in June and as part of the celebrations, a live ITV Pridecast was recorded with some of those from across the company to discuss why they’re proud to be who they are.
Joining Liam McConkey for this special edition of the podcast is Paul Brand, the UK Editor of ITV News and presenter of the Tonight programme. Jess Clayton, a Digital Trainee Journalist at ITV Cymru Wales. Harry Tan, the Senior Vice President of Marketing and Digital Products at ITV Studios. And Stephen Bailey, a stand-up comedian and regular contributor on the Laura Whitmore Breakfast Show.
During Pride month and all through the summer, Pride events will be taking place across the globe. They are a chance for members of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies to come together and celebrate but also to show solidarity and a reminder that rights cannot be taken for granted.
Discrimination and even hatred towards LGBTQ+ people still exists in many countries across the world and even in Britain, people’s rights are being tested. The Rainbow Map and Index ranks all 49 countries in Europe in order of their LGBTQ+ “legal and policy” rights and has done so since 2009. Up until 2015, the UK regularly found itself in top spot as the most LGBTQ+ friendly place in Europe. However, now in 2023 it has fallen to 17th position.
If anything, what this shows is the importance of Pride and the power it has in championing LGBTQ+ people. Pride first began as a protest and those roots are something that cannot be forgotten, especially when the community is facing such testing times today.
Becoming an icon: Writing music to help me embrace my identity as a trans man (with Dylan And The Moon)
17 MAY 2023 · For most of us when we hear the word talent show, our minds jump to Britain’s Got Talent, the X-Factor or even Pop Idol, but now a new show has hit our TV screens…Project Icon on BBC Three is the brainchild of chart-topping singer Jason Derulo. Looking to find the UK’s next music star, Derulo is also a judge on the show alongside singer-songwriter Becky Hill and music manager Frank Harris.
The winner of the show’s first series is 29-year-old Dylan And The Moon and he joins Liam McConkey and Jo Lewis on the latest ITV Pridecast. Dylan has been singing for over 20 years and after winning Project Icon he’s hoping his dreams of sharing his music with thousands of people will now become a reality.
Dylan’s music style is a mix of jukebox rock ‘n’ roll with modern indie-guitar pop and during the show, we get to see why his creative talent wowed the judges. We also find out that Dylan’s songwriting has been pivotal in helping him embrace his identity as a trans man.
Dylan began his transition in 2020 and says it’s his music that’s helped him vocalise his true self. He says Project Icon did a brilliant job in allowing him to share his story and he’s received incredible support from viewers. By being a proud and visible trans man, Dyan hopes this will create a ripple effect and inspire others to embrace who they really are.
This ITV Pridecast episode with Dylan coincides with the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT) on 17th May. The day is now celebrated each year and aims to raise awareness of the violence inflicted towards LGBTQ+ people across the globe.
First established in 2004, the day is supported by more than 130 countries and is even recognised in 37 countries where same-sex acts are still illegal. At present, 64 countries in the world have laws criminalising homosexuality and out of the 53 nations in the Commonwealth, 29 have laws which deem homosexuality as illegal.
In some countries the death penalty is even the punishment for those caught performing same-sex acts. These countries include Saudi Arabia, Iran, Yemen, Mauritania and Brunei, among others.
As well as being supported by many states across the globe, IDAHOBIT is also recognised by international organisations, including the European Parliament and the United Nations. The 17th May was chosen to celebrate IDAHOBIT, as this was the day the World Health Organisation declassified homosexuality as a mental disorder in 1990.
More information about IDAHOBIT can be found on its https://may17.org/
Watch Dylan Holloway’s performance on Project Icon on https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0f5x1b3
Listen to more of Dylan’s music on https://open.spotify.com/artist/3R5ofhh1bKZBJqbNWQmSKy
And you can follow Dylan And The Moon on https://www.instagram.com/dylanandthemoon/
The transcript of this episode is available at: https://storage.googleapis.com/imagehosting1/All%20Purpose/ITV%20Pridecast%20-%20Dylan%20And%20The%20Moon.pdf
ITV Pridecast is the podcast about all things LGBT+ brought to you by ITV. Join Liam McConkey where he speaks to people from across the community and finds out where...
show more
ITV Pridecast is the podcast about all things LGBT+ brought to you by ITV. Join Liam McConkey where he speaks to people from across the community and finds out where they are on their journey. As well as that, listen for all the latest LGBT+ news, events, and the things that matter to you.
show less
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