ITV Pridecast

Over the last few years we’ve all become more used to seeing trans issues dominate the headlines. The discussion has become part of our political discourse in which decision-makers are using it to create debate and sometimes even division. In such instances, trans people have been portrayed in a negative way, with the conversation around trans issues becoming incredibly heated and toxic. 

Any trans person in the public spotlight undoubtedly has to face the challenges and attention  that currently surround this issue. Jake and Hannah Graf know that more than most. As the UK’s most visible trans couple, their journey has been widely followed and publicised and they have had to put up with intense scrutiny of their relationship. 

But for them it’s about changing the narrative around trans issues and showing they, like so many others, just want to go about their lives without fear or judgement. Sharing their story on the ITV Pridecast, they chat to Liam McConkey about working to champion the rights of the trans community and the wider LGBTQ+ community.

During the episode they talk about how they both individually went through their transitions and what life was like when they were finally able to be their true selves. Hannah discusses coming out as one of the highest ranking transgender soldiers in the British Army and Jake chats about being a film director, writer and actor and having starred in films like The Danish Girl. 

They both also talk about the joys of getting married as well as having their two young daughters and showing the rest of society they can live an ordinary life like anyone else. You can find out more about some of the work Jake and Hannah do by going to their website www.jakeandhannahgraf.com

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 ofHeartstoppersince 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.

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.

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.

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. In the 2021 census, 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 the practice was still taking place in parts of the UK. 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 an article for The Independent in 2018, 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...

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.

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 website

Watch Dylan Holloway’s performance on Project Icon on BBC iPlayer

Listen to more of Dylan’s music on Spotify

And you can follow Dylan And The Moon on Instagram

The transcript of this episode is available at: https://storage.googleapis.com/imagehosting1/All%20Purpose/ITV%20Pridecast%20-%20Dylan%20And%20The%20Moon.pdf

For many LGBTQ+ people, finding a space where you can meet fellow members of the community can be incredibly liberating and powerful. Going to a place where you can socialise with those with shared life-experiences can be so fulfilling, especially when many LGBTQ+ people have to balance their authentic identity within a straight-leaning society. For Polly Shute and Peach Bond, this is the foundation of their work in providing safe spaces to lesbians, queer women and non-binary folk across the UK. As part of ITV’s coverage of Lesbian Visibility Week 2023 (24th-30th April), Polly and Peach join ITV Pride Co-Chair, Jo Lewis, to discuss the need for more varied spaces for LGBTQ+ women and non-binary people and the importance of Lesbian Visibility Week itself.

The annual event run by Diva and Stonewall recognises, celebrates and supports LGBTQ+ women and non-binary people, including those from other under-represented groups, such as black and ethnic minorities, those from a religious background, or those who have a disability or are neurodiverse. The term lesbian refers to a woman who has a romantic and/or sexual orientation towards women. Some non-binary people may also identify with this term. LVW celebrates all those that may identify in this way; such as lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, transgender, non-binary, queer, intersex and asexual individuals.

On this episode of the ITV Pridecast Polly and Peach tell Jo about their personal journeys into the LGBTQ+ community and why they spend an incredible amount of their free time helping to create spaces for all marginalised groups within the LGBTQ+ community. They also chat about the importance of feeling visible both in and out of the workplace and what lesbian and queer women want to see more of when it comes to representation and safe, inclusive spaces.

Polly’s Out & About Community has an outreach of around 15,000 people across various digital channels, creating and curating day, evening and extended weekend events and experiences across the UK. Out & About covers a range of events, such as the monthly 200-person Southbank Surfing social, which takes place in London and Manchester. Another event being the Out & Wild Festival which is held in Wales and is the UK’s only Wellness and Experience festival.

Similarly, Peach’s social group, Lesbian & Queer Women (LQW) spans the UK, covering London, Kent, The Midlands, Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle and Sunderland. LQW has attendees of all ages, some of which join online from overseas. With various digital platforms, Meet Up groups and a mailing list, LQW reaches over 13,000 lesbian, queer and non-binary individuals. LQW runs a whole host of meet ups and social events varying in size, including group weekend breaks to different cities, gallery trips, meals out, nights out, walks and summertime picnics.

Links to the groups that Polly and Peach mention in this Pridecast episode:

-Out and wild:
https://outandwild.co.uk/

-Southbank Surfing:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/southbanksurfing/?locale=en_GB

-Out and about community:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/www.beoutandabout.co.uk/

-LQW:
www.wearelqw.com

-London Lesbians and Queer Womxn MeetUp group:
https://www.meetup.com/wearelqw-london/

-Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds Lesbians & Queer Womxn

On the ITV Pridecast for March, Issah Nalzaro joins Liam McConkey for this episode. Issah has been at ITV for the past two years and during that time he has worked within the Internal Communications department for the business. His main role is to make sure all employees at ITV are kept up-to-date with the content the company is producing as well as opportunities and initiatives colleagues can get involved with. Alongside his day job, Issah is also a member of the ITV Pride network and recently became assistant-chair of the group.

Being a gay man, who was born in Saudi Arabia, with Filipino parents, Issah is very conscious of the intersections that exist within his own life and he is determined to make sure there is a broad and open conversation around intersectionality in the workplace. He also wants to make sure that people with a range of backgrounds and identities feel the ITV Pride network provides them with a safe space to be their authentic selves.

Outside of work, Issah tells Liam about his love of musical theatre and how the genre has played a big part in allowing him to embrace his true self. For many people, musical theatre can act as a form of solace and escapism. Issah feels this is especially so for many LGBTQ+ people and he says musical theatre is really starting to give a platform to many from the community. He discusses how his favourite musical, Six, which is a musical comedy about Henry VIII’s six wives, has someone who is non-binary playing the part of Anne Boleyn and how it’s incredibly progressive.

Issah also discusses how he hopes TV can push even further to tell the stories of people with diverse backgrounds and how there is still much work to do to achieve that. For him, this is where ITV’s diversity and inclusion networks play a huge role in making sure the voices of a range of people are heard.

To mark the start of LGBTQ+ History Month the ITV Pridecast is back and joining Liam McConkey for this episode is none other than screenwriter Russell T Davies and TV producer Nicola Shindler. The duo have worked on an array of dramas together including, Queer as folk and It’s a Sin. Now they’re back working on the muchly anticipated ITVX mini series, Nolly.

Davies and Shindler are known for giving a voice to characters who are often stripped of it and this couldn’t be more true of Nolly. Noele Gordon, played by multi-award winning actor, Helena Bonham Carter, was the star of the hit soap opera, Crossroads. At the height of her career and the show’s success, Nolly, without any warning was unceremoniously axed from the soap. She never found out why she was sacked by the bosses at ATV, but it was a decision made by a group of male executives, towards a woman working at a time of dreadful sexism.

For Nolly, it must have been a bitter blow, especially after all she did in helping to set up ATV and what we now call daytime television. Said to be a pioneer of her day, Nolly was also a history-maker in that she was the first woman on TV to interview a British Prime Minister and has even been credited as the first woman to be seen on colour TV. Now Davies and Shindler want to shine a light on what happened to Nolly and remind people of the important part she played in the development of British Television. Nolly is available to stream on ITVX from Thursday 2nd February.

During this ITV Pridecast, Liam also chats with Davies and Shindler about some of their other productions and the impact they’ve had on the LGBTQ+ community. The pair first worked together over two decades ago when they produced the groundbreaking hit Queer as folk. The Channel 4 series told the story of three gay men living around Manchester’s Canal Street and showed the fun experienced by many people visiting the city’s gay village at that time.

Fast forward two decades and Davies and Shindler worked together to write and produce the incredibly moving, It’s a Sin. The series depicts the lives of a group of gay men who move to London during the 1980s and live through the crisis brought on by HIV/AIDs. It received critical acclaim for its incredibly powerful scenes and its accurate depiction of the epidemic. The show which aired on Channel 4 at the start of 2021, led to an upsurge in HIV testing and has done amazing things to open up the conversation about the virus.

Both Queer as Folk and It’s a Sin are available to stream on both Channel 4 and Netlfix.

On 1st December each year, many people across the globe will stop and remember the millions who have died from an AIDS-related illness. As well as this, World AIDS Day is also a chance for people to support those who are still living with HIV and to raise awareness that much more still needs to be done to fight this illness.

There are currently around 38 million people across the world who have HIV, with more than 100,000 of those in the UK. Since the virus was first identified in 1984, more than 35 million people have died of HIV or an AIDS-related illness, making it one of the most fatal pandemics in human history.

On top of this, people with HIV have had to contend with the stigma of having the virus. This stigma has often arisen because of society’s lack of information on the illness or moral judgements on how someone may have contracted it. HIV is generally transmitted through sex and can also be linked to activities like injecting drugs.

This stigma has often denied so many people a right to talk about their condition and has meant many have died with a sense of shame. However, an organisation in the UK called the National HIV Story Trust is working to give all those who have the virus and those who died from it a voice to share their experience. Chris Sandford from the National HIV Story Trust, spent over four decades campaigning for more support for those living with HIV and he is the guest for this ITV Pridecast.

Liam McConkey recorded this interview with Chris in mid-November 2022, for World AIDS Day on 1st December. Since that recording however, Chris has very sadly passed away. He did not die of HIV but his family and colleagues still wanted this episode to be broadcast on World AIDS Day, as a tribute to the work he did championing the rights of people with HIV across the world.

During the episode Chris discusses what it was like to find out he had contracted HIV and what the stigma was like during the 1980s and 1990s. He also very movingly recalls supporting his partner who also had HIV at the time and shares the fears of a period when there wasn’t any effective treatment available.

Whilst working at the National HIV Story Trust, Chris was the Director of Education and would often go into schools, colleges and universities to create greater awareness and understanding of HIV. By sharing his story so openly, Chris made a huge difference in challenging the stigma around HIV and has undoubtedly improved the lives of so many who still live with the virus.

For more information about HIV and organisations supporting those with the virus, here are some relevant links:

-NHS Overview of HIV & AIDs - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hiv-and-aids/
The NHS website gives an overview of what HIV is, including the symptoms, treatment and prevention of the virus.

-Terrence Higgins Trust - https://www.tht.org.uk/
The THT provides support to anyone living with HIV and offers information on taking care of your sexual health. THT can also provide details on using PrEP, which is highly effective at reducing the risk of contracting HIV.

-World AIDS Day - https://www.worldaidsday.org/
Since 1988, there has been a World AIDS Day every year. More information on the day and the work being done to help people with HIV can be found on its website.

-National HIV Story Trust - https://www.nhst.org.uk/
The charity shares the stories of those who live and have died of HIV or an AIDS-related illness. They also share the stories of the families who have lost loved ones as well.

-Elton John AIDS Foundation -

In recent years the rights of people who identify as transgender have been big talking points. Much of the conversation has been centred upon the extent to which trans people can freely be themselves in a society that is accustomed to a cisgendered outlook. That is an experience which is of course shared by many across the LGBTQ+ community, and it highlights the massive value of safe spaces for people.

This is something espoused by the Leeds First Friday social event which is a monthly gathering of trans, non-binary and gender-fluid people in West Yorkshire. Organisers say around 150 people attend regularly on the 1st Friday of every month, making it one of, if not the biggest trans meet-ups in the UK.

During the event, trans, non-binary and gender-fluid people have the chance to come together and embrace their true identity in some of Leeds’ best known venues. And it’s not just those from the local area who attend. People from up-and-down the country make their way to the city for an event not just open to trans people, but also their partners, allies and friends.

To highlight the importance of Leeds First Friday to the trans community, Sophie Scott co-hosts this episode of the ITV Pridecast from one of the recent socials. Alongside her is Ash Palmisciano, and as a regular attendee of LFF, Sophie invites Ash to meet some of those who play a vital role in running the event and discover the huge benefits it has on the trans community.

During the episode, Sophie and Ash also share their own stories of being trans. Ash, who featured on the Pridecast earlier this year, reflects on his career as one of the most recognisable faces in the trans community, playing Emmerdale’s, Matty Barton. Sophie, who started working for ITV in September 2021, is part of the Content Services team and helps share some of ITV’s best content around the UK and across the world. She also talks about what it means to embrace her true identity and how LFF has played a part in that.

Both also discuss the importance of Transgender Awareness Week and Transgender Day of Remembrance which takes place in November. They chat about the value of both occasions in reminding people of the struggles and also the achievements of the trans community and how much progress is still needed in society.

Support organisations:
-Gires.co.uk has a comprehensive list of transgender support groups and websites.
-Mermaids.co.uk offers transgender support for children and young adults.
Mindlinetrans.org.uk provides an emotional support helpline for anyone identifying as transgender, non-binary and gender-fluid. It is also there to support family members, friends, colleagues and carers.
-Genderedintelligence.co.uk works to increase the understanding of gender diversity and improve the lives of trans people.

Dame Kelly Holmes MBE is one of the most respected and recognisable athletes the UK has ever produced. Many will remember when she triumphed at the 2004 Olympics in Athens to bring home two gold medals, and scenes of sheer joy following her incredible achievement.

Kelly has won an array of medals during her sporting career, making her an Olympic, Commonwealth and European Champion and she continues to hold British records in the 800m and 1000m. Undoubtedly, to reach such sporting heights Kelly needed to have a great deal of determination and discipline. In many ways, that discipline came from her military career, when she joined the British Army aged 18. Whilst serving, she became a HGV driver and then a Physical Training Instructor and in 1998 she was awarded an MBE for her services to the British Army. It was in 2018 that she was made Honorary Colonel of the Royal Armoured Corps.

Despite all her sporting and military success though, Kelly was having to hide a very important part of her life. Before the year 2000, LGBTQ+ people were banned from serving in the British Armed Forces - a rule that existed even after homosexuality had been decriminalised in the UK in 1967. Those who were found out or assumed to be LGBTQ+ in the military, were ‘discharged with disgrace’, losing all their medals and their pension.

Living in fear that someone might find out that she’s a gay woman, Kelly kept part of her life secret and only her closest friends and family knew her story. However this year, Kelly decided to let the world in. In a documentary on ITV called Kelly Holmes: Being Me, Kelly came out and discussed her struggle in telling people about who she is and her deep concerns about being found out in the military.

Now she is working tirelessly to support ex-service people who may have been discharged from the military, just because they’re LGBTQ+. The UK Government is currently gathering evidence from people who may have served up until 2000, for the LGBT Veterans Independent Review. The aim is for the government to understand, acknowledge and, where appropriate, address the impact the ban has had on veterans today, which Kelly is a massive champion of.

Following her documentary, the ITV Embrace, Pride, and Women’s Network came together to chat with Kelly about her story and how she has become so much more aware of her own intersectionality. The event which was held early in October, was also a celebration of Black History Month and a chance to find out how race has impacted on Kelly’s life as well. The talk was also recorded as an episode for the ITV Pridecast and alongside Liam McConkey to host it was Simmone Gardiner, from the Women’s Network and Sonny Hanley from the Embrace Network.

Kelly Holmes’s documentary, Kelly Holmes: Being Me, is still available to watch on the ITV Hub.
More information on the LGBT Veterans Independent Review, can be found on the UK Government website.

The transcript of this episode is available at: https://storage.googleapis.com/imagehosting1/All%20Purpose/ITV%20Pridecast%20w_%20Dame%20Kelly%20Holmes.pdf

After a break away for the summer, the Pridecast is back! Joining Liam on this episode is Sam Tatlow, who plays an integral role in promoting diversity and inclusion across ITV. Since December 2020, Sam has worked for the company as a Creative Diversity Partner and she looks to ensure that ITV is reflecting modern Britain both on and off-screen.

Sam also works very closely with ITV’s colleague networks, including the ITV Pride network, where she acts as an ally to LGBTQ+ people. In this episode, she talks about the ways people can support members of the LGBTQ+ community, which she says starts by always wanting to learn about others and being empathetic. She also talks about the importance of challenging preconceived ideas and offers advice and tips on how people can support the community.

For Sam an area of diversity and inclusion which is particularly important, is supporting disabled people. In 2021 she was listed in the top 100 most influential disabled people in the UK in the Shaw Trust’s Power 100. And in June this year, she was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s final Birthday Jubilee Honours list, for services to disabled people.

Sam says that it is through her own lived experience which has helped her have the empathy for many marginalised groups in society. For her, the work towards having a more inclusive and equal society has now become more important than ever, especially as pressures on living standards increase for so many. She believes that TV in particular has an important role in telling these stories and reflecting all people in the UK and it is for companies like ITV to continue leading the way on this.

The transcript of this episode is available at: https://storage.googleapis.com/imagehosting1/General/ITV%20Pridecast%20w_%20Sam%20Tatlow.pdf

In this special episode of the ITV Pridecast, Liam McConkey hosts the podcast live from the Royal Welsh Show, one of the largest agricultural festivals in Europe. The event, which is held at the Royal Welsh Showground in Llanelwedd in Mid Wales, sees around 200,000 people visit to see some of the best livestock and equine competitions across the country.

Joining Liam is Welsh politician, Jeremy Miles and Steffan Evans, teacher and member of the Wales Federation of Young Farmers Clubs. Tipped to become the next First Minister of Wales, Jeremy is currently the country’s Education Minister and Member of the Senedd for the constituency of Neath in South Wales. He was first elected to the Welsh Parliament in May 2016 as the Labour and Co-operative Party candidate.

Whilst being a member of the Welsh Government, he has served in various roles, including the Brexit Minister and Minister for COVID Recovery. In his interview on the ITV Pridecast, he chats about being a gay man in frontline politics and what it’s like to represent Neath. He also discusses the Welsh Government’s work on its LGBTQ+ Action Plan, which is seeking to make Wales the most LGBTQ+ friendly place in Europe.

Steffan Evans is originally from Carmarthenshire and has been a very active member of Wales’ Federation of Young Farmers Clubs, which brings young people together in agricultural communities across Wales. He’s been part of the organisation since he was 10 and in 2010 he was voted the Wales YFC Youth Forum Chairman

In 2019, he came out to his family and friends which was a big step in his personal life, as he says being openly gay isn’t easy in rural West Wales. Since 2016 he has been a teacher and he now teaches at a school very close to the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells. He has been working hard to promote LGBTQ+ rights at school, and even played a role in organising the first Pride parade for the county of Powys this year.

To mark ITV Pride Day, Liam McConkey chats with ITV Pride’s new Executive Chair, James Penfold. After taking over the role from Matt Scarf, James discusses how he hopes to support LGBTQ+ colleagues across the company. He also shares his thoughts on why having a dedicated Pride Day at ITV is not only about celebrating the LGBTQ+ community, but also acts as an important reminder that progress in society is still needed, and ITV can play its part in this.

James also reflects on how TV can play an incredible role in helping people embrace their identity. He discusses how the Netflix hit, Heartstopper is doing that for so many young people today. He says it was the 1996 romcom, Beautiful Thing that allowed him to have the conversation about his sexuality with his family, and that TV is a great way of opening up those discussions.

During the conversation James talks about his day-to-day role as Controller of Partnerships and how he works on new opportunities around some of ITV’s most famous brands, including set tours on shows like Coronation Street and Emmerdale. He also discusses how he’s looking into the potential opportunities for Schitt’s Creek and allowing the viewer to immerse themselves into the experience beyond their TV sets.

As the UK Editor of ITV News, Paul Brand certainly has a huge range of things to report on. He has uncovered some massive stories, including the Covid-19 crisis in care homes which saw so many residents lose their lives. On top of that, he also brought us the news of parties in Downing Street, when the rest of the country was asked to strictly follow lockdown rules.

As well as reporting on massive issues relating to British politics, he has also brought very significant LGBTQ+ stories to the public’s attention. He made many viewers aware of the practice of conversion therapy back in 2018, when ITV News conducted an undercover investigation, showing a church pastor claiming God could fix gay people. Earlier this year, he also revealed a leaked document which showed the government intended to drop a long-promised ban on conversion therapy. Following that, the government partially u-turned on its decision, but fell short in banning trans conversion therapy, something Paul has been at the centre of covering.

Another hugely significant LGBTQ+ story Paul has brought to our TV screens was the discovery of “Patient Zero”, the first person to die of HIV/AIDs in the UK, 40 years ago. After months of searching, Paul and his colleagues found that it was John Eaddie, who died of the disease in October 1981. The story was shown both on the news as well as the Tonight programme, the UK’s most watched current affairs show, which Paul recently took over as the main presenter.

Even by uncovering some huge LGBTQ+ stories, in this episode of the ITV Pridecast, Paul discusses how he does not want to be typecast as an LGBTQ+ reporter. He says he wants all journalists, no matter their sexuality, to feel like they can report on issues of this nature. Joining Liam McConkey to co-host this episode is Penny James, one of the co-chairs of the ITN Pride Network and a news producer at Channel 5 News.

Take a look at some of Paul’s work with ITV News here: https://bit.ly/3al46kd

Paul is also a patron of the charity Just Like Us, which goes into schools to champion LGBTQ+ issues through workshops and events. Find out more about the organisation here:
https://bit.ly/3wHiUCk

Being seen and accepted for who we are is what makes us human. It’s something that LGBTQI people have to continuously fight for and for Linda Riley it’s been a life’s work. She’s been acutely aware of the need for visibility within the LGBTQI community and especially for LGBTQI women and non-binary people. Linda has spent a great deal of time raising the profile of members of the community through her work as the publisher of DIVA Magazine, as well as being the founder of Lesbian Visibility Week.

The week, which this year is taking place between 25th April-1st May, aims to celebrate lesbians and create solidarity for all LGBTQI women and non binary people. Lesbian Visibility Day was first celebrated in 2008, but since 2020 a week of events and activities have taken place to mark the occasion.

In this ITV Pridecast Liam is joined by Jo Lewis to co-host the episode. Jo works as a Production Manager for MultiStory Media and is also one of the Co-chairs of the ITV Pride Network. She was also interviewed in her own ITV Pridecast episode last year, called Finding your own people.

In the episode with Linda they chat about why Lesbian Visibility Week is so important and why having a space for LGBTQI people to connect and learn about one another’s experiences is essential. Linda also reflects on how her own experiences have helped shape her work at DIVA and why strides are still needed in the progress for LGBTQI rights. She also chats about being a mother to 15-year-old twins, who are entering a world that is much more accepting of same-sex parents than a decade or so ago.

More information on...
-Lesbian Visibility Week: https://www.lesbianvisibilityweek.com/
-DIVA Magazine: https://divamag.co.uk/

The topic of transgender people’s rights has gained a great deal of media attention over the last few years. And even though there’s been steps forward in the progress for trans rights, much progress is still needed to create a society where trans people are free to be who they are, without fear of prejudice and discrimination.

Soap operas can play an incredible role in addressing subject matters which some viewers may not have a direct experience of and that’s often been the case when having trans characters in continuing dramas. Through soap, perceptions can be challenged. And through their ability to show a range of people’s lives, soaps can change society, simply by showing people living their ordinary lives. Annie Wallace and Ash Palmisciano know this more than anyone.

Since 2015 Annie has been in Hollyoaks, playing the role of Sally St Claire. Her part in the Channel 4 soap was a big step forward in the progress for trans rights as she was the first trans person to play a trans character in a British soap. Prior to that, she also played an integral role when talking with the writers of Coronation Street about her real-life experiences as a trans person. This helped shape some of the storylines for the much-loved character, Hayley Cropper.

Ash Palmisciano has been in Emmerdale since 2018, playing the role of Matty Barton and is the soap’s first trans character. Son of the farmer Moira Barton, viewers of the ITV soap will have originally known the character as Hannah Barton, played by Grace Cassidy from 2009-2012. In 2018, the writers decided to bring the character back but as Matty, who had transitioned while away, with Ash taking on the role from Grace.

Both Annie and Ash catch-up with Liam McConkey for this episode of the ITV Pridecast to talk about their lives as trans people playing trans characters and the important role the soaps are playing in telling these stories. This episode also coincides with International Transgender Day of Visibility (31st May) and Annie and Ash discuss what the day means to them.

For more information on International Transgender Day of Visibility click here:
https://lgbt.foundation/who-we-help/trans-people/trans-day-of-visibility

Support organisations:

Mermaids: https://mermaidsuk.org.uk/

The Proud Trust: https://www.theproudtrust.org/

Trans Unite: https://www.transunite.co.uk/

Peter Tatchell lives an extraordinary life, campaigning for LGBT+ rights across the globe, often putting himself in harm's way from both verbal and physical abuse. In many ways, he has helped change the course of history, whether that’s challenging the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1998 over the church’s legal discrimination against LGBT+ people, or by confronting heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson over homophobic slurs. Just two examples from a very long list of repeatedly challenging those with power and authority.

In January Peter turned 70 and in this episode of the ITV Pridecast he chats to Liam McConkey and Bella Cockarill about his lifetime of work and how his commitment to supporting LGBT+ rights is as strong as it was half a century ago. February also marks LGBT+ History Month and Peter talks about why remembering the struggles of LGBT+ people in the past is so important for securing rights for the future.

To learn more about the work Peter does and what he has achieved in the quest for justice and freedom for so many people go to the Peter Tatchell Foundation website:
https://www.petertatchell.net/

For more information on LGBT+ History Month go to the LGBT+ History Month website: https://lgbtplushistorymonth.co.uk/

There's also lots of information about the month on Stonewall UK's website:
https://www.stonewall.org.uk/our-work/campaigns/lgbt-history-month-2022

The Hating Peter Tatchell documentary is still being streamed on Netflix (as of February 2022).

Transcript available at: https://storage.googleapis.com/imagehosting1/All%20Purpose/Peter%20Tatchell%20Transcript.pdf

Learning about LGBTQ+ history can open the door to many stories that have often been untold for those who have been marginalised and unrepresented. Lisa Power is helping to tell many of those stories and shape history. She has worked tirelessly to campaign for LGBTQ+ rights and improve the support for people with HIV. She helped found Stonewall in 1989 and was also the Policy Director of the Terrence Higgins Trust, among many other things.

On this episode, Liam is joined by Rob Osborne, ITV Wales' National Correspondent and they chat to Lisa about her life and why remembering LGBTQ+ history is so important in shaping our outlook for the future.

As Lisa mentioned, you can learn more about the Log Books by listening to the award winning podcast which looks back at LGBTQ+ life in Britain as noted by volunteers at the helpline Switchboard. Each episode is based around log book entries made by those who staffed the phones from the charity’s very first day. Find out more here: https://www.thelogbooks.org/about

February is LGBT+ History Month, find out more details here: https://lgbtplushistorymonth.co.uk/

And National HIV Testing Week also takes place in February and starts on Monday 7th. The week is about a campaign to promote regular testing among the most affected population groups in England. The aim is to reduce the number of people living with undiagnosed HIV and those diagnosed late. More details: https://www.hivpreventionengland.org.uk/

In this episode, Liam is joined by Cat Tyrell and they look back on an interview Munroe Bergdorf did with ITV's diversity and inclusion networks to celebrate Black History Month. In her chat with Chanté Joseph, Munroe talks about being a black, trans activist and the challenges of trying to promote equality. She also discusses why it's important to embrace all parts of your identity and be your own champion.

Happy Bi-visibility Day! In this episode, Simon Callisto joins Liam to host the show. They speak to Jen Yockney MBE, one of the UK's most prominent bisexual activists. She tells them why celebrating Bi-Visibility Day on 23rd September is so important and why she has spent over 25 years campaigning for the rights of bi-people.

Links:

Bisexual support organisations in your area: https://bicommunitynews.co.uk/local-groups/
BiPhoria: https://www.biphoria.org.uk/
Follow Jen on social media: @jenyockney

The transcript of this episode is available at: https://storage.googleapis.com/imagehosting1/All%20Purpose/ITV%20Pridecast%20-%20Jen%20Yockney.pdf

In the latest episode of the ITV Pridecast, Reece and Liam catchup with ITV Pride co-chair Jo Lewis about working on shows like Countdown, 60 Minute Makeover and the new generation of the Up series. She also talks about being queer and why it's so important to meet fellow LGBTQ+ people to help her with her identity.

Welcome to the relaunch of the ITV Pridecast! On ITV’s second Pride Day, Reece Dunn and Liam McConkey introduce the new show and talk to Matt Scarff, the previous host, about his time presenting the podcast, lockdown, and coming out as LGBT+.

In this Pridecast, Matt Scarff catches up with the ITV Pride Co Chairs Joanna Lewis, Stephen Smyth and Oliver Julian for a review of the year and to see how the LGBT+ network supported colleagues during lockdown.

In this Pridecast, Matt Scarff catches up with the new Group Director of Diversity & Inclusion at ITV, Ade Rawcliffe, to find out more about ITV's accelerated diversity action plan, what the new role aims to focus on and what it will mean for staff at ITV and our viewers and customers.

In this Pridecast, Matt Scarff catches up with the ITV Pride Co-Chairs to talk about the first ever company-wide ITV Pride Day that took place on June 30th and we join Dr Ranj Singh, Ash Palmisciano, Ali Hannon and Liam McConkey for a panel discussion on being LGBT+ in Britain today.

In this Pridecast, Matt Scarff introduces a recent ITV held event with 2 of our diversity networks: ITV Pride and ITV Embrace where they are joined by 3 of the cast from Coronation Street and one of the storylining team about building storylines affecting the Bailey Family, namely Racism and Homophobia.

In this Pridecast Matt Scarff talks to Nikki Hinksman, coach and facilitator about how we can plan for the moment when we get to the end of the rainbow and out of lockdown. And ITV Pride's Oliver Julian talks to 'The Off Duty Doctor' about working from home, mindfulness and keeping our mental health in top-top condition.

In this ITV Pridecast, Matt Scarff talks to Wanda Canton, Artist, Facilitator and Mentor about the power of music in isolation.

In this ITV Pridecast, Matt Scarff talks to presenter Sarah O'Connell about Trans Day of Visibility and joins Lorraine Kelly and Managing Director of ITV Daytime Emma Gormley on set of the weekly show.

Matt Scarff talks to the new Co-Chairs of ITV Pride to find out how they plan to make it the best network LGBT+ Network in British media.

We also attend National Student Pride in London to catch up with the next generation of LGBT+ employees with a special guest appearance from ITV's Dr Ranj!

Matt Scarff and the ITV Crew talk to Dancing on Ice's H and Matt Evers about being the first same sex couple to don their skates and take to the ice.

They also catch up with UTV's head of News, Terry Brennan who drops in to talk about same sex marriage in Northern Ireland. 

Plus, Clare Phillips, the Director of Social Purpose at ITV comes through for a chat.

Welcome to the ITV Pridecast, the monthly podcast about all things LGBT+ at ITV. Matt Scarff and the Pridecast Crew will be here every month with the latest updates on all things LGBT+ relating to our programmes and what it’s like to work at ITV.