The UK’s national broadcaster the BBC has alwaya been at the forefront of producing good queer content whether it be on the soap opera Eastenders or early as 1973 when they gave the trans community their very own program “Open Door’ . Granted it wasn’t always without its issues as sometimes it attracted very vocal opposition from the usual indignant right wingers, who had appointed themselves our ‘moral guardians’.
However in this present uncertain political climate Its heartwarming to see that the ‘Beeb’ is still making quality content that tells stories that the queer community can both relate too and enjoy. Their new upcoming dramedy MR LOVERMAN is about a 75th year old man who has decided its now time for him to come out of the closet.
Barrington “Barry” Walker (Lennie James) had immigrated to England from Antigua decades ago and has since built a life for himself in East London and is recognized as a charismatic man-about-town in his community. He’s been married to his wife, Carmel (Sharon D. Clarke) since the 1950s, and now their daughters Maxine and Donna are grown with children of their own.
Carmel has always suspected that there’s always been something a tad odd, even suspicious about Barry, who has a penchant for late nights in the town without her. She is beginning to think there maybe another woman in his life. Actually is she had probed a little, she would have been shocked to discover that this ‘other woman’ is another man. And not just any man, as for the past 60 years he’s been having a secret romantic affair with his childhood best friend, Morris De La Roux (Ariyon Bakare).
Now as Barry has decided if it’s time to come clean and live openly as his authentic self—he is really concerned the effect of what a lifetime of secrets kept could mean for his wife, his daughters, and Morris, too.
This eight-part miniseries is based on a 2013 novel of the same name, written by acclaimed author Bernardine Evaristo, the first Black woman to win the acclaimed Booker Prize. At the time of publication the novel was described as groundbreaking for its depiction of LGBTQ+ lives among those generations of immigrants in the late 1940’s .
The fact that it is all-too-rare gay septuagenarian love story, all the more profound because its one between two older Black men, makes us know that this should be on everyones MUST STILL LIST.
PS Panic not if you don’t live in the UK as the series will be available on BBCI Player from 6am on Monday 14 October (which can be accessed around the globe by VPN) The first two episodes will air on BBC One from 9pm that evening, with episodes continuing to air weekly.
Labels: 2024, BBC TV, Bernardine Evaristo, Booker Prize winner, Lennie James, Mr Loverman, series, Sharon D Clarke
