“Boy meets boy. Boys become friends. Boys fall in love…” It’s a story many GAY TIMES readers will resonate with, but one that hasn’t been well-represented for LGBTQ+ Brits in the coming-of-age slash teen genre. Of course, we’ve had Love, Victor and Sex Education in recent years, but a quintessentially British series entirely devoted to a blossoming queer romance? We haven’t been lucky in that department. Thanks to Netflix, LGBTQ+ teens around the UK will finally see their stories on-screen with the streamer’s long-awaited adaptation of Heartstopper, based on Alice Oseman’s beloved webcomic and graphic novel of the same name.
Following the charming romance between the openly gay overthinker Charlie Spring (Joe Locke) and buoyant rugby player Nick Nelson (Kit Connor), the eight-episode series is a light and joyous watch featuring little in the way of trauma and conflict, and that’s exactly what queer youth coming to terms with their sexuality or gender identity need to see. Joe, who makes his acting debut with the series, calls Heartstopper a “wonderful” show due its relentless optimism and enchanting depiction of the queer experience.
“The elements of bullying and of sexual assault are in [Heartstopper], but it's a miniscule part of a really happy story, which I think is really important to show younger, especially queer kids, that your life isn't going to be just bullying,” he tells GAY TIMES on set. “You can have a happier life. You deserve a happier life.” Kit agrees, saying the series “shows the beauty” of queer love.
Also starring Corinna Brown as Tara Jones, Kizzy Edgell as Darcy Olsson, William Gao as Tao Xu and Yasmin Finney as Elle Argent, Heartstopper premieres 22 April on the streamer. To mark the release of -