The Bolton 7 take their fight for justice to the foremost arena of law.  

The significance of this case extends far beyond the fate of the seven men involved. But how far have we come?

Criminally Queer: The Bolton 7 looks back at one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in recent British LGBTQ+ history, and examines how this scarcely-known legal case played a significant role in the fight for gay rights.

Hugh Sheehan speaks to author Shon Faye; author and host of the podcast Bad Gays Huw Lemmey; author and queer scholar Jack Parlett; and queer historian Justin Bengry.

Criminally Queer is a Reduced Listening Production for BBC Sounds Audio Lab.

Producer and Presenter: Hugh Sheehan

Criminally Queer: The Bolton 7 looks back at one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in recent British LGBTQ+ history, and examines how this scarcely-known legal case played a significant role in the fight for gay rights.

The men’s ordeal had tragic and abhorrent consequences. And they weren’t alone.

But in the wake of their legal battle the Bolton 7 were defiant and fervent in their desire to fight back.

Hugh Sheehan also hears directly from former Home Secretary Jack Straw and Liberal Democrat MP Evan Harris; politicians who were trying to change laws regarding sex between men at the time.

Criminally Queer is a Reduced Listening Production for BBC Sounds Audio Lab.

Producer and Presenter: Hugh Sheehan

Archive material courtesy of Roger Bolton Productions.

Criminally Queer: The Bolton 7 looks back at one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in recent British LGBTQ+ history, and examines how this scarcely-known legal case played a significant role in the fight for gay rights.

The men’s futures hung in the balance. It was a battle fought bitterly, rooted in archaic laws with complex histories. Hugh Sheehan also examines other similar legal cases from the time.

Hugh speaks to Booker Prize-winning author Douglas Stuart; author and host of the podcast Bad Gays Huw Lemmey; author and queer scholar Jack Parlett; founder and former chair of Greater Manchester Lesbian and Gay Policing Initiative Ian Wilmott; writer Robin Craig; Bolton 7 solicitor Nicola Hall; and gay activist and Bolton 7 barrister Terry Munyard.

Criminally Queer is a Reduced Listening Production for BBC Sounds Audio Lab.

Producer and Presenter: Hugh Sheehan

Criminally Queer: The Bolton 7 looks back at one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in recent British LGBTQ+ history, and examines how this scarcely-known legal case played a significant role in the fight for gay rights.

In January 1998 the seven men would take the stand and fight their case. What were the societal factors surrounding these events?

Hugh Sheehan speaks to: author and host of the podcast Bad Gays Huw Lemmey; LGBTQ+ and Black communities activist and commissioner of the London HIV prevention programme Marc Thompson; founder and former chair of Greater Manchester Lesbian and Gay Policing Initiative Ian Wilmott; gay activist, barrister, and Bolton 7 representative Terry Munyard; and author and queer scholar Jack Parlett.

Criminally Queer is a Reduced Listening Production for BBC Sounds Audio Lab.

Producer and Presenter: Hugh Sheehan

Criminally Queer: The Bolton 7 looks back at one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in recent British LGBTQ+ history, and examines how this scarcely-known legal case played a significant role in the fight for gay rights.

Hugh Sheehan explores the events that led to the case of the Bolton 7 - from homes raided to police interrogations - and explores what life was like in 90's Britain.

Hugh speaks to Booker Prize-winning author Douglas Stuart; LGBTQ+ and human rights activist Peter Tatchell; author and queer scholar Jack Parlett; queer historian Justin Bengry; and Bolton 7 solicitor Nicola Hall.

Criminally Queer is a Reduced Listening production for BBC Sounds Audio Lab.

Producer and Presenter: Hugh Sheehan

Seven men from Bolton have their lives changed forever. 

Criminally Queer: The Bolton 7 looks back at one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in recent British LGBTQ+ history, and examines how this scarcely-known legal case played a significant role in the fight for gay rights.

A Reduced Listening production for BBC Sounds Audio Lab. 

Producer and Presenter: Hugh Sheehan

Original music composition and Sound Design: Hugh Sheehan

Executive Producer: Anishka Sharma

Mix Engineer: Arlie Addlington

Commissioning Editor: Khaliq Meer

 Archive material courtesy of Roger Bolton Productions.

This podcast launches on Tuesday 25th February 2025