*A warning this episode contains strong language. 

For many our first introduction to Rob Rinder was when his hit show Judge Rinder began on ITV back in 2014. The daytime programme, which propelled Rob to fame, saw him oversee civil cases in front of TV audiences from all over the UK. A decade on and a range of TV shows under his belt as well as books written, Rob is now a household name on television screens up and down the country. He joins Liam McConkey and Jo Lewis on the latest ITV Pridecast to discuss his career and the importance of supporting LGBTQ+ people for companies like ITV. 

His most recent show, Rob and Rylan’s Grand Tour, saw him team up with his friend Rylan Clark where the pair visited some of Italy’s iconic cities to follow in the footsteps of the likes of 18th century socialites by immersing themselves in some of the finest art and culture in the world. Viewers get to see the incredible bond and friendship that the pair share and how they both encourage and challenge one another to take on new exploits during their travels. 

And since the show was first broadcast, a second series has been commissioned with Rob and Rylan recently returning from India and filming their latest travel adventures there. During this episode of the ITV Pridecast, Rob also discusses how TV can have a limitless value in helping changing minds and attitudes. He says that TV has a huge power in transmitting people’s lived experiences to huge audiences that can actually bring about real change. He says we only have to see the impact of ITV’s hit drama Mr Bates vs the Post Office  to see this.  

Since becoming a well known figure, Rob has been vocal about being an openly gay Jewish man. During this episode he discusses how he had unconditional love from his mother but how he grew up during a time when it was concerning to be a gay man when society just depicted LGBTQ+ life in a very negative way.

In the episode Rob also chats about the advances the LGBTQ+ community has made, with regards to the law. He says that he is hopeful for the future and if we are to protect our LGBTQ+ rights we need to have a capacity to listen and rationally debate our concerns.

The gender that we’re assigned to at birth means that we’re expected to have certain characteristics and live by unwritten rules. These can dictate how we see the world, and in turn how the world sees us. In some ways gender can create a sense of togetherness and belonging among those that share the same gender and it can foster particular bonds. 

But gender can also divide. Being socially conditioned from early on, on how we should behave due to expected characteristics that go with being a man or a woman, can be very limiting indeed. And for someone who doesn’t feel they fit within one gender or the other, life can feel isolating when the rest of society is conforming to the ‘norm’ that has been created. 

For some people, they may see themselves as possessing both masculine and feminine traits and that simply choosing to either solely present as a man or a woman doesn’t feel akin to their true experience. They may also feel that sometimes they identify as one of the genders more than the other. In this instance, people may choose to be fluid with their gender identity in order to not feel confined or restricted because of societal expectations. Therefore they may change their gender over time. 

For Sophie Scott, she has recently come to terms with recognising her own gender fluidity and she shares her story on the ITV Pridecast. Sophie works in content digitisation at ITV where she works on getting all the tape archive digitised and she is based in Leeds. As well as her day job, Sophie also volunteers at an event called Leeds First Friday which is the UK’s biggest trans social event which happens every month. You can also listen back to when Sophie was last on ITV Pridecast when she caught up with Emmerdale’s Ash Palmisciano to visit Leeds First Friday: https://bit.ly/3Al9tNI  



If you’ve been affected by anything discussed in this episode of the Pridecast then head over to ITV’s general advice and helplines website for more information and support.

For anyone who’s been watching Coronation Street of late, it would be hard not to be moved by the motor neurone disease storyline which has affected the lives of Paul Foreman and Billy Mahew. Seeing Paul suffer with the illness that has made his body and speech gradually deteriorate, has brought home the harsh reality of those with MND. The climax of this tragic story is to hit our screens on Monday 9th September when Paul passes away after his 18 month heartbreaking ordeal.  

There’s no doubt that Peter Ash, who plays Paul in the soap, has done superbly at performing the stages of decline from this illness with such authenticity. And the same can be said of Daniel Brocklebank who plays his husband Billy. He has to watch the man he loves suffer as this cruel disease plays out. Daniel and Pete join Liam McConkey on the latest ITV Pridecast to discuss the story and how they hope to make more people aware of the disease. 

The storyline has had a particular poignancy for Daniel because his grandfather had MND. He has spent years raising money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association which works to improve access to care, research and campaigning for those affected by the disease. 

Awareness of MND has also increased over the last few years, due especially to the story of the rugby league player Rob Burrow who was diagnosed with it in 2019. Along with his family and best friend Kevin Sinfield, Rob raised millions of pounds for MND charities. Sadly he died in June this year but through his work and also the likes of the Coronation Street storyline, efforts can continue to tackle the disease. 

Joining Liam to co-host this episode is AJ Dean who is a Publicity and Engagement Manager for ITV in the North and she works closely with the teams at Coronation Street and Emmerdale. AJ has done huge amounts in supporting the ITV Pride network and earlier this year she was one of Liam’s guests on the podcast where she discussed the part she played in helping to set up the network. 

If you need any help or support about MND then head over to itv.com/advice. You can also access more information about the disease and find out about the work of the Motor Neurone Disease Association by going to mndassociation.org. Tune in to watch Peter Ash’s final episode on Coronation Street on Monday 9th September at 8pm on ITV 1. Or you can catch up on ITVX.

The transcript of this episode is available here: Pridecast with Corrie's Paul and Billy - transcript

For anyone who is LGBTQ+, navigating your sexuality along with other aspects of your life can bring challenges. Mohsin Zaidi knows this more than many. Growing up in a strict conservative Muslim family, he had to balance the expectations of his faith and culture against his sexual orientation. On top of that, social class has been a characteristic that Mohsin has become very aware of in his life, most notably when he went to study at Oxford University. 

It was these different intersectional experiences that led him to pen down his story. In 2020 A dutiful boy: A memoir of a gay Muslim’s journey to acceptance, was published and allowed Mohsin to share an intimate tale which included both joyful moments but also one’s that were simply gut wrenching. He joins Liam McConkey on the latest ITV Pridecast to discuss what it was like to write the book and what life is now like having moved to New York with his husband Matthew.

During the episode, Mohsin also chats about writing a second memoir which tracks the process of how he and Matthew are trying to become parents through surrogacy. As well as that, he also talks about how he no longer works as a criminal barrister but has ventured down a new career path, in the form of playwriting. 

To find out more about the work Mohsin does, head over to his website: https://www.mohsinzaidi.com/

The transcript of this episode is available here: Pridecast with Mohsin Zaidi - transcript

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 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 transcript of this episode is available here: Pridecast with Heartstopper's Patrick Walters.

• 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.

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 Stonewall 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 here: Pridecast with Ali Hannon - transcript

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/

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.