ITV Pridecast

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.

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/

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.

• 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 at: https://storage.googleapis.com/imagehosting1/All%20Purpose/ITV%20Pridecast%20-%20Ali%20Hannon.pdf

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.

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.