Gay british shows

The show is all about New York City's drag ball culture scene in the 1980s and 1990s, set at the height of the AIDS epidemic. This Swedish teen drama focuses on Prince Wilhelm of Sweden, who has only just started at a new boarding school when a tragic family death puts him next in line for the throne. With a standout lead performance from Ellis Howard and a raucous supporting cast, this show sets out to be a new landmark for trans TV in Britain.

2022-2024 // 2 seasons // 12 episodes

This horror comedy is set on the world’s deadliest cruise ship, where lead character Jamie has got a job in order to look for his missing sister.

It would have been so easy for the show to simply reduce him to the role of gay best friend to sex guru Otis, but the show has never fallen into these outdated tropes and has put his storylines, romances and personality front and centre. Jade struggles with anger management, Colette struggles with crap boyfriends, and they start getting closer during their shifts at the world’s least-visited pool.

This felt like it was squarely aimed at educating cis straight people but was generally well-reviewed by the trans community, especially considering the paucity of trans representation on TV.

The Confessions of Frannie Langton

2022 // 1 season // 4 episodes

An adaptation of the gothic novel by Sara Collins, this period drama follows the trial of Frannie Langton, a Jamaican woman, after she’s arrested for the murder of the couple that enslaved her (long past when slavery was legally abolished).

This British coming-of-age romantic comedy-drama satisfies that void with an adorable, entirely believable, totally heartwarming story of two schoolboys discovering that their friendship may be something more. Although the show goes to some dark places, it never fails to mine Mae’s many traumas for laughs and leaves you rooting for Mae and George to make it together.

2022 – 2024 // 2 seasons // 12 episodes

This Scottish series of short episodes follows current and former lifeguards at a small-town swimming pool.

Yes, it will cost not a penny more than your TV license to watch every single one of these scripted and reality shows!

The Queerest Shows on BBC, ITV, Channel 4 & Channel 5

These shows feature super queer, lesbian, trans or bisexual women lead characters or significant queer stories!

2017-2022 // 5 seasons // 46 episodes

This comedy drama is set amid the fallout from merging two schools in the fictional Northern town of Ackley, mixing white and South Asian communities together in a way that stirs up a whole gamut of social issues.

LGBTQ+ rep: Queer Women

Genre: Historical Drama, Romance

Episode Run Time: 60m

If you love weird, surreal British comedy, then JUICE might be just what you're looking for.

From hilarious gay sitcoms to queer reality tv and sapphic thrillers, here are 12 queer and LGBTQ+ inclusive TV shows available to watch in the UK on the BBC iPlayer right now.

(All shows available in the UK at time of publishing.)

1. Why don’t we try and rectify that, this very minute!

It stars Jenna Coleman as the detective in charge as she tries to connect a fire to a podcaster and an illicit love affair between a man in his 20s and two underage girls. THE JETTY is a gritty crime thriller centering a missing person case and a sapphic love affair between two of the main characters. Find seasons one and two on Netflix.

Feel Good is available to watch on Netflix

MORE: Why is Feel Good finishing after season two?

Pose - BBC iPlayer

This Billy Porter-led series is finished, so feel free to binge-watch the entire thing in one go!

After a Scottish fishing trawler disappears and a member of the submarine's crew turns up dead, DCI Amy Silva, is sent out to the submarine to find out what happened. Romances, breakups, bullies, marriage proposals—all set to compelling musical performances. Quick heads up for triggers of homophobia, difficult family dynamics and mental illness.

LGBTQ+ rep: Queer Women

Genre: Dark Comedy, Drama, Coming-Of-Age

Episode Run Time: 30m

Have we missed your favourite new queer TV show on iPlayer?

During the making of the show, Benny came out as trans, resulting in her character being written to reflect that change.

Watch for the great production and intriguing historical setting, but don’t expect to like any of the anti-heroines!

2023- // 2 seasons // 12 episodes

This razor-sharp comedy follows an ultra-religious family that’s part of an evangelical cult. Caroline’s storyline over the five seasons takes her through much romance and heartbreak.

2025- // 1 season // 6 episodes

An excellent and thoroughly bonkers sitcom that follows Emily (IRL lesbian Rosie Jones, also the writer and creator of the show) who, after her disability benefits are mercilessly taken away, gets roped into an old schoolfriends’ drug pushing scheme and quickly realises that she can take advantage of everyone’s stereotyped views of disabled people to get away with almost anything.

SMOGGIE QUEENS (2024 - present)

Set in the heart of Middlesbrough, SMOGGIE QUEENS is a heartwarming and often surreal northern sit-com following a group of LGBTQ+ friends in their day-to-day lives. Not to mention, it has already been renewed for seasons two and three!

WATCH: Have you watched Heartstopper yet?

Big Boys - All 4 

This charming British series follows Jack, a gay teen who, while grieving the death of his father, starts university and meets his straight best mate, Danny.