Cucumber, Banana and Tofu are a series of shows on Channel 4, E4 and 4OD. Written by Russell T Davies there was potential for this to be awful (a lot of people aren't happy with what he did with Doctor Who) and frankly quite cliche. I was worried it was going to try and be a gay version of Sex and The City but wow did it totally blow all my expectations out of the water. We're on our third episode of each now with the fourth shown on Thursday night from 9pm onwards and I wait for it every week not so patiently.
I personally think this series is very enjoyable and quite important. It normalises gay relationships on British television which is something we don't see all that often - not that long ago two boys nearly kissing on Waterloo Road (BBC) was utterly scandalous - so it kinda of shows that gay people are just that. People.
While here in the UK we like to pretend we're all forward and supportive of the LGBT the sad truth is that a lot of people still aren't, they just keep quiet about it because it isn't a popular opinion to have. The majority of the time I think this is down to a lack of education on these matters and so by bringing it into mainstream media makes people pay attention.
Even though I do find the programme to be enjoyable I think that much like gay pride it isn't representative of a lot of gay men and women because let's be honest, life usually isn't really that dramatic.
In the words of a gay friend of mine (taken from his Facebook):
"So far Channel 4's "Cucumber" is a completely true picture of gay male life. As such it is depressing to watch. A middle aged man still dreaming about a studio ex warehouse flat and young men and orgies and being a superficial prick who can't commit. Yup. Sounds perfectly correct. Sadly."
So I asked him what it was about the programme that he didn't like because as I'm not part of the LGBT community there's only so much understanding I can have on this subject - and who better to ask than someone who lives it.
"Mainly my issue with it isn't what it shows as being a misinterpretation, if anything it's a completely just and real view of gay life, but that it condones and thus perpetuates and romanticises that behaviour further because that behaviour is a giant issue within the gay community.
I don't have an issue with the promiscuity. It's the superficiality that permeates everything. It's all about looks and hotness and youth and this kind of young and rich lifestyle with penthouse shag pads. It's unrealistic yet so many gay men aspire to having it to the detriment of their own happiness."
Like many TV dramas it shows the more dramatic side of gay life and not the normal getting-a-takeaway-and-sitting-on-the-sofa-watching-films relationships every relationship, gay or straight, does.
So there we have it. I like it, he doesn't. Make up your own mind I guess!
Listening to: L.A. Love - Fergie
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