The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has unveiled its shortlist of nominees for the 2023 TV Awards, and this year’s list features a number of queer TV shows and talent. Among the top nominees are RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and Big Boys, which are both up for multiple awards. This year’s most-nominated series, however, is the BBC’s This Is Going To Hurt, a comedy-drama based on the memoir of gay writer Adam Kay, which has been nominated for a total of six awards.
This Is Going To Hurt has been lauded for its sensitive and honest portrayal of the life of a junior doctor, and its success at this year’s BAFTA TV Awards is a testament to its powerful impact. The series features a standout performance by openly gay actor Ben Whishaw, who is nominated for Best Leading Actor for his portrayal of Kay. The show is also nominated for Best Writer and Best Miniseries.
Another notable nominee this year is the Channel 4 comedy Big Boys, which tells the story of an unlikely friendship between a straight college student and his gay roommate. The show has been praised for its sharp writing and nuanced portrayal of queer characters, and is up for four awards, including Scripted Comedy and Male Performance.
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, a spin-off of the popular American reality competition show, is nominated in the Reality and Constructed Factual category, alongside other hit shows like The Traitors. The latter features Claudia Winkleman as its host, who is nominated in the Entertainment Performance category.
The BAFTA TV Awards will also honor queer talent in other categories, such as Joe Lycett’s one-off Channel 4 show Joe Lycett Vs Beckham: Got Your Back at Xmas, which is nominated in the Features section. Ryan Murphy’s Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story and the Netflix series The White Lotus, a gay Twitter favorite, are both up for awards as well.
Although queer teen series Heartstopper, based on the graphic novel by Alice Oseman, was nominated for Best Drama Writer, fans expressed disappointment that it was snubbed in other categories. Nevertheless, the 2023 BAFTA TV Awards will provide a platform to recognize and celebrate the contributions of queer TV to the industry, while highlighting the need for more diverse and inclusive storytelling.
