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Cucumber & Banana (DVD Review)

March 29, 2015 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Starring: Vincent Franklin, Freddie Fox, Cyril Nri, Julie Hesmondhalgh
Director: Various
Running Time: 552 mins
Certificate: 18
Release Date: March 16th 2015 (UK)

Cucumber arrived on British television with huge amounts of fanfare. After all it was a return to gay Manchester for writer Russell T Davies more than 15 years after Queer As Folk. Plus it came with the interesting idea of having a secondary show, Banana, which aired on E4 and told a half-hour story about one of the characters from the main Cucumber episode.

However after the first episode the critical response was somewhat muted, and while many viewers hung around hoping Cucumber would suddenly become great, a lot of people gave up partway through. However now that the whole thing is complete and has been released on DVD, should everyone have stuck around until the end? [Read more…]

Cucumber, Banana, Tofu Teaser – Get a preview of Russell T. Davies’ gay-themed TV triptych

December 15, 2014 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

As announced a while ago, Queer As Folk creator Russell T. Davies is returning to the world of gay-themed TV, and he’s doing it in style with three different shows – Cucumber, Banana and Tofu.

Now the first teaser for the shows has arrived, along with confirmation they’ll hit UK TV in January.

The central show, Cucumber, is about 46-year-old Henry (Vincent Franklin) and his boyfriend Lance (Cyril Nri) whose comfortable and settled existence is shattered after the most disastrous date night in history – involving a threesome, two police cars, and Bony M – and Henry’s new life begins. That will be eight 60-minute instalments that will be shown on Channel 4 in the UK.

Side-characters from Cucumber will then feed into the companion show, Banana, which will air on E4 in 30 minute episodes, while Tofu is a factual series focussing on sex and sexuality, that will take its themes from the shows.That series will be online.

(In case you’re wondering,the titles are references to comparisons Davies heard to the, err, level of a man’s excitedness).

The shows promise to look at the ‘passions and pitfalls of 21st Century gay life’, although those of you in the US may have to wait a while, as Davies has previously hinted it may be a little too hot for American TV. Hopefully we’ll get a better look soon. [Read more…]

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DIRECTORS: Russell T. Davies FILMS: Cucumber, Banana, Tofu

Rufus Hound & Ardal O’Hanlon Join Russell T Davies’ Gay-Themed TV Show Cucumber

July 19, 2014 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Back in May, Channel 4 announced the main cast for Queer As Folk creator Russell T Davies’ return to gay-themed television, Cucumber. However it turns out there were a few names missed out, as they’ve now added comedians and actors Rufus Hound and Ardal O’Hanlon, as well as Adjoa Andoh.

Cucumber is about 46-year-old Henry (Vincent Franklin) and his boyfriend Lance (Cyril Nri) whose comfortable and settled existence is shattered after the most disastrous date night in history – involving a threesome, two police cars, and Bony M – and Henry’s new life begins.

Hound joins the eight-part series as Rupert, who’s described as being ‘a man in hot pursuit of Henry – but as their date gets stranger and stranger, the night ends in very unexpected ways.’

O’Hanlon is Brian, who goes out on a date with Cleo, only to find the evening unravelling into old secrets and long-buried truths. Andoh joins as Lance’s sister Marie – a strong, outspoken professional, who thinks her brother’s boyfriend just isn’t good enough for him.

One of the most interesting things about Davies’ project is that it comes in three parts. Cucumber is eight 60-minute instalments that will be shown on Channel 4 in the UK, which then feeds into the eight 30-minute episodes of Banana, about the people orbiting Henry’s world, which will air on E4. If that weren’t enough, there’ll also be the on-demand show Tofu, described a ‘an anarchic and entertaining factual series about sex – from gay to straight, and anything in between – inspired by the dramas each week.’

Banana, which will star the likes of Andrew Hayden-Smith, also has a couple of newcomers – Luke Newberry and Dino Fetscher. Their characters, Josh and Aiden, will first appear in Cucumber before their in-depth stories are detailed in individual episodes of Banana.

The shows are currently shooting in Manchester. No air date has yet been announced.

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ACTORS: Rufus Hound, Ardal O'Hanlon DIRECTORS: Russell T. Davies FILMS: Cucumber, Banana

The Cast Is Announced For Russell T Davies’ New Gay-Themed TV Series

May 6, 2014 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

It’s 14 years since Russell T Davies shook up TV with the in-your-face Queer As Folk. Since then he’s taken us to the world of new Doctor Who and Torchwood, but it’s been a while since he made anything specifically gay.

However a few months ago it was announced he was returning with two gay-themed TV shows & an online series. Now Channel 4 – which of course was also the network behind Queer As Folk, has announced the casts and that filming has begun.

Here’s the press release: ‘Star of The Thick of It and Twenty Twelve, VINCENT FRANKLIN will join Coronation Street’s JULIE HESMONDHALGH in the cast of new Channel 4 drama series Cucumber, from the multi BAFTA award-winning writer of Queer As Folk and Doctor Who, Russell T Davies.

‘Filming in Manchester has begun on Cucumber (8 x 60’) for broadcast on Channel 4 in 2015, with E4 series Banana (8 x 30’) to start production next month. The cast also includes; CYRIL NRI (The Bill), FREDDIE FOX (Parade’s End), FISAYO AKINADE (Fresh Meat), CON O`NEILL (Uncle), JAMES MURRAY (Primeval) and CEALLACH SPELLMAN (Waterloo Road).

‘Life for 46 year old Henry (Vincent Franklin) and his boyfriend Lance (Cyril Nri) is comfortable and settled. But after the most disastrous date night in history – involving a threesome, two police cars, and Boney M – Henry’s old life shatters, and his new life begins.

‘While Lance gets to know the mysterious Daniel (James Murray), Henry soon finds himself with unexpected companions. 24 year old Freddie (Freddie Fox) and 19 year old Dean (Fisayo Akinade) have only been passing strangers, until now. But when they all find themselves under the same roof, they need to work out; are they friends or enemies? Can men from such different generations ever get on?

‘Henry’s sister Cleo (Julie Hesmondhalgh) is busy, professional, and a little chaotic. But coping with her three kids is easy compared to helping her brother. And as Henry’s life heads in extraordinary new directions, helped by his nephew Adam (Ceallach Spellman), it becomes clear that Cleo’s hiding one or two secrets of her own…

‘With the same ferocious wit, startling honesty and heartfelt warmth that made Queer As Folk a landmark Channel 4 series, Cucumber will explore the passions and pitfalls of 21st century gay life for Henry, Lance and co, while on E4, Banana will follow the individual lives of characters orbiting around Henry’s world. On 4oD, Tofu will be an anarchic and entertaining factual series about sex – from gay to straight, and anything in between – inspired by the dramas each week.

‘Cucumber, Banana and Tofu were commissioned by Channel 4 Head of Drama Piers Wenger and will be made by RED Production Company with Executive Producers Nicola Shindler, Julie Gardner and Russell T Davies. Tofu will be made by Benjamin Cook (Becoming YouTube).

‘Cucumber is written by Russell T Davies and produced by Matt Strevens, with directors; David Evans, Alice Troughton and Euros Lyn.’

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DIRECTORS: Russell T. Davies FILMS: Cucumber, Banana, Tofu

Queer As Folk Creator Russell T. Davies Returning With Two Gay-Themed TV Shows & An Online Series

November 19, 2013 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

russell-t-davies 15 years ago Russell T. Davies skyrocketed to the top of the pack of British TV writers with the hit Queer As Folk, which led to the likes of Bob & Rose, The Second Coming and overseeing the phenomenally successful re-emergence of Doctor Who. However we haven’t had much new from him for the past few years, largely because shortly after he went off to the US for an American co-production Torchwood mini-series, he returned to the UK due to the fact his partner was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

However it’s now been announced he’s coming back, and for the first time since Queer As Folk, gay life will be the main subject rather than just a subplot. Channel 4 has announced he’s returning with Cucumber and Banana – two new drama series exploring the passions and pitfalls of 21st century gay life. Alongside that is Tofu, a factual web series that is an anarchic online guide to sex, inspired by the dramas each week.

Cucumber follows 46 year old Henry and his long-suffering boyfriend Lance. Life for Henry and Lance is comfortable and settled. But after the most disastrous date night in history – involving a death, a threesome, two police cars and the Glee Christmas Album – Henry’s old life shatters, and his new life begins.

Banana meanwhile follows the lives of characters orbiting around Henry in Cucumber. From young lesbian Scotty’s first love, to 19 year old Dean’s mysterious family secrets, Banana covers 50 shades of gay, and beyond.

Both series will have eight episodes, with Cucumber having 60-minute instalments, while Banana is a half-hour series. It’s been promised that ‘Cucumber and Banana will explore the heartbreak and joy of modern sex lives – from gay to straight, and anything in between.’

Tofu, meanwhile, extends the experience online with eight factual episodes navigating the landscape of 21st Century sex. Offering real people the chance to share their unique stories of sexual experiences, Tofu is set to be an anarchic and entertaining look at sex.

Russell T Davies comments, “I once read about a scientific institute which had studied the male erection. It divided the hard-on into four categories, from soft to hard. One, tofu. Two, peeled banana. Three, banana. And four, cucumber. Right there and then, I knew I had my drama. And it’s a joy to be back with Channel 4 and RED [who backed Queer As Folk], to tell these stories.”

The shows will air next year, but there’s no news on the cast as yet.

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DIRECTORS: Russell T. Davies FILMS: Cucumber, Banana, Tofu