ITV Pridecast

On the latest ITV Pridecast, Alfie Potter joins Liam to discuss what it’s like to run a large workplace inclusion network like ITV Pride. For his day job, Alfie is an Enterprise Architect where he looks after the modelling of ITV’s technical systems. Aside from that Alfie has been an active member of ITV Pride since 2022 and became one of the co-chairs to lead the network.During the episode he chats about the uplifting moments in helping to run ITV Pride and in being able to bring people together from all walks of life. He also talks about the realities inclusive networks face in many companies in trying to find creative and innovative ways to represent colleagues.Part of that representation has been done through Alfie’s connections with the group Intermedia UK. It works to support LGBTQ+ people right across the broadcasting and media landscape and Alfie says the organisation’s work is vital in bringing like-minded people together.Alfie also talks about one of his main highlights at ITV in meeting Queen Camilla. Part of ITV’s 70th birthday celebrations, Alfie was able to tell Her Majesty about the work he does with ITV Pride in supporting members of the community.

It’s seven years since RuPaul brought his famous runway to the UK and since then many have lip-synced for their lives and shown the world’s most famous Drag Queen what British drag really has to offer. RuPaul’s Drag Race UK has also given a huge platform to people from up and down the country where they’ve showcased their artistry to audiences across the globe.  On the latest ITV Pridecast Drag Queen Catrin Feelings joins Liam and Jess to talk about her experience on the seventh series of Drag Race UK. Originally from the Rhondda Valley in south Wales, Catrin shares her story of getting into drag and how she ended up on the programme. She talks about reaching the finale before having to sashay away when her time was up on the show.As well as sharing her style of drag on the programme, Catrin was also distinct in promoting her Welsh heritage. She often used Welsh phrases as well as taking on the persona of Welsh icons including Bonnie Tyler which she did so during both the Snatch Game episode and the Roast. On the podcast, Catrin also shares what it was like to have her dad come onto the show and do drag and how it helped break down stereotypes. As well as looking back on Drag Race, Catrin talks about what is coming up over the summer with her taking part in pride events across the country and also in the Drag Race UK Season Seven Tour.

On this ITV Pridecast Liam introduces new co-host Jess Clayton who will be joining him to interview guests on the show. Jess is a journalist for ITV Wales and works on a range of both English language and Welsh language programmes. Whilst working at ITV, she has become a member of the ITV Pride network and has been part of panel discussions talking about what it’s like to be a lesiban woman in the UK today. For this episode of the podcast Liam and Jess look back on a Pridecast which was recorded for ITV Pride network members for ITV Pride Day in 2025. Now available to listen to on all main podcast platforms, listeners will be able to hear the story of Ruth Birch and her wife Julia Curry.Both were members of the army during the 1980s and 90s and were forced out of the military because of their sexuality. Before the year 2000 if a member of the forces was discovered to be LGBTQ+ they could be dishonourably discharged, meaning they would be sacked just because of their sexuality. That came with a criminal record, losing your pension, having medals and berets taken away from you and ultimately being turfed out of the military family. Ruth Birch from Porthcawl in South Wales along with her wife Julia Curry have spent the last few years campaigning for justice for veterans. Both joined the army in the late 1980s wanting to serve Queen and country and were willing to give the ultimate sacrifice. Although neither were dishonourably discharged they were interrogated over suspicions they were in a relationship by the military police. They had their rooms in their barracks ransacked for any evidence that would incriminate them, were taken into interview rooms to be questioned for hours over a supposed relationship and they were asked to identify any others who might be LGBTQ+.It all took its toll and eventually Ruth and Ju decided to end their secret relationship and to even leave the armed forces so they didn’t suffer a dishonourable discharge. It’s fair to say both had the heartbreak of losing one another and their careers just because of a policy which was still in place in the military even when homosexuality in the UK had been decriminalised in 1967. It took an incredible 22 years for Ruth and Ju to find one another and rekindle their relationship, with them eventually marrying in 2017. The campaign for justice for veterans is still ongoing. In 2023 it gained media attention after the LGBT Veterans Independent Review was submitted to the UK Government by Lord Etherton. It set out 49 recommendations on how veterans should receive justice and compensation for the ordeal they went through. The government is still working on implementing those recommendations in a bid to write the wrongs of the past and to make sure LGBTQ+ veterans are welcomed back into the military family.If you want to find out more information about to work being done to support LGBTQ+ Veterans head over to: https://www.fightingwithpride.org.uk/Or if you've been affected by anything discussed in this episode, head over to itv.com/advice where there is more information and support.

On the latest ITV Pridecast, Liam is joined by Baraka Meena, one of the contestants on this year’s series of I Kissed a Boy. The BBC Three dating show which is presented by Danni Minogue first hit our screens in 2023 giving a group of singletons the chance to find love in the setting of an Italian masseria. Baraka was unfortunately unable to find love in the masseria but he says he was really proud to be part of the experience. The 24-year-old whose family are from Tanzania only came out four years ago and he says his time on the show really helped build his confidence. Despite not finding a partner he says he was able to build strong connections with the other boys and learn so much more about himself.During this episode of the Pridecast, Baraka talks about some of the poignant moments he had whilst in the masseria including Lars talking about coming out as a trans man as well as Adam discussing his HIV diagnosis. He says he took a lot from conversations with Reuben and Jas about intersectionality and navigating being a gay man with African heritage. He says he’s now using the platform from the show to raise issues around identity and race.This ITV Pridecast has been recorded in conjunction with the ITV Embrace network as a marker for Black History Month which takes place each October.

* A warning this episode includes the use of swear words from the outsetOn the latest ITV Pridecast, Katie Garwood hosts the episode where she interviews some of the cast from the new BBC hit programme, What It Feels Like for a Girl. During the podcast, Katie speaks to Ellis Howard, Laquarn Lewis and Hannah Jones about starring in the show. The ‘coming of age’ drama has been inspired by the memoir of the same name by the award winning writer and journalist Paris Lees.The series has been produced by Hera Pictures in association with ITV Studios. It centres on 15 year-old Byron (Ellis Howard), who’s from a small town just outside of Nottingham. The show tracks their escape to the big city and exploring Nottingham’s underworld in the UK's early 00s club scene. Life explodes for Byron when they discover drink and drugs and are adopted by Lady Die (Laquarn Lewis) into her family of troublemakers, known as “The Fallen Divas”.They beg, steal and skank their way on a rollercoaster ride of hedonism. But the party can't last forever, and when Byron is seduced by Liam, a shocking encounter occurs that will change life forever.What It Feels Like For A Girl is a raw, heartbreaking and hilarious drama which explores escape, self-discovery and self-destruction. It delves into everything from drug abuse to underage sex work, abusive parents, transphobia and homophia. All eight episodes are now available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

Feeling proud to be LGBTQ+ can sometimes come with many layers and complexities. For a community of people who are still discriminated against just for their very existence, it can be hard to sometimes ignite that sense of pride in one's self. However, the coming together of that community in one large group can stoke a sense of pride in place of the adversity put upon them by wider society. That is of course, the basis of all Pride marches that we see across the globe - to allow LGBTQ+ people to come together in their shared experience and remind decisionmakers as well as the wider public of the pursuit for equality and inclusion. That was the aim of those who organised Wales’ first ever Pride march in 1985. 40 years ago a small group of students came together in Cardiff to take a stand against the hostility that existed towards the community and show their sense of pride in one another.Now four decades on ITV Cymru Wales has produced an hour long documentary called Proud which looks back at that historic day. In what is a beautifully produced programme, that can make you laugh and cry at the same time, it shares the stories of the LGBTQ+ people who have lived through that time and the trials and tribulations they’ve faced along the way. On the latest ITV Pridecast, Liam chats with Nicola Hendy who is bringing Proud to our screens. Nicky, who is a Producer and Director at ITV Cymru Wales, tells the story of how Proud came about and some of the inspiring people she has interviewed who make up the programme. She also shares the importance of remembering those LGBTQ+ people who have fought for our liberties and how those rights are being tested today more than ever. Joining Liam to co-host this episode is Carl Edwards, a journalist and presenter for ITV Wales. As well as his day job, Carl works hard to champion and promote diversity and inclusion within ITV and seeks to provide greater opportunities for people of all backgrounds to get into the media.Proud is available to watch on both ITV1 Wales and ITVX from 9pm on 17th June.

Having children is of course something many people in society will aspire to. It’s a social norm ingrained within us that most people will become parents one day. But that’s not always been the case for people who are LGBTQ+. Society can often assume people within the community will not want children simply because of their sexuality and in turn, those who are LGBTQ+ themselves may veer away from parenthood because of that stereotype. However over the last decade or so that seems to have changed with more LGBTQ+ people becoming parents in a variety of ways.On the latest ITV Pridecast writer and TV Producer, Dominic Treadwell Collins joins the show to discuss what it’s like to be a gay man and a father. He chats about how he and his husband went down the route of adopting their young son and the challenges and hurdles they faced along the way. Dominic also discusses how perceptions around being a parent and being gay have changed hugely for him, his family and the wider public. As well as discussing being a father, Dominic also talks about the work he’s done on some incredible TV shows as well as the storylines he’s written. Currently busy working on the Disney+ hit Rivals, Dominic has an array of titles to his name, including You and Me, A Very English Scandal, and A Very British Scandal. On top of that, he also shares some of the LGBTQ+ storylines he brought to viewers when working on Eastenders including the famous affair between Syed Masood and Christian Clarke. Joining Liam to co-host this episode is Lisa Milestone, who is a Senior Casting Producer for ITV and currently works on The Chase on ITV1. Lisa along with her wife went through the process of IUI to have their two boys and she shares her experience of becoming a parent. She talks about how all parents face challenges but LGBTQ+ parents can face particular issues due to the stereotypes over parenting that still exist in society today. If you want more information about becoming a parent if you’re LGBTQ+ head over to the NHS website which offers useful advice and information to people in the UK.

Warning: some listeners may find this episode of the Pridecast and the documentary upsetting. Details of advice and helplines are listed below.Brianna Ghey: A Mother’s Story (with Esther Ghey)If you’ve followed the story of Brianna Ghey, the 16-year-old who was brutally murdered in 2023, you’ll have seen the incredible strength and courage of her mother, Esther Ghey. Over the past year, Esther has turned her tragedy into powerful activism, shining a spotlight on some of the dangerous content young people can access online to campaigning for mindfulness lessons to be introduced into schools. Now, Esther is sharing her story in a new documentary on ITV, Brianna Ghey: A Mother’s Story.On 11th of February 2023 Brianna was savagely killed in a park in Warrington. Her killers Scarlett Jenkinson, and Eddie Ratcliffe - who were only 15 at the time - were both given life sentences after their frenzied attack on the 16 year-old. In court the judge said the “exceptionally brutal” murder had elements of both sadism by Jenkinson and transphobic hate on the part of Ratcliffe. The documentary follows Esther’s journey since losing Brianna, a loss that also deeply affected the transgender community. It’s a personal and intimate look at grief and the deep love between a mother and her daughter, as well as Esther’s tireless work to create positive change in Brianna’s memory.In the latest ITV Pridecast, Esther sits down with Liam McConkey to talk openly about making the documentary, what motivates her activism, and why she’s campaigning for more compassion and mindfulness in schools. She also discusses the importance of speaking out for young trans people and highlighting the ongoing struggles they face.The documentary’s release, which is just days before Trans Day of Visibility on 31st March  adds a powerful and poignant layer to its message; that trans lives must be seen, supported, and safeguarded.If you’ve been affected by any of the issues raised, you can visit itv.com/helplines or itv.com/advice. Brianna: A Mother's Story airs at 9pm on Thursday 27th of March on ITV1. An extended version is available to stream on ITVX. Also available on STV and STV Player Available support from charities: Mind: 0300 102 [email protected]://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/helplines/Young Minds Parents helpline:0808 802 5544  [email protected]://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-helpline/https://www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/Childline / NSPCC 0808 8005000Childline - 0800 1111https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/reporting-abuse/nspcc-helpline/https://www.childline.org.uk/Samaritans116 123Chat Samaritans: https://chat.samaritans.org/ChatSamaritans: https://chat.samaritans.org/Alumina / Youth ScapeEmail address - [email protected]://www.selfharm.co.uk/Stop Hate Crime0800 138 [email protected] SupportVictim Support England and Wales: 08 08 16 89 [email protected]://www.victimsupport.org.uk/help-and-support/get-help/supportline/Victim Support Scotland - Victim Support Scotland0800 160 1985https://victimsupport.scot/Victim Support Northern Ireland02890 [email protected]://www.victimsupportni.com/B-eatEngland: 0808 801 0677Scotland: 0808 801 0432Wales: 0808 801 0433Northern Island: 0808 801 [email protected]://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/get-information-and-support/LGBT Foundation 0345 3 30 30 [email protected]://lgbt.foundation/contact-support/The Proud Trust0161 660 [email protected]://www.theproudtrust.org/[email protected]://mindfulnessinschools.org/CruseCRUSE England:0808 808 1677https://www.cruse.org.uk/CRUSE Scotland:Helpline: 0808 802 6161Email: [email protected] Intelligence [email protected] Line: 0800 640 8046 / 07NB: This is for over 18's only. The website outlines their youth groups and montor services - youthwork email addres can help triage the bestadmin@@genderedintelligence.co.ukyouthwork@genderedintelligence.co.ukhttps://genderedintelligence.co.uk/

*A warning this episode contains strong language. For many our first introduction to Rob Rinder was when his hit show Judge Rinder began on ITV back in 2014. The daytime programme, which propelled Rob to fame, saw him oversee civil cases in front of TV audiences from all over the UK. A decade on and a range of TV shows under his belt as well as books written, Rob is now a household name on television screens up and down the country. He joins Liam McConkey and Jo Lewis on the latest ITV Pridecast to discuss his career and the importance of supporting LGBTQ+ people for companies like ITV. His most recent show, Rob and Rylan’s Grand Tour, saw him team up with his friend Rylan Clark where the pair visited some of Italy’s iconic cities to follow in the footsteps of the likes of 18th century socialites by immersing themselves in some of the finest art and culture in the world. Viewers get to see the incredible bond and friendship that the pair share and how they both encourage and challenge one another to take on new exploits during their travels. And since the show was first broadcast, a second series has been commissioned with Rob and Rylan recently returning from India and filming their latest travel adventures there. During this episode of the ITV Pridecast, Rob also discusses how TV can have a limitless value in helping changing minds and attitudes. He says that TV has a huge power in transmitting people’s lived experiences to huge audiences that can actually bring about real change. He says we only have to see the impact of ITV’s hit drama Mr Bates vs the Post Office  to see this.  Since becoming a well known figure, Rob has been vocal about being an openly gay Jewish man. During this episode he discusses how he had unconditional love from his mother but how he grew up during a time when it was concerning to be a gay man when society just depicted LGBTQ+ life in a very negative way.In the episode Rob also chats about the advances the LGBTQ+ community has made, with regards to the law. He says that he is hopeful for the future and if we are to protect our LGBTQ+ rights we need to have a capacity to listen and rationally debate our concerns.  

The gender that we’re assigned to at birth means that we’re expected to have certain characteristics and live by unwritten rules. These can dictate how we see the world, and in turn how the world sees us. In some ways gender can create a sense of togetherness and belonging among those that share the same gender and it can foster particular bonds. But gender can also divide. Being socially conditioned from early on, on how we should behave due to expected characteristics that go with being a man or a woman, can be very limiting indeed. And for someone who doesn’t feel they fit within one gender or the other, life can feel isolating when the rest of society is conforming to the ‘norm’ that has been created. For some people, they may see themselves as possessing both masculine and feminine traits and that simply choosing to either solely present as a man or a woman doesn’t feel akin to their true experience. They may also feel that sometimes they identify as one of the genders more than the other. In this instance, people may choose to be fluid with their gender identity in order to not feel confined or restricted because of societal expectations. Therefore they may change their gender over time. For Sophie Scott, she has recently come to terms with recognising her own gender fluidity and she shares her story on the ITV Pridecast. Sophie works in content digitisation at ITV where she works on getting all the tape archive digitised and she is based in Leeds. As well as her day job, Sophie also volunteers at an event called Leeds First Friday which is the UK’s biggest trans social event which happens every month. You can also listen back to when Sophie was last on ITV Pridecast when she caught up with Emmerdale’s Ash Palmisciano to visit Leeds First Friday: https://bit.ly/3Al9tNI  If you’ve been affected by anything discussed in this episode of the Pridecast then head over to ITV’s general advice and helplines website for more information and support.