Scott Bryan, TV critic, broadcaster, and journalist, joins me on Queerly Radio to discuss his new memoir Out Now: A Queer Journey Through Modern Television.
The book explores the queer TV moments that shaped his life from the 90s to today, reflecting on representation, personal identity, and the evolving landscape of LGBTQ+ storytelling. Here are some of the highlights from our conversation.
Harvey Morton: Your work has been a huge inspiration to me, especially your Twitter feed. What was it like turning those personal reflections and cultural observations into a full memoir?
Scott Bryan: It was quite liberating. I wanted to tap into how queer TV shaped me and many others who grew up with very few moments of LGBTQ+ representation. The book became more personal than I anticipated, exploring why I relied so much on television as a safe territory. It’s a deep dive into queer moments, but also about finding your way as an adult when life is more complicated than TV.
Harvey: The title Out Now is brilliant. Can you tell us about that week when you came out in French class the same week Coronation Street aired its first gay kiss?
Scott: The book starts with me literally coming out in French class. It was surreal because I grew up in Dorset, where homophobia was common, but I was blissfully unaware. The night before, Coronation Street aired its first gay kiss, watched by about 40 million people. I tuned in but didn’t fully grasp it. The next day, I came out in French as a bit of a joke, but it quickly became real. The whole school knew by the next day, and my teenage years changed forever. The press reaction was mostly negative, with headlines like “Night of Shame,” but I think most viewers saw it as a positive moment.
Harvey: You write about TV being both an escape and a way to understand yourself as a queer and neurodivergent person. Can you share a moment from your childhood or teens when a TV show made you feel really seen or gave you hope?
Scott: Hollyoaks was massive for me and many others. The storyline between John Paul and Craig was groundbreaking, it wasn’t treated as a special case but as part of everyday life. It gave us hope that queer love was equal and deserved happy endings. I spoke to the actors and executive producer, and even 10 years later, people still tell them how much it meant to them growing up.
Harvey: You mention a sensory overload feeling, the “fuzz,” in social and intimate moments. How has your neurodivergence influenced your relationship with queer TV and real-life queer spaces?
Scott: I was diagnosed with autism a couple of years ago, and writing the book helped me connect the dots between my neurodivergence and my queer experience. The fuzz is sensory overload I get in loud environments like clubs or festivals. Before diagnosis, I felt shame for not “getting it right” socially. TV moments showed me how people interact, but real life felt more complicated. Now I’m grateful for the connections I’ve made with other neurodivergent queer people, it’s been one of the most fulfilling parts of my adulthood.
Harvey: Shows like Queer As Folk and Skins were groundbreaking but also had backlash and limitations. How do you balance celebrating those shows while acknowledging their flaws?
Scott: It’s tempting to be overly critical looking back from 2026, but I try to keep balance. Society has learned a lot about queer representation over the last 20 years. Shows like Skins laid foundations for better characters. Maxxie, for example, was the first British youth show character who really spoke to me as an out kid, even if some storylines sidelined him later. These shows paved the way for the progress we see now.
Harvey: You interviewed key creators like Russell T Davies and Jonathan Harvey. Did anything they shared surprise you or change how you think about queer TV?
Scott: Jonathan Harvey’s story about writing Beautiful Thing was incredible. He was young and angry about political debates demonizing queer people, and he turned that rage into a sweet, life-affirming love story. It made me think about how anger and creativity can coexist to create something beautiful. Russell T Davies also talked about the “curse of being first”, how early queer characters set the stage but also faced huge challenges.
Harvey: You write about how queer TV shaped your expectations and experiences of love and intimacy, sometimes in complicated ways. How can queer TV better support young people navigating their identities today?
Scott: Queer TV has come so far, especially with more queer people in senior creative roles. We’re seeing shows like I Kissed a Girl and I Kissed a Boy because the community is now making the decisions. But there’s more to do, more asexual and bisexual representation, and trans characters who aren’t defined solely by their identity. Flawed, complex characters help everyone relate better. TV still has an important role in shaping society and providing representation that feels authentic.
Harvey: Is there a current show you think is really pushing the needle for queer representation?
Scott: I loved What It Feels Like to Feel a Girl, based on Paris Lees’ memoir, for its bold, creative storytelling about gender identity and working-class life. Also Proud, a Polish show about a young gay guardian raising his niece, which explores queer life in a conservative society. These shows remind us how much more there is to do globally and how powerful authentic stories can be.
Scott Bryan’s new book Out Now: A Queer Journey Through Modern Television is available to buy here.