The Viacom owned cable network Logo TV has signed on to co-produce Channel 4’s Russell T Davies created series Cucumber and Banana, TVWise has learned.
Cucumber is an 8 episode drama series which 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.
While Banana is another 8 episode series, described as a companion piece to Cucumber, which 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.
“It’s an honour and delight to team up with Logo for these brand new dramas. It’s 16 years since I created Queer As Folk, which means I’ve had 16 years to build up new characters, new stories, and new insights into our lives”, said Russell T. Davies. “Across both series, we explore gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender stories, as well as love beyond labels – this is 50 shades of gay, and beyond!”
The two inter-connected series, originally commissioned by Channel 4 in November 2013 alongside online companion Tofu, are being produced by Red Production Company and star Vincent Franklin (The Thick Of It), Julie Hesmondhalgh (Coronation Street), Freddie Fox (Pride), Cyril Nri (The Bill), James Murray (Defiance), Fisayo Akinade, Hannah John-Kamen (Killjoys), Andrew Hayden-Smith (Doctor Who), Luke Newberry (In the Flesh), Letitia Wright (Top Boy), Georgia Henshaw (Waterloo Road) and Bethany Black.
“Both Cucumber and Banana are examples of the high calibre work that Russell T Davies has a proven track record of creating,” added BBC Worldwide North America’s Executive Vice-President of Sales Matt Forde, who brokered the co-production deal. “Logo TV is the perfect network to co-produce these thought provoking, brilliantly witty and entertaining series.”
