Queer as Folk writer Russell T Davies returns to Channel 4 with Cucumber, a new drama series exploring the passions and pitfalls of 21st century gay life.
> Order Cucumber on DVD on Amazon.
Cucumber follows 46 year old Henry, played by Vincent Franklin (The Thick of It, Twenty Twelve) and his long-suffering boyfriend Lance, played by Cyril Nri (The Bill). 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 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 house-sharing with unexpected companions. The beautiful Freddie (Freddie Fox) and 19 year old Dean (Fisayo Akinade) have only been passing strangers, until now. But when they find themselves under the same roof they need to work out; are they friends or enemies?
And then there’s Henry’s sister, Cleo (Julie Hesmondhalgh) – busy, professional, and a little chaotic. But coping with her three kids is easy compared to helping her brother…
The cast also includes Con O’Neill, Rufus Hound, Ardal O’Hanlon, Adjoa Andoh, Anjli Mohindra, Ceallach Spellman and Phaldut Sharma.
Episode 1
Thursday 22 January 2015, 9pm
Henry and Lance are happy and settled, but when they embark on a disastrous Date Night, life will never be the same again.
At work, Henry is drawn to the enigmatic Freddie Baxter, while Lance greets a newcomer, Daniel – but both new friendships are set on a course to explode.
Episode 2
Thursday 29 January 2015, 9pm
Henry begins his new life, but Freddie marks out the battle lines – can they ever be friends, let alone anything more?
Lance tries to work out where Henry’s gone, and enlists Cleo’s help, but only Cliff is devious enough to work out the truth – and when Henry’s workplace becomes a battleground, the stakes are raised higher than ever.
Episode 3
Thursday 5 February 2015, 9pm
Henry stumbles into a dangerous trap when Freddie meets his old school teacher, Gregory, and sets out for revenge.
Lance takes action and cuts Henry off completely, while at work, Daniel’s attempts to help seem to hint at something more. Is Lance imagining things, or is Daniel not as straight as he seems?
Episode 4
Thursday 12 February 2015, 9pm
Henry goes on a date with a complete stranger, while Lance’s long, dark night leads him to an unexpected bed.
Across town, everyone’s searching for love, or sex, or both, as Cleo meets an old flame, Freddie hooks up with Anna, and Dean embarks on a mysterious journey into danger.
Episode 5
Thursday 19 February 2015, 9pm
Henry’s secrets and lies catch up with him, while Lance’s wildest dreams are in danger of coming true, as Daniel makes an extraordinary move.
But when Adam and Tomasz’s secret online empire starts running out of control, Henry is set on a collision course with everyone he loves.
Episode 6
Thursday 26 February 2015, 9pm
Lance tries to work out the truth about Daniel, so Henry takes a final, desperate chance to win his old boyfriend back.
But with their past history falling away, the lure of Canal Street calling, and Lance spellbound by his new man, is it too late for any of them to change paths?
Episode 7
Thursday 5 March 2015, 9pm
When a manhunt goes wrong, Henry, Freddie and Dean are trapped together and some long-buried truths rise to the surface.
With Marie arriving in town to take charge, and events at the flatshare reaching a climax, Henry’s running out of options – but he’s dangerous when cornered!
Episode 8
Thursday 12 March 2015, 9pm
Everyone gets caught up in Henry’s grand scheme, and life appears to be perfect. But only Freddie (Freddie Fox) realises the truth.
As events of the past catch up with them all, Henry reaches out to family, friends and lovers in order to survive, and yet he still has to face the greatest challenge of all.
> Order Cucumber on DVD on Amazon.
Watch the trailer…
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