Cucumber and Banana, Russell T Davies’ two new dramas about “the passions and pitfalls of 21st century gay life”, will launch on Channel 4 and E4 later this month.

Written and created by Russell T Davies (Doctor Who, Queer as Folk), Cucumber begins on Thursday 22 January at 9pm on Channel 4, followed by Banana at 10pm the same night on E4.

Spin-off Tofu, an online series which will let viewers share their sexual experiences, will debut on 4oD at 10.30pm.

Cucumber stars Vincent Franklin (The Thick of It), Julie Hesmondhalgh (Coronation Street), Fisayo Akinade (Fresh Meat) and Freddie Fox (Parade’s End), while Banana stars Hannah John-Kamen (Happy Valley), Letitia Wright (Top Boy), Georgia Henshaw (Waterloo Road), Andrew Hayden-Smith (Doctor Who) and comedian Bethany Black in her television debut.

Cucumber will focus on 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 will follow the lives of characters orbiting around Henry in Cucumber, including young lesbian Scotty’s first love and 19 year old Dean’s mysterious family secrets.

> Buy the Queer As Folk Definitive Edition boxset on Amazon.

Watch the trailer for Cucumber, Banana and Tofu…

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