Warning: This episode includes swearing and references to homophobic slurs which some listeners may find upsetting. With celebrations ongoing for LGBTQ+ History Month, the latest ITV Pridecast looks back at the history of the ITV Pride network and the people who’ve shaped it into what it is today. Since 2012, ITV has had a dedicated network to support and champion LGBTQ+ colleagues across the company. On this episode Liam starts off by chatting with Andy Collinson, one of the founders of...

In the latest ITV Pridecast Liam chats to Ali Hannon about their story of being non-binary. Ali also talks about trying to create more inclusive spaces for people to be their true authentic selves and looking beyond the binds of gender norms and expectations. In recent times the wider public has become more aware of people who identify as non-binary. With the likes of high profile figures like Sam Smith and Jonathan Van Ness coming out, it has put the spotlight on what it means to be...

On this episode of the ITV Pridecast, Liam McConkey visits the Coronation Street Visitor Experience in Media City to chat with Naomi Sloyan, one of the soap’s location managers, about living with HIV. Alongside Naomi is Darren Knight from the George House Trust, the charity which offers advice and support on anything to do with HIV. Both discuss the importance of testing and how effective HIV treatment is helping peoplelive long and healthy lives. In 2022, 39 million people across the globe...

A warning this episode refers to homophobic slurs that some listeners may find upsetting. Zander Murray lives and breathes football. The 31-year-old from Glasgow currently plays for the Scottish League Two club, Bonnyrigg Rose, as a striker. Last year he gained considerable attention, having scored his 100th career goal. However that wasn’t the only reason he found himself in the media spotlight. In September 2022, Zander decided to go public about being gay, becoming the first out...

As Coronation Street’s Gemma Winter-Brown, it would be an understatement to say the last nine years have been a whirlwind for Dolly-Rose Campbell. She is the latest guest on the ITV Pridecast and discusses her role in Corrie and also being bisexual and the importance of bi-visibility. Arriving in the soap in 2014 for an initial six episodes, Dolly-Rose introduced us to the boisterous bundle of energy that is of course Gemma. As a friend of Kylie Platt, Gemma started life on the nation’s...

On a daily basis, Richard Arnold is welcomed into people’s homes across the UK when he brings the entertainment and showbiz news to ITV’s Good Morning Britain. He’s been providing the lighter side to British breakfast television for more than twenty years with his great warmth, and of course his humour. On this ITV Pridecast, he chats to Liam McConkey about his career during the last two decades and shares some of the incredible stories about the people he’s met along the way. Richard first...

Being LGBTQ+ and a person of faith might appear somewhat at odds with one another. The prejudice and discrimination that’s often projected onto members of the LGBTQ+ community by religions all over the world can lead many to turn away from faith. In the UK especially, and with regards to Christianity in particular, more and more people appear to be choosing a different path. In the 2021 census, less than half of the population in England and Wales described themselves as Christian and those...

Every year ITV now has its very own Pride Day and it’s a chance to celebrate and support LGBTQ+ people across the company and in the wider community. This year, ITV Pride Day was held at the start of Pride month in June and as part of the celebrations, a live ITV Pridecast was recorded with some of those from across the company to discuss why they’re proud to be who they are. Joining Liam McConkey for this special edition of the podcast is Paul Brand, the UK Editor of ITV News and presenter...

For most of us when we hear the word talent show, our minds jump to Britain’s Got Talent, the X-Factor or even Pop Idol, but now a new show has hit our TV screens…Project Icon on BBC Three is the brainchild of chart-topping singer Jason Derulo. Looking to find the UK’s next music star, Derulo is also a judge on the show alongside singer-songwriter Becky Hill and music manager Frank Harris. The winner of the show’s first series is 29-year-old Dylan And The Moon and he joins Liam McConkey and...

For many LGBTQ+ people, finding a space where you can meet fellow members of the community can be incredibly liberating and powerful. Going to a place where you can socialise with those with shared life-experiences can be so fulfilling, especially when many LGBTQ+ people have to balance their authentic identity within a straight-leaning society. For Polly Shute and Peach Bond, this is the foundation of their work in providing safe spaces to lesbians, queer women and non-binary folk across the...

On the ITV Pridecast for March, Issah Nalzaro joins Liam McConkey for this episode. Issah has been at ITV for the past two years and during that time he has worked within the Internal Communications department for the business. His main role is to make sure all employees at ITV are kept up-to-date with the content the company is producing as well as opportunities and initiatives colleagues can get involved with. Alongside his day job, Issah is also a member of the ITV Pride network and...

To round off ITV Pride’s coverage of LGBTQ+ History Month, the ITV Pridecast is back looking at what it means to be asexual and aromantic. Many LGBTQ+ people’s lives have been recorded and documented over the years, allowing for a celebration and time of reflection during each February. However, the recording of asexual and aromantic people’s lives has been much more limited with more still needed to be done. Those who are asexual do not experience sexual attraction to anyone. Unlike...

To mark the start of LGBTQ+ History Month the ITV Pridecast is back and joining Liam McConkey for this episode is none other than screenwriter Russell T Davies and TV producer Nicola Shindler. The duo have worked on an array of dramas together including, Queer as folk and It’s a Sin. Now they’re back working on the muchly anticipated ITVX mini series, Nolly. Davies and Shindler are known for giving a voice to characters who are often stripped of it and this couldn’t be more true of Nolly....

On 1st December each year, many people across the globe will stop and remember the millions who have died from an AIDS-related illness. As well as this, World AIDS Day is also a chance for people to support those who are still living with HIV and to raise awareness that much more still needs to be done to fight this illness. There are currently around 38 million people across the world who have HIV, with more than 100,000 of those in the UK. Since the virus was first identified in 1984,...

In recent years the rights of people who identify as transgender have been big talking points. Much of the conversation has been centred upon the extent to which trans people can freely be themselves in a society that is accustomed to a cisgendered outlook. That is an experience which is of course shared by many across the LGBTQ+ community, and it highlights the massive value of safe spaces for people. This is something espoused by the Leeds First Friday social event which is a monthly...

Dame Kelly Holmes MBE is one of the most respected and recognisable athletes the UK has ever produced. Many will remember when she triumphed at the 2004 Olympics in Athens to bring home two gold medals, and scenes of sheer joy following her incredible achievement. Kelly has won an array of medals during her sporting career, making her an Olympic, Commonwealth and European Champion and she continues to hold British records in the 800m and 1000m. Undoubtedly, to reach such sporting heights...

After a break away for the summer, the Pridecast is back! Joining Liam on this episode is Sam Tatlow, who plays an integral role in promoting diversity and inclusion across ITV. Since December 2020, Sam has worked for the company as a Creative Diversity Partner and she looks to ensure that ITV is reflecting modern Britain both on and off-screen. Sam also works very closely with ITV’s colleague networks, including the ITV Pride network, where she acts as an ally to LGBTQ+ people. In this...

In this special episode of the ITV Pridecast, Liam McConkey hosts the podcast live from the Royal Welsh Show, one of the largest agricultural festivals in Europe. The event, which is held at the Royal Welsh Showground in Llanelwedd in Mid Wales, sees around 200,000 people visit to see some of the best livestock and equine competitions across the country. Joining Liam is Welsh politician, Jeremy Miles and Steffan Evans, teacher and member of the Wales Federation of Young Farmers Clubs....

To mark ITV Pride Day, Liam McConkey chats with ITV Pride’s new Executive Chair, James Penfold. After taking over the role from Matt Scarf, James discusses how he hopes to support LGBTQ+ colleagues across the company. He also shares his thoughts on why having a dedicated Pride Day at ITV is not only about celebrating the LGBTQ+ community, but also acts as an important reminder that progress in society is still needed, and ITV can play its part in this. James also reflects on how TV can play...

As the UK Editor of ITV News, Paul Brand certainly has a huge range of things to report on. He has uncovered some massive stories, including the Covid-19 crisis in care homes which saw so many residents lose their lives. On top of that, he also brought us the news of parties in Downing Street, when the rest of the country was asked to strictly follow lockdown rules. As well as reporting on massive issues relating to British politics, he has also brought very significant LGBTQ+ stories to the...

Being seen and accepted for who we are is what makes us human. It’s something that LGBTQI people have to continuously fight for and for Linda Riley it’s been a life’s work. She’s been acutely aware of the need for visibility within the LGBTQI community and especially for LGBTQI women and non-binary people. Linda has spent a great deal of time raising the profile of members of the community through her work as the publisher of DIVA Magazine, as well as being the founder of Lesbian Visibility...

The topic of transgender people’s rights has gained a great deal of media attention over the last few years. And even though there’s been steps forward in the progress for trans rights, much progress is still needed to create a society where trans people are free to be who they are, without fear of prejudice and discrimination. Soap operas can play an incredible role in addressing subject matters which some viewers may not have a direct experience of and that’s often been the case when...

Peter Tatchell lives an extraordinary life, campaigning for LGBT+ rights across the globe, often putting himself in harm's way from both verbal and physical abuse. In many ways, he has helped change the course of history, whether that’s challenging the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1998 over the church’s legal discrimination against LGBT+ people, or by confronting heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson over homophobic slurs. Just two examples from a very long list of repeatedly challenging those with...

Learning about LGBTQ+ history can open the door to many stories that have often been untold for those who have been marginalised and unrepresented. Lisa Power is helping to tell many of those stories and shape history. She has worked tirelessly to campaign for LGBTQ+ rights and improve the support for people with HIV. She helped found Stonewall in 1989 and was also the Policy Director of the Terrence Higgins Trust, among many other things. On this episode, Liam is joined by Rob Osborne, ITV...