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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Lifestyle
Bethan Kapur

The Brookside kiss that brought a lesbian storyline into Britain’s living rooms

In 1994, Channel 4 soap opera Brookside brought the first lesbian kiss to British TV.

The groundbreaking kiss gained the country’s attention, bringing same-sex relationships into everyone’s home at a time when Section 28 was prohibiting the “promotion” of homosexuality in schools.

It was a kiss that led to the characters Margaret Clemence and Beth Jordache becoming queer icons with fanmail for the actresses skyrocketing after six million people watched the episode, even though Anna Friel, who portrayed Beth, wasn’t queer herself.

Watch more episodes of iconic clinches with That Kiss on Independent TV here.

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