British TV for lesbians

I've been struggling with how exactly to get this blog off the ground, and then I realized -- why not follow Dara and Karman's example and do some lists? I love lists. Lists are good.

So here are five U.K. television shows of interest, in no particular order.

1. Metrosexuality -- Before it became a popular term for style-conscious straight guys, it was a TV show. Over six episodes, an extended network of friends deal with various relationship-related problems over two consecutive weekends. The main focus is Kwame, a teenager who's trying to get his estranged gay dads back together while also working on his own love life, but there are two lesbian couples among the many minor storylines. Cindy and Doris are enjoying some time alone without their kids until Cindy's ex-boyfriend comes into the picture; Jaye and Flora are two young women just hooking up for the first time. The show is fast-paced and colourful and features an incredibly diverse cast; an all-around fun watch.

2. Absolutely Fabulous -- On the surface, this long-running (five series and a handful of specials) comedy has more of a gay male sensibility, what with its emphasis on fashion, design and campy fun. The main characters (especially Patsy) would make excellent drag queens, if they weren't already biological women. But I've always caught a certain lesbian vibe from them as well. Patsy and Eddie are always jealous of each other's boyfriends and never happier than when they're together. Patsy definitely functions as a wicked stepmother to Eddie's daughter Saffron and as a son-in-law to Eddie's mother. And of course, they did actual get married in New York in one of the specials, although they were extremely reluctant to seal it with a kiss. "You pucker." "No, you pucker!"

3. Sugar Rush --Now this show is lesbian through and through. It's about Kim, a teenager with a major crush on her best friend, Sugar. Problem is, Sugar is boy-crazy, not to mention a bit of a juvenile delinquent. It's funny and sweet and, at times, heartbreaking -- especially if you ever had a puppy-love experience in high school. I find the acting particularly impressive for a teen show.

4. Queer As Folk -- The U.K. version didn't last nearly as long as the North American one, so the lesbian storyline never got much of a chance to develop (but then, considering what Lindsay and Melanie went through, maybe that's a good thing). And to tell you the truth, I haven't seen it in years... but I do recall that the girls are a blink-and-you'll-miss-it sideline. On both sides of the pond, this show is primarily for the boys.

5. Bad Girls -- Apparently this prison drama is about to become the subject of yet another American remake, so we'll have to see how it stacks up. I've only seen the first three series of the original, those being the ones that featured inmate Nikki's increasingly complicated attraction to prison official Helen. There are a few other gay characters as well. This show runs the gamut from dark and brooding to borderline ridiculous -- it seems awfully easy to escape from (and sneak back into!) Larkhall Prison -- but there's always something interesting going on.

I recommend giving all of these a glance, but it can be tricky if you're North American. I think AbFab might be the only one widely available on DVD in the U.S. and Canada.