THE LINE OF BOOTY

I actually saw a preview tape of this “quality drama based on the Booker Award winning novel about gay life in the 80s” (tm every newspaper and BBC press release everywhere ever) (and which clashes with the Champions League final – doh), but don’t worry – I won’t spoil the plot for you, mainly because NOTHING ACTUALLY HAPPENS!!

This young bloke with rubbish hair and very blue eyes moves in with some posh tories (one of whom is the Borg Queen! Gasp! Assimilate! Etc!), shags a bloke and then basically stands around in corners smirking, while people say things to make you remember that it’s set in the ‘80s like “Gosh, what about that Falklands War then?” or “Have you heard about Ronald Reagan and his so-called Star Wars initiative? What’s that all about?” Most importantly of all, Play School presenter Floella Benjamin has a cameo role!! There’s no sign of Hamble or Big Ted though.

I did learn various fascinating facts about the 80s however, as follows:
- it took about 30 seconds to have gay sex in those days
- posh, rich tories were a bit racist. Who would have thought it!
- like, class issues.

I am thinking that perhaps the novel is too subtle and nuanced to turn into a three part telly drama (not that I’ve read it or anything) as what made it to the screen basically seems kind of pointless (a bit like a goddam Stephen Poliakoff play). It’s quite well done though and there is plenty of teh gay sex so I suppose I’ll be watching the rest of it.

SARAH WRITES: I've read the novel, and it is a nice, subtly nuanced portrait of the 80s. And Lead Bloke's hair is all wrong.