A groundbreaking but deeply problematic BBC radio programme on male homosexuality, recorded in 1954 but shelved for years, is being brought to the stage for the first time. The play, titled The BBC’s First Homosexual, will tour England in February to mark LGBT+ History Month, starting in Salford.
Unearthing a Buried Broadcast
The project stems from the rediscovery of the original 1954 script by historian Professor Marcus Collins of Loughborough University. The programme, The Homosexual Condition, was the BBC's first to tackle the then-illegal subject. It featured starkly homophobic contributions, such as from Lord Hailsham, who compared homosexuality to a disease alcoholics are eager to spread.
Other voices, while somewhat more liberal, advocated for conversion or abstinence. Educationist John Wolfenden—who later authored the report recommending decriminalisation—suggested a "healthy and normal" home life as a prophylactic. The sole gay voice was an anonymous "reformed homosexual" preaching "sheer will power".
After internal debate, including concerns it might increase homophobia and the BBC's general reluctance to discuss sex, the programme was shelved. A heavily edited version finally aired on the Home Service in 1957, sparking a backlash that led the BBC to vow no further programmes on the topic except for "special purposes".
From Archive to Stage: Confronting History
Playwright Stephen M Hornby, who accessed the script and internal BBC memos, describes the material as revealing "either naked, foaming-at-the-mouth homophobia... Or the more liberal voices who say conversion therapy works".
The stage play tells the story of the radio programme's creation and its impact, intertwined with the narrative of Tom, a 19-year-old Burton’s tailor in Manchester. It also features a character based on Mary Whitehouse, who was approached to contribute in 1954. In a submitted article, the future morality campaigner wrote of mothers' fears their sons "may be tempted or warped".
Contemporary Resonances and a National Tour
Despite being a story from 70 years ago, the creators highlight urgent modern parallels, particularly regarding ongoing debates around conversion practices. Post-show Q&A sessions aim to spark conversation about why successive governments have failed to ban them.
The BBC’s First Homosexual will premiere at the New Adelphi theatre, University of Salford, on 4 February 2024. It will then tour to Birmingham, Brighton, London, Liverpool, and Loughborough, offering a powerful reflection on a hidden chapter of British broadcasting and LGBTQ+ history.
