British Comedy - Coming out of the closet

Written by: Carmen Croghan
Published: Monday 4th March 2013

Coming out of the closet doesn't just involve a grand and heartfelt speech made in front of friends and loved ones (or, in the case of Jodie Foster, 19.7 million Golden Globe viewers). It's a process that an LGBT individual undergoes; first recognising and accepting their own sexual orientation or identity, then sharing their realisation with trusted friends, often from the LGBT community, and finally revealing this private aspect of themselves to family, friends and co-workers who may or may not be accepting of the news.

Being such a significant event in the life of a gay person, it's surprising that coming out hasn't been the main premise of a British sitcom sooner. Sure, it's been used as a minor comedic plot point; such as when Miranda Hart's sitcom character falsely outed herself to avoid her mother's horrible Pride and Prejudice-themed matchmaking party. Recently it's been more substantially and seriously depicted in a subplot of the hit BBC comedy drama Last Tango In Halifax, wherein Caroline is outed to her family by her estranged husband.

But now with Sue Perkins's first sitcom project, Heading Out, on BBC Two on Tuesday nights, we properly focus on the funny and frustrating facets of coming out. For those who haven't seen the show yet, Perkins stars as Sara, a successful veterinarian who happens to be a lesbian. She has accomplished the first two stages in the coming out process but, at 40 years old, has not been able to take that final step and tell her parents she 'prefers the ladies'. Somewhat frustrated for her, Sara's friends take it upon themselves to give her the final kick she needs:

On second thoughts, perhaps this show is just a point on the socially aware continuum. After all, British television comedy has gone a long way in proving that there's not just one correct way to come out...

For example, when relations between a parent and young adult child are already contentious, sometimes it's just best to blurt it out when the opportunity presents itself. Here's Michael Harper in My Family:

For other people it can take a very long time to come to terms with their sexuality. The more time goes by the more daunting the prospect of sharing the news becomes. In these cases, a buffer might be required. Frank from The Vicar Of Dibley used the radio to tell his friends. It's just a shame they weren't listening:

There are those who constantly reassert their gayness and bemoan perceived persecution when, in fact, they live in the most conspicuously supportive community. Daffyd Thomas from Little Britain is a prime example of this:

And, sadly, there are those who aren't likely to be honest with themselves, let alone come out to anyone else. This is something Catherine Tate played on in The Catherine Tate Show. Here's Derek Faye:

Sue Perkins is clever, dauntless and self-deprecating. Whether she's kindly comforting departing contestants on The Great British Bake Off or travelling through the centuries, gamely sampling authentic and disgusting dishes of the period with fellow Supersizer Giles Coren, Perkins is an intelligent and relatable presence. And for this reason I think that in getting to know Sue's character, Sara, we might begin to wonder why coming out is necessary at all.

Our guide to 'Heading Out'