I was just doing a random search on Wikipedia to see the storyline of the Emmerdale crash I watched today, PHWOAR Ross is hot!!!

Anyway I saw a list of characters who were gay in soaps and Emmerdale seems to come out on top for hotties, with Coronation St AWFUL! Only three gay characters and all aren't exactly pinups! Good job the only soap I watch is Eastenders ey!!!

But seriously though why is Corrie homophobic? I thought it was set in Manchester which is meant to be the gay capital (after brighton) so isn't it a bit unrealistic to have three (the rest being lesbians)?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...GBT_characters

EMMERDALE:

Robert Sugden (1986–2005, 2009, 2014–) << HOT
Zoe Tate (1989–2005)
Charity Tate (2000–2005, 2009−)
Jason Kirk (1999–2002)
Gavid Ferris (1999)
Jasmine Thomas (2005–2009)
Debbie Dingle (2002–)
Aaron Livesy (2003–04, 2006, 2008–12, 2014–) << KIND OF HOT
Jackson Walsh (2010–2011) << HOT
Paul Lambert (2004–2009; 2010) << A TINY BIT HOT
Ivan Jones (2005–2006)
Grayson Sinclair (2006-2008)
Jonny Foster (2007–2009)
Ali Spencer (2011−)
Ruby Haswell (2011−)
Finn Barton (2013−)

EASTENDERS:

John Fisher
Ruth Lyons
Colin Russell
Barry Clark
Guido Smith
Queenie Price
Joe Wallace
Della Alexander
Binnie Roberts
Tony Hills
Simon Raymond
Fred Fonseca
Derek Harkinson
Sonia Fowler (1993−2007, 2010−11, 2014−)
Naomi Julien
Marco Bianco << KIND OF HOT
Charity Kase
Christian Clarke (2008−12, 2014–15) << RED HOT
Steven Beale (1989–90, 1992–2002, 2007–08)
Lee Thompson (2008)
Syed Masood (2009−12) << KIND OF HOT
James Mackie (2009)
Ben Mitchell (1996–2000, 2006–12, 2014–) << NOT HOT AT ALL
Danny Pennant (2012−14) << KIND OF HOT
Tina Carter (2013−)
Johnny Carter (2013−14) << KIND OF HOT
Gianluca Cavallo (2014) << KIND OF HOT
Fiona "Tosh" Mackintosh (2014)
Paul Coker (2015–) << RED HOT HOT

CORONATION STREET:

Hayley Cropper (1998−14)
Todd Grimshaw (2001–04, 2007, 2011, 2013−) <<< NOT HOT
Karl Foster (2004)
Sean Tully (2004–) <<< NOT HOT AT ALL
Sonny Dhillon (2006–07)
Marcus Dent (2007–08; 2011–14) <<< NOT HOT AT ALL
Sophie Webster (1994–)
Sian Powers (2009–11)
Amber Kalirai (2005–09; 2011–12)
Jenna Kamara (2012–14)
Maddie Heath (2013–)
Billy Mayhew (2014-) <<< NOT HOT AT ALL

You forgot Callum i know easy mistake

I didn't make the Wikipedia article haha!

Because Corrie likes to present all it's characters as exaggerated and simplified charicatures of real people so that they can appeal to the maximum of demographics.

As a young gay man I agree that Emmerdales gay characters are much more relatable to me personally....that said I know plenty of gay men who are much like Sean in Corrie too.

I feel sorry for poor old corrie gay fans though, I've seen better talent in G-A-Y Late LOL

Emmerdale gay's are fit fit fit!!! I might have to see if i can get into it again

Hayley Cropper?

The title of the Wikipedia link in the OP is 'List of Soap Operas with LGBT characters' with Hayley being the 'T' (transgender). The OP just copied and pasted the list despite this thread being purely about gay characters.

Ah, thank you!

The thread title is about quality, yet the OP seems to be talking purely about quantity. Alas, since I don't watch any other soaps, I've no way of comparing them.

Todd in Corrie is very hot, very handsome man. Marcus was good looking too as is Billy.

And Syed in EE was not quite hot, he was SMOKIN'

So because you don't find the gay characters attractive, Coronation Street is homophobic? Oh please, the show was created by and continues to be written by gay men.

Though the fact you don't watch the Street or indeed Emmerdale either kind of negates your argument anyway.

I have never bought Robert Sugden being gay/bi/whatever he is supposed to be. It's rather unfortunate that he has more chemistry with Chrissy than with Aaron as it's his relationship with the latter that has been pushed more by the show.

I also didn't like the way Emmerdale kept switching Zoe Tate's sexuality - straight > lesbian > straight > lesbian. I could never keep up.

And I wasn't a fan of Corrie's Marcus getting with Maria either.

I don't think it's just that the Corrie characters are unattractive but they are a bit stereotypical and really don't represent most young gay people living in Manchester today.

At least in EE you now have Paul and Ben, and in ED Aaron and Finn who are the same age but couldn't be more different.

I think corrie tends to go for the caricature gay person as it's easier to swallow for the older viewer.

Ahhh yes - cos we all know gay characters in soap only exist to look good and be fantasised over by the audience.


I say this in jest - but it is sadly only too true

I disagree with this and also what exactly is wrong with Todd? He's not a stereotype like Sean and is a fully developed character.

Exactly. He had his own storyline & it's a shame his 'revenge' storyline was so bad. Plus he is very good looking

He's bitchy though, another negative stereotype.

Plenty of gay men are bitchy. I often hear "put the claws away, girls".

Sean, and to a lesser extent Sophie, are barriers to decent, varied portrayals of gay individuals in Coronation Street.

Both have very limited range but seem to be able to hog the amount of screentime/storylines of LGBT characters, preventing more inspiring characters from making an impact or breaking through. IMO most of the storylines Sean and Sophie have had in the past five years have been damp squibs or complete disasters.

I sort of feel as well that focus on Sean has actually forced out other gay characters - producers seem to think the sun shines out of AC's arse, and I kind of believe the rumours about Condou leaving because of AC's ego. Sean - introduced in 2003 had really run his course as a characetr by 05/06. I wish they'd made more of Karl when he appeared - definitely had potential - and I'd love Marcus to still be around instead of Sean. Billy I have no real gripe against but he suffers from who he is paired with.

I'd like to see a suitable man for Todd appear on the scene - a self made (even perhaps dodgy) businessman in his 20s/30s perhaps who owns a business nearby in weatherfield that draws trade away from Coronation Street/Victoria Street. (I.e Salon, Bar, Upmarket Cafe, 2nd hand shop etc).

If I was EP I'd write out BV by having Sophie decide she's had enough of Manchester and go and live with Rosie in London for a bit. Sally definitely doesn't need Sophie given that she has a new fiance, stepdaughter and kind of ex-stepson to interact with.

Introduce a new professional married Lesbian couple. Doctors/Nurses/receptionists at the medical practise perhaps. Plenty of scope for interaction with the regular cast.

You must live in a different decade to the rest of us then.

Yeah I guess, I know a lot of guys though very much like Todd so I think his portrayal is pretty accurate.

Personally i think the opposite that Robert has way more chemistry with Aaron than Chrissie who come more across as more like an older sister/younger brother or mother/son than wife/husband.

It's always gone Emmerdale, Eastenders, Corrie in terms of having realistic gay characters out of the big 3

Sean Tully is a totally believable gay character. He's so believable, I am often persuaded that the actor playing him must also be gay.