London Spy: A Love Story

Hi, Tom! London Spy is in The Guardian’s Top 10 TV of 2015 – congratulations!

That’s really wonderful. I guess it has been a talking point and it’s full of things that are provocative. I thought a gay love story might not be embraced by everyone, but I was really surprised that Danny and Alex’s sex scene in episode one shocked anyone. It was as mild as I could have made it. I was less surprised by the second one [a chemsex orgy] creating a stir, but the two scenes were narrative counterpoints – you needed to see one to fully understand the other...

You’ve said: “It had to be for TV because, with a gay relationship at the centre of the story, it would have been impossible to fund a movie.”

I’ve heard executives ask what the point is of having a gay relationship when it’s off-putting to so many people. Gay people have been watching straight relationships and been engrossed by them for years. Why would you need to see a mirror version of yourself to connect with a story?

Writer Tom Rob Smith interviewed in The Guardian - SPOILER ALERT!!

PS Note how the journalist adds 'a chemsex orgy', to make it more à la mode.

BBC: Boyfriend Broadcasting Corporation!

The BBC has commissioned a five-part TV series written by the boyfriend of its head of drama.

London Spy, billed as a “gripping, contemporary, emotional thriller” is written by Tom Rob Smith, an English author whose debut novelChild 44 was nominated for a number of awards. Smith is also the partner of Ben Stephenson, the BBC’s £240,000-a-year controller of drama commissioning.

The BBC denied that there was any conflict of interest because Mr Stephenson had not dealt with the project. It was instead approved by Janice Hadlow, the controller of BBC Two at the time, and Polly Hill, the head of independent drama. A spokeswoman said: “Ben Stephenson was not involved in commissioning London Spy. He recused himself from the process.” ...

The Times.

Fagburn is offering the heading above for free to the Daily Mail, who I have feeling will be OUTRAGED by this.

PS Last month Ben Stephenson expressed concern at the lack of gay characters on TV. Via Broadcast.

Mail Online readers loved that one, natch.