The spy who shagged guys

Skyfall actor Ben Whishaw confirmed as gay lead in new BBC spy series

He seduced us as hedonist Robert Frobisher in Cloud Atlas and he stole our hearts as a sardonic, nerdy young Q in Skyfall.

Now Ben Whishaw is returning to the screen in a new television series, and it looks like I might finally be getting my wish for a gay 007.

Whishaw was confirmed as the lead of a new BBC thriller called London Spy, which puts the English actor in the role of a gay spy.

“Ben plays Danny — a gregarious, hedonistic romantic who gets drawn into the dangerous world of British espionage in this contemporary, emotional thriller,” a BBC release says.

“He falls for the anti-social but enigmatic Alex, both from opposite worlds, and they soon realise they’re perfect for each other,” the release continues. “But when Alex suddenly disappears, Danny is utterly ill-equipped to take on his complex and codified world. Young, innocent and adrift, he needs to decide whether he’s prepared to fight for the truth.”

The series begins shooting next month and will be aired as a five-part series sometime in 2015.

Looks like the gay community (read: I) finally gets a spy hero they (read: I) have been dreaming of. I guess now we know what Q really stands for.

Michael Lyons is a queer-identified, chaotic neutral writer, activist, misanthrope, sapiosexual, and feline enthusiast. He is a columnist, blogger and regular contributor with Xtra and has contributed to Plenitude Magazine, KAPSULA Magazine, Crew Magazine, Memory Insufficient e-zine, The Ryersonian, Buddies Theatre blog, Toronto Is Awesome blog and Fab Magazine and more.

Keep Reading

Collage with two hands holding a bat, swinging towards a baseball with a dollar sign on it, against a blue background with a net, baseball player and the Olivia logo on an outfield sign

Why the WPBL partnering with a lesbian travel company matters

Support from lesbian brands and bars harks back to the queer history of women’s sport leagues
Confluence cover

‘Confluence’ brings Vancouver’s queer history to life

The late Alex Turner and his husband, Lucian Childs, have written a unique and rewarding ode to mid-century gay British Columbia

Gaudy goddess: Self-described backwoods Barbie, Dolly Parton, chats about boobs, Broadway and battling hate

Revisiting Matt Thomas’s interview with the legend, originally published in fab Magazine in 2009

Dolly Parton was all of our chosen family

The superstar, who passed away at age 80, was always there for her queer fans. We collectively mourn her loss
Advertisement