JAMES & AUSTIN

The bromance between the breakout stars of Celebrity Big Brother made for the best TV moment of 2015.

WORDS CHRISTIAN GUILTENANE

Attitude Award Winner

TV MOMENT OF THE YEAR

PHOTOGPAPHY SIMON TAYLOR

GROOMING HOLLY DAVIES USING MAC

STYLING NICK BYAM

While it’s popular for people to sneer at notorious reality TV show Big Brother, it should be remembered that over the past twenty years it has been integral in representing the LGBTI community probably more so than many other programme.

Cast your mind back to series one, which saw Irish lesbian Anna Nolan capture our hearts and and become the show’s first winner. A year later, the great British public crowned super sweet trolley dolly Brian Dowling as the victor of the following series. Long before Caitlyn Jenner became the global trans role model we all know and love, viewers embraced Portuguese trans woman Nadia Almada after making her the worthy winner of 2005’s series.

Big Brother and its celebrity spin off, Celebrity Big Brother, continues to represent all aspects of the community. However, this summer’s series of CBB captivated the world through the unlikely but heartwarming relationship between handsome gay hottie Austin Armacost and gorgeous star of The Apprentice James Hill.

A gay guy and straight guy being mates may not be a big deal to most, but watching the pair share a bed, indulge in ‘man tubs’ and enjoy intense personal conversations, was simply heart-warming and, in its own way, progressive. Like a gay version of When Harry Met Sally, their platonic relationship became the subject of much debate about whether gay and straight men can really be just friends. But as time went on James and Austin proved they absolutely could, and this award celebrates the fascinating dynamic between these two very different men. Never before have gay and straight relationships been studied so deeply by a mainstream audience.

When we meet James and Austin at the plush Andaz Hotel in London for the shoot, just days after they left the house as victor and runner-up respectively, we are pleased to discover that their relationship is just as genuine as it was onscreen. The two hug and giggle like kids. They’re hoots! But when we get down to chatting about their special bond, it is clear they realise just how significant their role is in representing sexuality on TV.