Written and produced by comedian and mental health advocate Rooke, Big Boys is a semi-autobiographical journey through his coming-of-age years exploring grief, sexuality, mental health and friendship.
But while Channel 4’s funny, moving and quite frankly beautiful new comedy-drama Big Boys may be a show about coming out, losing your virginity, poppers and lube, it’s equally a love letter to working-class culture and, in creator Jack Rooke’s own words, “celebrating naffness”. The runaway success of It’s a Sin and Heartstopper makes it difficult not to use them as points of comparison when a new episodic TV show with queerness as its heart comes along. For some of us, the best we had for representation while clumsily navigating our first blowjob was John Paul and Craig in Hollyoaks. EastEnders even has its own gay bar, for f**k’s sake.
