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Great LezBritain: Goodbye 2010 and Hello Legs Eleven

Great LezBritian” is a fortnightly stroll through the very best of British lesbo-centric entertainment and culture. Plus there will be some jolly good interviews with the top ladies who are waving the flag for gay UK.

Almost a year has past since the fateful evening that we rather drunkenly bumped into Karman Kregloe and Dara Nai in West Hollywood, and insisted on regaling them with tales of lesbian-flavoured British TV. For hours, we told them about our favourite Bad Girls moments: Yvonne, Shell and of course, “I don’t want a man. I want a woman,” the differences between Tipping The Velvet, the TV adaptation (amaze) and Tipping The Velvet, the book (amazeballs), and how we felt about the cancellation of Sugar Rush: sad and perplexed.

We’re not sure if it was because Karman and Dara could see that Jack Daniels had done some damage to our emotions and wanted us to go home, or they wanted to stop us getting quite so angry over Sonia Jackson’s rubbish lesbian frisson, but whatever it was, it led to us skipping out of the bar as the new British correspondents for AfterEllen.com.

We duly returned to the motherland and began to wonder how we could possibly fill a bi-monthly column focusing on lesbian culture in the UK. In 2009, we struggled to see all the Black Muslim lesbians that Jeremy Clarkson claimed were on our tellybox. Indeed, we struggled to see lesbians on mainstream TV, or music, or anywhere at all. Except in our own house, that is.

So, we made a decision to just make up fictional lady-gays and lesbie storylines in the hope that the Americans would never know the difference. We thought what joy we could have with pretend lesbians doing outlandish pretend things. Yet, thankfully for all concerned, 2010 actually turned into quite a lesbionic year – it certainly wasn’t jam-packed by Sapphic happenings but it allowed us to fill our bi-monthly quota very well indeed.

We had Naomily on Skins, 6 episodes of Lip Service, Joanna Briscoe’s Sleep With Me on ITV, The BBC’s The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister, Lady Sov on Celebrity Big Brother, Shabby and Corin on Normal Person Big Brother, and Mary Portas and her Queen of Shops series.

The return of Skin and Skunk Anansie. Sian and Sophie on Coronation Street. Sue Perkins on lots of BBC things. The continued wonder of The News Quiz wbhe xx winning the Mercury Music Prize and Clare Balding transforming from sports presenter into a full blown lesbian icon and Twitter star. Stella Duffy, Emma Donoghue, Louise Welsh and Jackie Kay released absolutely stunning new novels. Brilliant.

So upon reflection, we give 2010 a fairly decent 2.75 out of a possible five Danni Minogues, and we have high hopes for 2011.

The new year will commence with a new show called Famous & Fearless presented by La Balding on Channel 4 from January 2-7, Mary Portas will also unveil a new show on Channel 4, Skins makes a return, plus we should know very soon about the second series of Lip Service.

In music happenings, Heather Peace (Lip Service) is setting out on her first ever, full UK tour, April 1-15. Shabby’s Voodoo Hussy will make an appearance on the festival circuit. Joanna Briscoe has a new book published in July and joy of joys, Sarah WatersThe Night Watch (our joint-second-favourite Waters book) is being adapted for television by the BBC.

But less of our reminiscing and what we’re eager beaver for in 2011. Let us go forth and find out what some of the aforementioned wondrous women thought of this past year. And while we’re at it, let’s see what they’re planning and looking forward to in the next.

Shabby Katchadourian, Singer – Voodoo Hussy

My highlights of 2010 were entering, then swiftly quitting the last series of Big Brother, being forced to publicly face up to, and thereby, deal with my personal issues and insecurities, regrouping with my band Voodoo Hussy and heading out on our first tour. Some of the dates were postponed due to heinous snow but hey, that just means we get to hit the road again sooner. Also, starting my T-shirt line, “Rainclouds of Doom,” and being in a position to help teenagers struggling with their sexuality.

My goals for 2011 are looking forward to the TV show I will be appearing in, recording the album, touring and hitting the festival circuit with Voodoo Hussy — we’re possibly even heading State-side — steering my T-shirt line towards a more skate apparel range, getting better at longboarding, and finding myself a wifey. Hopefully, there’ll be heaps of surprises along the way too. Bring it on!

Joanna Briscoe, Author — Skin, Sleep With Me

My highlights were having my own study built: a tiny, pitch-roofed white room, like a chapel, with a section of exposed brick wall and views through a tree into the study of one of the founders of the Virago Press! And a gorgeous, luxurious holiday, provided by generous friends, near Luca in Italy.

In 2011, I’m looking forward to my next novel, You, being published in July, and to more travel round Italy in the summer.

Heather Peace, Actress, Singer-Songwriter Lip Service

This has been a really special year for me from beginning to end. It began with the filming of Lip Service, which was one of the best jobs I’ve ever had and where I’ve made some lifelong friends. I was also really proud to have been included on this year’s Pink List and it’s been really empowering to embrace my sexuality more publicly.

I’ve been overwhelmed by the messages that I’ve had from gay girls all over the country who have felt supported by Lip Service, and by the fact that I am out. I’m just so pleased that it has made a difference to people.

My main New Year’s resolution is to continue this musical journey that I started at the end of 2010. I played a few small shows across the country but in April, I will head out on my first proper UK tour and I can’t wait for it!

Clare Balding, Columnist, Presenter — Winter Olympics, Crufts, Britain by Bike

Some highlights of 2010 included presenting the Winter Olympics live from Whistler: waking up in the mountains every day, sharing the platform with Kerrin Lee Gartner (Olympic downhill champion for Canada), watching Amy Williams win Great Britain’s first individual Winter Olympic gold medal since 1980, and interviewing her afterward, winging it when we had to, working hard and playing hard on the odd evening.

Another highlight would be the PCC agreeing that A.A Gill’s review of Britain By Bike, in which he referred to me as a “dyke on a bike,” was in contravention of the Editorial Code of Conduct. On behalf of many people who would like to get on and do their jobs without their sexuality being used as a weapon with which to attack them, it was important to make the point that he may mock me for many things, but not for being gay.

In 2011, I am looking forward to diversifying from sport and enjoying my freelance status. The year will kick off with a big new show for Channel 4 called Famous & Fearless, which I am co-presenting with the brilliantly talented Chris Evans. Having said that, I will hugely enjoy the usual sporting highlights: the Derby, Royal Ascot, Wimbledon, the Open golf, the Challenge Cup and everything else I am lucky enough to work on.

Alice Arnold, Presenter-Newsreader — Radio 4

In 2010, I recorded Series 3 of Listen Against for the BBC, which was very well received. I discovered that although I have a hitherto unexplored and somewhat raw talent for painting on my iPad, it may be just as well that I have the ability to read out loud without swearing on Radio 4.

In 2011, I am looking forward to defending three trophies at the local golf club. But I’ll be equally happy if any of my friends win them. My New Year’s resolution would be to continue eating as much Galaxy Cookie Crumble chocolate as I already do. It may be tough but I’m putting my all into it.

Roxanne McKee, Actress – Lip Service, Game Of Thrones

From kissing girls to medieval milk baths, 2010 has been quite a diverse year, work-wise, which is exciting. I also now have a scar on my wrist from a little horse riding incident, which I’m secretly a little proud of. I’m looking forward to 2011 mainly because I’m freezing my toes off and can’t wait for some beach action, no pun intended. I miss the sun!

Fingers crossed 2011 brings work in hotter climates. I’m not very good with resolutions — who is? But I would like to learn Italian so I guess that’s better than banning cake. I already know how to say “fat monkey” — scimmia grassa — which is as good a start as any!

Louise Welsh, Author — Cutting Room, Naming The Bones

2010 was a good year for me. I traveled widely, including trips to festivals in Beijing, Melbourne and Toronto, promoting my new book Naming the Bones. I also had plays performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and as part of Glasgow’s celebration of queer culture, “Glasgay!”

The highlight, however, has to be seeing Sublimation, the short opera my partner Zoe Strachan wrote the libretto for. I know how hard she’s worked on it, so I was moved to see the finished piece being performed so well, and very excited when it was chosen to go to a festival in Cape Town.

I always make a lot of fitness resolutions at the New Year. I’m hoping 2011 is the year I stick to them. I’ve just been appointed Writer in Residence for the University of Glasgow and Glasgow School of Art, so I am also looking forward to getting stuck into my new role!

Jane English, WriterSugar Rush, The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister

Well I was very happy that the TV broadcast of The Secret Diaries Of Miss Anne Lister led to Virago republishing the diaries, as now everyone can read about this extraordinary woman for themselves. And I’m still pinching myself that Streetdance 3D went to number one at the UK box office.

Perhaps, for 2011, my resolution should be to try and merge the genres I work in. Lesbian dance movie anybody?

Ruta Gedmintas, ActressThe Tudors, Lip Service

I have had a very exploitative 2010. Given the current climate I was very blessed to be working, and working on challenging and very different roles that I have been passionate about. I have made some amazing friends and found them a real inspiration.

New years resolution? Making next year all about love and generosity.

Zoe Lyons, Comedian

2010 has been a great year for me in that I got to work abroad a lot. I love to travel and this year, I’ve been lucky enough to gig in France, Dubai, New Zealand and India. But the real high for me was a five-week comedy road show I did in Australia. It was the most awesome trip. I got to do shows in some of the most amazing places. As well as Alice Springs and Darwin, we did tiny mining towns in Western Australia. I was a little anxious about performing in front of crowds that were largely made up of booted miners but they were so receptive and so much fun.

I have also enjoyed the fact that 2010 came with a massive dump of snow and is going out in a similar way. I love the snow, even though it does have the potential to bring the country to a grinding halt. I, myself, was trapped on a train for nine hours in the latest snow storms.

2011 promises to be another exciting year. As well as going back to Oz in April, I’ll be seeing a lot of the UK on a tour I’m doing that kicks off in February. One day, I will do a road travelers guide to British service stations, as I have visited most of them and consider myself something of an expert now.

Harriet Braun, Creator-WriterLip Service

My favourite moments of 2010:

Seeing the first TV show I created, Lip Service, go on air and the enthusiastic response it got from viewers.

And of course, attending the Lip Service party hosted by your good selves, GreatLezBritain, and getting to meet some of the fans of the show.

Discovering the utterly fantastic TV series Breaking Bad.

Through the wonder that is Facebook, reconnecting with my childhood best friend, who also became a writer, and finding that chatting to her now is as easy and fun as it was when we were younger.

In 2011 I am, of course, hoping to be back in Glasgow filming Lip Service, series 2. Fingers crossed!

“Great LezBritain” authors Sarah, a Londoner, and Lee, a Glaswegian, met in a gay discotheque one bleak mid winter, eight years ago and have been shacked up together ever since. When not watching Tipping The Velvet, they find time to write, run a PR company, DJ at their own club nights and love a bit of jam on toast. Follow them on Twitter at greatlezbritain.

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