The BBC announced that it has commissioned what it said would be Britain’s first sitcom series to focus on a transgendered character. 

 

The six-part series will follow the love story of 26-year-old Leo and 40-something trans woman Judy.

 

Leo, having suffered through one of the worst days of his life, bumps into Judy and is immediately attracted to her.

 

The BBC explained: “They bond over drinks and, unfazed by the fact that there’s a bit of an age gap between them, arrange to meet the following evening. Leo’s mother is unhappy that he’s having dinner with an older woman. But Leo doesn’t care what she thinks; he knows that he’s just met someone very special.”

 

Rebecca Root (pictured), who is transgendered in real life, plays Judy. She wrote in a blog post about the series: “Judy decides to do the ‘Big Reveal’ on the first date with Leo," she wrote. "He quietly processes the information and then just gets on with the meal. ‘Would you like a starter?’ he asks. No questions about her body. No inappropriate comments about the toilet. Just so.

 

"This episode makes no more bones about Judy’s gender than had she confessed to liking Fleetwood Mac (which she did in an early draft). I was over the moon to get the part.”

 

The show will air on BBC2 in the UK. No release date has been given.

 

BBC to Air Britain’s First Transgender Sitcom Series [HRC Blog]

 

BBC2 commissions Britain's first transgender sitcom Boy Meets Girl [The Independent]