The Bisexual. Image shows from L to R: Gabe (Brian Gleeson), Leila (Desiree Akhavan)
The Bisexual

The Bisexual

  • TV comedy drama
  • Channel 4
  • 2018
  • 6 episodes (1 series)

A look at the difference of dating men and women from the perspective of a person who finds herself doing both. Stars Desiree Akhavan, Maxine Peake, Brian Gleeson, Saskia Chana, Michelle Guillot and more.

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The Bisexual. Leila (Desiree Akhavan)

Key details

Genre
Comedy Drama
Broadcast
2018
Channel
Channel 4
Episodes
6 (1 series)
Creators
Desiree Akhavan and Rowan Riley
Stars
Desiree Akhavan, Maxine Peake, Brian Gleeson, Saskia Chana, Michelle Guillot, Eva Birthistle, Naomi Ackie, Niamh Algar and more
Writers
Desiree Akhavan, Cecilia Frugiuele and Rhian Petty
Director
Desiree Akhavan
Producers
Katie Carpenter, Naomi De Pear, Desiree Akhavan and Holly Pullinger
Company

New Yorker Leila is feeling lost in London. Recently part of an uber-cool power couple, she's now split from girlfriend Sadie and is struggling to adjust. Moving in with a "stranger off the internet", she soon discovers she's swapped her luxe old life (think: high quality condiments, plus a girlfriend who sorted all of the Life Admin) for a house-share with neurotic novelist Gabe, an Irish guy whose only ever other female 'flat-mates' were blood relatives.

Gabe, a man living in constant fear of missing out and dwarfed by the success of his debut novel, which came out 13 years ago and has long been forgotten, doesn't know any lesbians and Leila's not got too much experience of hanging out with heterosexuals. Their worlds collide in deeply awkward and revealing ways as he becomes her unlikely wingman and helps her to navigate her new life dating men and women - and Leila, in return, introduces wide-eyed Gabe to the queer scene whilst doing her best to help him decipher his unreadable, sort-of-girlfriend Francisca. As Leila comes to lean more and more about Gabe she finds herself struggling to come out as bisexual to her gay friends, most importantly her best mate Deniz.

Meanwhile Sadie and Leila's relationship hangs in the balance, inexorably linked both professionally and personally. As Sadie makes some big decisions of her own, both begin to question whether it's a break, or a break-up...

Taking a candid look at the way people have sex and what that sex reveals about their prejudices however "woke" they think they are, The Bisexual is a raw, funny and unapologetic take on the "last taboo" - bisexuality - and the prejudices, shame and comic misconceptions that surround it.

Also offering an outsider's view of Britain, the series brims with weird and wonky slices of urban life only apparent to those living on a temporary work visa, struggling to keep up with the discrepancy between what the English say versus how they actually feel. Leila is part brave, part reckless, 100% shameless and is embarking on a romantic Choose Your Own Adventure, trudging through the hell of dating - gay and straight.

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Additional details

Production
Location
Camera set-up
Single camera
Picture
Colour

Website links

Broadcast details

First broadcast
Wednesday 10th October 2018 at 10pm on Channel 4
Most recent repeats
  • Saturday 17th November 2018 at 2:45am on C4 - Episode 6
  • Saturday 10th November 2018 at 3:15am on C4 - Episode 5
  • Saturday 3rd November 2018 at 2:45am on C4 - Episode 4