Transgender Awareness Week is an important date in the calendar, with a drive towards increasing visibility for trans people while also shining a light on the issues that the community faces.
At Digital Spy, we're constantly looking at things through the lens of entertainment: representation is vitally important, life-saving even. Television can also play a part in shaping our world views, educating and encouraging a deeper understanding for wider audiences.
Here we look back at some of the most groundbreaking and boundary-pushing transgender characters on the small screen in the UK. While there's still a long way to go, and many more experiences to capture, there's also a lot to celebrate.
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Louis McGerry, Holby City – Tyler Luke Cunningham
Tyler Luke Cunningham wasn't a stranger to TV screens, but made a big impact in his Holby City role.
Louis joined the show as Louis McGerry in 2020, with his first episode coinciding with International Transgender Day of Visibility.
Louis was initially introduced as the son of established character Max before going on to join as a staff nurse. Through his story, fans learned how Louis had struggled with his identity growing up and felt unable to speak to his mum, so left home and found a supportive trans community.
Both Tyler and Jo Martin – who played Louis's mum Max – spoke openly about how they hoped Louis' introduction would encourage a more honest dialogue on trans issues.
Discussing his Holby role at the time, Tyler said: "We live in an ever-changing world, and that allows people before me, like me, everybody that plays a part in the media in general – we have a lot of people to look up to now.
"So it's about finding the correct role models and finding the right ways to speak about things."
Elle Argent, Heartstopper – Yasmin Finney
There are many characters to fall in love with when it comes to Netflix's Heartstopper and, while the series orbits its two lovestruck teens Charlie and Nick, Elle captured all of our hearts too.
It's a tough time for trans kids in particular, with a lot of divisive discourse and harmful misunderstandings surrounding gender affirmation. Seeing Elle – a happy, supported and open trans girl – thrive and live out the 'normal' teenage experience ("Where will I go to college?", "Does the boy that I like like me back?") will be nothing short of life-saving for a lot of young people to see.
The role of Elle has seen Yasmin Finney become one of the most in-demand rising stars in the UK, and she's already proving her icon status. The star has called for better opportunities for trans actors, as well as sharing details about her upcoming role on Doctor Who (more on that later) during a powerful speech at a Trans Pride march in London.
Helen Brears, Cucumber/Banana – Bethany Black
When Russell T Davies returned to our screens off the back of his Doctor Who revival juggernaut success, he came bearing not one, but three shows. Cucumber, Banana and Tofu were as far removed from the twisty pretzel logic of the Whoniverse as possible, if the names alone didn't give that away.
Each explored the modern-day gay sexual experience and with them Davies was intent on breaking barriers. One of the landmark successes of the trio of shows was the casting of Bethany Black as Helen in both Cucumber and Banana, making her the first transgender actor to play a trans character in a drama on UK screens.
Davies told The Guardian he considered rewriting the script when it seemed they might not be able to cast a trans actor for the part.
Black noted that they filmed the series shortly after Jared Leto won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role as a trans woman in Dallas Buyers Club, prompting conversations about trans representation on their set.
"They were going, 'Yeah, that was a great performance'," Black told The Guardian. "No, it really wasn't. It was a cisgender guy trying to play what he thought a trans woman would be like, which was just a very camp gay man.
"About three days into shooting they came over and said, 'Yes you're right, I can see how it's different.' So I'm glad things are moving on. I think we'll reach a point in a few years time where we look on it like It Ain't Half Hot Mum."
Sah Brockner, Casualty – Arin Smethurst
Casualty also made history back in 2021 by introducing Arin Smethurst as paramedic Sah Brockner. Sah is the show's first-ever regular non-binary, transgender character.
Sah quickly became a firm favourite among fans, striking up touching relationships with fellow colleagues Teddy and Jan, and playing a vital role in the show's groundbreaking improvised episode last year.
Arin has spoken positively about how Casualty handled their character's backstory, saying to Digital Spy: "I am glad because they came in as the first regularly occurring trans character, and the first non-binary character, and I think it would have been very easy to just be like, 'This is what the character is,' but that is a part of them and there are hundreds of other facets to them.
"I am really chuffed about the way they handled that. They were like 'Cool, so here's the character but anyway… they have got this other stuff going on.
"It has been great to have proper, really chunky stories to hold on to and work on in terms of the character, and not just their queer identity which would have been boring and easy. "
Mae, Feel Good – Mae Martin
Mae Martin's semi-autobiographical comedy-drama first aired on Channel 4 in 2020 before it rolled out across the globe, and then Netflix swooped in to renew it for a second season. To say that a lot of eyeballs checked out this show is an understatement, and that makes its storylines all the more impactful.
Feel Good's second outing caught up with Mae and their girlfriend George (played by Charlotte Ritchie), with Mae's journey of discovery surrounding their gender identity providing a central thread of the story.
"I'm not a boy. I'm not even a girl," Mae said. "I'm like a failed version of both." And with that, many watching at home would have found the vocabulary to start to describe how they were feeling to their own loved ones too.
Sally St Claire, Hollyoaks – Annie Wallace
Hollyoaks took representation in the soap world a step further in 2015 by introducing Annie Wallace as Sally St Claire. This was the first time that a regular trans character in a British soap had been played by a trans actor.
Annie had previously served as a behind-the-scenes advisor on Hayley Cropper's early Corrie storylines and she publicly expressed her hope that Sally would be warmly welcomed by soap viewers in the same way.
"It's a matter of normalising people and it's a very important step forward when that's seen in a show like Hollyoaks," she told Digital Spy in an interview in 2015. "We're helping to change hearts and minds from people's living rooms."
This proved to be the case, with Sally becoming a fan favourite in the years that followed as Hollyoaks High's best-ever headteacher (somebody reinstate her!) and an important part of the chaotic McQueen family. Annie also received a Best Actress nomination at the BAFTA Scotland Awards in 2016.
Abbi and Roman, Sex Education – Anthony Lexa and Felix Mufti
For a show that's loud and proud about exploring queerness in all its many forms, Sex Education still propelled itself further forward in season four by including its first-ever trans sex scene.
New characters Roman (Felix Mufti) and Abbi (Anthony Lexa) were introduced as the school's power couple – think Posh and Becks or Britney and Justin (before we became firmly #teamBritney). Not only was it refreshing to see two trans characters giving popular, main-character energy, but the Netflix show took particular care in handling their intimate scenes the right way – both on and off camera.
Sex Education's intimacy coordinator David Thackeray confirmed in an interview with Digital Spy that authenticity was key. When it came to filming the groundbreaking scene between Abbi and Roman, Thackeray deferred to the expertise of his colleague Tigger Blaize: "There was someone more suited for those scenes," Thackeray said.
And it paid off. The scene really sung, feeling groundbreaking while also normalising something rarely explored on television at all.
Hayley Cropper, Coronation Street – Julie Hesmondhalgh
Coronation Street broke new ground for serial dramas in 1998 with the arrival of Hayley Cropper, the first transgender character in a British soap. Hayley's natural kindness and warmth helped her to become one of the show's most popular characters over the 16 years that followed, while her two weddings to soulmate Roy Cropper were milestone moments for the soap world.
As a strong LGBTQ+ ally, Julie Hesmondhalgh has publicly acknowledged that the role of Hayley would have to be played by a trans cast member if introduced now. However, there's no denying the positive impact that Corrie made by introducing Hayley to millions of viewers at a time when there was less awareness and understanding surrounding the trans community.
Julie told The Guardian in 2020: "If you want to fight prejudice, you put somebody likeable in the living room and people can see beyond what makes them different to what makes them the same."
Judy, Boy Meets Girl – Rebecca Root
An early scene in Boy Meets Girl sees Rebecca Root's trans character Judy meet new flame Leo (Harry Hepple) in what she anticipates will be another entry in a string of disastrous dates – but soon blossoms into a heartwarming love story, drawing Gavin and Stacey comparisons as it aired.
During that first dinner, Judy describes her experience of being born transgender. "It's like being born in prison, never having a release date." The moment becomes one of several tender and moving scenes in the comedy, penned by Elliott Kerrigan.
Rebecca has said that as a trans woman herself, this line enormously resonated with her. "When you're trans, it feels like you are being born in prison," she told the Radio Times. "I don't know if it still happens, but it used to happen that a pregnant inmate would give birth and the baby would be born in prison.
"It's that idea, that notion of being somewhere which is not your fault. You're born somewhere, and it's not your fault you're born in prison, it's not your fault your mum's in prison for something, but it's something imposed on you and that's the thing with being trans – you feel like you've been given a prison sentence for something you didn't do, from the off, from birth."
Yet Rebecca also championed how the BBC sitcom did not hinge on her character Judy's transgender identity. "It's incidental that she's transgender – it's a love story," Rebecca said during an appearance on Lorraine. "A true love never runs smooth – there will be obstacles along the way."
Matty Barton, Emmerdale – Ash Palmisciano
Emmerdale introduced the show's first ever regular trans actor in 2018, as Ash Palmisciano landed the role of Moira Barton's son Matty. Ash was originally brought in for behind-the-scenes talks to advise on Emmerdale's plans for a trans character, but was then invited to audition for the role himself.
Matty's early episodes focused on the difficulties that trans people can sometimes face with their own families. The show took an unexpected approach with popular character Moira, who openly struggled to accept Matty's transition. Their on-screen journey ultimately became an uplifting one to watch as Moira realised the importance of standing by her son.
Some particularly impactful scenes in 2019 saw Matty supported by Moira as he underwent top surgery and movingly explained how much it meant to him, in a perfect example of how long-running soaps can help to break down taboos and open up conversations among viewers.
Rose Noble, Doctor Who – Yasmin Finney
There's a lot to get excited about when it comes to the three anniversary specials to ring in six decades of Doctor Who: the return of David Tennant, Russell T Davies, Catherine Tate and the late Bernard Cribbins, to name but a few.
But the casting of Yasmin Finney, as a character rather knowingly named Rose, breathes modern-day life into the BBC's sci-fi reboot. Despite rampant speculation Yasmin could be some new incarnation – regeneration, anyone? – of Billie Piper's Rose Tyler, she is in fact Rose Noble, the daughter of Tate's Donna. And the character just so happens to be trans herself too.
While many other details of Yasmin's part in Doctor Who are being kept under sonic screwdriver-protected lock and key over at Broadcasting House, Davies has been vocal in championing Yasmin's role in the show.
During a Q+A at the premiere for the first of the specials, which sees Yasmin's character Rose make her debut, Davies said she was cast in a role it seemed only she could play.
"There's very few people we could have cast and it's like a light came down from heaven and there she was," he said. "It was just so powerfully meant to be and I think she does the most amazing job and it's an absolute privilege to work with her to get her on screen."
TV Editor, Digital Spy Laura has been watching television for over 30 years and professionally writing about entertainment for almost 10 of those. Previously at LOOK and now heading up the TV desk at the UK's biggest TV and movies site Digital Spy, Laura has helped steer conversations around some of the most popular shows on the box. Laura has appeared on Channel 5 News and radio to talk viewing habits and TV recommendations. As well as putting her nerd-level Buffy knowledge to good use during an IRL meet with Sarah Michelle Gellar, Laura also once had afternoon tea with One Direction, has sat around the fire pit of the Love Island villa, spoken to Sir David Attenborough about the world's oceans and even interviewed Rylan from inside the Big Brother house (housemate status, forever pending).
Previously Deputy TV Editor at Digital Spy and, before that, a TV Reporter at The Mirror, Rebecca can now be found crafting expert analysis of the TV landscape, when she's not talking on the BBC or Times Radio about everything from the latest season of Bridgerton or The White Lotus to whatever chaos is unfolding in the various Love Island villas. When she's not bingeing a boxset, in-the-wild sightings of Rebecca have included stints on the National TV Awards and BAFTAs red carpets, and post-match video explainers of the reality TV we're all watching.
Daniel has been writing about soaps on Digital Spy since 2004 and took over as Soaps Editor in 2010.
He has interviewed hundreds of soap stars over the years, from Bill Roache to Lacey Turner, and regularly visits the sets of Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks for behind-the-scenes trips and press events.
He has served as an awards judge on numerous occasions for the likes of the BAFTA TV Awards, RTS Programme Awards and British Soap Awards. In 2020, he was Highly Commended for Best Section Editor at the BSME Awards.
