Mr Loverman

The delicate storyline was handled brilliantly ... the acting was superb and camera angles and filming spot on to create the right mood and intrigue. I loved every minute of this series and was bereft when it ended as wanted to find out how the characters continued their story. Must see.

It's a tricky storyline that could challenge certain cultures and generations but was beautifully handled. It had me both crying and laughing. The flash backs to the past were so believable using a strong cast, clever make up and costume. This series should win awards in my opinion - never seen anything quite like it

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Mr. Loverman is a heartfelt, character-driven drama that masterfully explores love, identity, and the deep regrets of living a life in secrecy. Lennie James delivers a standout performance as Barry Walker, a 74-year-old gay Black man torn between his long-time marriage and his true love, Morris, played by Ariyon Bakare. Sharon D. Clarke shines as Barry's wife, Carmel, bringing depth to a woman who has silently endured years of betrayal. The series is a rare portrayal of elderly Black gay love, delving into the emotional and societal costs of inauthenticity.

Set against the vibrant backdrop of Hackney, London, the show immerses us in the complexity of Barry's life, touching on themes of homophobia, misogyny, and intergenerational conflict. The flashbacks, showing Barry's and Morris's painful past in both Antigua and the UK, underscore the heavy trauma they carry. While updated to reflect modern-day issues like gentrification and same-sex marriage, the series stays true to its roots in examining the difficulties of coming out, especially within the Black community.

Despite some clunky dialogue and underdeveloped supporting characters, Mr. Loverman excels in capturing the emotional tension between Barry, Morris, and Carmel. The chemistry between James and Bakare is palpable, making their hidden relationship all the more poignant. Meanwhile, the strained dynamic between Barry and Carmel is both heartbreaking and raw, showcasing the bitter toll of deception.

The show bravely addresses the struggles of being an old, gay Black man, particularly through scenes where Barry grapples with violent memories and societal rejection. It highlights not only the personal cost of living inauthentically but also the enduring resilience of love.

Series is a necessary, timely exploration of Black queer love, and its sincere, thought-provoking approach will resonate with viewers seeking a more nuanced story of love, self-acceptance, and the courage to live truthfully.

Lennie James is a much underrated actor who has taken on some gritty roles in his career. Was far more impressed with his performance in another BBC miniseries; The State Within, back in 2006.

However, no matter how you dress this up with rationalised pseudo reasoning, it comes down to portraying someone who never had the guts to live as themselves, but chose to destroy another person's life and happiness along with their family. So much for marriage vows to his wife..!

All rather strange, when you consider how hard SSM was fought for, and yet here, a nearly lifelong marriage is discarded as almost a complete irrelevance to the story!

The first episode has a tagline.. "Is Barry brave enough to leave his wife?" Why is the final act of being unfaithful to your wife for decades described as being .."brave" ?

This isn't an uncommon theme, the question is...why are dramas like this attempting to make a virtue out of the appalling philandering behaviour of a husband..is it just because he's gay ..talk about double standards!

Mr Loverman is a thought-provoking, deeply moving drama that explores historic and changing attitudes to gay relationships within the Afro Caribbean community in Britain. But it is much more than that - it is about love in all its guises and about the importance of identity and being true to yourself no matter what culture or community you are brought up in. Lennie James and Sharon D Clarke deserve to win every award going for their stunning performances. In fact, every character in this brilliant drama is beautifully portrayed and I cannot recommend it highly enough. More like this please BBC!

I wonder just how good the rest of the cast were because WOW! WOW! WOW! A tour de force with knobs on performance from Lennie James which has awards stamped all over it.

The story unfolds visiting the different characters so you must watch all episodes to follow and understand the story.

I can't throw enough superlatives at this. Just watch it.please.

I am forced to write more about this by imdb but really, more words do this no justice. I hate telling you what the story is about which must, by its very nature, contain spoilers which would be out of context with the series.

A coming og age perhaps.