TV, Cinema and DVD

The BFI is delighted to present the 24th BFI London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, which launches on 17 March with the World Premiere of a new British film The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister (courtesy of Oxford Film and Television) as the Opening Night Gala Screening at the Odeon West End. Celebrating queer history is a key function of the Festival and James Kent’s outstanding new BBC Two drama reveals the hidden passions of 19th century landowner, industrialist, traveller and pioneering lesbian, Anne Lister, whose coded journals form the basis of this true story written for the screen by Jane English. The film stars Maxine Peake (Criminal Justice) in the title role, with a superb supporting cast including Anna Madeley (Affinity), Susan Lynch (Elizabeth: The Golden Age) and former Coronation Street favourite, Tina O'Brien.

The Closing Night Gala Screening on 31 March is Children of God, Kareem J Mortimer’s gorgeously photographed first feature is a classic tale of love between an uninspired young artist Johnny (Johnny Ferro) and Romeo (Stephen Tyrone Williams), the local boy who reignites his creativity. The drama, set on the rural island of Eleuthera, unfolds against a backdrop of violent homophobia and social unease in this striking examination of identity and gay politics in the Bahamas.

Read more: 24th London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival

Mathew Horne, Marc Warren, Mark Gatiss and talented newcomer Douglas Booth are announced to star in Worried About The Boy, a BBC Two drama about a young Boy George and his journey to become a star on the Eighties fashion and pop music scene.

Written by Tony Basgallop (Hotel Babylon, Hughie Green Most Sincerely) and directed by Julian Jarrold (Red Riding, Brideshead Revisited), Worried About The Boy follows George's journey from cloakroom attendant to cultural icon – from falling in love for the first time, to embracing his unique style, to meeting his Culture Club bandmates.

As a teenager, George O'Dowd realised he was not like the other boys his own age – sharp-witted, independent-minded and with a passion for clothes and make-up, he dreamt of becoming a star.

Read more: New Boy George Drama for BBC

The irresistibly uplifting, award winning family comedy returns to strut its stuff from New York to London, the suburbs and beyond.

Simon and his best friend Kylie still aspire to dazzle the world but first of all they have to wade through adolescence, brave their extraordinary and bonkers relatives and cope with small town Britain in the 90s. 

Beautiful People is not your average family sitcom because the Doonans are not your average family. The show is the story of a dream – the dream that one day Simon would leave suburban Reading and move to London to be with the beautiful people. In fact he moved to New York to become the creative director of Barneys, an uber-chic fashion store, and to write the memoir which inspired Jonathan Harvey to write this hugely exuberant comedy. 

Read more: Camp Drama Beautiful People on DVD

Joe McElderry, the 2009 X Factor winner has dismissed rumours that he is gay but confirmed he is still a virgin.

Joe has commented, “I’m straight. I’ve had girlfriends, but I don’t have one right now. I haven’t slept with anyone, but I’m a young lad and I’m concentrating on my music. I know I’ll probably get offers but – for me – it’s all about the singing for now."

“Being recognised means you have to be really careful. I say ‘Enjoy it, but don’t go over the top’. At the minute, the last thing on my mind is a girlfriend. I need to concentrate on things and maybe think about that when the album’s out and I’ve got a bit of chill time.”

Read more: Joe McElderry: Not Gay, It's Official!

There is a surprise twist for this weekend’s X Factor final and it has apparently shocked the remaining contestants.

The twist is one of the three remaining singers will be voted off the show on Saturday night, leaving the remaingin two for the Sunday night finale.

Stacey Solomon, Olly Murs and Joe McElderry now have another reason to fear the final this weekend!

Viewers will be able to vote for their favourite during Saturday night's show and the name with the fewest votes will leave at the end of the Saturday show.

The phone lines will then reopen at the end of Saturday's programme for people to vote for their winner. Votes cast during Saturday night's show will not count towards the Sunday final.

Read more: What is the final X Factor twist?