NEW YORK – On the heels of critical acclaim and strong ratings in the UK, Logo today announced it will sneak the first episodes of the highly anticipated new interconnected dramas Cucumber and Banana from Russell T Davies, the multi BAFTA® award-winning writer of Doctor Who and Queer as Folk, following the season premiere of RuPaul’s Drag Race on Monday, March 2at 10pm ET/PT. Cucumber and Banana will return for their official season premieres on Monday, April 13 at 10pm ET/PT.
“From RuPaul to Russell, Logo is launching a powerhouse of premium programming on Monday nights that will continue our trajectory as one of the fastest growing networks,” said Chris McCarthy, General Manager of Logo. “With Drag Race fans anxiously awaiting the kickoff of the new season, we’re giving Cucumber and Banana our biggest launching pad to find and cultivate an audience in advance of its premiere in April.”
The two interwoven drama series will explore 21st century gay life in all its powerful, witty, dark and uplifting guises through the lens of two disparate generations. The hour-long Cucumber will explore the lives and misadventures of Henry Best (Vincent Franklin) and his long-suffering boyfriend of nine years, Lance Sullivan (Cyril Nri). The half-hour Banana will follow the individual lives of younger characters orbiting around Henry’s world, telling stories of modern love – the romantic, the obsessed, the hopeful, the lonely, the lost, and the lucky – in an urban Manchester, England setting.
Vincent Franklin, known for his work in the BBC’s The Thick of It and Twenty Twelve as well as films including The Bourne Identity and The Illusionist, joins Julie Hesmondhalgh (Coronation Street), Freddie Fox (Pride, The Three Musketeers), Cyril Nri (The Bill) and James Murray (Defiance) in the cast, which also features up and coming talent including Fisayo Akinade in his first major TV role, Hannah John-Kamen (Killjoys), Andrew Hayden-Smith (Doctor Who), Luke Newberry (In the Flesh), Letitia Wright (Top Boy), Georgia Henshaw (Waterloo Road) and comedian Bethany Black in her television debut.
The seventh season of the hit series RuPaul’s Drag Race will bow on Monday, March 2 at 9pm ET/PT. This season RuPaul will be joined by the hottest celebrities alongside show regulars Michelle Visage and new judges Carson Kressley and Ross Mathews as they decide who will stay, lip-synch for their life or “Sashay Away.” This season’s celebrity guest judges include Ariana Grande, Jessica Alba, Demi Lovato, John Waters, Kathy Griffin, Olivia Newton-John, Alyssa Milano, Kat Dennings, Jordin Sparks, Mel B, Tamar Braxton, Rebecca Romijn, Santino Rice, Isaac Mizrahi, Michael Urie, Rachael Harris, Lucian Piane and Merle Ginsberg.
Cucumber and Banana are produced by Red Production Company in association with Channel 4 and Logo. BBC Worldwide holds international distribution rights.
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” is produced by World of Wonder Productions with Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato, Tom Campbell, Mandy Salangsang, Steven Corfe and RuPaul Charles serving as Executive Producers. Chris McCarthy, Pamela Post and Tim Palazzola serve as Executive Producers for Logo.
