Introducing ‘Cucumber’s main character, Henry Best
By Josh Haggis
With just one day to go until Russell T Davies’ Cucumber, Banana & Tofu hit screens we’re bringing you everything you need to about the most important gay drama of the decade.
In the latest issue of Attitude, leading man Vincent Franklin – best known for his portrayal of PR guru Stuart Pearson on satirical comedy The Thick of It – teases what we can expect from his character Henry Best, a man of a certain age who sees his life crumble around him with the realisation that he’s not entirely happy with his lot in life…
“Henry is a man in his late forties, successful and a bit bored, who likes lighting little fires to see what will happen,” says Vincent. “He’s a pain in the arse to live with, but a joy to spend time with. His saving graces being wit and honesty – he says what hen thinks to your face, not just behind your back.”
He continues: “Refusing to compromise when his partner asks him to marry him, sets off a terrible chain of emotionally painful events that leads to Henry’s life falling apart and him having to face who he is, what he wants and where he’s heading.
“It’s a bit like playing one of those characters in a Shakespeare comedy who goes into the woods a boy in love with one person, and comes out a man in love with someone else.
“I suppose he’s just waited to the age of 46 to grow up. But he has some terrible secrets – from himself as much as from anyone else – to deal with on the way,” he adds.
If you after an even greater slice of Cucumber goss, then read our in-depth review of the show’s opening episode here, or watch our exclusive behind-the-scenes video of our shoot with the cast.
You can read our full interview with Vincent – as well as the rest of the cast of Cucumber and its sister show Banana – in the new issue of Attitude, available to download to your mobile, iPad or tablet device now at Pocketmags.com/Attitude.
The issue is out in shops now and you can also have it delivered directly to your door at newsstand.co.uk.
Cucumber starts Thursday January 22 on Channel 4 at 9pm, followed by Banana on E4 at 10pm and Tofu on 4OD.
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