The first ever gay television drama?

South, a film tackling the then brave themes of race and sexuality, was first shown on ITV in 1959 - only 2 years after the Wolfenden Report, which recommended the partial decrimiinalisation of male homosexual acts, was published; and 2 years before Victim, starring Dirk Bogarde, was released. It deals with a dashing Polish army lieutenant exiled in the US deep south as civil war approaches and the question of whom he really loves: a plantation owner's angry niece, Miss Regina, or the tall, blond, rugged officer who arrives suddenly – a handsome man called Eric MacClure.

Lieutenant Jan Wicziewsky was played by Peter Wyngarde, who went on to play Jason King, possibly the campest, yet most determinedly heterosexual ladies' man ever to be seen on TV. Wyngarde was himself gay and is now known to have been in a long term relationship with fellow actor, Alan Bates, at the time of the broadcast.

Peter Wyngarde as the dapper Jason King

South will be seen for the first time in a generation at the BFI's 27th London lesbian and gay film festival this coming Saturday and Sunday [23/24 April 2013].

More information:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2013/mar/16/itv-play-gay-television
http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/first-gay-drama-unearthed-british-film-institute180313
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Wyngarde
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Bates
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_King_%28TV_series%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victim_%281961_film%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirk_Bogarde