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Olly Alexander: Growing up Gay

Documentary in which Years and Years frontman Olly Alexander explores the mental health issues faced by of the LGBT+ community.

Recent figures show that more than 40 per cent of LGBT+ people will experience a significant mental health problem, compared to around 25 per cent of the whole population, and are more than twice as likely to have attempted suicide.

In this eye-opening film, young pop culture icon Olly Alexander explores why the gay community is more vulnerable to mental health issues, as he opens up about his own long-term battles with depression. As the outspoken frontman of British band Years and Years, Olly is a powerful voice on mental health, bullying and LGBT+ rights. He has broken taboos with music videos that celebrate queer identities and spoken openly about his own sexuality as well as his ongoing struggles with anxiety.

In the film, Olly s young people on their journeys battling issues that parallel his own - from homophobic bullying to eating and anxiety disorders - and along the way he asks what can be done to address them.

Available now

59 minutes

Signed Audio described

Last on

Thu 9 May 2024 02:55

Music Played

  • KATO & Sigala

    Show You Love (feat. Hailee Steinfeld)

  • Jamie xx

    Stranger In A Room (feat. Oliver Sim)

  • Agnes Obel

    Fuel To Fire

  • Agnes Obel

    Familiar

  • Laura Mvula

    Phenomenal Woman

  • Rae Morris

    Skin

  • Crystal Castles

    Untrust Us

  • Rae Morris

    Cold (feat. Fryars)

  • Years & Years

    Without

  • Rae Morris

    Cold (feat. Fryars)

  • Montell Jordan

    This Is How We Do It

  • Magnetic Man

    Flying into Tokyo

  • R I T U A L

    Drown The Lovers

  • Bloc Party

    This Modern Love

  • Rae Morris

    Do You Even Know?

  • Fickle Friends

    Hello Hello

  • Haim

    Days Are Gone

  • Röyksopp & Robyn

    Do It Again

  • New Order

    Plastic

  • Rae Morris

    Unguarded

  • Basement Jaxx

    Unicorn

  • Friendly Fires

    On Board

  • Rae Morris

    Love Again

  • Rae Morris

    Love Again

  • Years & Years

    King

  • Rae Morris

    Under The Shadows

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Olly Alexander
Director Vicki Cooper
Executive Producer Laura Jones
Executive Producer Leila Monks
Production Company Antidote Productions

Broadcasts

  • Wed 2 Aug 2017 22:45
  • Wed 16 Aug 2017 00:35
  • Tue 5 Mar 2019 23:05
  • Tue 5 Mar 2019 23:35
  • Wed 6 Mar 2019 00:05
  • Sun 21 Feb 2021 23:40
  • Wed 15 Jun 2022 21:00
  • Thu 16 Jun 2022 00:45
  • Thu 16 Jun 2022 02:55
  • Thu 15 Jun 2023 21:00
  • Fri 16 Jun 2023 02:50
  • Tue 5 Mar 2024 22:00
  • Wed 6 Mar 2024 02:50
  • Wed 8 May 2024 21:00
  • Thu 9 May 2024 02:55

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