Gays of our Lives (December 15, 2008)

Casualty – Toby (Matthew Needham) continues to be overwhelmed by his jumbled feelings about his sexuality. But the bigger problem is that because of Ruth’s interference, Ben has been suspended from the hospital for breach of medical ethics. Ben (Mark Letheren) demands that Toby clear up the situation, but Toby can’t muster the courage to admit that his one-night stand with Ben was consensual. Also in this episode, you can catch James Sutton (ex-John Paul, Hollyoaks) in the role of a narcoleptic in need of medical attention from the Casualty staff.

James Sutton (ex-John Paul, Hollyoaks) in a scene from
the December 13^th episode of Casualty.

As The World Turns – Confession is good for the soul … at least for Brian Wheatley. He fesses up to Luke that he did come on to him, but goes on to insist that he is in love with Lucinda (Elizabeth Hubbard) and wants to stay married to her. Luke believes Brian and the two men call a ceasefire with Luke promising to keep the whole thing a secret. But how long can Brian keep his desire for Luke in check, especially with them all living under the same roof? As for Lucinda, she starts to clue in that something is up with her new hubby, especially since he keeps finding ways to avoid having sex with her.

In other Oakdale news, Luke’s cousin Jade (Davida Williams) is in town and she’s bringing a mess of trouble with her. Seems that she’s wanted for armed robbery. How will Luke handle it when he comes face to face with his BFF who just happens to be on the run from the law?

The week of the 22nd, Maddie Coleman’s return to Oakdale has Luke seeing red as he is jealous of Noah’s attention to his ex-girlfriend. When Noah realizes why Luke is in such a snit around Maddie (Kelley Barrett), he lets Luke know that he’s not interested in Maddie and that Luke is the one he wants. But why the sudden turnaround after weeks of giving Luke the cold shoulder? Are Oakdale’s sweethearts going to make up just in time for the holidays? We can’t say. But what we can say is that Noah will give Luke a Christmas present and the tender moment will end in a kiss (no panning away this time). So Luke and Noah just may have something special to celebrate as the New Year begins … unless Brian ruins everything.

Will Luke and Noah be back in each other’s arms by Christmas?

GOOL NEWSBEAT

New Zealand sudser Shortland Street, which focuses on the lives and loves of a hospital staff, recently found itself in the middle of a controversy that rivaled anything happening on screen. The problems began after the show aired an episode in which gay receptionist Gerald Tippett (Harry McNaughton), a regular on the series, appeared in bed with a man named Lindsay. At one point, Lindsay went under the covers as if to perform oral sex on Gerald. And while no sex, simulated or otherwise, took place (Gerald kneed Lindsay in the face, bloodying his nose), the implication of sex was enough to draw a complaint from a viewer.