Jeanette Winterson praises BBC for adapting her groundbreaking novel during Thatcher's era
- Jeanette Winterson's novel, inspired by her life, depicts a lesbian's coming-of-age in a Pentecostal community.
- The BBC faced criticism for its commissioning of an adaptation during the era of Section 28 under Margaret Thatcher.
- Winterson highlighted that this adaptation was a significant act of defiance against government censorship.
In 1985, the groundbreaking novel 'Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit' by Jeanette Winterson, which draws on her own experiences, was published. Set in an English Pentecostal community, the novel explores the coming-of-age story of a lesbian protagonist. At a time when Section 28 of the Local Government Act was introduced by then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, that restricted positive portrayals of homosexuality, the BBC commissioned a three-part drama adaptation of Winterson's novel. This move by the BBC was seen as courageous, as it directly challenged the government's stance on funding projects that promoted what Thatcher termed 'pretended family life'. The adaptation garnered critical acclaim, winning a BAFTA Award for Best Drama and featuring standout performances, particularly from Charlotte Coleman and Geraldine McEwan. Winterson's reflections on this period reveal the significant tension between creative expression and government censorship, emphasizing the need for alternative narratives to be recognized in society. The courage demonstrated by the BBC in commissioning the adaptation arguably contributed to a broader dialogue surrounding LGBTQ+ representation in the media at the time.