Table of contents for January 2016 in Attitude Magazine

We are very happy to have the first gay press cover shoot with Olly Alexander this month. Unless you’ve been living under a rock this year then you’ll know him as the singer of the excellent pop outfit Years and Years who have produced some of the catchiest radio tunes of the year, with King and Shine being never (and I mean never) off the Attitude speakers. Olly is his own moment in pop culture. He’s as cute as a button and has a gorgeous, warm stage presence and a really lovely pop voice. His music is catchy electronica. There have been many comparisons made with the Pet Shop Boys. He kissed his boyfriend on festival stages. The crowd loved it. It’s not a big deal. And this is also…

WHAT An Audience with Princess Julia WHERE The Glory, Haggerston WHEN 9th November PRINCESS JULIA A new tiara. You can never have enough tiaras. JAMIE A new tooth... a gold tooth! REBECCA ZEPHYR A sugar daddy and the end of capitalism... See what I did there. MICK HURD A baby, please! AJAY KENTH (MICK’S HUSBAND) A baby? Err... a holiday in Thailand, please! ALEX SIMOES Madonna, bitch. Not even tickets. Madonna. EMILY ROSE All I Want For Christmas is a ZIG-A-ZIG-AH! The nineties are still ruling strong. MIN That’s a big question. Err, I’ll have a think. FANNAR Victoria’s Secret underwear. Obvs! TOM A gay garage night, and my wish has been granted! Oh, and tickets to see Amy Armstrong on her Toyko tour. DANIEL SALLSTROM A nice date in…

News just in: nobody wants to date you if you stink and can’t do sex. This shocking revelation comes courtesy of six studies published together in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, which analysed people’s biggest relationship turnoffs. Apparently the findings show that we typically put more weight behind dealbreakers than dealmakers – so even if you have the face of Zayn Malik, if you have the personality of Louis Tomlinson then you can forget about it. (Quite right, too) According to the research, the biggest relationship dealbreakers include the fore-mentioned unclean appearance and bad sex, along with laziness, lacking a sense of humour, and being stubborn. As far as I’m concerned these are just the tip of the iceberg. Allow me to present my own personal dealbreakers, in case…

I’m single as hell. So, much like the hordes of other men, women and everyone in between, I’ve decided that joining the wonderful world of Tinder is better than dying alone, or at least still being single at the age of 30. Prior to five months ago, I hadn’t actually gone on many dates. Over the last three years I’ve been in two serious relationships; one almost immediately after the other. University came before those, where, in hindsight, I wasn’t really looking for anything serious. So, Tinder in a way marks my first foray into casual courting – and how better to start it than writing about my early experiences on the dating app that recently claimed to have made 9 billion matches worldwide. I find myself utterly fascinated by…

1 YOUR ‘STRAIGHT’ COLLEAGUE HE’S NOT LIKE, GAY OR ANYTHING, BUT AFTER A FULL DAY DRINKING AT THE OFFICE PARTY, HE TELLS YOU HE’D DEFINITELY TRY IT OUT. EVERY SINGLE YEAR. 2 THE GIFT WRAPPER HE MADE ALL YOUR CHRISTMAS GIFTS LOOK REAL PRETTY AND EVEN GAVE YOU SOME FREE BOWS FOR THE BOXES BECAUSE YOU FLIRTED. THANKS HUN! 3 THE TV HOSTS THERE’S NOTHING QUITE LIKE GETTING SETTLED IN TO SEE WHO GRAHAM NORTON AND ALAN CARR HAVE BAGGED FOR THEIR CHRISTMAS/ NEW YEAR EXTRAVAGANZAS. ONLY THE BEST! 4 THE HOMOPHOBIC BULLY FROM SCHOOL YEP, THAT’S HIM, POPPING UP ON YOUR GRINDR. HIYA! 5 LONDON GAY MEN’S CHORUS OUR FAVOURITE GROUP OF SINGERS ARE COMING TO THE ROUNDHOUSE IN LONDON ON 11 AND 12 DECEMBER FOR A NIGHT OF…

Designer Richard James has many strings to his bow. His brand has dressed a slew of celebrities, including Daniel Craig, David Beckham, Jude Law, Tom Cruise, Sir Elton John and Guy Ritchie. Last year the flagship store relocated to the prestigious Savile Row. Along with the clothing, the brand have also released their eponymous fragrance, as well as complementary grooming products. With help from the famous perfumer Yves Cassar, Richard James have created a sensual, leathery fragrance with gentle hints of floral. It has blends of vetyver and smoky Darjeeling. AVAILABLE AT RICHARD JAMES SAVILE ROW. EDT, 50ML, £60…

Adidas at Schuh schuh.co.uk Armani Exchange armaniexchange.com/uk Asics ascics.co.uk Autograph at Marks & Spencer marksandspencer.com Björn Borg bjornborg.com Bkr at Selfridges Selfridges.com Burton burton.co.uk Calvin Klein at Topman topman.com Calvin Klein calvinklein.com Calvin Klein Collection calvinklein.com Cheap Monday cheapmonday.com Christopher Raeburn christopherraeburn.co.uk Christopher Shannon christophershannon.co.uk Converse converse.com COS costores.com Diesel diesel.com Dior Homme dior.com Dsquared2 dsquared2.com Fendi fendi.com GAP gap.co.uk Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci givenchy.com H&M hm.com Hamleys hamleys.com Jigsaw jigsaw-online.com Joseph joseph-fashion.com Joyrich joyrich.com Kenzo kenzo.com Louis Vuitton louisvuitton.com Louise Alsop louisealsop.com M&S Best of British marksandspencer.com Manolo Blahnik manoloblahnik.com McQ mcq.com MISBHV misbhv.com Neil Barrett neilbarrett.com New Look newlook.com Pringle pringlescotland.com Reiss Premium reiss.com Reiss reiss.com Richard James richardjames.co.uk River Island riverisland.com Ron Dorff rondorff.com Samsoe & Samsoe samsoe.com Topman Design topman.com Topman topman.com Tumi uk.tumi.com UGG uggaustrailia.co.uk…

1 JESS GLYNNE DON’T BE SO HARD ON YOURSELF Just when we thought we’d had the best of the Jess Glynne album, she came out with this banger. A thumping chorus and a beautiful sentiment: what more do you need? 2 ADELE HELLO Right from the 30 second X Factor teaser, to a launch that almost broke the internet, Hello was the music moment of the year, proving that Adele has plenty more to give post-21. 3 THE WEEKND CAN’T FEEL MY FACE Can’t Feel My Face was the song of the summer, pulling The Weeknd into the mainstream with a little help from Max Martin. It’s already gone 4x Platinum in the U.S. 4 YEARS AND YEARS KING The jewel in the crown of the Years and Years canon,…

Bulimia BULIMIA IS AN EATING DISORDER AND A MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER, WHICH INVOLVES PEOPLE TRYING TO CONTROL THEIR WEIGHT BY RESTRICTING THE AMOUNT THEY EAT THROUGH BINGE EATING AND THEN PURGING THE FOOD FROM THEIR BODIES, EITHER BY VOMITING OR BY USING LAXATIVES, OR BOTH. OUT OF ALL EATING DISORDERS, BULIMIA IS MOST STRONGLY ASSOCIATED WITH LOW SELF-ESTEEM, DEPRESSION, SELF-HARM AND OTHER ISSUES. IT CAN TAKE A LONG TIME FOR PEOPLE TO GET DIAGNOSED AS THEY VERY OFTEN HIDE IT. IF YOU ARE CONCERNED THAT ONE OF YOUR FRIENDS MAY SUFFER FROM THIS, DON’T HESITATE TO BRING UP THE SUBJECT AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO SEEK HELP. THE LONG TERM EFFECTS ON THE BODY CAN BE CATASTROPHIC, INCLUDING DAMAGE TO THE TEETH, ACID BURNS ON THE THROAT AND OESOPHAGUS AND EXTREME…

Dear Attitude, I split up with my boyfriend of 14 years in June. It was tough at first but it was a long time coming and I had some time to prepare. Now, though, I find myself alone at Christmas, in my mid-40s and I’m really not looking forward to this time of year. I am going to my parents where we always used to go and it will be full of reminders. I love seeing my sister and her kids but I can’t help but feel very lonely and like a bit of a failure. My friends are all telling me to meet someone new on dating apps but I’m not the kind of guy that wants to wade through pictures of genitals to try and make contact with…

Film: Inside Out – the most grown up Pixar movie yet. We sighed, we cried, we’ll always love Bing Bong…) Album: John Grant’s Grey Tickles, Black Pressure – the third album from he whom we dubbed the most important gay man in the world today. Gadget: Nutribullet – perfect for blending fruit, veg and, if Christmas gets too much (and it will), yourself. Play: Casa Valentina at the Southwark Playhouse – stunningly powerful play about cross dressing from the legendary Harvey Fierstein which absolutely deserves a bigger transfer. TV: London Spy – the show that’s been on the lips and fingertips of everyone this winter. Author: Marlon James for A Brief History of Seven Killings – winner of the Man Booker Prize and a homosexual no less.…

THE DANISH GIRL ALICIA VAKANDER, EDDIE REDMAYNE In this remarkable 1920s biography, Eddie Redmayne stars as Lili Elbe, a woman born in a man’s body at a time before the word ‘transgender’ became part of modern vocabulary. Whilst presenting the transformation from the born identity of Einar to the realisation of her authentic self – Lili, this period drama is an unconventional love story between the protagonist and her supportive wife (Vikander). The film caters for a wide audience, and is visibly careful in never being too shocking, but this loses some of the emotional punch. It's still an insightful and educational display of the confusions and obstacles that the trans community still often face today. All in all, The Danish Girl has two brilliant performances from its two leads.…

PEACE & GOODWILL TO ALL It’s a hard one ADELE-OPOLIS She’s taking over the world. We approve. CHE CHESTER-DRAWS OFF OF HEX FACTOR We like you, Otter-bear-creature-man THE GAYLORDS’ PRAYER ‘Hiya. How ya doin. Send some pics. Amen.’ (Don’t get excited, we know all gays aren’t shallow. Just most. Joke) STAR WARS They’re all gay. ‘Han Solo’. ‘Princess Leia’. ‘Yo-da’. Clearly a gay subtext about a ‘Skywalker’ saving the galaxy. STRICTLY Keeping the whole country going atm. Thanks be to sequins. BRUNO TONIOLI Perfect, my darlink! CRAIG REVEL HORWOOD Divine/disaster darling! (Amazing) THE BOOTING OF IAIN LEE For calling someone who sounded quite bigoted a bigot. (What’s not to like). We lurve you, Iain. LADY C So posh we pooed ourselves JEREMY HUNT What a great world where we have…

TERRESTRIAL: THE VOICE Returning to BBC One in January, the fifth series of The Voice UK sees Ricky Wilson and will.i.am returning alongside new judges – and Attitude favourites – Paloma Faith and Boy George; who will no doubt bring a healthy dose of glamour to the show. ONLINE: TRANSPARENT This Golden Globe winning show returns to Amazon Prime in December for a second series. A pioneering effort in covering transgender issues, Transparent stars Jeffrey Tambor as a middle aged professor coming out as a trans woman to his children. “We’re taking the gloves off…Taking the bubble wrap off,” say the show’s execs. ONLINE: REGGIE YATES’ EXTREME Throughout December on BBC Three, Reggie Yates’s new Extreme series follows on from his successful documentary about homophobia in Russia. This time around…

Cast your mind back to 2012. There was no Kellie Maloney. No Caitlyn Jenner on Vanity Fair. No Laverne Cox on TIME magazine. No trans people had ever been invited onto Question Time. Stonewall didn’t campaign for trans people. There was no Boy Meets Girl on BBC, no Rebecca Root, no trans people in EastEnders, played by trans actors like Riley Carter Millington. No Jack Monroe, no James Dawson, no Owen Jones standing up for trans rights. Yes, we’ve had some trans Big Brother winners and that was wonderful, but three years ago, there were very few trans people in public life and allies were fewer still. In 2015, as a trans activist, I’m starting to feel a little superfluous. If I were to give up activism tomorrow, I doubt…

On the collar is the classic choice for the shearling trend, but don’t forget about the lining - like with this Calvin Klein jacket, it adds an incredible amount of insulation. Finishing the look: Robust boots and leather gloves top off this trend in a traditional final flourish. Keep your look heritage by sticking to warm earth tones.…

For A/W 2015, Armani Exchange have three key focuses when it comes to their watches: the Mosaics collection, that has geometric patterns on the face; the Vintage collection, which focuses on good ole traditional American style; and last but by no means least, the Golden Rule Collection, which features watches with stainless steel finishes in gold. The Armani Exchange Gold-Tone Chronograph watch has a pale gold tone that creates an understated decadence. It’s sleek, uncomplicated and looks great with both formalwear or dressed down. THE ARMANI EXCHANGE GOLD-TONE CHRONOGRAPH WATCH, RRP £229, AVAILABLE AT H.SAMUEL.CO.UK / CODE: AX1752…

Pantomime is big. Surprisingly big for a theatrical form that is barely known outside of Britain. The British Empire might have left a proud legacy of railways and homophobia across the globe but apart from a smattering of offerings in Canada, Australia and Jamaica, it’s only in the UK and Ireland that Christmas explodes with theatre’s most colourful, widely-appealing and interactive genre. You won’t hear “he’s behind you” in Swahili. Over the last festive season in the UK, 8,108,108 tickets were available for 10,731 performances of 273 different pantos. Had all those tickets been sold the collective box office would have been £145,988,307. Panto for many children is their first experience of theatre. With its promise of songs and jokes, and familiar faces, customs and stories, it offers a guarantee…

REVIEW OF THE YEAR GENTRIFICATION VS THE GAY SCENE IN APRIL, FOLLOWING A CAMPAIGN TO PROTECT IT FROM BEING TURNED INTO LUXURY FLATS, ONE OF THE UK’S LONGEST RUNNING GAY VENUES, THE BLACK CAP, WAS SUDDENLY CLOSED BY ITS OWNERS. IT WAS JUST ONE OF MANY LGBT VENUES TO CLOSE IN RECENT YEARS DUE TO GENTRIFICATION. Adam Clifford likes to tell the truth. “I don’t really like your magazine,” he says, as we take stools in a Camden pub. “But I thought I should get the word out there.” I smile, and gloss over any potential awkward beginnings to the interview. Clifford is 36, and remarkably attractive. Even the bright peroxide blonde of his buzzcut can’t overshadow the effect of his sculpted cheekbones and full lips. HOMO is tattooed across…

REVIEW OF THE YEAR TRANS CAITLYN JENNER PUT TRANS ISSUES AT THE TOP OF THE GLOBAL NEWS AGENDA IN JUNE. REBECCA ROOT REPRESENTED BRITISH TRANS VISIBILITY IN THE SITCOM BOY MEETS GIRL ON BBC 2 IN SEPTEMBER. This new season of the show takes a wider look at the Pfefferman family. Do you feel Maura’s transition story is settling in as one element of a wider story? I think that’s very much the case. Maura has made her change, and it’s affected everybody in the family – the lynchpin is out, and so everybody is trying to find their centre and trying to find ‘home’. Maura’s the gateway character to everyone’s journey, and that was very much in [creator] Jill Soloway’s mind when she wrote it. Did you have any…

PIETRO BOSELLI THE FORMER MATHS TEACHER-TURNED-MODEL-TURNED-BODY BUILDER MADE US LONG FOR THE DAYS OF STUFFY CLASSROOMS AND DREARY TEXTBOOKS. HOT FOR TEACHER? YES SIR! MATTHEW LEWIS FORGET KIM KARDASHIAN, HARRY POTTER’S OWN NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM BROKE THE INTERNET EARLIER THIS YEAR WHEN HE DRESSED DOWN FOR OUR JUNE COVER DISPLAYING SERIOUSLY IMPRESSIVE *AHEM* PECS AND ABS. KEEGAN HIRST WHAT CAN WE SAY? WE’RE SUCKERS FOR THE RUGBY GUYS – AND KEEGAN IS ONE SUCH FINE EXAMPLE. BEN THOMPSON IT’S HARD NOT TO SPOT THIS BBC PRESENTER; NOT ONLY IS HE GRACED WITH THE DASHING LOOKS OF THE BOY NEXT DOOR, HE’S ALSO 6’6! ZACHARY QUINTO THE GUY WHOSE EYEBROWS WERE ON FLEEK BEFORE IT BECAME A TREND, THERE’S SOMETHING STRIKING ABOUT OUR RECENT COVER STAR. DAVOOD GHADAMI WE LOVE SPENDING OUR…

IS THIS YOUR FIRST TIME VISITING LONDON? YEAH, I’M JUST IN TOWN FOR A WEEK. I LIKE IT. IT’S A GREAT CITY. DO YOU MODEL BACK IN AUSTRIA TOO? YES, I STARTED MODELLING ABOUT A YEAR AGO. WHEN DID YOU FIRST START WORKING OUT? I THINK I WAS ABOUT 15-YEARS-OLD. I BEGAN TO TRAIN ABOUT TWO TIMES A WEEK WHILE I WAS STILL IN SCHOOL AND I LOVED IT. WHAT WAS YOUR BODY LIKE WHEN YOU STARTED OFF? I WASN’T SKINNY, BUT I WASN’T FAT EITHER. JUST A REGULAR GUY, I GUESS, BUT NOT PARTICULARLY FIT. WHEN DID YOU START TO SEE CHANGES IN YOUR BODY? QUITE QUICKLY ACTUALLY! I’D SAY ABOUT TWO MONTHS IN THE CHANGE STARTED TO BECOME NOTICEABLE. I CHANGED MY DIET AND BEGAN TO EAT THE…

Lee Wyatt, 27, Plymouth, Barber I had issues with my body growing up – I wanted to change my gender to female. I had some therapy, and when I was about 21 I started to accept myself as male and learned to love the body that I have. I still love the female form, so I started getting tattoos of female villains that I love. I’ve got everyone from Poison Ivy to Nicki Minaj. HEIGHT/WEIGHT 5’11 12 STONE DIET I EAT CRAP. I EAT A GOOD MEAL WHEN I CAN, BUT THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME IT’S TAKE OUT MEALS, OR MICROWAVABLE READY MEALS, OR A LOT OF PIZZA. SO, FAST, EASY STUFF. I’M QUITE FUSSY SO I LIKE SIMPLE STUFF. I CAN COOK SPAGHETTI BOLOGNESE BUT THAT’S ABOUT IT.…

The day after my first sexual experience, I woke up, hungover. I was 18, on the scene, and had done the thing I was most scared of: actually had sex – well, at least given a blow job. While my best friend Tommy had settled into a relationship complete with hearts and flowers, and the other guys from our gay youth group fooled around with each other, I remained single. I was short and fat – 18 stone to be exact. I wouldn’t have wanted to have sex with me. But now, finally, someone had. Okay, so it happened in a dark corner of a club with someone old enough to be my grandfather whom, if I’d been sober I wouldn’t have gone near, but for those few minutes before…

1 Acknowledge and accept it. It’s OK to feel lonely sometimes. Lots of people do, but recognising it helps you to process and overcome it. 2 Remind yourself that you can feel better. Feelings of loneliness can be quite overwhelming, but they can and will pass. 3 Reach out and speak to those around you, either to get support or help others in the same situation. Try joining a group or a voluntary organisation. Build up your social contacts and your confidence will grow too. A quick chat, text or phone call can make the world of difference. 4 Look after yourself. There’s a correlation between loneliness and health problems, either as a cause or result. Dealing with things is easier when you feel better in yourself. 5 Ask for…

1. Have your reasons Have a valid reason for making your resolution. Don’t just decide to join a gym because everyone else is. Cliché much? Think about what you really want to change in your life. 2. Make it achievable Pick one major resolution, or a few little ones you know you are actually capable of completing over a reasonable amount of time. If your birthday falls in January are you really going to lay off the alcohol? Not a chance, hun! 3. Track your progress Recording your progress not only allows you to make the most of all those Christmas stationary presents, it’s also proven to help you stick to the end goal. If it’s a buff body you’re after, take a before photo, and work towards that satisfying…

“I WAS A PAINFULLY SHY CHILD, AND MY MOTHER WOULD ALWAYS TELL ME ‘DON’T BE AFRAID, YOU HAVE NOTHING TO BE AFRAID OF’. THAT WAS REALLY THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE I’VE BEEN GIVEN.” “I WAS DISCOVERING LONDON IN THE EARLY 80S. IT WAS A VERY EXCITING TIME CREATIVELY, BUT BACK THEN THE GAY SCENE WAS VERY UNDERGROUND. IF YOU WERE FLAMBOYANT IN LONDON IN ANY WAY, YOU WERE IN DANGER.” “I’ve been with my husband for 34 years, since I was 20 and he was 17. When we started, it was actually illegal for us to be together.” “My husband told me on our first date that we’d grow old together. I told him not to be so stupid, and yet we’re still here. We discovered the world together.”…

JON BRADFIELD Jon is a theatre writer, marketer and graphic designer, and co-writes the UK’s most popular adult pantomime for Above The Stag Theatre. In his spare time he sings in a chamber choir and gets too worked up about Daily Mail comment threads. Raised in Wolverhampton, he now lives in London. LUXXXER A self-professed colour addict and multimedia artist who is best known for his portraiture and capturing London’s nightlife with grungy aesthetics and vibrant colours. He can usually be found taking pics in clubs and bars all across the UK. RICHARD STOW London-based photographer, Richard Stow, is known for his creative use of light and dramatic art style, attracting the fashion, beauty and music industries for over a decade. Richard’s beloved Boston Terrier, Lucille, is always at his…

Look who got hunky! To be fair, Union J member Josh Cuthbert was always more than just a bit swoonsome in our books. But this year he went next level as he signed not one, but three modelling contracts, represented by Storm, Two Management and Red Model Management. If you want to see more Josh shots from our exclusive shoot, check out the special edition Attitude aMen magazine, available for digital download from 17th December. Attitude aMen will be available to download as a digital only special from the attitude app or via pocketmags.com/attitude…

FROZEN : ELSA AND ANNA Blizzards? Sleigh rides? Power ballads? We’re in. PRACTICAL MAGIC : THE OWENS SISTERS Great for a bit of camp magical fun, just don’t let either of them fall in love with you. WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE : JANE AND BLANCHE Forget sending a letter to daddy, stay away from these twisted sisters.…

You’ve done nine music videos to accompany the tracks on your new album Pseudo Visions. Is the visual element important to you? Absolutely. It was very much a way for me to make the album in the way I wanted. I’m usually a perfectionist, and I wanted to make a record that didn’t end when you finished making it, so I make these videos as part of the continued process. That and playing the songs live as well. The live situation is the most direct inspiration you can get as an artist. You’re from Denmark originally. Why do you think the Scandinavian countries produce so many quirky, colourful pop artists like yourself? The obvious answer would be that maybe there’s not that much going on in our countries, and so…

SPEAK MY LANGUAGE ED. TORSTEN HOJER/ROBINSON “Gay stories offer us vindication, fellowship, validation and a sense of shared identity that we need now as much as ever,” says Stephen Fry in the introduction to this collection of gay short stories, which weave together various experiences from a range of perspectives, ages, eras, locations, cultures and political climates. The writers showcased include Attitude contributor Damian Barr, literary legend Felice Picano, and British authors like Neil Bartlett and Patrick Gale. Bartlett offers an old story, Caesar’s Gallic Wars, about a teenage boy taking his summer exams and discovering his sexuality, while Gale’s Brown Manilla concerns an envelope in which a post-war wife discovers the secret of her husband’s earlier love affair with another man – which cries out for a Julianne Moore…

THIS MONTH: JAMES MADE A NEW FILM ABOUT A DECEASED GAY PORN FILMMAKER, TAUGHT A CLASS IN OMNIPOTENCE AT UCLA, RECITED TAYLOR SWIFT’S 1989 ALBUM IN CHINESE AT THE NEW YORK FESTIVAL OF THE AVANT-GARDE (WHICH HE ALSO CURATED), HOSTED A SMALL TOWN HALL DEBATE FOR THE INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES SEEKING THE U.S. PRESIDENCY, ADAPTED THE DIARIES OF SAMUEL PEPYS FOR TWITTER, SWAM FROM ALASKA TO SIBERIA FOR SPORT AND RANG HIS MUM. GAY SEX SCENE SPARKS COMPLAINTS OFCOM RECEIVED COMPLAINTS FROM THE PUBLIC THIS MONTH ABOUT THE GAY SEX SCENES IN THE NEW BBC DRAMA LONDON SPY. ONE VIEWER SAID, “CONSIDERING IT WAS AFTER THE WATERSHED, I DIDN’T SEE NEARLY ENOUGH BUM. OUTRAGEOUS!” A PENSIONER FROM HULL ALSO COMMENTED, “I DON’T MIND WATCHING TWO GAY MEN GET IT ON, BUT…

I joined Alan backstage at Chatty Man, as he prepares for a night on the sofa, hosting guests like Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller and Justin Bieber. He’s hungry, but lucky for him there’s a fruit basket on hand (and a bottle of champagne, if you don’t mind). We’re chatting in advance of a major live show in Manchester the following night, where he’ll bring his Yap, Yap, Yap! show back to the place where his comedy career began. They say comedians can be tough in real life, or worse – not very fun – but I’m pleased to report that from the moment I meet him, until the moment he sends me off with a selfie and a hug, Alan Carr is every inch the man that TV viewers up…

Shearling can add texture to your look, even if it’s just lining your boots. Keeping it simple, sleek and paired with a lighter knit is ideal if the winter is a little warmer, or if you’re heading somewhere formal after work. If you’re going to break If you the ’ bank re going , this to Fendi break the coat bank will , this keep Fendi you coat protected will keep from you the weather protected . With from shearling the weather trimmings . With in shearling gorgeous trimmings colours, it’ in s the gorgeous perfect colours winter , it’s the out perfect fit. winter outfit. Mixing sportswear with smarter styles is in vogue at the moment. Navys and greys are a good way to blend formal and casual together.…

MIXING PATTERNS, OR AN OUTFIT THAT IS ALL ONE COLOUR, BOTH WORK. IT’S ALL DOWN TO YOUR PERSONAL STYE ADDING HIGH SHINE OR AN OMBRE GIVES YOU STAND OUT DETAIL WITHOUT ADDING BRIGHT HUES TO ADD INTEREST, LAYER DIFFERENT SHADES AS WELL AS SOME PATTERN TO YOUR OUTFIT…

1 YEARS AND YEARS COMMUNION Olly Alexander and co. truly delivered with their cool pop debut, and it’s been the soundtrack to the Attitude office for most of the year. Standouts include King and Shine. 2 JOHN GRANT GREY TICKLES, BLACK PRESSURE He’s one of the most important gay voices in music, and in his follow up to Pale Green Ghosts, John got a little more experimental as he explored familiarly deep territory. 3 JESS GLYNNE I CRY WHEN I LAUGH This North Londoner’s debut album was full of accessible number one hits celebrating what it means to be young and living life in 2015. 4 ADELE 25 As we go to press, 25 is entering the record books as one of the fastest selling albums ever. As our review…

REVIEW OF THE YEAR PrEP IN FEBRUARY, THE UK’S PROUD STUDY SAYS PREP TREATMENT WAS EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE IN STOPPING HIV TRANSMISSION. 2015 really has been the year for PrEP. The UK’s PROUD study results were reported in February, showing us how PrEP works in the real world, so when men know they are taking it, compared with men who are not. In the men who weren’t taking PrEP there was an infection rate of 9%, much higher than anyone predicted there would be. By contrast only three men in the PrEP arm got HIV and in all three cases further examination showed they weren’t taking PrEP at the time. The PROUD trial opened our eyes to how amazingly effective PrEP is at stopping people getting HIV. As long as you…

REVIEW OF THE YEAR TRANS MEN TRANS MEN MADE THEIR VOICES HEARD WHEN RILEY CARTER MILLINGTON JOINED THE CAST OF EASTENDERS AS KYLE IN OCTOBER AND TOPPED THE INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY’S RAINBOW LIST IN NOVEMBER. KIERAN MOLONEY, 25, NEW ZEALAND As early as I could dress myself, I challenged what I wanted to wear. I knew that I didn't feel female. You don't know what it is; all you know is that you feel different. Then, in your teenage years you develop these deep feelings and you see other people in couples. I didn't have an attraction to males but I was envious – I wanted their bodies, and I wanted to be with the girls they were with! I wasn't a proud woman, and I wasn’t a proud lesbian.…

Q&A Our health expert Dr Christian Jessen answers your medical queries Q My cum is a different colour to my boyfriend’s – it’s more yellow and much thicker. Is something wrong? Ryan, Luton A If you’ve had a recent STI check and you don’t think you are at any significant risk of a sexually transmitted infection, then there is probably nothing wrong. Cum comes in a wide variety of consistencies and variations on shades of white, grey or yellow. This can change with time. Your level of hydration, the frequency you have sex, and the length of time you spend in foreplay or having sex all can affect colour and consistency. Go to see a GP if you are worried. Provided you have no pain, no discharge discomfort, and your…

• 225g VitaFibre Syrup• 100g USN Whey & Oats (Marshmallow Cookie)• 100g Marshmallow Fluff (plain)• 100g Oats• Vanilla Essence• Chocolate chips (81% Dark Chocolate) Method: 1. Melt the VitaFibre syrup in the microwave for 2 mins. 2. Stir in the vanilla essence, USN Whey & Oats and Marshmallow fluff. 3. Fold in the oats and let cool for 10 mins. 4. Add chocolate chips and fold in. 5. Roll into balls and flatten out on a baking tray. 6. Bake at 180 degrees Celcius for 10-12 mins depending on how crispy you like them. 7. Put on cooling rack for 5-10 mins to stiffen. Best eaten warm. Enjoy! Macros: Total Mix; Protein 70g, Fats 40g, Carbs 374, Calories 2,136. Per PrOtie (Makes 6); Protein 11.6g, Fats 6.6g, Carbs 62g, Calories 356. For the white chocolate chip…

A decade ago it became common for women to refer to a friend as her GBF (Gay Best Friend). The term was immediately identifiable. It arrived in the wake of Carrie Bradshaw and Stanford Blatch (SATC), mirroring a recognisable partnership that hadn’t been detailed with quite that heightened fictional accuracy yet. It was a new standard for its times. When I was growing up in the 80s, only air stewardesses, hairdressers or those that worked at the BBC had GBFs. Men and women were rarely friends. 30 years later, in an atomised world, punctuated by the rabid need for approval online, we have come to the eventual realisation that it is not only men and women who are different, but everyone. New friendship subsets emerge. Now we don’t need to…

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