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Alison Steadman has reflected on filming the first lesbian kiss on British television in the 1974 BBC drama, Girl.

The scene saw Steadman and Myra Frances’s military officers share an intimate moment in the then-controversial drama about gay women in the army.

Speaking in a new reader interview in The Guardian, Steadman, 76, said: “I remember being very nervous about the whole thing. Then I got over it. Then I was worried about how my parents, who lived in a quiet suburban area of Liverpool, would cope.

“I thought, ‘My poor mum! The neighbours will be whispering, “Did you see your daughter on television?”’ By the time we came to record, this great director [Peter Gill] didn’t make a fuss and said, ‘So this is the bit where they kiss … All right, quick kiss, let’s carry on.’

“I was just nervous about people’s reactions. But my mum was great,...

1965: Peyton Place's Allison met Elliot.

1974: Days of our Lives' Addie gave birth to Hope.

1983: Gh's Bobbie was shocked to learn of Luke's death.

1994: Brookside's Beth and Margaret shared an historic kiss."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."

― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1958: On The Edge of Night, Mike Karr (John Larkin) and Peter Dalton (Stephen Elliot) discussed the Nicholson-McGinnis case and determined they would have to be tried separately. Peter would prosecute Commissioner Wheeler Nicholson, while Mike took on newspaperman Mac McGinnis.

1965: On Peyton Place, the newly...

1965: Peyton Place's Allison met Elliot.

1974: Days of our Lives' Addie gave birth to Hope.

1983: Gh's Bobbie was shocked to learn of Luke's death.

1994: Brookside's Beth and Margaret shared an historic kiss."History is a vast early warning system."

― Norman Cousins

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1958: On The Edge of Night, Mike Karr (John Larkin) and Peter Dalton (Stephen Elliot) discussed the Nicholson-McGinnis case and determined they would have to be tried separately. Peter would prosecute Commissioner Wheeler Nicholson, while Mike took on newspaperman Mac McGinnis.

1965: On Peyton Place, the newly paroled Elliot Carson (Tim O'Connor) met Allison Mackenzie (Mia Farrow) at the Book Gallery,...

Filming has begun in Cheshire on a new 13-episode Cbbc adaptation of Jill Murphy's The Worst Witch.

The books were previously adapted back in the late 1990s for ITV, with a young Felicity Jones, who went on to be nominated for an Oscar for The Theory of Everything, starring as Ethel Hallow, and then again with a new group of young witches in The New Worst Witch in 2005.

Newcomer Bella Ramsey, a member of the Nottingham-based Television Workshop, stars as Mildred Hubble. Bella will also shortly be making her screen debut as Lyanna Mormont in Season 6 of Game of Thrones.

Mildred Hubble is our heroine. From a world outside of magic, she finds herself landing head first, literally, at Miss Cackle’s Academy for witches. The series follows her adventures and friendships as she strives not to be The Worst Witch! Full of flying, magic and plenty of laughs,...

'Emmerdale's Rhona Goskirk is set to get revenge on her cheating husband Paddy Kirk by sharing a passionate smooch with his best friend Marlon Dingle. The heartbroken vet -portrayed by Zoe Henry - finds herself falling back into the arms of her ex-lover (Mark Charnock) after she discovers her deceitful spouse (Dominic Brunt) had been having an affair with her young son Leo's teacher Tess Harris (Nicola Stephenson) before she was brutally mowed down and killed in a tragic drink-driving hit-and-run. Zoe explained: ''What we're still filming now is a roller coaster of emotions. Rhona is shocked and angry. Through...

Underneath Safe House's over-reliance on flashback and cheap tricks lies a beautifully directed, strongly performed drama...

This review contains spoilers.

We’ve reached the halfway point in this new ITV drama starring former Doctor Who, Christopher Eccleston, and the dramatic moments of the previous instalment hang heavy throughout Safe House episode three.

During part two’s denouement, we were introduced to new character Gemma Underwood. And then we were quickly unintroduced to her as she was murdered by the villain of the piece, Michael Collersdale (played very devilishly by Peter Ferdinando). Her link to the ongoing events with the Blackwood family (who have been stashed away in the lake district in the titular safe house along with Eccleston’s Robert after an attack by Collersdale) is revealed - she’s the sister of mother Ali (Holby City’s Nicola Stephenson).

As we discover over the course of the proceedings,...

ITV's Safe House could become a returning series, writer Michael Crompton has confirmed.

Christopher Eccleston stars in the four-parter as a retired detective who turns his home into a 'safe house' for strangers at risk.

"The idea was actually given to me by Paula Cuddy [of producers Eleventh Hour Films]," Crompton revealed at a recent press launch. "But it always intrigued me - the sort of people who do run a safe house and why, and just that whole world.

"You're under incredible pressure, and there's a vacuum in which anything can happen - so it was a really exciting premise and one that hopefully we can return to over the next 2-3-4-5 series."

Cuddy added that there are "most definitely" plans for more Safe House, with each potential new series following the plight of a new series of guests.

Jason Merrells, Nicola Stephenson and Paterson Joseph also appear in the first series,...

Across the pond... Marsha Thomason ("White Collar") and Paterson Joseph ("The Leftovers," "Law & Order: UK") will join Christopher Eccleston ("The Leftovers," "Thor: The Dark World") in a new ITV network 4-part drama series titled "Safe House" from Eleventh Hour Films, which is described as "a tense thriller set in the beautiful wilderness of the Lake District." The cast will also include Jason Merrells, Nicola Stephenson, and Peter Ferdinando, and is set to premiere on Monday April 20th at 9pm, it has been announced. Created and written by Michael Crompton, and directed by Marc Evans, the 4-part drama...

Across the pond... Marsha Thomason ("White Collar") and Paterson Joseph ("The Leftovers," "Law & Order: UK") will join Christopher Eccleston ("The Leftovers," "Thor: The Dark World") in a new ITV network 4-part drama series titled "Safe House" from Eleventh Hour Films, which is described as "a tense thriller set in the beautiful wilderness of the Lake District." The cast will also include Jason Merrells, Nicola Stephenson, and Peter Ferdinando, and is set to premiere on Monday April 20th at 9pm, it has been announced. Created and written by Michael Crompton, and directed by Marc Evans, the 4-part drama...

Waterloo Road: BBC One, 8pm

Tonight marks the beginning of the end for Waterloo Road as it starts its final season with new cast members Neil Pearson and Nicola Stephenson joining as the new headmaster, Vaughn Fitzgerald, and his partner, Allie Westbrook, the new art teacher.

The first episode of the series introduces both Vaughn and Allie and their raucous home life as they set out to help students at the famous comprehensive - as well dealing with returning cast members' issues as the new term starts.

The Apprentice: BBC One, 9pm

The tenth series of The Apprentice kicked off last night, introducing us to the twenty new candidates - and bidding farewell to the Boardroom's first victim.

Tonight's episode sees the teams tasked with designing and pitching a new piece of wearable tech, testing their abilities in fashion, technology and presenting in front of major retailers.

Sleepy Hollow: Universal,...

Christopher Eccleston has been cast with Marsha Thomason (White Collar) and Paterson Joseph (The Leftovers) in ITV’s new four-part drama series Safe House. Produced by Eleventh Hour Films, Safe House is a thriller set in the wilderness of England’s Lake District. Eccleston plays Robert, a former detective who is asked by a close friend and police officer to turn his family’s remote guest house into a safe house. Their first ‘guests’ are a family in fear of their lives after they are violently attacked. For Robert, protecting them resurrects fears and anxieties bound up in a terrifying night gone wrong with a star witness. As a consequence of running the safe house, Robert begins to questions the incident and uncovers a web of lies. Inspired by a real couple, Safe House is written by Michael Crompton (Kidnap & Ransom, Carrie’s War), and directed by Marc Evans (Hinterland,...

Christopher Eccleston is to the lead the cast of ITV's new drama series Safe House.

The Leftovers actor will play a retired detective in the four-part series, also starring White Collar's Marsha Thomason.

Safe House follows Robert (Eccleston) and Katy (Thomason) - a married couple asked by close friend and police officer Mark (Paterson Joseph) to turn their remote guest house into a safe house.

The first 'guests' are a family in fear for their lives, after being violently attacked by a stranger who claims to know them.

18 months previous, Robert was shot trying to protect a star witness due to testify against her gangster husband. Protecting this new family causes the ex-cop to re-examine that terrifying night and soon he uncovers a web of lies.

Jason Merrells (Emmerdale), Nicola Stephenson (Holby City) and Peter Ferdinando (Doctor Who) will also star in the drama, set in the Lake District and inspired by true events.

Waterloo Road's upcoming season has been previewed in a new trailer.

The trailer teases the arrival of Drop the Dead Donkey actor Neil Pearson as new headteacher Vaughan Fitzgerald.

Nicola Stephenson has also joined the cast as new art teacher Allie, who is the partner of Vaughan.

It was announced in April that Waterloo Road would be coming to an end after its tenth series, but bosses promised to send the show out "on a high".

The cast and crew filmed the show's final scenes in Greenock, Scotland on August 22.

Waterloo Road returns to BBC One on October 15 at 8pm.

Waterloo Road will return on Wednesday, October 15, it has been confirmed.

The first of ten new one-hour episodes will air at 8pm, with ten final episodes scheduled to air in 2015.

The new episode will feature the introduction of new head teacher Vaughan Fitzgerald, who is played by Drop the Dead Donkey actor Neil Pearson.

Nicola Stephenson has also joined the cast as new art teacher Allie, who is the partner of Vaughan.

It was announced in April that Waterloo Road would be coming to an end after its tenth series, but bosses promised to send the show out "on a high".

The cast and crew filmed the show's final scenes in Greenock, Scotland on August 22.

London Lgbt+ Community Pride's annual Pride Festival kicked off on Sunday (June 22) and runs through til June 29.

To mark the festival and today's Pride in London Parade - travelling from Baker Street to Whitehall, between 1pm and 4pm - Digital Spy presents 13 landmark Lgbt moments in UK and Us television.

1. February 1971 - Us sitcom All in the Family breaks new ground, featuring Us television's first ever openly homosexual character in ex-pro football player Steve (Philip Carey).

2. January 1989 - BBC One's EastEnders becomes the first UK soap to screen a kiss between two gay men - middle-class yuppie Colin Russell (Michael Cashman) and Guido Smith (Nicholas Donovan).

3. February 1991 - A little over two years later, NBC becomes the first Us network to air a lesbian kiss in primetime on its Emmy-winning legal drama L.A. Law - Abby Perkins (Michele Greene) and Cj Lamb (Amanda Donohoe) shared an intimate moment in season...

Waterloo Road will have a new head teacher in series ten, it has been revealed.

Neil Pearson, who is to star as incoming teacher Vaughn Fitzgerald in the next series of the continuing BBC One drama, will play the new head next year.

The news was revealed online after a fan visited the set in Greenock, Scotland. Pictures showing filming for the tenth series, due to air in 2014, were posted on Inverclyde Now and show the school's sign on a wall outside.

Closer inspection reveals that the sign says "Head Teacher: Vaughn Fitzgerald".

Last month, it was revealed that the 54-year-old Drop the Dead Donkey actor and actress Nicola Stephenson had been signed up by Waterloo Road bosses as two new teachers, Fitzgerald and Allie Westbrook.

Speaking about joining Waterloo Road in a BBC press release, Pearson commented: "Waterloo Road has a long and successful history, an impressive list of alumni,...

Here's a first look at the young cast of All At Sea, a brand-new children’s drama due to air on Cbbc this autumn, currently filming on location in Scarborough and in studios in Wythenshawe, Manchester.

12 year old Ryan Wilkinson plays Charlie, with Olivia Cosgrove and Sam Hattersley as his best friends Alison and Ben. Milly Zero plays Charlie’s older sister Hannah, and Adam Greaves-Neal is his little brother Louie.

The colourful 13x30 minute series (previously known as Family By Sea and Charlie and the Alien) is centred around an imaginative 10-year-old boy named Charlie, whose family have recently moved from London to run a bed and breakfast by the sea in Scarborough.

Escaping from the hustle and bustle of city life, Charlie - who lives in the B&B with his mum and dad, 14-year-old sister Hannah and little brother Louie who is seven - loves his new-found...

Recapping what Emmanuel already announced back in June... British network ITV Studios describes its new program, Homefront, as a contemporary new drama about military Wags (wives and girlfriends - 4 of them in this case), with Misfits-alum Antonia Thomas starring in one of the lead roles, alongside Claire Skinner, Clare Higgins, and Nicola Stephenson. A press release from ITV reveals that director Terry McDonough and producer Kim Crowther "bring to life this compelling and emotional drama lead by four profound women." Antonia Thomas plays Army widow Tasha Raveley in ITV1’s six-part series and to prepare her role as a young mother who learns her...

British network ITV Studios describes its new program, Homefront, as "a contemporary new drama" about military Wags (wives and girlfriends), and Misfits-alum Antonia Thomas stars in one of the lead roles. The six-part drama, filming on location in Manchester and Chesire, also stars Claire Skinner, Clare Higgins, and Nicola Stephenson. A press release from ITV reveals that director Terry McDonough and producer Kim Crowther "bring to life this compelling and emotional drama lead by four profound women." Check out the synopsis for Homefront: Paula Raveley (Higgins) a veteran army wife is glad to be on civvy street with husband Howard (George Costigan)....

Misfits star Antonia Thomas joins Claire Skinner, Clare Higgins, Nicola Stephenson in portraying the remarkable wives and girlfriends of soldiers serving in war torn Afghanistan in ITV Studios new six part drama series Homefront.

The 6 x 60 minute drama tells the stories of the four service wives-and-girlfriends who fight their own battles on the home front while thousands of miles away their loved ones are facing up to the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Antonia plays Tasha who's husband Matt has headed out to Helmand to serve alongside his brother Tom. After a troubled upbringing by single mum Cheryl (Lorraine Ashbourne) Tasha’s even more determined to prove herself as a brilliant wife and good mother to toddler son, Alfie, but she doesn't always see eye-to-eye with mother-in-law Paula (Clare Higgins).

The cast are joined by two teenage actors whose families are joined together when Claire Marshbrook (Claire Skinner) marries widowed Major Peter...

Nicola Stephenson has got married. The former 'Holby City' actress and long-term partner Paul Smith - with who she has two-year-old daughter Esme Rose - tied the knot in a romantic ceremony on April 13, and has now jetted of on honeymoon. Nicola tweeted: ''It was amazing! We are still high as kites soaking up the sun now x ''Wowee! Just turned on Twitter for the first time as a married lady and I'm blown away by all your lovely messages. Thank you everyone. X. It was truly truly awesome by the way. ''Thank you to my and [Paul's] incredible friends and family.

Strike Back is set to debut on Cinemax this Friday, August 12th, with Episode 1.01: Iraq, and it promises to be a high-octane blast for action fans as a charismatic former U.S. Special Forces operative joins forces with a stealth British military unit to stop an international terrorist attack. Cinemax has debut the Season 1 trailer for this ten episode series, which you can check out below.

Click to watch Strike Back Season 1 Trailer!

The team that tracks the terrorists is Section 20, an elite military black ops unit within the British government that focuses on high-risk, top-priority targets. When one of their own is captured and held hostage, the group enlists the help of Damien Scott (Sullivan Stapleton), a former Delta Force operative who is familiar with the terrorists. Although he has good instincts and skills, his cocky style is often at odds with the more formal team, especially the more by-the-book Sgt.

"Great LezBritian" is a fortnightly stroll through the very best of British lesbo-centric entertainment and culture. Plus there will be some jolly good interviews with the top ladies who are waving the flag for gay UK.

In the UK, the soap opera is a staunch institution, as British as a cup of tea. Indeed, a character in soap land calling for the kettle to be put on is regularly the opening gambit to many a lively plot.

The British soap was established when BBC Radio 4 broadcasted The Archers in 1951. Set in an imagined village, many of the storylines were not on the cusp of anything especially thrilling – the threatened closure of the local shop being an example. Over the past few years, the writers of the Archers have looked outside of the village pub window and tried to realign the storylines with the happenings of modern society. As a result,...

Coronation Street star Brooke Vincent has admitted that she feels "scared" after being compared to Anna Friel due to her current Weatherfield plotline. On Sunday, viewers will see Vincent's character Sophie Webster locking lips with best friend Sian Powers (Sacha Parkinson), marking the beginning of what is expected to be a long-running story for the pair. The first pre-watershed lesbian kiss in television history took place in 1994 when Friel's Brookside character Beth Jordache acted on her feelings for neighbour Margaret Clemence (Nicola Stephenson). Discussing the pressure to match Brookside's plot, Vincent told Digital Spy: "I'm scared actually because everyone thinks I'm (more)...

Anna Friel has revealed that she will always be grateful to the producers who cast her in Brookside. The actress signed up to play Beth Jordache on the now-defunct Channel 4 soap at the age of 16. Though Friel only stuck with the role for two years, Beth's lesbian kiss with neighbour Margaret Clemence (Nicola Stephenson) and involvement in the death of dad Trevor (Bryan Murray) made her one of the programme's most memorable characters. "My partner David says to me, 'When you're 80, it will be Brookside'. No matter what I do, (more)...

Richard Armitage has signed up to star in a Sky1 adaptation of one of ex-sas solider Chris Ryan's novels. The six-part series, titled Strike Back, also features Andrew Lincoln, Jodhi May, Orla Brady, Laura Greenwood and Nicola Stephenson. The drama follows the lives of two former soldiers, Major Hugh Collinson (Lincoln) and discharged veteran John Porter (Armitage), as they're about to meet for the first time in seven years in a Middle East hostage crisis. "As with all Sky1 dramas, not only will (more)...

Anna Friel has claimed that she was bullied by the public and the press after completing work on Brookside in the '90s. The actress signed up to play troubled Beth Jordache on the Channel 4 soap in 1993, sticking with the role for two years before her character died in prison. As well as killing off her violent father Trevor (Bryan Murray), Beth was best remembered for locking lips with neighbour Margaret Clemence (Nicola Stephenson), providing the first pre-watershed lesbian kiss in the history of British television. Speaking to The Times, Friel revealed: "That was the point when everything changed. The kiss itself was no big deal. It was just: 'Oooo, funny! You've got softer lips!' (more)...

Robson Green and Mark Benton are to return for a new film in the Northern Lights series, called Clash of the Santas.

The ITV1 Christmas special will see Colin (Robson Green) and Howie (Mark Benton) travel to Lithuania to take part in a Santa convention. Colin's wife Jackie (Nicola Stephenson) is left at home with the children, hoping he will make . . .