WORDS: ALASTAIR JAMES PHOTOGRAPHY: OLIVIA RICHARDSON CREATIVE DIRECTION AND STYLING: JOSEPH KOCHARIAN
These interviews and photoshoots were carried out before the SAG-AFTRA strike began.
We’ve stopped for a break during Attitude’s Heartstopper cast cover shoot and everyone has gathered around a laptop to get a peek at the latest photos. There are “ooohs” and “aaahs” aplenty, squeaks of excitement and gasps galore. For the series’ second Attitude cast shoot, we’re joined by Corinna Brown, Kizzy Edgell, Tobie Donovan, and Fisayo Akinade, who reprise their respective roles as Tara Jones, Darcy Olsson, Isaac Henderson, and Mr Ajayi for Heartstopper’s sophomore season. We also have with us new members of the Heartstopper family: Nima Taleghani, Bradley Riches, Bel Priestley and Ash Self, who play Mr Farouk, James McEwan, Naomi, and Felix.
I’ve been fortunate to follow Heartstopper ever since witnessing its final days of filming season one back in 2021. A year later, the cult comic-based television series would explode into a global hit. Along the way, I’ve met all the principal cast. As well as being all-round lovely humans who care about their work, they are acutely aware of their influence and what Heartstopper means to many worldwide. They are a close-knit bunch, always talking about how they are a family. That family has now grown with the latest cast additions, who feel as if they’ve been part of the show from the start. Their camaraderie is on full display during the photoshoot, with the cast cheering each other on as they
take it in turns to pose for the camera. Having not been together in such a big group since filming wrapped, when they’re not trying on clothes, having makeup applied and their photographs taken, they spend the time catching up, joking and dancing around.
Their bond was evident in November 2022. After speculation about his sexuality and accusations of ‘queerbaiting’, Kit Connor returned to Twitter that month to make a public announcement. After tweeting “I’m bi,” he added: “Congrats for forcing an 18-year-old to out himself. I think some of you missed the point of the show. Bye.”
Unfortunately, as lovely as most of the Heartstopper fandom is the majority of the time, the
