Senior writer Alastair James chats to friends of Attitudeabout their first memories of the magazine and what it meant to them
It was summer 2015. I’d graduated from the University of Leicester the year before and had entered the real world not really knowing what to do with a BA in contemporary history. I had always been somewhat interested in journalism but had never seriously considered it. But after a miserable time in retail, I ventured into BBC Bristol and eventually volunteered for four months with their political editor. It was exciting. I applied and was accepted to study a postgraduate diploma in broadcast journalism at the renowned School of Journalism, Media, and Culture ( JOMEC) at Cardiff University.
But I still questioned if this was something I should be doing at all. Then, one day, I was watching BBC Breakfast, and Ben Thompson appeared. A quick Google showed me two things: he’d gone to JOMEC to do the same postgrad course, and he had just appeared on the cover of Attitude. I went into town and bought a copy. Seeing a gay man succeeding in the industry I was considering jumping into gave me hope. I felt reassured and it gave me the push I needed to commit. After my course, I ended up in Cardiff for six years working at BBC Wales. I made some of my closest friends there, and eventually it brought me to Attitude.
In my near three years here, during the pre-amble before interviews or during photoshoots,
celebrities have shared their first experiences with Attitude. And as this is our 30th-
anniversary issue, it’s the perfect time to share a few of these stories. Enjoy!
John Whaite, baker
Like many queer people, I grew up pretending to be something I wasn’t. In order to conceal my true sexuality for as long as I could, in high school I’d do what the other lads did — though I drew the line at playing football. But to be a part of the conversations on the bus and in the playground, I had to ensure I was up to date with the latest issue of FHM or Nuts magazine. I’d eyeball Attitude in the supermarket, longing to look beyond the front cover. That never happened until I was in college and on a drama trip to London. Newly out to my friends, who all celebrated having a gay pal, I stopped at WHSmith in Euston station to get my first copy. I think the cover featured the singer Preston, but separate memories may be converging. I felt a deep sense of pride and acceptance to be sat on the train, speeding back to Wigan, talking about the contents of the magazine with my mates — straight lads included. For the first time in my l
