Queer@King’s hosts the launch of Bad Sex: Sexuality, Gender and Affect in Contemporary TV (Bloomsbury, 2025), a thought-provoking exploration of the evolution of sexual representation on the small screen.

Jacqueline Gibbs, Billy Holzberg and Aura Lehtonen trace the shift from earlier portrayals of sex as glamorous or taboo to contemporary depictions of sex as a more awkward, painful, or complex experience. Drawing on contemporary English-language drama and dramedy shows such as Fleabag (2016, 2019), Sex Education (2019–23), I May Destroy You (2020), and Euphoria (2019–), the authors identify this shift as driven by the diversification of representations of sex and sexuality, as women, trans and non-binary, Black and minority ethnic, working-class and disabled TV professionals carve some space in a traditionally white, middle-class, cis male dominated industry. In doing so, they explore the affective potential and limits of 'bad' sex on our screens and what these representations can tell us about sexual politics and gender cultures today.

This launch event will feature a short presentation of the book by Aura Lehtonen. Following this, a panel discussion will reflect on the book’s key themes and broader implications, offering an opportunity for rich dialogue and debate on representations of sex and sexuality in contemporary media culture. The event will feature an open Q&A session and conclude with a wine reception, providing a space for informal conversations and connections.

About the speakers

Aura Lehtonen is Associate Professor in Sociology at the University of Greenwich, UK. Her research explores how difference, diversity and inequalities are understood, conceptualised and represented in contemporary culture and politics, with a specific focus on sexuality. She is the author of The Sexual Logics of Neoliberalism in Britain: Sexual Politics in Exceptional Times (2023).

Billy Holzberg is Lecturer in Social Justice at King's College London. His research examines the sexual and affective politics that shape growing social inequalities, nationalism, and right-wing authoritarianism. He is the author of Affective Bordering: Race, Deservingness and The Emotional Politics of Migration Control (2024).

Jacqueline Gibbs is Senior Lecturer in Sociology at City St George’s, University of London, UK. Her research explores political and socio-cultural conceptualisations of vulnerability and care. She has published on these themes in Feminist Media Studies, MAI Feminism and Visual Cultures, Feminist Review and Sociological Review Magazine.