Striking with Pride: United at the Coalface will detail the coal miners and LGBTQIA+ alliance of the mid-1980s.
Narrated by Welsh-drag icon Tayce (RuPaul’s Drag Race UK), Striking with Pride: United at the Coalface tells the story of the two seemingly disparate groups being drawn together through the miners’ strike of 1984-85.
The LSGM (Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners) formed when Mike Jackson and Mark Ashton decided to raise money for struggling families in the strike.
This alliance was the subject of the 2014 film Pride. Sky’s documentary will provide further insight into the activists depicted in the film by stars such as Baby Reindeer’s Jessica Gunning, Bill Nighy (Love Actually), and 1917’s George MacKay.
The former Labour MP portrayed by Gunning, Sîan James, will feature, as well as LSGM co-founder Mike Jackson (portrayed by Joe Gilgun, Brassic). Jonathan Blake (portrayed by Dominic West, The Crown), one of the UK’s first diagnosed HIV cases, will also appear in the documentary.
Poppy Dixon, Director of Documentaries & Factual, Sky, says: “It’s a privilege to have members of LGSM and the South Wales miners’ community share their personal stories for our customers during Pride month.”
Director Ashley Francis-Roy (To Catch a Copper), says: “I’m so delighted to have the opportunity to tell this amazing story. It’s an epic tale of love and friendship that is still so powerful 40 years on, and that teaches us an urgent lesson that we all need to hear now more than ever - that we’re stronger together.
Striking with Pride: United at the Coalface will air on Sky Documentaries and NOW on 1 June 2024, the first day of pride month.