With its first season alone, Sex Education went down in the rainbow history books as the gayest teen comedy series of all time. After introducing the instantly iconic flamboyance of Eric (Ncuti Gatwa), who has since been hailed as one of television’s most trailblazing LGBTQIA+ characters, the Netflix mainstay has continued to represent – and educate – viewers with a variety of characters of the queer experience.

From Adam (Connor Swindells) debunking bisexual myths to Ola (Patricia Allison) accepting her pansexuality, as well as Cal (Dua Saleh) flying the trans/non-binary flag, Sex Education has successfully depicted queerness in modern UK. Somehow, the series has released its gayest and most progressive instalment yet with its fourth – and sadly – final season. Following the students of Moordale Secondary School as they transition to Cavendish Sixth Form College, Sex Education continues to break boundaries on the small screen with a popular trio of queers called The Coven, consisting of: Abbi (Anthony Lexa), a trans woman with a penchant for positivity; Roman (Felix Mufti), her transmasculine, fashion-forward partner; and Aisha (Alexandra James), a woman of the Black, LGBTQIA+ and deaf experience with a passion for gossip.

“It’s been crazy exploring that, being one of the first-ever T4T couples shown on the telly,” an excited Felix Mufti tells GAY TIMES over Zoom. “We wanted to make sure we weren’t inflicting gender roles on a T4T couple, to show they break the gender binaries in their relationship.” Alexandra James is feeling celebratory too. With deaf representation lacking in any forms of media, she’s “honoured” to be on a show that will undoubtedly reach people from her respective communities. “I don’t know anyone who’s Black and queer except one person,” she says. “I’m hoping that, when deaf people watch it, they will be comfortable enough to come out.”

Here, Sex Education stars Mufti and James speak exclusively with GAY TIMES about their characters (who are destined to be fan-favourites, just FYI), The Coven’s impact on Cavendish – as well as Eric’s relationship with Otis (Asa Butterfield) – and how they’re creating a new archetype for queer teens in media.

Congratulations to you both on your roles in Sex Education. Can you tell me a little bit about your characters and their journey across the season?

Alexandra: Aisha is deaf, but she doesn’t communicate BSL because she just wants to fit in. She’s embarrassed to show her disability so she relies on lip reading. She struggles with that, but doesn’t show it. Aisha is in a non-monogamous relationship with [fellow student] PK, but… someone has caught her attention.

Felix: Roman is transmasculine and doesn’t conform to gender roles. He’s in touch with his feminine aspects in his makeup and nails – he’s very fashion forward! Roman is in a T4T relationship with Abbi and it’s been crazy exploring that, being one of the first-ever T4T couples shown on the telly. We wanted to make sure we weren’t inflicting gender roles on a T4T couple, to show they break the gender binaries in their relationship. Roman and Abbi aren’t sexually connecting at the start of the season, but we see them become more open with each other. Also, we adopt Eric and help him on his queer journey.

What’s wonderful to see about the T4T romance is that it’s trauma-free…

Felix: It’s joyful. It’s not the tragic trans story that often gets told. As a trans person I’ve seen enough of, “Isn’t being trans so hard?” I think being trans is boss! It’s a blessing to share it with the world in a way that scares the world. Sex Education were so receptive to my journey, insight on gender and how I don’t conform to a cisnormative and heteronormative lens. As a trans person in our industry, it’s always a worry for me that my trauma will be exploited – and that didn’t happen at all. I got to show the best sides of being trans.