The first part of the ground-breaking BBC series that follows transgender activist Julia Grant through her transition.
It’s 1979 and Julia’s first year living as a woman, before the NHS psychiatrist in charge of her case makes a decision on whether to allow gender reassignment surgery.
In 1980 Julia Grant's attempt to obtain permission for gender reassignment surgery stalls after a year of seeing the NHS psychiatrist who can sanction the operation. She asserts herself to get surgery elsewhere.
Julia is a catering manager who wishes to transition medically. As required by the NHS and a psychiatrist at Charing Cross Hospital, she lives as a woman socially for one year to qualify for gender confirmation surgery.
With the support of her boyfriend and her mother, Julia has gender confirmation surgery with Dr Michael Royle.
Julia is a ceramicist with a factory in Chesterfield; she also teaches ceramics classes on-site.
Julia is now the proud owner-operator of Hollywood Showbar, a gay bar and drag venue in Manchester. She and her boyfriend wish to marry.
24-year-old George Roberts feels that he is a woman, and he wants to have sex reassignment surgery. Before the National Health Service will approve the surgical procedures, they refer him to a psychiatrist in the Gender Identity Clinic at Charing Cross Hospital. The psychiatrist tells George that he must first live as a woman for one year. George throws away his men's clothing, informs his employer, and (per the hospital's requirements) finds a new flat nearer to the clinic.
It is now 1994, and the years since Julia Grant’s gender reassignment surgery have been full of surprises and problems. Julia had thought the operation would mean the end of her problems. It did not. Her love affair ended, the surgery went wrong and she was hounded by the press. As a consequence she submerged herself in drink, drugs and the seamy side of life in Amsterdam. But Julia is a fighter and although "the memories still seep in like the damp", she started over again.
It is 1998, and the problems of the years following Julia Grant's transition finally seem over. Julia is living in a new city with a new job and her confidence has grown with love in the air. Julia had thought the operation would mean the end of her problems. It did not. Her love affair ended, the surgery went wrong and she was hounded by the press. As a consequence she submerged herself in drink, drugs and the seamy side of life in Amsterdam. But Julia is a fighter and although "the memories still seep in like the damp", she started over again.
