Tofu (web series)

Did You Know?

• Journalist and YouTuber Benjamin Cook hosts everyday people discussing a variety of attitudes towards sex.
• I'm With Geek points out that although not tied to the narrative of Cucumber and Banana, the interviewees include the show's cast and the program discusses sex 'with as much frankness as the show depicts it.'

Production

Tofu was created in 2013 as a companion web series to Russell T Davies’ television shows Cucumber and Banana. The idea for all three programs originated from a scientific study that ranked male erections on a scale of hardness using tofu, peeled banana, banana, and cucumber. Davies said that after reading the study, he immediately knew he had his drama. Tofu itself is a food made by coagulating soy milk and pressing the curds into soft white blocks. The series was promoted as an anarchic and entertaining look at sex, covering topics from the main shows like one-night stands arranged through apps such as Grindr and various sexual taboos. It features interviews with actors from Cucumber and Banana as well as members of the public. In July 2014, producers Red Production Company put out a call for participants over eighteen, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or sexual history. Interested people were asked to send a 90-second video describing their best sexcapade.

Reception

Of the three shows in the triptych, Tofu is the documentary that stands out as the odd one. In a review of the first episode, Oli Dowdeswell of SoSoGay called it an interesting concept that doesn't always succeed. He liked the interview portions but thought the dramatized "mini-Black Mirror" segment felt misplaced in a documentary. Sam Wollaston of The Guardian described the series as "gloriously, explicitly, triumphantly, cucumberly. Gay to the core," but noted he never felt excluded or that the topics were irrelevant. He also praised Tofu for being "cum-in-your-face frank."