Nigel May
“The barber’s chair was always somewhere, for most of my life, that I would hardly say a word. A place where I would fudge questions about girlfriends and looking smart for the ladies. I remained mute for fear of outing myself. For fear of ridicule. These days that fear is gone. My barber also cuts my husband’s hair and beard and shares a genuine interest in our lives. He talks about his home life and I can freely talk about mine.
The mirror ball Charles Atlas-type vibe to my photo represents me lifting my queerness for all to see. I am proud and strong – proud of me and my rich and varied queer community. My aim in all the things I do, like my radio shows and my podcast, are to showcase queerness in the shiniest of ways. I want the many glorious facets of our community to sparkle brightly just like that disco ball. And the T-shirt, well that speaks for itself.
The photoshoot was such a freeing and gorgeous experience. Bouncing ideas around with a beautiful, like-minded person like Chris and enjoying seeing myself celebrating the comfortable queer man I am today. I loved every special moment of it.”
Nigel May (he/him)
Nigel is a media all-rounder who lives to share joy, happiness and entertainment with the world. A familiar voice and face across TV, radio and podcasts, Nigel brings warmth and wit to everything he does.
Being queer means everything to him. It’s the heart of his journey and the reason he stands proudly where he is today.
Nigel feels truly seen in many moments — from his work on television to writing novels, hosting A Gay Old Time, and bringing energy to the airwaves on Gaydio. Each outlet gives him joy, and he hopes his audience feels that same spark.
He expresses his identity through words — spoken, written and broadcast. Every story, every sentence, every show is infused with his authentic self.
His message to queer kids and his younger self is simple: believe in what you can achieve, and always listen to your soul.
This is UNCUT — a raw, striking portrait series by award-winning photographer Chris Jepson capturing the power and pride of Queer Joy, shot in a barber’s chair. No filters, no retouching, no compromise. Just bold, beautiful people taking up space exactly as they are.