Described as “Misfits meets This is England” by star Jay Lycurgo (sold!), The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself is destined – destined! – to be your next queer fantasy obsession. Based on Sally Green’s young adult novel Half Bad, the new Netflix series follows the titular 16-year-old bastard Nathan Byrn (Lycurgo), the illegitimate son of the world’s most dangerous and feared witch whose rather unfortunate birthright lands him smack dab in the middle of an ancient war within the witch community.

With the help of the rebellious Annalise (Nadia Parkes) and charismatic ‘bad boy’ Gabriel (Emilien Vekemans), Nathan embarks on a perilous journey to end the war and discover who he really is. The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself is your average British coming-of-age, witch-centric story with queer, three-dimensional leading characters and an abundance of guts, gore and utter carnage. They don’t make anything original these days, huh? 

GAY TIMES spoke with stars Jay Lycurgo and Emilien Vekemans about all-things The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself, including their characters’ trajectory across the series, why the series stands out amongst others within the same genre and the “natural” romance between Nathan and Gabriel. Again: spoilers ahead.

GAY TIMES: Jay, Emilien was just telling me about how you’ve both been exploring some witchcraft today, is that right?

Jay: Yes! A load of magic.

Emilien: A lot of magic.

Jay: He knew who my first kiss was when I was in year eight, so that’s scary.

Emilien: That’s pretty impressive.

Jay: I’m scared now.

GAY TIMES: What, like their name? Their details? Their address? What did he know?

Jay: He knew ‘C’ and ‘A’ and then I opened my mouth and he somehow knew that it was Carlena, and that’s her two seconds of fame!

GAY TIMES: I want to start this interview off by expressing my hate for Nathan’s sister Jessica. She’s one of the most vile characters I’ve ever seen on TV.

Jay: [Laughs] I’ll get Jess in now and see what – no, Izzie, oh god.

Emilien: Yeah, she’s evil.

Jay: She would just say to you, ‘Err, yeah well, you don’t understand my character so…’