The podcast saluting gay and straight friendships

"People have said it's changed their life - that's crazy to me" - Dan Hudson is celebrating after the podcast he and fellow comedian James Barr host, A Gay and a NonGay, won an international award.

They scooped a Webby for their discussions about everything from sex and identity, to queer history and politics - with plenty of light-hearted comedy thrown in too.

Mr Hudson, from Solihull in the West Midlands, began the podcast 10 years ago when his girlfriend moved to New York and asked her friend, Mr Barr, to "look after him".

The pair say while the award is validating, the response from fans to the podcast are more important.

"We get a lot of messages from people who are also a gay and a non gay who are best friends," Mr Hudson said.

"They love listening to the podcast because we are basically rehearsing a lot of the arguments they have in their daily lives."

They claim the show is the UK's biggest LGBT+ podcast and Mr Barr, who also co-presents the Hits Radio breakfast show, added: "We've also had dads with a gay son [contact us] and so we know our friendship is helping other people to find friendship and community."

"It's an important friendship. In the real world, straight men are afraid to be friends with gay men.

"I think it's important we talk about it as a society and that straight men are friends with gay men."

On winning the Webby, for Best Independent Podcast, at a ceremony in New York in May, Mr Hudson said: "It was a full circle moment.

"My girlfriend lives there [in New York] and she was the inspiration and catalyst for the podcast.

"It was another world being there, absolutely crazy. It was kind of overwhelming."

The duo said they felt their podcast was increasingly vital, given the recent prominence of LGBT+ issues in politics, especially the rights of trans people.

Mr Hudson said doing the podcast had "really opened my eyes" to the lives of gay and trans people.

"We need these conversations more than we've ever needed them. Trans people have an awful time and it's getting worse," he said.

Mr Barr added: "As gay people, we always talk about coming out. But I do think we need to let straight people come in.

"Straight men in particular are being ostracised a lot at the moment. It's important we bring them into the conversation and make them a part of it."

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