SBS to broadcast Mardi Gras Parade live in 2020

MG Parade Zoe Coombs-Marr, Narelda Jacobs, Joel Creasey and Courtney Act - courtesy of SBSFor the first time, SBS will bring the colour and chaos of the 2020 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade LIVE to lounge rooms across Australia, with a special broadcast airing on Saturday 29 February at 7.30pm.

Joining comedian Joel Creasey and Studio 10 Presenter Narelda Jacobs is drag icon Courtney Act and comedian Zoë Coombs Marr to host coverage of the event. The broadcast will feature interviews with celebrity guests Sam Smith, Dua Lipa and Kesha as well as a special performance from Courtney Act.

“I am equal parts thrilled and astounded that SBS are allowing me to broadcast live on the gayest night of the year (after my birthday, of course). What could possibly go wrong?” laughs Joel Creasey. “All jokes aside, I could not be more excited to be hosting again alongside the sensational Narelda Jacobs.”

“Plus Zoe Coombs-Marr is back to bring us all the color and camper-y from the streets. And, I am of course thrilled to welcome the incredible Courtney Act to our glittery team. What a treat! Dust off your hot pants and crack out the (biodegradable) confetti, it’s time to celebrate!”

The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras remains one of the world’s largest and most loved LGBTIQ+ celebrations. This year the festival is themed What Matters? to acknowledge how far the LGBTIQ+ community have come, and how much further there is still to go.

“We are delighted and honoured to be broadcasting the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade LIVE across Australia and around the world on SBS On Demand,” said SBS Director of Television and Online Content, Marshall Heald. “What Matters to SBS is giving a voice to underrepresented communities and promoting social inclusion and acceptance through our content. We can’t wait to share another amazing evening of love with our audience.”

SBS celebrates Mardi Gras across the network: For the first time, NITV will simulcast the live broadcast on Saturday 29 February at 7.30pm. Throughout the entire month of February, they will celebrate the LGBTIQ+ community with a slate of special programming including Killing Patient Zero – a documentary about the man wrongfully accused of being patient zero for the AIDS crisis, as well Black Divaz – about the inaugural Miss First Nation pageant.

In the lead-up to the big night, SBS Radio will explore What Matters to gender diverse members of CALD communities in 2020 with deeply personal stories in over 25 languages. SBS Arabic 24 will report live from Oxford Street to Arabic-speaking audiences around Australia on Facebook Live.

From Monday 24 February, SBS World Movies will showcase the best of LGBTIQ+ films with Queer Cinema Week, including Love Is Strange starring Alfred Molina and John Lithgow and the Golden Globe nominated Pride. SBS VICELAND will air an encore of the broadcast at on Sunday 1 March at 10.45pm.

Local series Cloudy River will headline the Rainbow Pride movie collection on SBS On Demand. Cloudy River is a bold new series about pansexual artist Emma (Rebecca Robertson) and her musician lover, River (Rowan Davie), whose open relationship is put to the test when they move in together. Tangerine and Lovesong starring Riley Keough and Jena Malone will also feature in the collection.

Melbournians will also be able to enjoy a special live screening of the broadcast in Federation Square, kicking off at 7.30pm on Saturday 29 February. Regional Australians can also join in the celebration, by checking out live viewing parties of the broadcast at a variety of locations including: Adelaide, Bathurst, Broken Hill, Darwin, Lismore and Wagga Wagga.

Coverage of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is produced by Blink TV for SBS. For more information, visit: www.sbs.com.au for details.

Image: Zoe Coombs-Marr, Narelda Jacobs, Joel Creasey and Courtney Act – courtesy of SBS