Tofu (web series)

Tofu

Company type	Web series
Industry	Television, Documentary
Founded	2015
Founder	Russell T Davies
Headquarters	United Kingdom
Area served	United Kingdom
Key people	Benjamin Cook (host)
Products	Online documentary series
Parent	Channel 4

Tofu is a British online documentary series from 2015, developed by Russell T Davies and hosted by journalist and YouTube personality Benjamin Cook. It is accessible via All 4, Channel 4's on-demand streaming service. Serving as a companion piece to Channel 4's Cucumber and E4's Banana, Tofu investigates modern perspectives on sexuality through interviews with a broad range of individuals. The series title alludes to the urological firmness scale—from tofu to cucumber—which was inspired by a European research study that shaped Davies' concept.

Development

Alongside the commissioning of Cucumber and Banana in 2013, Tofu was conceived as an accompanying web-based series that explores similar themes presented in the dramas. The names originate from a scientific scale measuring male erection hardness—ranging from tofu, peeled banana, banana, to cucumber—which served as the foundation for Davies’ creative approach.

Characterized as an "anarchic and entertaining examination of sex," Tofu addresses issues raised in its sister dramas through interviews with both actors and members of the public. Subjects include topics such as app-facilitated casual encounters and sexual taboos. In July 2014, producers Red Production Company invited individuals over eighteen years old, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, to submit 90-second videos recounting their "best sexcapade," reinforcing the series’ inclusive exploration of contemporary sexual culture.

Episodes

Hosted by journalist and YouTube creator Benjamin Cook, the series features candid conversations with everyday people about varied sexual attitudes. According to I'm With Geek, although not directly linked to the storylines of Cucumber and Banana, some interviewees are cast members from those shows, and the program approaches discussions of sex with similar openness. Tofu offers a straightforward, non-judgmental, and engaging investigation into sexuality, reflecting Cook’s style seen in 'Becoming Youtube'.

Reception

Within the trilogy, Tofu distinguishes itself as a documentary format. Oli Dowdeswell from SoSoGay regarded the premiere episode as "an intriguing idea" that falls short in execution, praising the interview segments but critiquing the inclusion of a dramatized "mini-Black Mirror" style scene as somewhat out of place.

Sam Wollaston of The Guardian praised the series trio as "gloriously, explicitly, triumphantly gay," noting that Tofu delivers a "bluntly candid" viewpoint on sexuality without alienating its audience or diminishing its subjects’ relevance.