A footnote:

It is lockdown.

You receive preview screeners for a BBC2 adaptation of a critically acclaimed, high-brow novel. You watch. You predict that the male lead will usher in a new era of soft masculinity.

You want to shoot a cover that will publish two weeks later, immediately after the series airs.

You get a certain amount of abuse from the production team.

You cajole them, and convince the talent team to agree to a lockdown shoot.

The fashion team pull together two looks and courier them to talent's home.

The box sits unopened for 3 days as per lockdown guidelines.

Come shoot day, talent dresses and grooms himself. His flatmate is a (talented) amateur photographer. She takes the images.

The interview takes place by zoom.

The story publishes five days later.

The internet breaks.

The subject, Mr Paul Mescal, reaches stratospheric hights. When still from the Gladiator sequel drop, the internet drools.

The cover story, featuring two looks and three images, remains one of the highest traffic content features in The Journal history.