‘We don’t hold anything back’: meet the Old Gays, TikTok’s most influential pensioners

When four gay men with an average age of 74 started appearing on TikTok, they became an instant hit. They talk about how, as their audience has grown, their outfits have shrunk

No written description quite captures the joy-inducing positivity of their online videos: bopping along to Taylor Swift in slinky striped swimwear; countless dance trends and TikTok challenges, completed in various seductive states of undress. Twirling and whirling in only feather boas and Speedos to Kylie. Clips neatly edited to cut from outfit to outfit, often climaxing in the skimpiest of one-piece swimwear. Over the last six years, the foursome have become certified social media superstars, but not like any other. We're The Old Gays," they say, collectively, a TikTok sensation with 11 million followers and counting. And if you're not on TikTok, honey, you're living in the past."

Today, the four are sitting squarely together in front of a laptop camera: two on low chairs upfront, the others perched on stools right behind. We're here to discuss their new book: The Old Gays Guide to the Good Life. As always on occasions like this, they've coalesced at 80-year-old Robert's place: a house in Cathedral City, deep in the California desert. He's sitting back right, behind Mick, 67, a committed bodybuilder, and Robert's housemate for the past 10 years. Then there's Jessay, 70, whose home is directly across the street. He's a professional singer; the only Black member of the group. And I'm Bill, 79," comes the final introduction. I live a couple of miles down the road. Before the Old Gays, we'd all get together and have dinner parties, get stoned, celebrate the holidays. Now we see so much of each other at work we stay away in our spare time." He winks. More colleagues than friends."