Russell T Davies: The Private Battles I Fought While Creating My Biggest Shows

How do you find love again after losing the person you wanted to spend the rest of your life with?

In this deeply moving episode of Begin Again, legendary British television writer Russell T Davies joins Davina McCall to reflect on his extraordinary life creating some of Britain’s most groundbreaking television, from Doctor Who and Queer as Folk to It’s a Sin and Years and Years.

Russell opens up about growing up gay in Swansea, how he found belonging through youth theatre, and how friendship, identity and the AIDS crisis shaped his writing. 

We also hear the story of his 20-year relationship with his late husband Andrew and his eight-year battle with brain cancer.

This is a beautiful conversation about grief, continuing bonds with those we’ve lost, and unexpectedly finding love again without leaving the love that came before behind.

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The Queerest of Folk by Russell T Davies is out on 8th October, hardback, £25

https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-queerest-of-folk-a-life-in-television-russell-t-davies/a290496f474a1f8c

(00:00) Intro

(01:41) Russell And Davina's Friendship

(03:35) When His Mother Was Sectioned

(07:36) Russell's New Book 'The Queerest of Folk'

(08:35) Being A Young Doctor Who Fan

(11:00) On Realising He Was Gay

(14:25) The Inspiration Behind 'It's a Sin'

(17:31) A Letter For Russell

(19:58) Monzo GBL Ad

(21:35) On Making 'It's a Sin'

(28:17) How 'Queer as Folk' Came To Be

(35:59) Monzo 90 Days Ad

(37:04) Making 'Tip Toe' with Alan Cumming and David Morrissey

(44:01) A Letter From Kate Bush

(45:57) On Making 'Years and Years'

(48:30) Meeting His Husband

(50:46) After His Husband's Cancer Diagnosis

(59:16) His Husband's Death

(01:04:42) On Finding Love Again

(01:07:58) Writing Doctor Who

(01:11:52) His Writing Process

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