Russell T Davies - On Dr Who, Grief and Gay Representation on TV

Russell T Davies has spent decades creating some of Britain’s most beloved and groundbreaking television. After studying English at Oxford, he went from writing for children’s programmes and Coronation Street to creating Queer As Folk in 1999 - a show that changed the conversation around gay representation on TV. Since then, he’s written hit after hit, from Bob & Rose and A Very English Scandal to Years and Years, It’s A Sin and his hugely successful revival of Doctor Who. He’s won four BAFTAs and was awarded an OBE in 2008.

In this episode we talk about where his obsession and passion for TV came from, how his exceptionally busy mind works, losing his husband to a brain tumour, his love of Dr Who and…finding love again.

His new memoir, The Queerest of Folk, is out on 8th October.

IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Intro

02:35 TV Obsession Origins

03:24 Memoir and Andrew

08:35 AIDS and Its a Sin

10:36 Queer as Folk Shockwaves

12:37 Failure to Drive

16:45 Writing in Images

28:05 Early Illustration Gigs

28:54 Obsessed With Drawing

30:20 Losing the Habit

31:52 Comics and Story Beats

33:54 Writing Geniuses Doctor Who

37:13 Staying a Fan

41:41 Legacy and Family Roots

49:59 Aging Love and Goodbye

💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:

When I dream I invent people who don’t exist.

I’ve saved for decades, I saved for a rainy day, and then one day it rained.

Please never get rid of the Tardis.

🔗 LINKS + MENTIONS:

Russell’s memoir, The Queerest Of Folk is available to buy now: uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-queerest-of-folk-a-life-in-television-russell-t-davies/a290496f474a1f8c

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