Boys’ own story
A highlight of his distinguished career was writing Queer As Folk for Channel 4.
Now Russell T Davies returns to C4 with The Boys, telling the story of AIDS and of Ritchie, Roscoe and Colin.
They leave home at 18 in 1981 for London with hope, ambition and joy but are walking straight into a plague that most of the world ignores.
We follow them as their lives change and a new virus starts as a rumour, then a threat, then a terror, then something that binds them together. Writer and executive producer Russell says: “I lived through those times and it’s taken me decades to build up to this. “As time marches on there’s a danger the story will be forgotten. It’s an honour to write for the ones we lost, and who survived.” The drama is due on screen next year. Commissioning editor Lee Mason said: “After nearly 20 years I am thrilled Russell is back. It’s an important project.” Russell revived Doctor Who on the BBC in 2005 and had a hit this year with A Very English Scandal.