Television visionary Russell T Davies, 63, continues to shape British drama with his unique, often controversial, storytelling. Known for reviving Doctor Who and creating groundbreaking works like Queer As Folk, Davies remains a polarizing figure, frequently facing online vitriol. He describes experiencing death threats and persistent smears—often labeled a “groomer”—due to his vocal support for trans rights. While he once dismissed these attacks, the intensity of the vitriol has left him cautious, leading him to keep a kitchen knife near his door as a protective measure. That was just a bit of a thumping in the street, that time he was gay-bashed by a gang of bus conductors? “People have been beaten up far worse than me. So why has he taken to keeping a kitchen knife by his front door, “ready to use”. “I’m called a paedophile and a groomer online by people like [Father Ted creator and anti-trans activist] Graham Linehan, and now people believe what they read. And one person turned up at my house, people have worked out my address. It’s not the maddest thing in the world to come and get me, if you believe a paedophile lives here.
His career is defined by an unflinching look at queer life. In 1999, Queer As Folk drew widespread condemnation from outlets like the Daily Mail for its portrayal of a sexual encounter between a 15-year-old and a 29-year-old. Davies maintains that he would still write such stories today, noting that the context for such depictions has evolved alongside contemporary discussions about age and boundaries. His recent work, including the drama Tip Toe, continues this tradition of exploring the nuances of LGBTQ+ rights, occasionally sparking debate over how characters discuss sensitive topics like women’s sports. If not the world, it’s easy to see how he’s earned a reputation as the most affable man in TV.
Davies’s childhood was deeply influenced by early television, specifically a memory of watching William Hartnell regenerate as the first Doctor—an episode missing from official archives but permanently etched in his mind. Despite his eventual success, he hid his career path from his father, Vivian, for years. His mother had advised him not to tell his father he lacked a traditional nine-to-five job, fearing he would never understand the nature of creative work. Consequently, his father remained unaware of the full extent of his son’s professional achievements until his death. When the production schedule of his dystopian drama Years and Years forced him back to work within days of his husband’s death? “Writing was a nice escape.
The writer’s personal life was profoundly marked by the illness and death of his partner of 20 years, Andrew Smith. In 2011, Smith was diagnosed with a stage-four brain tumour after experiencing persistent hallucinations. Given an initial prognosis of 18 months, Smith survived until 2018. During these years, Davies balanced his career, producing hits like A Very English Scandal while working almost exclusively from their Manchester home to remain by Smith’s side. He admits that even now, he continues to process that deep period of loss.
A new chapter recently began when Davies connected on Instagram with 27-year-old Australian model Oliver Cole. After three months of digital correspondence, the pair met in person. While Davies admits to initial apprehension regarding their 36-year age gap, he describes Cole as extraordinarily grounded and tough. Earlier this year, the couple travelled to New York, marking Davies’s first holiday in 14 years. He acknowledges his dislike for airports and travel, preferring the stability of his homes in Manchester and Swansea.
Living between two near-identical residences, Davies maintains a disciplined, thrifty lifestyle rooted in the early 1990s, when he was warned that a career as a writer would not provide financial security. This financial caution allowed him to support Smith throughout his illness. Today, he remains as prolific as ever, though he describes his creative process as long and gestating. He often holds ideas for decades before finalizing a script in a sudden flurry of activity. Whether working on Doctor Who or intimate character dramas, he remains committed to storytelling that, as actress Helena Bonham Carter noted regarding his show Nolly, captures a rare, immaculate translation from page to screen.
