Russell T Davies questions Heated Rivalry’s ‘revolutionary’ status

EntertainmentPolitics
24 Mar 2026 • 5:46 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • Russell T Davies, creator of Queer as Folk, questioned the billing of the Canadian series Heated Rivalry as a “revolutionary gay show” at London's BFI Flare film festival.
  • Davies asserted that his own late-Nineties drama was pioneering in its representation of gay men on screen, stating: “We were f***ing running from the start!”
  • He is also known for other significant works exploring gay relationships and the LGBTQ+ experience, including Cucumber and the Bafta-nominated It's a Sin.
  • Davies offered a sneak preview of his upcoming five-part drama, Tip Toe, set in Manchester, which will address the rise of far-right politics and threats to LGBTQ+ rights.
  • His 2021 drama It's a Sin is being adapted into a dance production by Rambert, with the Pet Shop Boys involved and Davies serving as an executive producer.

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