Queer as Folk (British TV series)

Queer as Folk

Company type	Television drama series
Industry	Television
Founded	1999
Founder	Russell T Davies
Headquarters	Manchester , United Kingdom
Products	Television drama series
Parent	Red Production Company

Queer as Folk is a British television drama from 1999 that explores the experiences of three gay men living in Manchester's Canal Street, the heart of the city's gay district. Initially comprising eight episodes, the series was followed by a two-part continuation in 2000. Created by Russell T Davies and produced by Red Production Company for Channel 4, it attracted attention for its unfiltered depiction of gay life in an urban setting.

Background

The show's title is inspired by the Northern English saying "there's nowt so queer as folk," which translates to "there's nothing stranger than people," cleverly referencing the contemporary meaning of "queer" as relating to homosexuality. The original script bore the title Queer as Fuck, but this was modified to Queer as Folk to ensure wider acceptance.

Characters and plot

The narrative revolves around Stuart Allen Jones (Aidan Gillen), an assertive and sexually confident advertising executive with considerable personal influence; Vince Tyler (Craig Kelly), his longtime friend who secretly harbors romantic feelings for Stuart; and Nathan Maloney (Charlie Hunnam), a self-assured 15-year-old newcomer to the gay community.

According to producers, these figures do not merely represent individuals but serve as archetypes within the gay male experience, merging elements of realism and fantasy. Stuart exemplifies independence and control, often acting on impulse—such as when he detonates a car in the second series or drives a Jeep through a dealership window following an encounter with homophobia. These episodes highlight his defiant spirit and narrative significance.

Reception

Reactions from within the gay community were varied concerning how characters were portrayed. The series received criticism from gay media outlets for its omission of the AIDS crisis. Meanwhile, segments of mainstream press called for censorship. Despite this, Queer as Folk has been viewed more favorably in retrospective assessments two decades after its premiere.

Beck's Brewery sponsored the initial four episodes but withdrew support partway through the series. Following protests from LGBTQ+ audiences, Beck's proposed sponsoring the second series; however, producers chose not to accept this offer.

In 2010, The Guardian placed Queer as Folk at number 13 on its list of "The Top 50 TV Dramas of All Time."

Awards

For his portrayal, Gillen earned a nomination for Best Actor at the 2000 British Academy Television Awards, while the series itself was shortlisted for Best Drama Serial at the 1999 Royal Television Society Programme Awards. Composer Murray Gold won Best Music - Original Score at the 1999 Royal Television Society Craft & Design Awards, and Pam Tait received a nomination for Best Costume Design - Drama.

Music

Murray Gold composed the theme music for the series. An original soundtrack issued by Almighty Records included tracks from artists such as OT Quartet, Ultra Naté, and Blondie. With sales reaching 125,000 copies, it ranked as the 50th best-selling compilation album of 1999. The soundtrack accompanying the second series, released by Channel 4 Music, debuted at number five on the UK Compilation Chart, selling 19,000 units during its first week.

Cast

• Aidan Gillen portrays Stuart Alan Jones, an accomplished advertising professional
• Craig Kelly plays Vince Tyler, a supermarket manager
• Charlie Hunnam features as Nathan Maloney, a rebellious 15-year-old
• Denise Black acts as Hazel Tyler, Vince's free-spirited mother
• Andy Devine appears as Bernard Thomas, Hazel’s lodger
• Jason Merrells is Phil Delaney, a close friend to both Vince and Stuart
• Esther Hall depicts Romey Sullivan, the mother of Stuart’s sperm-donated child
• Saira Todd plays Lisa Levene, Romey’s partner
• Carla Henry represents Donna Clark, Nathan’s closest friend
• Ben Maguire acts as Christian Hobbs, an arrogant peer of Nathan and Donna
• Alison Burrows takes on the role of Sandra Docherty, Stuart’s assistant
• Caroline Pegg plays Rosalie Cotter, Vince’s colleague who has romantic interest in him
• Caroline O'Neill portrays Janice Maloney, Nathan’s mother
• Antony Cotton embodies Alexander Perry, a flamboyant companion of Vince and Stuart
• Peter O'Brien appears as Cameron Roberts, Phil’s accountant and Vince’s partner
• Jonathon Natynczyk is Dazz Collinson, a bartender briefly involved with Nathan
• Maria Doyle Kennedy plays Marie Jones Threepwood, Stuart’s recently divorced sister
• John Brobbey acts as Lance Amponah, the lodger of Romey and Lisa
• Adam Zane features as Dane McAteer, a friend of Stuart, Vince, and Alexander

Series 1 (1999)

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Series 1 (1999)

Episode no.	Air date	Viewers (millions)	Channel 4 weekly ranking
1	23 February 1999	3.52	11
2	2 March 1999	3.60	9
3	9 March 1999	2.45	23
4	16 March 1999	2.58	21
5	23 March 1999	2.78	17
6	30 March 1999	3.28	9
7	6 April 1999	3.44	9
8	13 April 1999	3.34	7

Series 2 (2000)

Episode no.	Air date	Viewers (millions)	Channel 4 weekly ranking
1	15 February 2000	2.83	19
2	22 February 2000	3.15	12

Spin-offs

Channel 4 initially planned a spin-off titled Misfits (distinct from the later E4 series), which would have centered on Hazel, Alexander, Donna, and Bernard from the original show along with new characters. Although Russell T Davies wrote scripts for four episodes and outlined story ideas for twenty-two additional ones, the project was cancelled prior to entering pre-production.

After this cancellation, Davies withdrew from an agreement to create Queer as Folk short stories for Channel4's website and declared he would not collaborate with the network again unless offered an entirely original concept. Nevertheless, he made a comeback in 2015 with the drama series Cucumber, the anthology Banana (aired on E4), and the documentary series Tofu (available on 4oD). Denise Black returned to reprise her role as Hazel Tyler’s ghost in the sixth episode of Cucumber.

American adaptations

Following the original series' acclaim, the American cable network Showtime collaborated with Canadian channel Showcase to develop a U.S. version titled Queer as Folk. This adaptation was set in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and filmed in Toronto, Ontario.

Towards the end of 2018, another American reinterpretation was initiated for Bravo. By April 2021, Peacock, part of the NBCUniversal group, officially ordered the series. Unlike a direct reboot, this iteration offers a fresh reimagining of the original narrative. The show, titled Queer as Folk, debuted on Peacock on June 9, 2022.

See also

• The L Word

External links

• 20 Years of Queer as Folk - Edinburgh TV Festival 2019 on YouTube