Russell T Davies

Name?

Russell Davies. I was named after a newsagent in Swansea!

Date of birth?

27 April, 1963. I know, I know, you’re thinking that should be 1973.

What are you most famous for?

At the moment it has to be Doctor Who, although I don’t think that’s what will be on my gravestone.

What would you like to be most famous for?

Funny you should ask! I think I will be remembered for Queer As Folk, it broke so many taboos and really was the first of its kind on TV. In terms of what I may do in the future, I’m not so sure. I tend not to think like that.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

I think I am the only person left who watched every single episode of Big Brother. I love it.

What’s your most embarrassing moment?

I was about 14, wearing a pink leotard for a school show, and it ripped at the arse. The scars are still there… um, well, not on my arse, you understand. I’ve not been in a leotard since.

Your career began in children’s TV, Doctor Who is a massive hit with young people. What’s going on? You’re a grown man!

I’d love people to think I am young at heart, but I just write about what interests me and that means I write truthfully. You have to write honestly otherwise you write rubbish and you are a liar.

How does it feel to be described as the most powerful gay man in Britain?

It’s a great compliment even if it is slightly ridiculous! There are so many politicians and gay rights groups doing really great work. They are out talking to kids in care, to anyone, who might be gay and feeling vulnerable.I’m not bothered about gay marriage, or gay people in the military – the most important issue is talking to young people to change the attitudes, the bullying, and make a lot of gay young people’s lives much happier.There are a lot of people doing work like that. I perhaps do it in a different way by transmitting characters like Captain Jack into people’s homes. But there are real people doing real hard work, so I don’t particularly see myself as a leader in that sense.

Do you get tired of your homosexuality being brought up?

Never! Visibility is important. I absolutely do not get tired of having my sexuality brought up. In actual fact, I am usually the person that brings it up first. If you’re 14 and being very quiet about your sexuality it’s really important that you can switch on the TV and open magazines and see people who are gay and successful.

Do you know anything about children in care?

I’m not an expert at all, but I know a little. I used to produce Children’s Ward - a children’s version of Casualty. It was very issues-led, and was written by a great writer and friend of mine called Paul Abbot. I think he spent time in care when he was growing up, or at least has experience of care within his family.Anyway, Children’s Ward often had stories about children in care. It was a very crusading programme that didn’t set out to show nuclear families and the niceties of the world. We dealt with reality. But we had great fun doing that. We didn’t just show children in care living in angst, they were often very happy and had created family units among their friends.This was about 12 years ago, but we did a lot of research and worked very closely with people in care to make sure we got the details right. I am very proud of that.

What’s next for Russell T Davies?

I am working on Dr Who until May 2009. Everyone keeps asking 'what next?', not least my own father, but I am keeping schtum!There are various other things ticking away at the back of my mind but I don’t want to write any single one of them down just yet!

What’s your favourite:

Film

Back To The Future

TV Programme

Dr Who

Band/Musician

Amy MacDonald

Tell us one thing that you’ve never revealed in an interview before!

I tend to tell everyone everything! Oh, I know, I once walked past Shirley Maclean on Fifth Avenue in New York – she was the most famous person I had ever seen.