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Queer as Folk (British TV series)
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{{Short description|1999 British television series}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}} {{Use British English|date=May 2012}} {{Infobox television | image = QAF1.jpg | image_size = 240 | caption = | genre = Drama | director = {{Plainlist| *[[Charles McDougall]] *Sarah Harding *[[Menhaj Huda]] }} | creator = [[Russell T Davies]] | starring = {{Plainlist| *[[Aidan Gillen]] *[[Craig Kelly (actor)|Craig Kelly]] *[[Charlie Hunnam]] *[[Denise Black]] *[[Andy Devine (English actor)|Andy Devine]] *[[Antony Cotton]] }} | editor = Tony Cranstoun | composer = [[Murray Gold]] | country = United Kingdom | language = English | num_series = 2 | num_episodes = 10 | list_episodes = | executive_producer = [[Nicola Shindler]] | cinematography = Nigel Walters | location = [[Manchester]], England [[United Kingdom]] | producer = Russell T Davies | runtime = 35–50 minutes | company = [[Red Production Company]] | network = [[Channel 4]] | first_aired = {{Start date|1999|02|23|df=y}} | last_aired = {{End date|2000|02|22|df=y}} | related = ''[[Queer as Folk (American TV series)|Queer as Folk]]'' (2000 series)<br> ''[[Queer as Folk (2022 TV series)|Queer as Folk]]'' (2022 series) }} '''''Queer as Folk''''' is a 1999 British television series that chronicles the lives of three [[gay men]] living in [[Manchester]]'s [[gay village]] around [[Canal Street (Manchester)|Canal Street]]. Initially running for eight episodes, a two-part follow up was shown in 2000. It was written by [[Russell T Davies]] and produced by [[Red Production Company]] for [[Channel 4]]. == Background == The title of the programme comes from a traditional Northern English saying, "there's nowt so queer as folk", meaning "there's nothing as strange as people", and is a [[word play]] on the modern-day English definition of "[[queer]]" as [[homosexual]]. The script had originally started life with the title ''Queer as Fuck'' but ''Queer as Folk'' was considered more suitable.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2015/jan/06/how-we-made-queer-as-folk-russell-t-davies|title=How we made Queer as Folk|work=The Guardian|date=6 January 2015|author=Andrew Dickson}}</ref> == Characters and plot == The main characters are Stuart Allen Jones ([[Aidan Gillen]]), who is highly sexually active, and successfully so. His long-time friend Vince Tyler ([[Craig Kelly (actor)|Craig Kelly]]), who has a crush on Stuart, has less luck with men. 15-year-old Nathan Maloney ([[Charlie Hunnam]]) is new to the gay scene but is not lacking in self-confidence. The producers say that ''Queer as Folk'', although superficially a realistic depiction of gay urban life in the 1990s, is meant as a fantasy, and that Stuart, Vince, and Nathan are not so much characters as gay male [[archetype]]s. Stuart, an advertising executive, possesses intrinsic power, able to bend anything to his will. Stuart's principal characteristic is that he does whatever he wants, whenever he wants, however he wants. He blows up a car belonging to his friend Alexander's antagonistic mother (in the second series). He invites Vince's female colleague, who has a crush on [[the closet|closeted]] Vince, to Vince's birthday party and then introduces Vince's boyfriend. When offered a test drive of a [[Jeep]] by a car salesman who makes some homophobic comments, Stuart drives the car straight through the large window of the car dealership. == Reception == At the time, the response was mixed from gay commentators in relation to the portrayal of the characters.<ref name="indep">{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/debate-queer-as-folk-has-shocked-tv-audiences-with-its-explicit-portrayal-of-gay-men-great-says-1073722.html|title=Debate: Queer As Folk has shocked TV audiences with its explicit portrayal of gay men. Great, says James Sherwood, finally there's a TV show telling it like it is. Not so, says Chas Newkey-Burden, QAF is a dangerous parody of gay life|website=The Independent|date=28 February 1999|author=James Sherwood, Chas Newkey-Burden}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/1999/feb/24/1|title=Channel 4 glad to pioneer the first gay drama on British TV |author=Janine Gibson|website=The Guardian|date=24 February 1999}}</ref> The show was criticised by the gay press for not addressing the issue of the [[AIDS]] epidemic.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2018/05/russell-t-davies-living-gay-man-political-act|title=Russell T Davies: "Living as a gay man is a political act"|date=14 May 2018|author=Helen Lewis|website=New Statesman}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.attitude.co.uk/culture/film-tv/queer-as-folk-was-slammed-by-gay-press-for-not-addressing-aids-russell-t-davies-recalls-295860/|title=Queer as Folk was slammed by gay press for not addressing Aids, Russell T Davies recalls|date=15 May 2018|website=Attitude}}</ref> In the wider press and media, a commentator in the ''[[Daily Mail]]'' called for censorship.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/monitor-queer-as-folk-1073385.html|title=Monitor: 'Queer as Folk'|date=27 February 1999|website=The Independent}}</ref> ''Queer as Folk'' received more positive reappraisal twenty years after the show first aired.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/feb/28/queer-as-folk-lgbt-channel-4|title=Queer as Folk was a joyful revelation for LGBT viewers like me |author=Owen Jones|website=The Guardian|date=28 February 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/20-years-queer-folk-russell-t-davies-changed-television-259715|title=Queer as Folk at 20: how Russell T Davies' gay drama changed the landscape of TV|author=Hugh Montgomery|date=19 February 2019|website=Inews.co.uk}}</ref> The first four episodes were sponsored by [[Beck's Brewery]] but the company withdrew their sponsorship halfway through the series. Following a backlash from the gay community, Beck's offered to sponsor the second series, a request which was refused by the producers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/becks-renews-c4-sponsor-deal-spring-pull-out/67971|title=Beck's renews C4 sponsor deal after spring pull-out|date=15 July 1999|website=Campaign}}</ref> In 2010, ''[[The Guardian]]'' ranked ''Queer as Folk'' at number 13 in their list of "The Top 50 TV Dramas of All Time".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2010/jan/12/50-best-tv-drama-west-wing|title=The top 50 TV dramas of all time: 11-20|first1=Mark|last1=Lawson|author1-link=Mark Lawson|first2=Richard|last2=Vine|first3=Grace|last3=Dent|author3-link=Grace Dent|first4=Lucy|last4=Mangan|author4-link=Lucy Mangan|first5=Sarah|last5=Dempster|first6=Sam|last6=Wollaston|date=11 January 2010|website=The Guardian}}</ref> == Awards == Gillen was nominated for [[British Academy Television Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] at the [[2000 British Academy Television Awards]] for his role,<ref>[http://www.bafta.org/awards/television/nominations/?year=1999 BAFTA Television Nominations 1999]. BAFTA</ref> whilst the series was nominated for Best Drama Serial at the 1999 [[Royal Television Society Programme Awards|Royal Television Society Awards]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20041230141058/http://www.rts.org.uk/awards.asp?sec_id=339 RTS Programme Awards 1999]. RTS</ref> [[Murray Gold]] won the Best Music - Original Score at the 1999 [[Royal Television Society Craft & Design Awards|RTS Craft & Design Awards]] while Pam Tait was nominated for Best Costume Design - Drama.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://rts.org.uk/award/rts-craft-and-design-winners-1999|title=CRAFT & DESIGN AWARDS 1999|website=[[Royal Television Society]]|date=24 January 2011 |accessdate=3 February 2023}}</ref> == Music == The theme song for the series was created by [[Murray Gold]]. A [[soundtrack]] album was released by [[Almighty Records]] for the original series and features tracks by [[Rollo Armstrong|OT Quartet]], [[Ultra Naté]], and [[Blondie (band)|Blondie]].<ref>[http://www.allmusic.com/album/queer-as-folk-the-whole-thing-sorted-mw0000106093 Original TV Soundtrack, Queer as Folk, The Whole Love Thing Sorted]. AllMusic.</ref> Selling 125,000 copies, it remained popular long after the broadcast of the first series and ended up the 50th biggest selling compilation album of 1999.<ref name="Music Week">{{cite book|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/2000/Music-Week-2000-02-26.pdf|title=Compilations|work=Music Week|page=15|date=2000-02-26}}</ref> An album for the second series was released by [[Channel 4|Channel 4 Music]] and sold 19,000 copies in its first week to debut at #5 on the [[UK Compilation Chart]].<ref name="Music Week"/> == Cast == {{Div col|colwidth=30em}} * [[Aidan Gillen]] as Stuart Alan Jones, a successful advertising executive * [[Craig Kelly (actor)|Craig Kelly]] as Vince Tyler, a supermarket manager * [[Charlie Hunnam]] as Nathan Maloney, a 15-year-old rebel * [[Denise Black]] as Hazel Tyler; Vince's free-spirited mother * [[Andy Devine (English actor)|Andy Devine]] as Bernard Thomas; Hazel's lodger * [[Jason Merrells]] as Phil Delaney; a close friend of Vince and Stuart * [[Esther Hall]] as Romey Sullivan; whose baby Stuart fathered by donating his sperm * Saira Todd as Lisa Levene; Romey's partner * [[Carla Henry]] as Donna Clark; Nathan's best friend * Ben Maguire as Christian Hobbs; an arrogant classmate of Nathan and Donna * Alison Burrows as Sandra Docherty; Stuart's Assistant * Caroline Pegg as Rosalie Cotter; one of Vince's co-workers, who is romantically interested in him * [[Caroline O'Neill]] as Janice Maloney; Nathan's mother * [[Antony Cotton]] as Alexander Perry; a flamboyant friend of Vince and Stuart * [[Peter O'Brien (actor)|Peter O'Brien]] as Cameron Roberts; Phil's accountant who starts a relationship with Vince * Jonathon Natynczyk as Dazz Collinson; a bartender who has a brief relationship with Nathan * [[Maria Doyle Kennedy]] as Marie Jones Threepwood; Stuart's recently divorced sister * John Brobbey as Lance Amponah; Romey and Lisa's lodger * Adam Zane as Dane McAteer, friend of Stuart, Vince and Alexander {{div col end}} == Episodes == {{Series overview | color1 = | link1 = #Series 1 (1999) | episodes1 = 8 | start1 = {{Start date|1999|02|23|df=yes}} | end1 = {{End date|1999|04|13|df=yes}} | color2 = | link2 = #Series 2 (2000) | episodes2 = 2 | start2 = {{Start date|2000|02|15|df=yes}} | end2 = {{End date|2000|02|22|df=yes}} }} === Series 1 (1999) === {{Episode table |background=#0056AC |overall=5 |series=5 |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |episodes= {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 1 |EpisodeNumber2 = 1 |RTitle = Thursday |DirectedBy = [[Charles McDougall]] |WrittenBy = [[Russell T Davies|Russell T. Davies]] |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1999|02|23|df=y}} |ShortSummary = Stuart and Vince, stalwarts of the Manchester gay scene, are out on the pull in Canal Street. |LineColor = 0056AC }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 2 |EpisodeNumber2 = 2 |RTitle = Stuart Alan Jones |DirectedBy = Charles McDougall |WrittenBy = Russell T. Davies |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1999|03|2|df=y}} |ShortSummary = Stuart pursues a client, Vince (not 'out' at work) is pursued by the new girl and Nathan, verging on obsession, is desperate to find Stuart again. |LineColor = 0056AC }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 3 |EpisodeNumber2 = 3 |RTitle = A Night Out |DirectedBy = Charles McDougall |WrittenBy = Russell T. Davies |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1999|03|9|df=y}} |ShortSummary = Stuart and Vince, on a wild night out, are pursued by Nathan and Rosalie, and Phil makes a new friend… with deadly consequences. |LineColor = 0056AC }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 4 |EpisodeNumber2 = 4 |RTitle = D.I.S.C.O. |DirectedBy = Charles McDougall |WrittenBy = Russell T. Davies |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1999|03|16|df=y}} |ShortSummary = Stuart and Vince go to Phil’s funeral where they meet up with numerous friends including his accountant Cameron Roberts, and come face to face with his mother’s grief. |LineColor = 0056AC }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 5 |EpisodeNumber2 = 5 |RTitle = The Date |DirectedBy = Sarah Harding |WrittenBy = Russell T. Davies |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1999|03|23|df=y}} |ShortSummary = Stuart makes some new friends, while Nathan’s behaviour makes Hazel furious and Janice desperate. |LineColor = 0056AC }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 6 |EpisodeNumber2 = 6 |RTitle = Meet the Parents |DirectedBy = Sarah Harding |WrittenBy = Russell T. Davies |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1999|03|30|df=y}} |ShortSummary = Stuart and Marie visit their parents, and Vince introduces Cameron to his mum. Meanwhile, Stuart has a violent confrontation with Nathan’s father. |LineColor = 0056AC }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 7 |EpisodeNumber2 = 7 |RTitle = Thirty |DirectedBy = Sarah Harding |WrittenBy = Russell T. Davies |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1999|04|6|df=y}} |ShortSummary = Stuart throws a surprise party for Vince’s 30th birthday, and becomes implicated in a dubious plan to discredit Romey’s potential husband Lance. |LineColor = 0056AC }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 8 |EpisodeNumber2 = 8 |RTitle = Punchline |DirectedBy = Sarah Harding |WrittenBy = Russell T. Davies |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1999|04|13|df=y}} |ShortSummary = Vince is petrified that Rosalie has revealed his secret. Stuart experiences rejection for the first time. And Cameron declares his love to Vince. |LineColor = 0056AC }} }} === Series 2 (2000) === {{Episode table |background=#0056AC|overall=5 |series=5 |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |episodes= {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 9 |EpisodeNumber2 = 1 |RTitle = Out of the Closet... |DirectedBy = [[Menhaj Huda]] |WrittenBy = [[Russell T Davies|Russell T. Davies]] |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2000|02|15|df=y}} |ShortSummary = Vince’s love for Stuart remains unrequited, but the sexual buzz between them is becoming irresistible. Stuart is forced to out himself to his parents, when he is blackmailed. Meanwhile, Nathan reappears to celebrate his return from London. |LineColor = 0056AC }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 10 |EpisodeNumber2 = 2 |RTitle = ...Into the Fire |DirectedBy = Menhaj Huda |WrittenBy = Russell T. Davies |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2000|02|22|df=y}} |ShortSummary = When Alexander’s parents turn on him, Stuart’s anger puts him on the wrong side of the law. Vince is up for a promotion at work, while one of Nathan's teachers seems to side with Nathan's bullies. |LineColor = 0056AC }} }} ==Ratings== ===Series 1 (1999)=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! Episode no. !! Air date !! Viewers<br /><small>(millions)</small> !! Channel 4<br />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)=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! Episode no. !! Air date !! Viewers<br /><small>(millions)</small> !! Channel 4<br />weekly ranking |- | 1 || 15 February 2000 || 2.83 || 19 |- | 2 || 22 February 2000 || 3.15 || 12 |} == Spin-offs == A spin-off series, ''Misfits'' (no relation to [[Misfits (TV series)|the later E4 series of the same name]]), was initially commissioned by Channel 4. The series would have followed the characters of Hazel, Alexander, Donna (who was absent from the 2nd series due to scheduling commitments) and Bernard from the original series, while introducing new characters. Although Davies developed draft scripts for four episodes and storylines for a further twenty-two, the series was cancelled before it went into pre-production. As a result of Channel 4's decision, Davies pulled out of a deal that would have seen a series of ''Queer as Folk'' short stories published on the broadcaster's website, and vowed not to work with Channel 4 again, unless he has an idea that only works on that channel.<ref>{{cite web |author=Scott Matthewman|date=30 November 2000|title=Folk off to America – an interview with Russell T Davies |url=http://uk.gay.com/article/245 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041101052310/http://uk.gay.com/article/245|archive-date=1 November 2004}}</ref> However, fifteen years later in 2015, Davies returned to Channel 4 with drama series [[Cucumber (British TV series)|''Cucumber'']], drama anthology [[Banana (TV series)|''Banana'']] (on [[E4 (TV channel)|E4]]) and documentary series [[Tofu (TV series)|''Tofu'']] (on [[4oD]]). [[Denise Black]] makes a cameo appearance as Hazel Tyler's ghost in the sixth episode of ''Cucumber''. == American versions== Driven by the success of the series, American [[cable television|cable]] channel [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]] and Canadian cable channel [[Showcase (Canadian TV channel)|Showcase]] co-produced an American version, ''[[Queer as Folk (American TV series)|Queer as Folk]]''. This is set in [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]] although was filmed in [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]]. In late 2018, a second American adaptation was in development for [[Bravo (American TV network)|Bravo]]. In April 2021, it received a series order from [[Peacock (streaming service)|Peacock]], the streaming service it shifted to within the [[NBCUniversal]] family. It reimagines this series instead of serving as a reboot of the first American series.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Goldberg |first1=Lesley |title='Queer as Folk' Reimagining Gets Peacock Series Order |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/queer-as-folk-reimagining-gets-peacock-series-order-4163148/ |website=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=February 3, 2022 |date=April 8, 2021}}</ref> ''[[Queer as Folk (2022 TV series)|Queer as Folk]]'' was released on June 9, 2022, on [[Peacock (streaming service)|Peacock]].<ref name="Release">{{cite magazine |last1=Brathwaite |first1=Lester Fabian |title=Here's your first look at Peacock's Queer as Folk reboot |url=https://ew.com/tv/first-look-peacock-queer-as-folk-reboot/ |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=May 13, 2022 |date=April 13, 2022}}</ref> ==See also== {{Portal|LGBTQ}} *''[[The L Word]]'' ==References== {{Reflist|30em}} ==External links== {{Wikiquote}} *{{IMDb title}} *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DBxfsopkxw 20 Years of Queer as Folk - Edinburgh TV Festival 2019] at [[YouTube]] {{Queer as Folk}} {{Russell T Davies}} {{Authority control}} [[Category:1999 British television series debuts]] [[Category:2000 British television series endings]] [[Category:1990s British LGBTQ-related drama television series]] [[Category:2000s British LGBTQ-related drama television series]] [[Category:Channel 4 television dramas]] [[Category:British English-language television shows]] [[Category:Gay-related television shows]] [[Category:Queer as Folk| ]] [[Category:Serial drama television series]] [[Category:Television shows written by Russell T Davies]] [[Category:Television series created by Russell T Davies]] [[Category:Television series by Red Production Company]] [[Category:Television shows set in Manchester]] [[Category:1999 LGBTQ-related television]] [[Category:2000 LGBTQ-related television]]
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