When the original British series Queer as Folk was released in 1999, it was a huge success but also caused an uproar with its bold depiction of the lives of a group of gay men.
The show did not air in Australia when it first premiered. Many viewers sought out DVD copies, which were often shared among friends, with screenings arranged in lounge rooms across the country. The series was later remade in the United States and became essential viewing on SBS for many Australian audiences.
Now both series of the original UK production are available to stream on 10 Play. If you’ve never seen the iconic drama, it’s still a compelling watch 27 years after its debut.
Starring Charlie Hunnam, Aidan Gillen and Craig Kelly, the eight-part series introduced audiences to Nathan, Stuart and Vince. A shorter second series followed the following year.
The series generated controversy among some viewers when it first screened due to its graphic depictions of gay sex, underage sexual activity, club culture and rainbow families. For many members of the LGBTQIA+ community, however, it was a groundbreaking series that reflected aspects of their lives rarely seen on television.
The show has also been criticised for its lack of racial and broader sexual diversity. However, at the time, it was widely regarded as groundbreaking television.
Creator Russell T Davies has since gone on to deliver some of the UK’s most acclaimed television series, including Bob and Rose, The Second Coming, Casanova, Doctor Who, A Very English Scandal, Years and Years and the acclaimed It’s a Sin.
Davies later revisited the world of Queer as Folk through the interconnected trilogy of Cucumber, Banana and Tofu. Released in 2015, Cucumber followed the lives of a group of men in their 40s and their interactions with younger queer people in their 20s. Companion series Banana explored the lives of the younger characters in greater depth. The two productions were screened simultaneously, while the documentary series Tofu examined themes raised within the dramas.
More recent series Tip Toe is also set in the same universe.
While Queer as Folk stars Aidan Gillen and Charlie Hunnam went on to enjoy major international careers, Craig Kelly has maintained a lower profile in recent years.
Gillen has appeared in The Wire, Peaky Blinders, Maze Runner, Bohemian Rhapsody and The Dark Knight Rises, although he is perhaps best known for playing Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish in Game of Thrones.
Hunnam became a leading man through television series Sons of Anarchy and later starred in films including Cold Mountain, Pacific Rim, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword and The Gentlemen.
Australian actor Peter O’Brien also played a prominent role as Vince’s boyfriend Cameron, while Ian McElhinney, who later portrayed Barristan Selmy in Game of Thrones, appeared as Stuart’s father.
The US version of Queer as Folk ran for five seasons. In 2022, a new version set in New Orleans debuted, although it was cancelled after just one season.
