August 26th 2024.
A heartfelt tribute has been shared for one of the inspirations behind the powerful and emotional series, It's A Sin. The creator of the show, Russell T Davies, took to Instagram to honor a man who played a significant role in shaping the heartbreaking Channel 4 drama. The 2021 series, written by the talented Doctor Who showrunner, follows the devastating impact of the HIV/AIDS crisis in London from 1981 to 1991.
Starring Olly Alexander, Omari Douglas, Lydia West, Nathanial Curtis, and Keeley Hawes, It's A Sin follows a group of gay men and their friends as they navigate the heartbreaking reality of the disease. Many of the scenes take place in their shared flat, affectionately known as the "Pink Palace." Davies shared a tribute to one of the people who founded the real-life version of this iconic location.
In a touching Instagram post, Davies wrote alongside a photo with three of his friends, "The wonderful Pinky has passed away, and it's such a loss. The lovely Phil Lewis. When I joined my Youth Theatre in the 70s, Pinky and his gang were camp, hilarious, wise, and brilliant. Camp became a way for us to express who we truly are. Welsh camp, too, the best!" Pinky went on to move to London with his partner, Jill Nalder, and their friend Jae Alexander, where they founded the Pink Palace. Pinky also became a beloved drag queen in Brighton.
Davies shared, "I didn't see him for decades, though I heard all the stories! But we all met up recently, and my God, did we laugh. It was like I had seen him just yesterday. What a beautiful man. My sympathies and love go out to his partner Colin, his friends and family, and his beloved Jill and Jae. I hope a mysterious woman in a big hat turns up at his funeral - he'd be delighted. Goodnight, Pinky darling. xxx."
The outpouring of condolences from followers was evident, with Jill Nalder, the real-life inspiration behind the character Jill Baxter in the show, writing, "Beautiful words about our beautiful friend." In It's A Sin, Nalder played the fictional Jill's love interest, with Davies noting, "She is a much more honorable person in that she spent more time on AIDS wards than I ever did and held the hands of the dying more than I ever did."
Davies also spoke about the inspiration behind the Pink Palace in It's A Sin, sharing that the series was based on his own experience and the stories of his friends who lived through the crisis. In an interview with The Express, he said, "A lot of it is based on myself and people I know and stories of people I knew, stories that have built up for decades." Speaking about the Pink Palace, he added, "When I was 18, this series literally fits into my life. I was 18 in 1981, and I went to university, and a lot of my friends went to live in London, and all my gay friends went to live there. They all moved into a big flat in Hampstead, I think it was, and they called it the 'Pink Palace.' This quite literally, a lot of the dialogue has their jokes, rhythms, and stuff like that."
It's A Sin was a huge success, scoring six Bafta TV nominations and breaking records as Channel 4's "most-binged new series ever," with 6.5 million viewers streaming it in its first month of release. The drama also had fans in tears, with many calling it "the greatest television series I've ever seen," and even Sir Elton John revealing he was a huge fan. In addition to its critical acclaim, It's A Sin also inspired a record number of people to get tested for HIV, with Eurovision star Olly Alexander highlighting the importance of raising awareness about the disease.
It's A Sin is available to watch on Channel 4, and if you have a celebrity story, video, or pictures to share, you can get in touch with the entertainment team at The Agency by emailing us, calling 020 3615 2145, or visiting our Submit Stuff page. We'd love to hear from you.
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