Russell T Davies, the acclaimed television writer and producer, has opened up about his personal life and the profound impact of his late partner Andrew Smith in his recently published memoir, *The Queerest of Folk: A Life in Television*. The book explores Davies’ experiences with Smith, who passed away in 2018 after living seven years with an inoperable brain tumour.

Davies, who divides his time between Manchester and Swansea, describes Smith as a modest man who preferred to stay out of the spotlight despite Davies’ rising fame. Smith’s illness and eventual death form some of the most intimate portrayals in the memoir. Initially given just 18 months to live, Smith defied expectations by surviving for seven years, during which Davies balanced caregiving with a prolific writing career that included projects such as *A Very English Scandal*, starring Hugh Grant and Ben Whishaw.

In the memoir, Davies candidly reflects on the nature of illness and death, contrasting the often dramatic portrayals on television with the quieter reality he witnessed. He notes that Smith’s cancer—slow and steady in its progression—differs from more violent or sudden deaths commonly depicted in media. Some of these real experiences have influenced scenes in Davies’ work, notably in the series *It’s a Sin*, which deals with themes of illness and loss within the LGBTQ+ community.

Davies acknowledges that his writing process often involves drawing on personal material, a method he describes as “everything’s grist to the mill.” He speaks movingly of emotions he continues to process years after Smith’s death, revealing the lasting complexity of grief. One poignant memory shared in the book involves a moment when Davies took some of Smith’s clothes to the funeral home but left without seeing his partner’s body, a feeling he describes as deeply unsettling and likening to a sense of betrayal. He indicates this experience may one day inspire a script.

Since Smith’s passing, Davies has been in a relationship with Oliver Cole, a 27-year-old model, who entered his life seven years after Smith’s death. Davies speaks of his current relationship with a sense of calm and resilience, noting that public commentary has little effect on him due to his established career and personal stability.

*The Queerest of Folk* was published by Bantam and offers readers an intimate look at the intersections of Davies’ personal and professional life, reflecting on love, loss, and creativity through the lens of his experiences.