Russell T Davies: My Life In Media

Russell T Davies, 44, is the creator of the new Doctor Who, which returns this week for a third series. He is also the Doctor's biggest fan. His scriptwriting career has been split between the BBC and Granada, and mainly in Manchester, where he set the hugely successful Queer as Folk series around the city's Canal Street gay scene. He lives with his partner Andrew Smith in Manchester and Cardiff, where Doctor Who is filmed. The Stage newspaper has said he is "at the head of the holy trinity of British scriptwriters alongside Paul Abbott and Jimmy McGovern".

What inspired you to embark on a career in the media?

I just loved television, and still do. But mainly, it was the writing. I was always writing, from when I was a little kid. But there was no one with a writing background in my family; I couldn't imagine being one. I entered TV production as a researcher, then a director and producer, in order to find and meet writers. When I started writing my first proper scripts, a few of my bosses told me that full-time writing was an impossible option. So I set out to prove them wrong.

When you were 15, which newspaper did your family get, and did you read it?

The Daily Express. And by the age of 15, I already knew I disagreed with it. I loved the Jean Rook column though. The first woman in my world to stand up and criticise the Royal Family. Good for her. And I used to love The Observer too, simply because they published the Peanuts Sunday strip, one of the finest fictional worlds on Earth.

What were your favourite TV and radio programmes?

Back then, it was Doctor Who. Honestly! That, and Coronation Street. Never listened to much radio, but always had the Radio 1 Breakfast Show on.

Describe your job

Thinking up stories, all day long.

What media do you turn to first thing in the morning?

The Chris Moyles show on Radio 1. Then a bit of Jeremy Kyle, just to wallow in the misery.

Do you consult any media sources during the day?

Mediaguardian website.

What is the best thing about your job?

I write something, then 200 people go out into the cold and wind and rain and make it. Beautifully. It really is team work. My favourite part is getting the finished episode, at home, and watching it. For all its faults.

And the worst?

I've only got myself. For all the support and help and trust, it's just me, sitting here, writing in the dark, and dredging the best and the worst of people out of my head. Though I don't want to blather on about the loneliness of writers - I think we love being alone. And I've got an infinitely patient boyfriend.

How do you feel you influence the media?

Hard for me to judge. Doctor Who has certainly had an impact on the revival of family viewing - but that's the Doctor's doing, not me. I suppose I hope that Queer as Folk had some sort of effect, though to claim that is a bit like ignoring all the other gay men and women working away on dramas.

What's the proudest achievement in your working life?

Everything I've written. That's like asking me to choose my favourite child.

And what's your most embarrassing moment?

A Granada sitcom called The House of Windsor. Magnificent cast - Leslie Phillips, Warren Clarke - and the most lousy fucking scripts you can imagine. The show wasn't even anything to do with me, but I was drafted in because I was the only one who could survive the rehearsal room. Oh, that poor cast. I had to rewrite it every night, then present the actors with more rubbish.

At home, what do you tune in to?

Only Radio 1. Don't listen to much radio at all.

What is your Sunday paper? And do you have a favourite magazine?

The Observer and the Sunday Mirror. My favourite magazine is, honestly, Doctor Who magazine. I've read it for the whole 28 years of its existence. That, and 2000AD, Attitude and the Fortean Times.

Name the one career ambition you want to realise before you retire

Never to retire. Even though Doctor Who's busy, I've got at least three ideas piling up for the day when I move on.

If you didn't work in the media what would you do?

All my family are teachers, so I'd probably have gone down that path. That, or a porn baron. But I was quite a good artist, so I might have gone into graphic design.

Who in the media do you most admire and why?

Paul Abbott, a friend, and an inspiration, every time I sit down to type.

The CV

1988 Works as a BBC researcher then takes its in-house directing course, and produces children's magazine show Why Don't You...?.

1991 Writes children's fantasy serial Dark Season, in which Kate Winslet stars, then Century Falls.

1992 Moves over to Granada to produce and write Children's Ward, winning a Bafta in 1996 for the 100th episode, then breaks into adult drama with stints on Coronation Street and Touching Evil.

1999 Begins successful collaboration with Red production company, making Queer as Folk.

2001 Follows second series of Queer as Folk with Bob and Rose, and wins Writer of the Year at the British Comedy Awards.

2003 Wins an RTS award for The Second Coming, starring Christopher Eccleston.

2005 Tempted back to the BBC by his dream job - the Doctor Who revival - followed by BBC3 spin-off Torchwood.

2006 Wins a score of awards including Dennis Potter Award for Outstanding Writing for Television at the Baftas.

2007 The third series of Doctor Who returns to BBC1, starting this Saturday at 7pm.