Entertainment · TV & Streaming · 17 hrs ago
Russell T Davies reflects on the confrontational side of his TV career
Russell T Davies is a Welsh writer and producer whose television career has included Queer as Folk and Doctor Who.
In a new memoir, he describes arguments and conflicts from his work in television.
Davies says he sees himself as one of the nicer people, but admits he can be abrasive when trying to improve a show.
He says writers need confidence to persuade others to fund their work, even while they may doubt their own abilities.
He recalls wearing a leather jacket and preparing for a fight at commissioning meetings in the early 1990s, as he moved from children’s television into soaps.
He says this forceful approach helped people listen to him.
He also recognizes that women in those rooms could have had a different experience, pointing to Sally Wainwright’s memories of middle-aged men who did not encourage women to speak.
The memoir explores how Davies’s confidence and self-doubt have shaped his career.
Russell T Davies says his confrontational manner has helped him advance in television and improve his work.
In an interview about his new memoir, he describes conflicts with colleagues and criticism from some viewers.
Davies says he is one of the nicer people, but also calls writing a tough, opinionated and arrogant job.
He recalls wearing a leather jacket to commissioning meetings at Granada Television in the early Nineties because he was ready for a fight.
- Who
- Russell T Davies, a Welsh television writer.
- What
- He reflects on confrontations and criticism during his television career in an interview about his new memoir.
- When
- The interview was published on 11 October 2026; Davies recalls working at Granada Television in the early Nineties.
- Where
- The interview discusses his television career in Britain, including work at Granada Television.
- Why
- Davies says his edge helped him get ahead and that he channels self-doubt into his work.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
I think I’m one of the nicer ones!
when it comes to making a show great, I will do anything to make it better, even if that means trampling on people.
Being a writer means you doubt every word you’ve ever written
Davies worked at Granada Television as he moved from children’s entertainment into soaps.
The Independent published an interview in which Davies reflected on confrontations during his career.
- Memoir
- Davies’s new memoir chronicles conflicts, arguments and confrontations during his career.
- Granada Television
- Davies recalls attending commissioning conferences there in the early Nineties.
- Leather jacket
- Davies says it had a rocket on the back.
- Sally Wainwright
- She was in the commissioning meetings with Davies.
Sources
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