Russell T Davies: The Private Battles I Fought While Creating My Biggest Shows

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SPEAKER_1 (1:30)

Guys, take a look at these numbers.

SPEAKER_4 (1:53)

Hey, what year is it?

SPEAKER_5 (1:55)

2026

Davina McCall (1:57)

Oh, great. I've come from Planet Begin Again. I've got to interview Russell T Davies on this day, at this time.

Great.

SPEAKER_7 (2:06)

Okay. Great.

Russell T Davies (2:13)

Yes, anyway, I think, yeah.

SPEAKER_7 (2:14)

What about this one? I think review this.

Davina McCall (2:21)

So I am like beside myself today. I know I am beside myself most days, but today I really, really am, because I am talking to Russell T Davies.

SPEAKER_10 (2:30)

Doctor Who.

Davina McCall (2:30)

Yes.

SPEAKER_10 (2:31)

That is awesome.

Davina McCall (2:33)

Thank you for being as excited as me.

SPEAKER_10 (2:36)

He has changed the world.

Davina McCall (2:37)

This way, this way.

SPEAKER_10 (2:39)

Yes.

Davina McCall (2:40)

Oh my God. No, I can't handle it.

SPEAKER_10 (2:44)

I almost did that.

Davina McCall (2:48)

He called me when I was in hospital after my brain tumor operation. It was difficult for even good friends of mine to do that, because nobody quite knew what to say, but he did. This man is a saint. You're a very special man.

Hiya. Hi. I'm in. Hey, Russell, I'm coming over. Okay. In with us. Just one more.

SPEAKER_10 (3:18)

Okay. Lots of hugs.

Davina McCall (3:19)

I've got a feeling the camera is looking straight up my Jackse. I'm sorry about that.

SPEAKER_10 (3:24)

Viewing figures, soaring, multiple hits. Multiple, multiple.

Davina McCall (3:29)

I've said this a lot and I know that I talked about this when we greeted Gret.

Groat. We groat in this. Groat outside. I've always loved you as a person and what you stood for, and obviously, you can see who you are from everything you write, without even ever reading an interview about you, which is what I love about you.

SPEAKER_10 (3:49)

Well, thank you.

Davina McCall (3:50)

We've talked about this and I don't need to cover it too much, but you did reach out to me when I wasn't well.

SPEAKER_10 (3:55)

Yes.

Davina McCall (3:55)

It meant the world to me.

Russell T Davies (3:56)

Well, thank you.

SPEAKER_10 (3:57)

Yeah. Yeah.

Davina McCall (3:59)

Thank you.

Russell T Davies (4:01)

I think, I mean, you've talked about this and you have said how, and I hate to sound like a saint because there's plenty of times in my life when I didn't. I look back at my life and I think, God, I had friends who died when I was young. Did I stay in touch with their parents? No, I didn't, and people who have all thought, did I write that letter?

SPEAKER_10 (4:16)

No, I didn't.

Russell T Davies (4:17)

So it's something you learn over the years that if someone is in a terrible state or ill or needs something, get in touch and then get in touch again. Yes. That's the thing, I think.

Davina McCall (4:30)

The big thing for me was when you called me after I'd had breast cancer and you said, I'm sending you a text because this is normally when people stop texting.