Often it’s only a small part of the story – the inclusion of a Welsh character, such as It’s a Sin’s (2024) Colin Morris-Jones, which marked Callum Scott Howells’ screen debut. Other times, it’s more integral, as in Mine All Mine (2004), set in Russell’s hometown of Swansea and packed with exceptional Welsh actors.
“When I was young, my father would call us in from playing in the street if a Welsh person was on television,” he told BAFTA, on the eve of being nominated for Years and Years (2019). “You never saw a Welsh person on television back then.”
No one knows representation matters more than Russell, who came out as gay in his late teens. His work has championed the LGBTQIA+ community throughout, helping many feel validated and visible. This is clearly evident in Queer as Folk (1999-2000), the groundbreaking series that announced Russell to the world as a writer to watch. As distinct as each project has been, amplifying underrepresented voices is a running theme that connects all his work, from Bob & Rose (2001), The Second Coming (2003) and Cucumber (2015) to A Very English Scandal (2018) and upcoming new series, Tip Toe.
Russell’s deft, expressive and fearless work demonstrates his inquisitiveness about life in all its many facets, and it’s garnered many accolades along the way, including four BAFTAs, five BAFTA Cymru wins, 16 further nominations and the Siân Phillips Award in 2006, alongside Emmys, RTS and other awards. Adding this year’s Outstanding Contribution to Television to the collection, Russell says: “This is such a very great honour, particularly coming from my homeland. Cymru am byth!”
