Queer As Folk’s Craig Kelly up for reunion, was once ‘talk of a film’

Charlie Hunnam, Aidan Gillen and Craig Kelly in Queer as Folk in 2000 | Photo: Channel 4

It’s 20 years since Channel 4 first aired groundbreaking TV drama Queer As Folk – about the lives and loves of three gay men in Manchester, England. Not to mention that sex scene where Aidan Gillen’s lothario ad exec Stuart taught Charlie Hunnam’s teenage schoolboy Nathan what rimming was…

‘It’s frightening where time’s gone,’ gasps Craig Kelly, who played Stuart’s sensible, lovelorn best-friend/secret admirer Vince. ‘I was 28 when I saw the first script, then called “Queer as Fuck” I thought: “Oh right, this is interesting!”’

‘When I read it, I was blown away,’ he adds. ‘It was magic. Russell T. Davies is a fantastic writer.’

Craig Kelly | Photo: Provided

Craig Kelly | Photo: Provided

‘I thought I was auditioning for Stuart,’ adds Craig of the show’s most sexually voracious character. ‘I thought: “I don’t know if I’m brave enough to do that…” When I realized I was playing Vince, I thought: “He’s the shyer one – I can do that!”’

The first series was of course followed by a painfully-short second in 2000 – before inspiring a glossy US version. ‘I briefly watched it,’ says Craig. ‘They had better hair and teeth!’ Shortly after our interview, it emerges a US reboot is in the works.

‘We wanted to go out on a high’

Was it always the case that the second series of the UK version would only be two episodes?

‘That’s a good question,’ replies Craig, whose screen credits include films like Titanic and Spice World, plus TV shows like Doctor Who and Coronation Street.

‘I think there was talk of a film… a two-hour film. It ended up being the two-parter that it was. I don’t think they wanted to milk it. We wanted to go out on a high, and we did. In America it went on for I don’t know how many series…’

The cast in 1999 | Photo: Channel 4

That said, Charlie Hunnam, who’s since starred in TV show Sons of Anarchy and fantasy blockbuster The Lost City of Z, has expressed an interest in a reunion.

‘He hasn’t, hasn’t he?’ says Craig. Would he be up for it? ‘Of course, if the scripts are as good as they were and it was all in place, it would be hard to say no,’ he answers.

‘It was a show for all’

And how does Craig think his version of the show would fare, if aired for the first time today? ‘It’s funny… I think it would still be groundbreaking,’ he says.

He adds he ‘never’ received any homophobia from the public for taking the role on. ‘A few friends at the time said “It might cause you grief.” The reaction was a slight concern, but I’ve had nothing but positivity. To this day, I get straight men, girls, gay men come up to me. It was a show for all.’

Such is the show’s enduring appeal that Craig will appear at a one-off celebration of it in Manchester on 22 February: QUEER AS FOLK 20: STILL DOIN IT LIVE! Taking place at the Albert Hall, it will feature music from the show performed by the Manchester Camerata, plus Faye Tozer from Strictly Come Dancing and 90s/00s pop band Steps.

Craig says he ‘doesn’t know’ if other cast members will put in an appearance. ‘I know they [the producers] are speaking to other people… But as far as I know I’m the only one confirmed. Ex-cast members will be there in the audience, and there will be lots of VIP guests.’

And what would these iconic characters be doing today, I wonder? ‘I imagine they’d all be doing very well in whatever field they chose,’ says Craig affectionally. ‘They were all quite bright. They would have achieved things in life.’

For more information, visit stilldoinitlive.com.

See also: 

Why Queer as Folk’s Hal Sparks insisted character be face-to-face with partner during sex

Queer as Folk alum Gale Harold reflects on his gay role and making love scenes real

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