c4chatEd : Welcome, there's a lot of people in here, so let's get started. Unforunately Matt cannot make it tonight, so, let's get on...

Russell Davies : Hello darlings!
Nicola Shindler : Hello-o-o

CK_one : ok.....will there ever be any more queer as folk programs cause they so rule and the cast is pretty tasty too

Nicola Shindler : We hope so! We want there to be. We're ready when Channel 4 are.

v_ince : Have you been pleased with the response that the show has generated from both the public and the media?

Russell Davies : Completely delighted with the response. Obviously some of the media have ignored us but we're very pleased that some critics, like Jacqui Stephens from the Mail on Sunday, now love the show (after hating the first episode).

v_ince : How did the response to the show differ between North and South?

Nicola Shindler : There was no noticeable difference except that the people from Manchester enjoyed watching the locations :)

Ziggy : Hi, the series was great, I was wondering which actor got the most attention from the fans and why?

Nicola Shindler : Probably Charlie Hunnan got the most attention. But critical response was divided equally.

jezar : In light of the withdrawal of sponsorship (by Becks), does Nicola (the producer) feel disheartened by their reaction to the series, or feel committed to making gay drama more acceptable?

Nicola Shindler : I'm not disheartened at all, I think because we're proud of the drama, and the negative response to Beck's was overwhelming.

RobWhitmore : What would you say the 'message' of the series has been?

Russell Davies : There isn't a message in the series really, except that gay people are marvellous and their lives should be celebrated and we should see a lot more of them on television! Russell Davies chuckles.

akhk2 : has QAF got plans to go outside the UK?

Nicola Shindler : It's been sold to France, and hopefully it'll sell to other places as well. But other countries' censorship laws are a lot stricter than the UK's.

kippa : Are any of the characters based on yourselves?

Russell Davies : All of the characters are based on me in some way..but I don't get as much sex as they do. Russell giggles. But I'm trying! And I'm 6'6 and gorgeous!
Nicola Shindler : ...allegedly... ;)

cazkay : has the series had any impact on the actors real lives at all?

Nicola Shindler : No impact except that they enjoyed making the series and they learned a lot and it has made them all a bit more famous :)

AndyCam : What were the viewing figures for the series?

Nicola Shindler : They varied between 1.4m (on a bad week) but mainly up around 2 million, 2.2 by the end.
Russell Davies : But if you count the omnibus figure, it's around 3.5 mill.

astral : With Charlie Hunnam being so young, did he feel concern over taking such a role at 18?

Nicola Shindler : Charlie had no concern about taking the role - he's an actor and knew that he was acting a part and that it was a great opportunity for him.

jasonORM : had any feedback from the Village in Manchester as to how the series has impacted on Manchester

Russell Davies : The response from the club owners in Manchester has been fantastic! They think it's actually made the Village more gay...! and without everyone's co-operation, we couldn't have made the series.

lugsi : Do you feel that a follow up series will have the same impact as this one?

Nicola Shindler : Well - as long as we keep the quality of drama as high as the previous series, we hope it'd have the same impact. But hopefully without the *fuss*.

gareth : What was your reason for making the 1st episode so graphic and the rest not so. Was it pressure from the ch4 bosses or a dramatic reason?

Russell Davies : No pressure from Channel 4. It was vital to have those sex scenes in episode one, because it affected nathan's actions for the rest of the series. I don't think we should shy away from sex, and frankly it ensured that those who couldn't stand the heat got out of the kitchen!

RobWhitmore : Are the characters gay in real life?

Nicola Shindler : Some of them are Alexander, Dazz and Siobhan.

fagson4 : were there many complaits of under age sex? was there an issue that it was being promoted?

Nicola Shindler : There were all the usual suspects who came out to complain. But it wasn't a matter of underage sex being *promoted* or otherwise - it was a storyline. And something that actually happens.

alison arber : do you think that there are more programs being produced for gay audiences now than there were ten years ago?

Russell Davies : Yes, I think so. Possibly because there are a lot of gay men and women working in television :) because we're cleverer and brighter than most straight people!
Nicola Shindler : hahaaa rubbish!
Russell chortles roundly.

Kaz : Russell, your're a fantastic writer, what is your next project?

Russell Davies : Aww thank you Kaz! I'm just waiting for news about the second series, because that's all I want to do.

JungleJock : would you argue that the characters were 'real' rather than 'larger than life'?

Nicola Shindler : We feel that the characters are very real. They are the only ones who can sustain good drama. But some people *are* larger than life, in real life... like Russell T Davies.
Russell Davies laffs.

matt : any big idea for series two?

Russell Davies : Lots of ideas, but they're all secret at the moment...:)

Kieitsme : Do you know of any similar programs in the pipeline? AS you say Gay people are far more advanced than straight, so surely there should be more top TV programs due?

Nicola Shindler : I believe gay people are equal to straight people :) There are some stupid gay people and some stupid straight ones, and I've seemingly met them all in the last year.
Russell Davies falls about laughing
Nicola Shindler : and we're not aware of any similar projects.

gareth : Was the series aimed at education of the ignorant or entertainment?

Nicola Shindler : It was aimed at entertaining, and if people learn in the process then we're very pleased.

phil16 : What feelings do you have on the un equal age of concent for gay people?

Russell Davies : I think the unequal age of consent is an abomination and if I met Baroness Young, I would punch her.

richard : Who was the main provider of the comedy element in the writing

Russell Davies grins. ME! With a lot of help from Nicola and Matt Jones, our script editor.

Laura Mold : Where did you get the idea of Vinces love of Dr. Who from?

Russell Davies : Oh, I love Dr Who! So it was easy, I didn't have to research anything.

mickey : do you think that the older socitity are watch this last series

Nicola Shindler : My mother watches it, and loves it. In fact, my whole older family watch and love it. I'm confident that it appeals across the board because it's good drama.
Russell Davies : My mother thinks it's pornography. Bless her.

Michael : There was a lack of sentimentality in QAF, were you reacting against 'issue based' drama and the wish-fulfillment of, say, Beautiful Things

Nicola Shindler : Yes.
Russell Davies : Yes.
Nicola Shindler : Well... not against, but we dislike sentimental drama very much, both of us.

vicky cater : Is the gay issue close to home for you guys, and if so, have you experienced any prejhudice in TV?

Nicola Shindler : I'm resolutely heterosexual, if anyone's single... Nicola grins.
Russell Davies : Erm... I'm gay and in TV you meet very very little prejudice. We're very lucky.

Dennis : What do you feel about Becks pulling their sponsorship on the show, and does this not support homophobia?

Nicola Shindler : We are unhappy that Beck's withdrew their sponsorship because we're very very proud of the programme and all its contents.

Kieitsme : Who coreographed the mobile phone routine a couple of series ago??? It was very clever!!!

Nicola Shindler : Well...Russell wrote the scene, the director directed it beautifully and the editor put it together.

jenn : As the series evidently attempted to portray a diverse range of lifestyle choices, do you feel that to end the series with what looked like a commitment to an exclusive relationship between Stuart and Vince sent a message that this is what gay men should aspire to rather than Stuart's hedonism and self-reliance?

Russell Davies : No-o! I think Vince is not now Stuart's boyfriend and would rather go out clubbing than settle down with a man he didn't love.
Nicola Shindler : in an exclusive relationship
Russell Davies : He has settled for unrequited love. Maybe, just maybe, that's brilliant....;-)

richard : There were no bisexual characters represented...any reason for this?

Nicola Shindler : The reason for that is that none of the characters created by Russell were bisexual and we didn't choose to represent everyone.
Russell Davies : The moment you try and represent everyone, you'll end up with the blandest drama series on earth.

jasonORM : Who did Stuart's hair, and who furnished his apartment?

Nicola Shindler : His hair is natural, with a little bit of wax :) and his apartment was furnished by our brilliant designer, Claire Kenny. It was an empty room when we started.

steven d : WHERE CAN I GET A KANINE FROM ?

Russell Davies : It was the original K-9 from the BBC! But if you look on the net... under www.thisplanetearth.com... they will soon be selling models.

ryanthepoo : who chose the music for the series?? I think that it was tops. I have the CD and I was wondering when the weather girls were going to come on. when they did it just ended the series perfectly.

Russell grins Our script editor, Matt Jones, chose a lot of the tracks and the original music was by Murray Gold.

Oberon : There was a wonderfil scene early on when Vince went into a straight bar and complained about the flock wallpaper - this ws, I think, the first ime I've seen hetrosexuality depicted as anything other than the taken-for-granted-norm - this was a very powerful scene. It seemed to break new ground. Was this intentional? Do you think that, in years to come, you will be viewed as ground-breaking?

Nicola Shindler : We're glad that that scene broke new ground, but basically we thought it was a very funny scene. It was needed, to show that Vince was in-the-closet at work.

Oliver Smith : Will you ever let Sky get their gruby hands on your masterpiece?

Nicola Shindler : We don't own the rights to Queer as Folk - they're owned by Channel 4, so you'll have to ask Michael Jackson :)

Mambo Mark : did the internet chat pick up scene stem from experience?

Russell Davies : Yes-s-s-s. Our script editor, Matt Jones, is very experienced on the old IRC. He taught me a lot.

c4chatEd : and...?

Russell Davies : I've never got shagged as a result though!

alison arber : the drug scene where the character died was very hard hitting - did you intend to send out an anti-drugs message to your audience?

Russell Davies : No, no message Alison, just a good strong story. You'll notice that in episode six, Stuart and Vince are seen taking drugs again..for pleasure. So they've learned nothing.

jasonORM : did you experience any problems during recording in the village with all the hurlyburly that goes on down there of an evening?

Nicola Shindler : We filmed on Mondays and Tuesdays which are quiet nights and everyone in the Village co-operated with us which made it very easy. It was only the rain that held us up.

ceegee : Do you have any future plans for a film, possibly a film for TV i.e. FilmFour?

Nicola Shindler : We'd be interested if Film on Four want to make a feature version. We just want to keep making QAF, whatever the format.

c4chatEd : Just to ask again because some people missed it...

Mambo Mark : Will there be a second series?

Nicola Shindler : We hope so. Two scripts have been finished by Russell and we're very excited by them.

c4chatEd : That's it everyone. Thanks for coming in. Thanks Nic and Russell Goodnight!

Russell Davies : Thanks to everyone for your support, it's been absolutely brilliant!
Nicola Shindler : Bye everyone! Thanks!
Russell Davies : Night all!