Tonight sees the start of the sequel to the ground-breaking drama series Queer as Folk, one of the most talked-about television events for years. The original award-winning series that provoked so much heat in newsprint blew television off the straight and narrow. And just to ensure that it remains that way, Stuart, Vince and Nathan are back in Queer as Folk 2 which takes their story further, and once again follows the dazzling Canal Street boys through their lives, loves and dangerous liaisons.

But it's not all nights out on the town. There's a future to face. Will Vince settle down in his small world, will Stuart allow himself to be manipulated, and will Nathan ever grow up?

At the end of series one, Vince's (CRAIG KELLY) love for Stuart (AIDAN GILLEN) was unrequited. Now the sexual buzz between them is becoming irresistible. Will they finally get together, or will Vince be too scared to perform and Stuart too scared to commit? Nathan (CHARLIE HUNNAM) was last seen running away to London. After living the high life on his dad's credit cards he's back in Manchester, still in his idol's shadow. Can he find his own identity?

In tonight's opening episode, nothing seems to have changed for Stuart and Vince, one the sexy predator, the other the reticent sidekick. But things are changing around them. Vince has his career to consider and Stuart suddenly finds himself the target of blackmail. Then a newly confident Nathan comes back into their lives, celebrating his return from London to Canal Street. He's hell-bent on partying, but finds that Stuart and Vince have other things on their minds. Vince's mum Hazel (DENISE BLACK) is determined finally to play matchmaker at her daughter's wedding, and Stuart discovers that in his family the truth may at last have to out...