Russell T Davies says he keeps a knife by his door after a stranger came to his home

Left · 2Screenwriter Russell T Davies, 63, told The Guardian that he keeps a kitchen knife by his front door, "ready to use", after one person turned up at his house. 1 2 Left · 2Davies said his support for trans rights has brought years of death threats and "groomer" smears, which he used to brush off, and that he is called a paedophile and a groomer online by people such as Father Ted creator and anti-trans activist Graham Linehan. 1 2 Left · 2Davies said: "If you believe a paedophile lives here, it's not the maddest thing in the world to come and get me," and added that he cannot see an end to the problem, blaming "tech barons" and saying hatred is being monetised by an algorithm. 1 2

Left · 2The interview, by Joe Stone, was held at Davies's Swansea home to discuss The Queerest of Folk, a memoir of Davies's career that The Independent says is due out later this month. 1 2 Left · 1Davies discussed the 2011 brain tumour diagnosis of partner Andrew Smith, who was initially given 18 months to live; Davies quit work to become a carer, and Smith lived until 2018. 1 Left · 1Davies said that after Smith's death, the schedule of Years and Years forced a return to work within days, and that writing was "a nice escape"; the memoir says Davies then spent eight years sitting at home, during which Davies made Years and Years, returned to Doctor Who and wrote It's a Sin, Nolly and Tip Toe. 1

Left · 1On Tip Toe, a drama about neighbours on opposite sides of the political divide, Davies defended including a gender-critical character, Stephanie, saying "it's important to hear all voices" and asking "Where is the debate?"; the show upset some viewers. 1 Left · 1Asked whether he would still write Queer As Folk's storyline of a one-night stand between a 29-year-old and a 15-year-old, given today's accusations of grooming against gay men, Davies said he would, arguing the context of Section 28 in 1999 was different. 1 Left · 1Davies led the revival of Doctor Who, which was the No 1 show on British television during the 2005–2010 tenure, and later returned as showrunner; the Guardian piece also covers Davies's family, including a father who never knew Davies wrote for television full-time. 1

Left · 1The Independent added background on Davies's shows and on paedophile hunters, describing them as controversial groups that some call "vigilantes" and others praise, and noted the activity is not against the law in itself. It also quoted Davies on rights closing like slow pneumatic hinges. 2