It’s A Sin: Review and reaction

IT’S NOT A SIN

Source: Channel 4

By PAUL McAULEY

Comedy and compas- nection with the poignant storylines. which has been supporting people sion are at the core of The virus arrived in the region at a and their families for more than 30 Russell T. Davies’ lat- particularly bad time as it coincided years now. They aim to increase est offering It’s A Sin. with a bleak economic downturn sexual health knowledge, reduce The highly popular se- and the arrival of a heroin epidemic, stigma and campaign for the rights ries has already been watched by 6.5 which meant those sharing dirty for those living with HIV and related million people on streaming service, needles were particularly vulnerable intersectionality (gender, sexuality, All 4, and the first episode alone was to catching HIV. asylum status). the most watched launch of a drama One who saw Liverpool being mir- Serena Cavanagh, a spokesperson series that the site has ever had. rored in It’s a Sin was Nurse Consult- for the charity, spoke about some of The sublime Channel 4 mini-series ant Lesley Mills. Having worked at its work. follows the lives of four young gay Royal Liverpool Hospital at the time, “We fundraise in many ways from men as they find their feet in London the 51-year-old commended Channel music events, cake sales, raffles, and promise to live their lives to the 4 for their production. quiz nights, individual donations and fullest. The group “It left me floored, “The show is very well written now online events with donations. There have been so many events arrive in the city in 1981, it was so accurate, and directed, factually correct and I that have taken place over the years and we are proud of all of them,” just as the first believe it’s a very she said. reports of a new ‘disease’ it was like I was good reflection of the attitudes and “We are always so thankful to our supporters’ generosity, taking time to making its way across the At- reliving that era, behaviours at the time,” she said. raise money for Sahir House. “All money raised goes directly lantic surface. As the series life when I was first “Those nurses who were willing to those in most need and especially now as more and more people moves through the decade, the diagnosed back in to work on those wards had the right find themselves in crisis due to the current pandemic. storyline natu- caring attitude “However, we openly talk about rally darkens. The 1984. The attitude, – but often did not voice it in Covid and cancer and heart disease, but most people probably won’t tell protagonist, Ritchie (Olly the fear, isolation, public. Hopefully, people are now less everybody about their HIV.” Not only is it National HIV Testing Alexander) remains in deni-exclusion and the prejudiced as they are more educated Week but this week is also the beginning of LGBT+ History Month al and spreads conspiracy ignorance.” from the show.” She remembers in the UK. The government’s goal is to end new cases of the virus by theories until whilst travelling 2030 and Serena acknowledges this he finds himself face-to-face with the from different locations of the coun- can be achieved. ‘gay plague’. For a show that is set to try that views varied. “Today, a person living with HIV, include so much sadness, joy can still “I worked in London at St Mary’s who is on effective treatment and be seen everywhere, as the group take which had a large group of gay men has an undetectable viral load, will pride in protesting against Margret with HIV/AIDS and the same in not transmit HIV to their sexual Thatcher’s Section 28 legislation and Edinburgh. The attitudes to each of partners. We refer to this as U=U, those pharmaceutical companies who these groups was very different com- undetectable equals untransmittable. were profiting off the disease. pared to Liverpool, but one thing that

The heart-warming ending shows was commonly believed was that men a flashback the group enjoying with haemophilia were the ‘innocent their time together before the AIDS victims’ as they contracted HIV from pandemic hit. contaminated blood products.”

Despite representation of the Isle One reason why the judgement in of Wight, Nigeria and Wales, many Liverpool was less harsh was thanks Liverpudlians felt a personal con- to the work of Sahir House, a charity

Nurse Lesley Mills, from Liverpool believes the drama is “very well written and factually correct”.

An HIV positive man from Sahir House, said: “I binge-watched the entire series of Its a Sin on All4 in one day! It left me floored, it was so accurate, it was like I was reliving that era, life when I was first diagnosed back in 1984. The attitude, the fear, isolation, exclusion and the ignorance. Only someone who lived through those two decades and was greatly affected could write this so raw and emotional and near to the bone.”

It seems fitting that Liverpool doubled as New York and London in the programme. The Pier Head and the Royal Liver Building were used to resemble early tall American skyscrapers whilst the former Martin’s Bank HQ acted as a hotel.