'Your heart will be broken, warmed and lifted': It's a Sin receives outpouring of praise from viewers and celebs as fans call for Russell T Davies' 'masterpiece' to sweep TV awards

 Channel 4 and Russell T Davies debuted their new drama on Friday night, the five-part series It's a Sin.

Following a group of friends living in London throughout the eighties, the series weaves its way through a decade of hedonism and horror for the young gay men as the AIDS crisis seeps into their life of parties, burgeoning careers and young love. 

Starring Years & Years frontman Olly Alexander alongside a cast of rising stars and celebrated favourites including Keeley Hawes, Stephen Fry and Neil Patrick Harris, It's a Sin was universally praised by fans and celebrity viewers on Friday night.

Praise: Channel 4 and Russell T Davies debuted their new drama on Friday night, the five-part series It's a Sin, which received an outpouring of praise from viewers

Praise: Channel 4 and Russell T Davies debuted their new drama on Friday night, the five-part series It's a Sin, which received an outpouring of praise from viewers 

Davies, the writer and producer behind Queer As Folk, the 2005 revival of Doctor Who and Cucumber, loosely based It's A Sin on his own experiences in the eighties.He also spent hours in conversation with his childhood friend Jill Nalder, an actor, ally and activist who lived in London during the decade and is played by Lydia West in the drama. The real-life Jill also appears, playing Lydia's mother in episodes four and five.Davies cast Alexander as the show's protagonist Ritchie Tozer, an 18-year-old hailing from an ignorant, unloving household on the Isle of Wight who throws himself headfirst into London life, soon befriending Jill and three others and renting their flat, lovingly dubbed The Pink Palace. 

The cast of young talent is supported by a string of veteran screen stars, including Keeley Hawes and Shaun Dooley as Ritchie's parents, Stephen Fry as an MP lover of outrageous flatmate Rosce (Omari Douglas) and Neil Patrick Harris as a mentor to another, the quietly observant Colin (Callum Scott Howell).  

Jaw-dropping telly: Following a group of friends living in London throughout the eighties, the series weaves its way through a decade of hedonism and horror (pictured, star Olly Alexander who plays Ritchie)

Jaw-dropping telly: Following a group of friends living in London throughout the eighties, the series weaves its way through a decade of hedonism and horror (pictured, star Olly Alexander who plays Ritchie)

Graham Norton had already warned his fans the impact the show would have, having been lucky enough to catch a preview. Tweeting on Friday, the broadcaster declared: 

'The best five hours of television I’ve seen in years. Your heart will be broken, warmed and lifted. Cast amazing. Soundtrack epic but most of all it’s about the genius and compassion of @russelldavies63.'

And after watching the first episode, hundreds of fans followed his lead, heaping praise on Davis' latest drama. 

Many admitted they couldn't stop thinking about the show long after the TV was switched off, with one fan tweeting:

Star cast: The five-part series stars Years & Years frontman Alexander alongside a cast of rising stars and celebrated favourites including Neil Patrick Harris

Star cast: The five-part series stars Years & Years frontman Alexander alongside a cast of rising stars and celebrated favourites including Neil Patrick Harris

Celebrated performances: The cast of young talent is supported by a string of veteran talent, including Keeley Hawes and Shaun Dooley as Ritchie's parents

Celebrated performances: The cast of young talent is supported by a string of veteran talent, including Keeley Hawes and Shaun Dooley as Ritchie's parents

Cameo: Stephen Fry also appears as an MP lover of Ritchie's outrageous flatmate Rosce (Omari Douglas)

Cameo: Stephen Fry also appears as an MP lover of Ritchie's outrageous flatmate Rosce (Omari Douglas)

'Still thinking about #ItsASin tbh. The power of shame, the joy of friendship, the importance of allies - women in particular. It's really humbled me and thankful for the people who walked the dangerous paths for us to have our privileges today. Do not forget them.' 

Like many, Nigella Lawson couldn't resist watching beyond the first episode, binge watching the series on All 4 and declaring she was 'poleaxed'.

Calling the drama 'a masterpiece,' the star tweeted: 'I'm lost for words. So many friends remembered. Thank you @risselldavies63. I need to watch it again straighaway. So beautiful and true (I'll stop now. When I said I was lost for words, I wasn't kidding!).

Fan: Graham Norton had already warned his fans the impact the show would have, having been lucky enough to catch a preview. Tweeting on Friday, the broadcaster delcared: 'The best five hours of television I¿ve seen in years'

Fan: Graham Norton had already warned his fans the impact the show would have, having been lucky enough to catch a preview. Tweeting on Friday, the broadcaster delcared: 'The best five hours of television I’ve seen in years'

'Masterpiece': Like many, Nigella Lawson couldn't resist watching beyond the first episode, binge watching the series on All 4 and declaring she was 'poleaxed' as other celeb viewers tweeted their praise

'Masterpiece': Like many, Nigella Lawson couldn't resist watching beyond the first episode, binge watching the series on All 4 and declaring she was 'poleaxed' as other celeb viewers tweeted their praise 

Actor Russell Tovey said he was 'so happy all the queer teens now have #itsasin.'

'I'm transported way back to when I caught, by accident #BeautifulThing - lights off, volumn super low - mum and dad asleep next door - watching, trembling, disbelieving, changing - this show is for you.'

Actor Daniel Mays was full of praise for his fellow Line of Duty star Keeley Hawes, admitting her performance 'ruined me.'

Memorable: Many admitted they couldn't stop thinking about the show long after the TV was switched off

Memorable: Many admitted they couldn't stop thinking about the show long after the TV was switched off

Awards: Other viewers heaped praise on the young cast, with many highlighting Lydia West's central performance. 'All of the baftas for Lydia West,' tweeted one

Awards: Other viewers heaped praise on the young cast, with many highlighting Lydia West's central performance. 'All of the baftas for Lydia West,' tweeted one

Other viewers heaped praise on the young cast, with many highlighting Lydia West's central performance. 

'Just finished watching #ItsASin. Unforgettable, heartbreaking and essential television. Beautiful performances from everyone. All of the baftas for Lydia West,' tweeted one.

'Lydia West stole the show as Jill. her acting is exceptional,' was another tweet for the young actress who also starred in Davies' 2019 series Years and Years.  

'I cannot imagine a world where Lydia West does not get a BAFTA for Jill in 'ItsASin,' agreed another.

Others hailed Olly Alexander, with one critic admitting: 'I'm not saying he should give up on Years & Years but I want Olly Alexander in every TV drama from now on please' (Alexander pictured with Nathaniel Curtis as Ash)

Others hailed Olly Alexander, with one critic admitting: 'I'm not saying he should give up on Years & Years but I want Olly Alexander in every TV drama from now on please' (Alexander pictured with Nathaniel Curtis as Ash)

Leading man: 'It pleases me greatly that Olly Alexander is getting such an amazing vehicle to showcase how great of an actor he is with Its A Sin,' read one tweet

Leading man: 'It pleases me greatly that Olly Alexander is getting such an amazing vehicle to showcase how great of an actor he is with Its A Sin,' read one tweet

Others hailed Olly Alexander, with one critic admitting: 'I'm not saying he should give up on Years & Years but I want Olly Alexander in every TV drama from now on please.'

'It pleases me greatly that Olly Alexander is getting such an amazing vehicle to showcase how great of an actor he is with Its A Sin,' read another tweet.

'He's done smaller roles before and around the success of Years & Years but this really feels like HIS moment.' 

Even the show's cast were left in awe after watching the whole series, with Shaun Dooley emotionally tweeting over the weekend: 'Just finished watching #ItsASin couldn't handle in one sitting. 

'My heart is totally broken, Here's a LA to all those we lost. @Alexander_olly @marsdoug @callumshowells @nathancurtis90 #LydiaWest @Misskeeleyhawes You are all incredible. @russelldavies63 You are beyond words X' 

Watch all five episodes of It's A Sin on All4 now. Episode two airs on Channel 4 on Friday at 9pm. 

'Totally broken': Even the show's cast were left in awe after watching the whole series, with Shaun Dooley emotionally tweeting over the weekend

'Totally broken': Even the show's cast were left in awe after watching the whole series, with Shaun Dooley emotionally tweeting over the weekend

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