I was just a baby gay when Queer As Folk first hit our screens in 1999, and let me tell you – nothing had prepared any of us for what we were about to see.
Here was a show that didn’t just “feature” gay characters – it celebrated them, showed them doing actual deeds in bed (clutch those pearls!), and gave us stories that felt real, raw, and wonderfully unapologetic.
Long before apps and social media, Manchester’s Canal Street became our window into a world where being gay wasn’t just accepted – it was fabulous.
Twenty-five years later (yes, we’re that old now), let’s catch up with the incredible cast who changed the game forever.
Aidan Gillen (Stuart Alan Jones)
Oh, Stuart Alan Jones – the man who launched a thousand sexual awakenings. Aidan Gillen gave us TV’s first proper gay antihero: a shameless, gorgeous advertising exec who collected men like trading cards and made absolutely no apologies for it.
Stuart was the bad boy we all either wanted to be or be with (often both).
These days, Aidan is still serving that magnetic charisma at 56.
After conquering HBO as the deliciously manipulative Littlefinger in Game of Thrones, he’s been absolutely killing it. He had a role in Peaky Blinders, then in 2023, he transformed into James Joyce for Dance First and starred in the noir thriller Barber.
Then he started filming The Duel, playing a Russian agent during the 1939 invasion of Poland, and let’s not forget his appearance of Paramount+’s Mayor of Kingstown. The man simply doesn’t miss.
Charlie Hunnam (Nathan Maloney)
Let’s be honest – who could forget Charlie Hunnam as young Nathan? That cheeky smile, those dance moves at Babylon, and that fearless pursuit of Stuart had us all glued to our screens.
The show handled their controversial relationship with surprising nuance for the time (but without fear!), giving us one of TV’s most memorable coming-of-age stories.
Fast forward to today, and well… have you SEEN him lately? At 44, Charlie has only gotten better with age (seriously, it’s almost unfair).
After seven seasons of leather-clad glory in Sons of Anarchy, he absolutely steam-rolled into Hollywood as Raleigh Becket in Pacific Rim – fighting giant monsters in that glorious metal suit (not that I was paying attention to that part, ahem).
He then showed his serious acting chops as explorer Percy Fawcett in The Lost City of Z, bulked up gorgeously for King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, and had us all swooning as that sophisticated boxing trainer in Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen.
Now he’s about to get seriously dark playing Ed Gein in the third season of Ryan Murphy’s Monsters series on Netflix. From Canal Street to Hollywood, our Nathan’s done good!
Craig Kelly (Vince Tyler)
Vince Tyler was the heart and soul of Queer as Folk – the Doctor Who-obsessed video store manager whose unrequited love for Stuart had us all shouting at our TV screens.
Craig Kelly made Vince so relatable it hurt – that perfect mix of wit, insecurity, and loyalty that made him everyone’s favorite best friend.
Since then, Craig’s kept himself busy with a string of memorable roles. He brought his charm to the glossy world of Hotel Babylon, stirred up drama on the cobbles of Coronation Street, and showed his range in shows like Casualty and The Golden Hour.
Now 54, he’s still got that everyman charm we all fell for; he appeared in the thriller Silent Cry alongside Emily Woof, he produced and starred in the Blackpool-based gangster flick Trick or Treat, and he’s found a new calling hosting the podcast Kelly’s Heroes a few years ago.
Most recently, he was on the Boat Story mini-series.
Peter O’Brien (Cameron Roberts)
The gorgeous Aussie who broke our hearts as Cameron Roberts, Vince’s accountant boyfriend – is still going strong at 63. Yes, you heard that right – he was already a major daddy back then, so now… super daddy?
Peter’s been keeping busy on both sides of the globe, recently starring in Riptide and Darby and Joan. He’s also appeared in Ladies in Black, Slow Dating, and recently in Return to Paradise, which proves that some men really age like fine wine.
Oh, and of course – he appeared in many – and I mean MANY – episodes of Aussie soap Neighbours.
Antony Cotton (Alexander Perry)
Who could forget Alexander Perry? The sharp-tongued, witty queen working at Harlo Fabrics gave us some of the show’s most memorable one-liners.
Antony Cotton brought such authenticity to the role, it’s no wonder he went on to become one of Britain’s most beloved soap stars.
Just months after Queer as Folk wrapped, Antony landed the role of Sean Tully in Coronation Street – making history as the show’s first openly gay character.
Fast forward to today, and at 48, he’s still serving sass and heart on the cobbles, celebrating an impressive 20 years on the show!
Beyond the Street, he’s charmed audiences on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, showed off his moves on Dancing on Ice, and become a strong voice for LGBTQ+ rights.
From Canal Street to Coronation Street, Antony’s shown that being authentically yourself never goes out of style.
Jason Merrells (Phil Delaney)
Unlike Russell T. Davies’ later shows, Queer as Folk was pretty upbeat – but Jason was certainly a tragic character, playing Phil – Vince and Stuart’s close friend, who dies tragically after a bad date.
Jason has been absolutely owning the stage in productions like The Verdict and Twelve Angry Men, while returning to TV in the rebooted Waterloo Road, ITV’s Emmerdale, hot UK series Happy Valley, and more TV roles.
Andy Devine (Bernard Thomas)
We sadly lost Andy in January 2022, at 79. As Bernard Thomas, the wise old queen brought warmth and wit to Canal Street, acting as a father figure to the younger characters and delivering some of the show’s most tender moments
Then again, many will remember Andy best as the legendary Shadrach Dingle in Emmerdale (2000-2010).
He popped up in everything from Coronation Street to Linda Green over the years, always bringing that special touch that made every character feel real.
Denise Black (Hazel Tyler)
And while we’re focusing on the men of QAF in this article – we can’t end it without giving a nod to Hazel Tyler – the mom we all wished we had – fierce, funny, and ready to take on anyone who dared mess with her gay son.
Denise Black brought such warmth to the role that she basically became everyone’s honorary gay mom.
At 65, Denise is still absolutely smashing it. She’s popped up in everything from Disney+’s Rivals to Call the Midwife and Father Brown – and she even had a guest appearance – as Hazel! – on Russell T. Davies’ Cucumber.
When she’s not on screen, she’s rocking out with her band, The Loose Screw. Seriously, could she be any cooler?
Looking back now, it’s wild to think how much Queer As Folk changed everything. Before streaming, before marriage equality, before it all became mainstream, these incredible actors gave us characters that made us feel seen, represented, and proud.
They showed us a world where being gay wasn’t just okay – it was brilliant.
Where to Watch?
In the UK, Queer as Folk is available to stream on Channel 4.
In the US, Queer as Folk (UK) is available to stream on Prime Video.