Born:
April 27, 1963
in
Swansea
Best Known For:
The 2005 revival of Doctor Who.
Early-life:
Stephen Russell Davies was born in Swansea on April 27, 1963 to teachers Vivian and Barbara. He aspired to be a comic artist but focused instead on writing. After graduating from Oxford University, he joined the BBC's children's department in 1985 and did various jobs, including writing and producing. He began focusing on writing adult TV dramas in 1994.
Career:
Davies' big break came in 1999 when he created Channel 4 drama Queer as Folk, based on his experiences of Manchester's gay scene. He followed this up with Bob & Rose, The Second Coming, Mine All Mine, and Casanova. He is perhaps best known for reviving Doctor Who in 2005, with Christopher Eccleston in the title role. The success of the show led to spin-off series Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures. In 2009, he moved to Los Angeles to work on Torchwood: Miracle Day. After returning to the UK, he co-created CBBC drama Wizards vs Aliens. More recently, he worked on Cucumber, Banana and Tofu.
Quote:
'There should be more male nudity on TV.'
Trivia:
Davies' writing processes are explored in the 2008 book The Writer's Tale, a collection of emails between Davies and journalist Benjamin Cook.