It's a Sin (TV series)

Did You Know?

• In March 2026, Rambert Dance Company announced a contemporary dance adaptation of the series, to premiere at Aviva Studios in Manchester.
• Davies had previously turned down the suggestion of adapting the series for musical theatre.

Production

Russell T Davies based the series on his own and his friends' experiences during the 1980s and the UK AIDS crisis, intending to commemorate the generation who died from the illness. He first publicised these plans in January 2015 and later described the script as the most research-based piece he would ever do. Davies spent a year trying to secure a deal, with two broadcasters declining to commission the show. BBC One and ITV passed on the series, and Channel 4 initially declined as well. Channel 4's Commissioning Editor of Drama, Lee Mason, waited for a significant staff change before successfully pitching the idea. Davies originally envisaged the show as an eight-part drama; Channel 4 requested four episodes, and Davies negotiated five. The commission was announced on 22 August 2018 at the Edinburgh International Television Festival, with the show still titled The Boys. Davies developed the series with Nicola Shindler, who served as Executive Producer with her Red Production Company. Phil Collinson was hired as producer and Peter Hoar as director. Murray Gold created the music score. The working title was later changed from The Boys because it was too similar to the Amazon series The Boys. Principal photography commenced on 7 October 2019. Despite its London setting, filming took place mainly in Manchester, with additional locations in Liverpool, Bolton, Eccles, Bangor, and Rhos-on-Sea.

Release and reception

The first glimpse of the series arrived on 14 January 2020, when a press release at a Channel 4 event shared a promotional image. Although a 2020 debut was initially planned, the first teaser trailer dropped on 2 October 2020, along with news that the show would air in 2021. A full trailer followed on 17 December 2020. The series finally premiered on Channel 4 in Ireland and the UK on 22 January 2021. Right after the first episode aired, the entire season became free to stream on Channel 4’s on-demand service, All 4. To promote the show, Years & Years, the band fronted by actor Olly Alexander, released a cover of the Pet Shop Boys’ “It’s a Sin,” with proceeds benefiting George House Trust, an HIV charity. A DVD and Blu-ray release hit the UK on 22 February 2021. HBO Max came on board in December 2019, securing US rights and releasing the show as an HBO Max Original on 18 February 2021. Red Production Company worked with All3Media to handle international distribution. In Australia, Stan began streaming it on 23 January 2021, while TVNZ carried it in New Zealand. Amazon Prime Video picked up Canadian rights, Canal+ aired it in France, and other territories included South Korea’s Watcha Play, the Netherlands’ NPO, Belgium’s RTBF and Canvas, Russia’s Amedia, Greece’s Cosmote TV, and Germany’s ZDFneo. The first episode drew 1.6 million live viewers on Channel 4, matching the launch benchmark set a year earlier by Deadwater Fell. It also became the network’s top drama among 16-to-34-year-olds in three years, with catch-up views hitting 2.5 million within three days.