Keeley Hawes looks upbeat as she's pictured filming Russell T. Davies series Boys for the first time in Manchester
Keeley Hawes was pictured on the set of Russell T. Davies series Boys for the first time in Manchester on Tuesday.
The 43-year-old appeared upbeat as she joined a host of other cast members to film the five-part series for Channel 4.
The drama tells the story of three gay friends and what their life was like growing up in the 80s at the time of the AIDS epidemic.
Back to work: Keeley Hawes looks upbeat as she's pictured filming Russell T. Davies series Boys for the first time in Manchester
Important: The drama tells the story of three gay friends and what their life was like growing up in the 80s at the time of the AIDS epidemic
Years And Years star, Olly Alexander, 29, plays 18-year-old Ritchie Tozer, the golden boy of the family, though he’s determined to keep his secrets from them.
Keeley plays his mother, Valerie and Shaun Dooley plays Clive, his dad.
The story begins in 1981 - and Ritchie and his pals, Roscoe and Colin begin a new life in London. Strangers at first, the men and a woman named Jill become close friends.
Tough tale: Years And Years star, Olly Alexander, 29, plays 18-year-old Ritchie Tozer, the golden boy of the family, though he’s determined to keep his secrets from his family
New role: Keeley plays Ritchie's mother Valerie on the five-part series
The story is set against the backdrop of the rise of the AIDS virus and as the decade passes the friends are determined to live and love more fiercely than ever.
Olly said: 'I feel like the luckiest boy in the world to be a part of this project, I’ve been a fan of Russell T. Davies ever since I watched Queer As Folk in secret at 14-years-old.
'His work helped shape my identity as a gay person so I’m absolutely over the moon we’ll be working together.
Screen shots: A member of the crew took a photo of the cast in their costumes
'The script was amazing to read, I laughed and I cried a lot, it’s a privilege to be helping to tell this story and I’m so excited.'
The show is set to air on the channel in 2020 and filming began this week.
Russell T Davies told Variety almost five years ago that a story about Britain during the AIDS crisis had been 'building up' within him.
He said: 'It’s the kind of story that you think has been told, but then you realize it hasn’t been told in Britain', he mused.
'I am amazed that I haven’t written this before – I am amazed no one has.
'I think we are reaching a bit of a generational thing now where men like me in their 50s are looking back and realizing how shocking it was.'
Neil Patrick Harris, Stephen Fry, Omari Douglas and Tracy Ann Oberman have also joined the cast.
More to come: Some of the characters were in period costume on the day
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