IT’s A Sin has been hailed as one of the most best new dramas of 2021.
The new series is rooted in real-life stories of tragedy and heartache, but also of strong friendship.
Who’s in the cast of Channel 4 drama It’s A Sin?
Keeley Hawes as Valerie Tozer
Keeley plays the mum of closeted son Ritchie who goes off to London to live as his true self.
She has said of her character that Valerie is “complicated, but at the same time she’s incredibly straight forward”.
Keeley is a familiar face on British TV screens having starred in Bodyguard alongside Richard Madden as well as Finding Alice with Joanna Lumley.
The actress, who met her husband while filming Spooks, Matthew Macfadyen, had roles in ITV drama series The Durrells, which ended in 2019, as well as BBC’s Line of Duty.
Olly Alexander as Ritchie Tozer
Lead singer of the band Years & Years, Olly Alexander, plays the lead character of Ritchie.
He leaves his home on the Isle of Wight without having coming out to his parents.
The musician has had a few acting credits over the years including roles in Penny Dreadful and Skins.
Omari Douglas as Roscoe Babatunde
Omari plays Roscoe, who is disowned by his family when he comes out.
The character’s his homophobic, God-fearing parents are preparing to send him to Nigeria to be cured of his “gayness”.
This is Omari’s fist major TV role after appearing in 2019 film Wise Children.
Omari, who was born after the worst of the Aids crisis, told PinkNews it was thrilling to film with Stephen Fry who had “lived through it”.
Stephen Fry as Arthur Garrison
Stephen is cast as Arthur Garrison, an MP who is trying to impress Margaret Thatcher, as well as keep his sexuality under wraps.
Stephen is a regular on our screens having come to prominence in comedy double act Fry and Laurie.
He and Hugh Laurie went on to star in Jeeves and Webster from 1990 to 1993.
He hosted quiz QI for close to 200 episodes and acted in films such as Gosford Park and V For Vendetta.
Callum Scott Howells as Colin Morris-Jones
Callum Scott Howells plays Colin Morris-Jones, who moves to London from Wales to take up an apprenticeship at Savile Row.
The wide-eyed, shy tailor is somewhat of an outsider to the group at first but soon becomes accepted as part of the gang.
Newbie Callum, 22, graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and has appeared in a number of theatre productions.
Other cast members include
- Lydia West as Jill Baxter
- Nathaniel Curtis as Ash Mukherjee
- Shaun Dooley as Clive Tozer
- Neil Patrick Harris as Henry Coltrane
What is It’s A Sin about?
The Channel 4 drama follows four young friends in the 1980s who watch their worlds unravel over the first decade of the HIV pandemic.
The Years & Years singer Olly Alexander plays Ritchie Tozer, the golden boy of his family who is determined to keep his secrets from them after moving to London to start a new life in 1981.
A synopsis for the series reads: “Strangers at first, Ritchie and his pals Roscoe and Colin, along with their best friend Jill, find themselves thrown together and soon share each other’s adventures.
“But a new virus is on the rise, and soon their lives will be tested in ways they never imagined.
“As the decade passes, and they grow up in the shadow of AIDS, they’re determined to live and love more fiercely than ever.”
When is It’s A Sin on Channel 4?
It’s A Sin’s airs on Channel 4 tomorrow night ( February 5) at 9pm.
The entire series will also be available to stream on All 4.
Speaking about his latest role, 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.
“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.”
