The One Show's Alex Jones was left "slightly starstruck" after Welsh actress, Jill Nalder joined her on the sofa to talk about her debut novel. Nalder, who is primarily a theatre actress, played the role of Christine Baxter in writer Russell T Davies' hit Channel 4 series - It's A Sin.
The Doctor Who showrunner, who joined Jill on the sofa, based the award-winning drama on their experience of living together in the 1980s, Nalder was the inspiration behind Lydia West's character, Jill. The longtime friends first met at the age of 14 while performing in a youth theatre in West Glamorgan in Wales and have remained friends ever since.
As Jill sat on the green sofa, presenter Alex Jones, 45, said: "I have to say, Jill, I'm slightly starstruck because as Russell [T Davies] knows, I love the series so much, as did many, many, many people watching tonight, and you were the muse, so it's really great to meet you tonight."
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Channel 4 series, It's A Sin, aired in 2021 and follows a group of friends who move to London in 1981 and who are impacted immeasurably by the HIV/AIDS crisis. The series received critical acclaim and notably, created an upsurge in testing for the disease. In the series, Nalder played Lydia West's character's mother, Christine Baxter, alongside a cast that featured Years and Years' Olly Alexander, Welsh actor Callum Scott-Howells and Omari Douglas.
Promoting her new book, Love from the Pink Palace, Nalder told Jones: "It was very much like the atmosphere of It's A Sin with all the fun and all the people getting together and all the fun and the camaraderie, but it was really pink in real life." She recalled how there were, "pink sofas, pink walls, pink curtains and pink chandeliers".
Nalder detailed how, "as time went by, everything changed," referring to the 1980s Aids and HIV crisis explored in It's A Sin. Despite this, she called it a "lovely, happy time" in her life.
Talking about his own memories of The Pink Palace, It's A Sin writer Russell referenced Nalder's "singing" at the time. He said: "The Trollettes, the drag queens, would be out in the kitchen. A normal day," recounting his memories of the 1980s. He added: "We were so young and had so much fun, whilst around us, this virus was fast approaching."
A self-confessed fan of It's A Sin, Jones ended the interview by asking whether the iconic 'La' from the series was a "real thing". Russell confirmed: "It was a catchphrase like many of your friends do and it ended up making a lot of money for charity."
Following the hit Channel 4 series, 'La' t-shirts were sold in a bid to raise money for the Terrence Higgins Trust. Nalder commented that it was "fantastic" to see the fashion item raising funds.
Love for the Pink Palace, Nalder's debut novel, tells the true story of her and her friends' lives during the AIDS crisis - juggling a busy West End career while campaigning for AIDS awareness and research, educating herself and caring for the sick. Most of all, she shines a light on those who were stigmatised and shamed, and remembers those brave and beautiful boys who were lost too soon.
The One Show airs on weekdays on BBC One at 7pm
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