Ep 44: Callum Scott Howells

Hold on to your tissues because you might shed happy and sad tears because in today's episode we are joined by the star of It’s A Sin, Callum Scott Howells! ***And before we go any further, if you haven’t watched It’s A Sin yet, be warned there are serious plot spoilers in this episode***It’s A Sin - which is nominated for a whopping 11 awards at this year’s Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards - is the definition of a game changing show. Created by the iconic, Russel T Davies (the man behind the likes of Queer as Folk, Years & Years and Doctor Who) the show explores the lives and loves of group of queer youngsters beginning a new life in 1980s London and soon find themselves struck by the HIV pandemic, ignored by most of the world at the time. In his Virgin Media BAFTA TV Best Supporting Actor nominated performance, Callum plays the much loved Colin, a young Welsh lad who moves to London to become a tailor and experience queer life for the first time but is eventually devastated by the virus. Colin’s diagnosis scene (it makes me cry just thinking about it ANYONE ELSE?!?) which shows him flanked by allies and his mother is also nominated for Virgin Media’s Must-See Moment Award at this year’s Virgin Media BAFTA TV awards, too. The award celebrates the diversity of British TV, and the moments that got our nation talking, tweeting, laughing, crying and so much more in 2021 and Callum’s first ever on screen performance defines exactly that. As we get ready for the Virgin Media BAFTA TV Awards - which you can also tune in and watch on BBC One on 8th May - in today’s episode we talk about the mental and emotional impact filming Colin’s diagnosis scene had on Callum, the resulting positive impact that It’s A Sin had on the way our society views HIV and Callum reflects on growing up in Wales and reveals how High School Musical helped find himself! WE LOVE TO HEAR IT, plus so much more! Callum is just as loveable in real life as he is on screen so I hope you love listening to this episode and I also hope you continue to listen and find the power to Reign in your own lives. If you love this episode, please get in touch (follow me across social media @joshsmithhosts), I love hearing from you. Love, Josh xxxP.S. I can’t really believe that this and you will have heard all about it in the podcast but this very special episode of REIGN is brought to you in partnership with Virgin Media – proud sponsors of the British Academy Television Awards. Virgin Media brings together all your favourite entertainment under one roof. And, as the only award at the Virgin Media BAFTA TV Awards that’s voted for by us, the public, Virgin Media’s Must-See Moment represents real TV fans and the moments we love! It’s down to six unmissable TV moments, including Colin’s devastating AIDs diagnosis in It’s A Sin, which we’ve discussed in this episode. But there can be only one winner.So who’ll be crowned Virgin Media’s Must-See Moment of 2021? You’ll have to tune in for this year’s Virgin Media BAFTA TV Awards on 8th May at 6pm to find out! I’ll be joining you on the sofa in my evening wear finest! SEE YA THERE! XP.P.S. I AM SO EXCITED THAT WE ARE PARTNERING WITH ONE OF MY FAVOURITE SKINCARE BRANDS, KIEHL’S, FOR THIS SERIES OF REIGN!I created Reign to celebrate women and start important conversations about equality and I am proud to partner with Kiehl’s who have done the same for over 170 years by supporting local communities through multiple charity partnerships.In the spirit of feeling like our best selves, Kiehl’s have introduced a new cream formulation of their best selling Midnight Recovery Oil! Say hello to the Midnight Recovery Omega Rich Cloud Cream, which will not only help your skin look plumped, nourished and radiant, it will empower you to feel FABULOUS and take on anything!It’s rich in Omegas 3 and 6 which help replenish... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices