Doctor Who's acclaimed showrunner, Russell T Davies, has publicly revealed his new romantic relationship with Australian model Oliver Cole, marking his first known partnership since the death of his husband in 2018.
A Christmas Debut for the New Couple
The 63-year-old television writer and producer, who will turn 64 in April, chose Christmas Day to introduce his 27-year-old partner to the world. Davies shared a cosy kitchen selfie on Instagram, captioning the festive snap: 'Merry Christmas! From me & Oliver ♥️'.
In the homely photograph, the couple are seen smiling together, with Cole wearing a stylish striped sweater and white shirt. Davies appears to have an arm around him. The background hints at celebratory drinks and baking, suggesting a relaxed and joyful holiday period for the pair.
The post prompted a flood of warm wishes from fans and colleagues in the comments. Actor Russell Tovey responded with heart-eye emojis, while It's A Sin star Nathaniel Curtis wrote: 'Merry Christmas my babies xx'. Tom Read Wilson from I'm A Celebrity added: 'Delicious pair! Oodles of love x'.
Behind the Scenes of a Budding Romance
While the exact start date of their relationship is not public knowledge, Davies was seen liking posts on Cole's Instagram as early as June 2025. Under one image, the screenwriter commented 'Morning! X', to which Cole replied 'morning Russell darling xx'.
A close friend of the couple spoke to the Daily Mail, offering insight into their bond. 'Oliver has brought a great deal of joy into Russell’s life, and they make each other genuinely happy,' the friend said. They directly addressed the couple's 35-year age difference, stating: 'Despite the age gap, they’re very much on the same wavelength – this relationship feels like one for the long haul.'
In a particularly romantic gesture, Davies reportedly treated Cole to a birthday surprise last month: a private visit to the set of Doctor Who and a spin inside the iconic TARDIS. Cole, an aspiring model with 3.8k Instagram followers, shared an artsy video from within the time machine on his 27th birthday, dressed in a waistcoat and long coat reminiscent of the Doctor's style.
His caption read: 'Another Year Passes But it’s alright I have a TARDIS x'. He later had to clarify to excited fans that the video was not an announcement that he was cast as the next Doctor, writing 'Not the new Doctor... Promise x'.
A New Chapter After Loss
Oliver Cole is Russell T Davies's first publicly acknowledged partner since the death of his husband, Andrew Smith, in 2018. Davies and Smith got together in 1999, entered a civil partnership in December 2012, and were together for seven years following Smith's diagnosis with a brain tumour.
Davies previously spoke movingly about taking two and a half years out of his career to care for Smith, calling it 'the greatest work I’ll ever do on this Earth'. His hit series Years and Years concluded with a title card dedicated to Smith's memory.
Reflecting on their first meeting in a club in the early hours of the morning while Davies was working on Queer as Folk, he recalled: 'He was so handsome... Across the club, I could not believe that there was this handsome man, and he was looking at me.'
The emergence of this new relationship signals a significant and happy personal development for one of British television's most influential figures, as he continues to steer the global phenomenon of Doctor Who while building a new life with his younger partner.
