Sir Ian McKellen has joined the chorus of celebrities praising It’s A Sin, the new drama miniseries which follows the lives of young men living in London during the Aids crisis.

Taking to Twitter, the Burnley-born actor wrote: “Russell T Davies must be the most imaginative of writers for television. His latest series reveals that he cares for the audience as much as he loves his characters. He’ll make you sad but lift your heart. #ItsASin will entrance young viewers, whatever their sexuality.”

It’s A Sin, written and created by Davies, is set between 1981 and 1991 and has received critical acclaim.

It follows three 18-year-olds who move to London, played by Olly Alexander of Years & Years fame, Omari Douglas and Callum Scott Howells.

Lancashire Telegraph: A still image from It's A Sin

The cast also includes Lydia West from Years and Years ­— another Russell T Davies show, not to be confused with Olly’s band ­— Keeley Hawes as Olly’s mother, as well as American actor Neil Patrick Harris who plays a Savile Row tailor, and Stephen Fry who is a Tory MP.

Davies revealed that the five-part show is semi-autobiographical, being loosely based on his own experiences in the 1980s.

He has explained how Colin was based loosely on an ex-boyfriend, while Jill, the main female character, is based on one of his own best friends, Jill Nalder, who actually plays the mother of her on-screen counterpart.

Although the series in set in London, many key scenes were filmed in Bolton town centre and Bolton School.

Lancashire Telegraph: TV Crew filming in Le Mans Crescent, Bolton

The Channel 4 show is on at 9 pm on Fridays, or you can stream all episodes on All4 now.