Russell T Davies, 62, and his 27-year-old toyboy boyfriend, Oliver Cole, have officially taken their relationship to the next level—right in the heart of New York City. The iconic Doctor Who showrunner and the aspiring model spent a romantic getaway in the Big Apple, solidifying their status as the hottest couple to watch in 2026. From Broadway shows to swanky dinners, this couple is giving us serious relationship goals—and, naturally, plenty of shirtless selfies.
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Russell, who made things Instagram official with Oliver just over the holiday season, looked more loved-up than ever during their trip. The two were seen exploring the city’s tourist hotspots, including Times Square, while also treating themselves to some quality time at Broadway’s Death Becomes Her: The Musical. If that wasn’t enough, they dined at the upscale Balthazar and even hit up Alan Cumming’s famous cabaret bar, Club Cumming, where the charming couple hung out with Russell’s close friends, including Alan himself and Doctor Who producing partner Julie Gardner.
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Shirtless Snaps and Sneaky Socials
As for Oliver? Well, he wasn’t shy about sharing his sizzling body with his Instagram followers. Among the collection of selfies, one steamy snap had the model posing shirtless, showing off his rock-hard abs and gym-toned physique. The picture went viral (as expected), and Russell kept it low-key with a cheeky “Times Square” caption. Of course, Oliver, ever the romantic, added a red love heart emoji, while Doctor Who’s Stephen Moffatt couldn’t resist the chance to make a playful comment: “Ah, you found it then!”
But it’s not all about the pictures and the glam. Russell and Oliver’s romance has been blossoming for months. Back in November, Russell gave Oliver a tour of the Doctor Who set, and fans were quick to speculate about Oliver’s potential as the next Doctor (or at least a Time Lord in the making). Oliver played it cool with a post captioned “27—Another Year Passes. But it’s alright I have a TARDIS x,” before quickly reassuring fans, “Not the new Doctor. Promise x.”
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A close friend of the couple shared their thoughts with The Daily Mail’s Richard Eden: “Oliver has brought a great deal of joy into Russell’s life, and they make each other genuinely happy. Despite the age gap, they’re very much on the same wavelength—this relationship feels like one for the long haul.”
This is Russell’s first serious relationship since the heartbreaking loss of his husband, Andrew Smith, in 2018. Andrew, a customs officer, passed away after a lengthy battle with a brain tumour, and the couple had been together for more than 20 years. Russell, always the devoted partner, took two and a half years off work to care for Andrew during his illness.
Reflecting on his time with Andrew, Russell shared, “I was surprised by how many people were surprised that I did that.” But for him, it was simply the greatest work he would ever do. In a 2019 Radio Times interview, Russell spoke emotionally about missing Andrew. “Little by little, I know it will pass. I knew I would miss loving him, but what I didn’t know I would miss is being loved. That’s quite hard. That’s hideous, actually. No one warns you about that. I didn’t expect that to vanish, but it’s just gone.”
It’s clear that Russell and Oliver’s love story is still in its early stages, but the joy they bring to each other is undeniable. With their romantic getaway to New York and their playful social media posts, it’s clear this couple is here to stay. For Russell, this relationship feels like the start of something beautiful—and perhaps, just like a TARDIS, it’s only going to get bigger and more exciting with time.
Source: DailyMail