POSITIVE

Tomorrow is World AIDS Day, and 40 years since the first case of HIV was diagnosed.

Tomorrow, at 9pm, is also the premiere of the new SkyTV Original documentary Positive by Arrow pictures. 

Told by the key players who confronted this terrifying disease, Positive is the definitive and ultimately uplifting story of the disease that changed Britain.

Across three episodes, Positive tells the story of the arrival of HIV/AIDS in Britain through interviews with some of the earliest HIV patients and real-life heroes, including healthcare workers and activists on the front line, working tirelessly to conquer the disease. It also includes brilliant and rarely-seen archival footage.

Last night I was honoured to be invited to a preview screening in the company of some of those heroes that lived and worked through that period including Jonathan Blake, Marc Thompson, Lisa Power, Jay Hawkridge, Lord Fowler and others, and hear some of their stories first hand.

It is emotional, heartbreaking, joyous and essential viewing both for those of us that lived through that period and lost so many friends and lovers, and for those lucky enough not to have lived through it.

We have the tools to end HIV transmissions – regular HIV testing, prevention information and advice, condom use, general access to PrEP, and effective treatment which means people living with HIV cannot pass on the virus. 

There is no excuse why we can't eliminate new HIV infections by the UN goal of 2030.

*extra is the Q&A panel where Lord Fowler told us stories of how he managed to get things past Thatcher, "I always found it easier to go around Margaret rather than through her", when he was Minister for Health and Social Security.