AIDS as a news story

One of the stories covered by this newsdesk is AIDS. It's easy to forget today just how big a deal this was back in the 1980s. At the time there was no cure available. Hollywood star Rock Hudson died of the disease in 1985. There was a lot of fear, fuelled by ignorance and prejudice. The media definitely helped to create that fear. In one episode, one character worries that he may catch AIDS if he touches the door handle. It's interesting to compare this with another 80s set drama It's a sin which shows the impact of the disease on a group of friends.