Jonathan Blake was diagnosed with HIV in October 1982 at age 33, given 2-9 months to live. More than four decades later, he remains one of the UK's longest-term survivors. His extraordinary journey encompasses the terror of early diagnosis, the isolation of stigma, finding love with companion Nigel Young, and witnessing the transformation from death sentence to manageable condition.
From his early days as an actor working at Joe Allen restaurant, through the bleakest years of the epidemic, to becoming an advocate at HIV drop-in centres, Jonathan's story reveals how survival often depends on connection, purpose, and the courage to keep living in the present. His insights into the evolution of treatment, the importance of knowing your status, and the ongoing challenges of ageing with HIV offer both historical perspective and contemporary relevance.
Timestamped Takeaways
02:14 - The vibrant gay scene of 1980s London: "London is really horny. We would finish shifts. We would go down to heaven to kind of just unwind."
06:05 - Early awareness through Capital Gay newspaper of something happening in San Francisco and New York, July-August 1982.
09:36 - The diagnosis: "They said, you have a virus, there is no cure. You've got between 2 and 9 months to live. But you can go home."
10:41 - The isolation of early HIV: "I feel like a modern day leper. I isolated myself... I would stand in the darkest corner."
13:25 - Contemplating suicide: "I was going to basically run a hot bath... and I would slash my wrists and I would bleed out the Roman way."
15:27 - Meeting Nigel Young at the nuclear protest: "Hello? My name is Nigel. Who are you?... it just seemed not to make the slightest bit of difference."
21:11 - Finding purpose through education: "I thought, well, you know, why not? Because again, that's going to keep me occupied and busy."
26:00 - Refusing AZT trial: "If you can't be bothered to pair up, I can't be bothered to do that trial."
32:03 - Starting combination therapy in 1996: "You've got to go on combination therapy."
33:54 - The miracle of effective treatment: "The morning of the fourth week, I woke up with such energy I could not believe it."
41:30 - The 2015 study results: "If you were on effective medication as an HIV positive person, one could not pass or infect another person."
44:11 - Challenging stigma: "They use this awful expression clean. I loathe it."
45:07 - Concerns about ageing: "If I have to go into a care home, how will I be treated?"
55:31 - Final message: "Be brave, get tested, know your status."
Links:
- Other work from Producer Dan Hall.
- Positively UK - A peer-led organisation offering support and advice for people living with HIV, including women, youth, and migrants.
- The Love Tank - An organisation focusing on wellbeing of queer communities, especially Black and brown people, through projects like PrEPster and The Grass Is Always Grindr.
- Positive East - London-based support centre offering HIV testing, counselling, community outreach, and health services.
- PrEPster - Community-led PrEP (HIV prevention pill) education project. Offers clear and inclusive info for diverse audiences across the UK.
- National AIDS Trust - A UK policy and campaigning organisation dedicated to ending HIV stigma and promoting effective HIV policies.
- aidsmap - A trusted source for up-to-date, evidence-based information on HIV. Great for learning about treatment, living with HIV, and current research.
- Terrence Higgins Trust - The UK’s leading HIV and sexual health charity. Offers support, testing info, prevention resources (PrEP), and education materials.
- In the Key of Q - Podcast celebrating Queer musicians and their stories, also produced by Dan Hall.
