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We return to the beginning of the global Aids crisis and explore the personal and political struggles of the epidemic, as it unfolded in two very different countries – the United States and South Africa – and hear stories from people who fought through it, and survived.

The series begins in the USA, where 40 years ago the Centers for Disease Control published a memo flagging a rare pneumonia found in five previously healthy, young gay men in California. Two of the men had died. These would be the first recorded cases of Aids in the world – a disease which would go on to kill 35 million people.

We explore how Aids was first characterised as a "gay cancer", decimating gay communities in cities such as San Francisco and New York - communities which found no sympathy in the Reagan White House.

The 1980s were supposed to be a time of celebration for gay people in America - a time in which they could live more openly, following a decade of campaigning for equal rights following the Stonewall uprising. Aids would roll back that progress, with gay men now portrayed as a diseased pariah.

In the face of this prejudice and stigma, we learn how a community-led response pioneered Aids care, which would be emulated around the world.

Contributors: Robert Vázquez-Pacheco; Peter Staley; Dr James Curran; Dr Anthony Fauci; Alison Moed-Paolercio; Dr Paul Volberding

Narrated by Audrey Brown
Written and produced by Richard Fenton-Smith
Sound mix by Tom Brignell