Adolescence (TV series)
Adolescence isn't just another TV series; it's a groundbreaking psychological crime drama that gripped audiences worldwide with its unflinching look at a chilling teenage crime and the dark corners of online radicalization. Its innovative one-shot filming technique for every episode plunges viewers deep into a complex narrative, earning it unprecedented critical acclaim and sparking vital societal conversations. Prepare to explore how this series became a cultural phenomenon, redefining television storytelling in the process. Each episode of 'Adolescence' was masterfully filmed in a single, continuous take, creating an immersive and intense viewing experience. The series delves into the disturbing influence of 'manosphere' ideologies on young boys, exploring the complex motivations behind extreme acts of violence. 'Adolescence' achieved immense critical and commercial success, breaking viewership records and sparking significant political discussion about youth violence and online radicalization.
AI Summary
Adolescence isn't just another TV series; it's a groundbreaking psychological crime drama that gripped audiences worldwide with its unflinching look at a chilling teenage crime and the dark corners of online radicalization. Its innovative one-shot filming technique for every episode plunges viewers deep into a complex narrative, earning it unprecedented critical acclaim and sparking vital societal conversations. Prepare to explore how this series became a cultural phenomenon, redefining television storytelling in the process.
- Each episode of 'Adolescence' was masterfully filmed in a single, continuous take, creating an immersive and intense viewing experience.
- The series delves into the disturbing influence of 'manosphere' ideologies on young boys, exploring the complex motivations behind extreme acts of violence.
- 'Adolescence' achieved immense critical and commercial success, breaking viewership records and sparking significant political discussion about youth violence and online radicalization.
A Groundbreaking New Series
Premiering on Netflix in March 2025, 'Adolescence' is a British psychological crime drama that captivated global audiences. Created by talents Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham, and directed by Philip Barantini, the series immediately stood out for its unique storytelling approach. It centers on a harrowing crime and the complex journey that unfolds in its wake.
The story begins with the shocking arrest of 13-year-old Jamie Miller, a schoolboy accused of murdering a classmate, Katie Leonard. As the narrative progresses, it uncovers a dark undercurrent of cyberbullying and Jamie's exposure to 'manosphere'-influenced views on women. The series meticulously explores the devastating impact on Jamie, his family, and the wider community.
The Continuous Take Challenge
What truly sets 'Adolescence' apart is its audacious filming technique: every single episode was shot in one continuous take. This creates an incredibly immersive and claustrophobic viewing experience, pulling the audience directly into the real-time unfolding of events. Director Philip Barantini, known for his similar work on the film 'Boiling Point,' reunited with Stephen Graham to achieve this cinematic feat.
Achieving these uninterrupted, hour-long takes was an immense logistical challenge, demanding extensive rehearsals and precise coordination. Each episode required around 10 takes, with two filmed per day, meticulously planned by cinematographer Matthew Lewis. The final chosen takes were often later in the process, reflecting the precision required: the second take for episode one, thirteenth for episode two, twelfth for episode three, and sixteenth for episode four.
Behind the Story: Inspiration and Themes
The genesis of 'Adolescence' came from Stephen Graham's desire to address the escalating issue of knife crime involving male teenagers in the UK. He was particularly moved by cases like the murders of Ava White, Elianne Andam, and Brianna Ghey. Graham aimed to explore the motivations behind such extreme acts of violence against girls by young boys.
Collaborating with screenwriter Jack Thorne, the creators sought to 'look in the eye of modern male rage,' as Thorne put it. They deliberately examined the unsettling influence of public figures like Andrew Tate and the 'red pill' community on young boys. While not based on any specific true story, the series aimed for a chilling, grounded authenticity.
Finding the Stars
A crucial element of the series' success was the casting of Owen Cooper as Jamie Miller. At just 13 years old, with no prior professional acting experience, Cooper was chosen from 500 hopefuls after casting director Shaheen Baig saw his demo tape. Baig discovered many young talents for the show through drama schools serving underrepresented communities.
The cast was a powerhouse ensemble, with Stephen Graham delivering a poignant performance as Jamie's father, Eddie Miller. Other key roles included Christine Tremarco as Jamie's mother, Manda; Ashley Walters and Faye Marsay as the investigating detectives; and Erin Doherty as the forensic psychologist.
Main Cast: Stephen Graham as Eddie Miller Owen Cooper as Jamie Miller Christine Tremarco as Manda Miller Ashley Walters as DI Luke Bascombe Faye Marsay as DS Misha Frank Erin Doherty as Briony Ariston
The Narrative Unfolds: Episode by Episode
The first episode begins dramatically, with armed police raiding the Miller home and arresting 13-year-old Jamie for murder. At the police station, Jamie initially professes innocence, but the detectives soon reveal sexually explicit comments he made online. Chilling CCTV footage then exposes Jamie stabbing Katie to death, leaving both him and his father, Eddie, in profound shock and despair.
Episode two fast-forwards three days, as detectives Bascombe and Frank investigate at Jamie's school to find a motive and the murder weapon. They discover Katie had cyberbullied Jamie, accusing him of being an 'incel' on social media, sparking questions about online harassment. A school friend, Ryan, is later arrested for conspiracy, admitting he gave Jamie the knife to intimidate Katie.
Seven months post-murder, forensic psychologist Briony Ariston meets Jamie in custody for a pre-trial report. Jamie's mood swings from friendly to aggressive, revealing his misogynistic views and a temptation to grope Katie. He recounts Katie's vulnerable state after an intimate photo leak and her subsequent rejection and cyberbullying. The session ends with a visibly distressed Briony, as Jamie's anger escalates.
A year later, the Miller family struggles for normalcy while Jamie awaits trial. Vandalism and community judgment plague them, culminating in Eddie's emotional breakdown on his 50th birthday. Jamie calls to announce his intention to plead guilty, leading his parents to confront their failure to recognize his online radicalization. The family ultimately decides to face their ordeal together, finding solace in each other.
Universal Acclaim
'Adolescence' quickly garnered widespread critical acclaim, with reviewers hailing it as a masterpiece of television storytelling. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds an impressive 97% positive rating, with the consensus calling it 'stylistically bold and beautifully acted... a searing viewing experience that scars.' Metacritic awarded it a 'universal acclaim' score of 91 out of 100, based on 29 reviews.
Critics showered praise on its direction, writing, and cinematography, particularly highlighting the intense atmosphere and powerful performances. Lucy Mangan of The Guardian declared it 'the closest thing to TV perfection in decades,' singling out Owen Cooper's portrayal of Jamie for capturing 'the quicksilver nature of those fraught years between childhood and adulthood.' The continuous shooting style, initially questioned by some as a gimmick, was ultimately lauded by Empire magazine as 'the most dizzying TV feat of the year,' enhancing the on-screen emotion.
Breaking Records and Winning Awards
Upon its release on March 13, 2025, 'Adolescence' became an instant sensation on Netflix. In its first three weeks, the series amassed an astonishing 96.7 million views, placing it ninth on Netflix's all-time viewership list based on the first 91 days. It dominated the top 10 charts in all 93 countries tracked by Netflix and set a new record as the most-watched streaming television show in the UK in a single week.
The series' critical success translated into a stunning sweep at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards, where it received thirteen nominations and won nine. Key victories included Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, Outstanding Directing for Philip Barantini, and Outstanding Writing for Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham. Owen Cooper's win for Outstanding Supporting Actor was particularly historic, making him the youngest male winner in Emmy history.
Cooper continued his record-breaking run, becoming the youngest actor ever to win all four major television acting awards for a single performance in a single season of television. He took home the Actor Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor, the Critics' Choice Award, and the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor. The series itself also garnered top honors, including Best Limited Series at the Critics' Choice Awards and Golden Globes, and a spot on the American Film Institute's Top 10 Television Programs.
A Societal Mirror: Political Impact
Beyond its artistic merits, 'Adolescence' ignited significant political and social discourse, particularly for its unflinching depiction of the 'manosphere's' influence on adolescent boys. Characters in the show directly referenced figures like Andrew Tate and the 'red pill' community as key factors shaping Jamie's disturbing worldview and that of his peers.
The series' powerful message resonated deeply, prompting Member of Parliament Anneliese Midgley to advocate for it to be screened in Parliament and schools. She believed it could serve as a vital tool to counter misogyny and violence against women and girls. Prime Minister Keir Starmer backed this call, sharing on X that watching the series 'hit home hard' as a father, which led to 'Adolescence' being made freely available in UK secondary schools.
However, the show also faced controversy, notably from then-Trump administration advisor Elon Musk, who labeled it 'anti-white propaganda.' This claim falsely alleged the show was based on the 2024 Southport stabbings, perpetrated by a Black British individual, and that depicting a white perpetrator was an intentional demonization. Jack Thorne swiftly dismissed the claim as 'ridiculous,' clarifying that the series was conceived months before the Southport incident and not based on any specific real-life event, despite filming occurring during its early stages.
Article
Adolescence (TV series)
Adolescence is a British psychological crime drama television series created by Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham, and directed by Philip Barantini. It centres on a 13-year-old schoolboy, Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper), who is arrested after the murder of a girl in his school. Each of its episodes was shot in one continuous take.
It premiered on 13 March 2025 on Netflix, to critical acclaim for its directing, writing and cinematography, with special attention paid to its atmosphere and performances. Adolescence was the first streaming show to place at the top of the Barb Audiences weekly television ratings, and received thirteen nominations at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards, winning nine, including Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for Barantini, and Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for Thorne and Graham, in addition to acting wins for Lead Actor (Graham), Supporting Actor (Cooper), and Supporting Actress (Erin Doherty).
In April 2025, Deadline Hollywood reported that Netflix and Plan B Entertainment were in talks about developing a second season.
Premise
Adolescence (TV series)
In a town near Doncaster, South Yorkshire, armed police raid a family home and arrest 13-year-old Jamie Miller on suspicion of the murder of his classmate, Katie Leonard, who is later revealed to have rejected his romantic advances and then cyberbullied him. Jamie is held at a police station for questioning and then remanded in custody at a secure training centre. Investigations at Jamie's school and interviews by a forensic psychologist uncover his manosphere-influenced views on women and the mockery he has received on social media. At home, his family deals with community backlash as they work together to cope with his arrest.
Cast and characters
Main
• Stephen Graham as Eddie Miller • Ashley Walters as DI Luke Bascombe • Faye Marsay as DS Misha Frank • Mark Stanley as Paul Barlow • Christine Tremarco as Manda Miller • Owen Cooper as Jamie Miller • Amélie Pease as Lisa Miller • Hannah Walters as Mrs Bailey • Jo Hartley as Mrs Fenumore • Fatima Bojang as Jade • Kaine Davis as Ryan Kowalska • Amari Bacchus as Adam Bascombe • Erin Doherty as Briony Ariston
Guest
• Emilia Holliday as Katie Leonard • Lewis Pemberton as Tommy • Austin Haynes as Fredo • Adam Khan as Tau • Charlie McSweeney as Shaun • Alfie Ward as Moray • Elodie Grace Walker as Georgie • Amelia Minto as Billie • Douglas Russell as Victor • Connor Calland as Evan
Episodes
Adolescence (TV series)
<table><thead><tr><th>No.</th><th>Title</th><th>Directed by</th><th>Written by</th><th>Original release date</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>"Episode 1"</td><td>Philip Barantini</td><td>Jack Thorne & Stephen Graham</td><td>13 March 2025 (2025-03-13)</td></tr><tr><td>On the morning of 8 May 2024, Detective Inspector Luke Bascombe and Detective Sergeant Misha Frank lead a police raid at the home of the Miller family: father Eddie, mother Manda, daughter Lisa, and 13-year-old son Jamie. They arrest Jamie on suspicion of murder and take him to the nearby police station. A tearful Jamie professes his innocence as he is processed and taken to a detention cell while his family arrives at the station. Eddie agrees to be Jamie's "appropriate adult" and accompany him as he is searched and questioned. Eddie privately asks Jamie whether he has committed the crime and believes his denial. Barlow, the solicitor appointed to represent Jamie, arrives and advises Jamie not to respond to questions about the previous night. During Jamie's formal interview, Bascombe and Frank reveal that Jamie has made several sexually explicit comments about female models on Instagram. He is then questioned about his classmate Katie Leonard, whose murdered body was found in a car park the night before. Bascombe plays CCTV footage of Jamie stabbing Katie to death before terminating the interview. Jamie and Eddie weep in the interrogation room; Eddie briefly recoils when Jamie touches him before they tightly embrace.</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>"Episode 2"</td><td>Philip Barantini</td><td>Jack Thorne & Stephen Graham</td><td>13 March 2025 (2025-03-13)</td></tr><tr><td>Three days after the murder, Bascombe and Frank visit Jamie's secondary school to speak to Jamie and Katie's classmates, hoping to learn Jamie's motive and the location of the murder weapon. Katie's best friend, Jade, is distraught by the murder and sardonically insults the officers. She later assaults Jamie's friend Ryan during a fire drill, accusing him of getting Katie killed. When Bascombe and Frank interview Ryan, he is initially cooperative but soon turns evasive, leaving the room when the murder weapon is mentioned. Bascombe's estranged son, Adam, a student at the school, informs his father that Katie replied to Jamie's Instagram comments of models using emoji language to accuse him of being an incel, and Bascombe wonders if there was a cyberbullying campaign against Jamie. As Bascombe and Frank attempt to question Ryan again, he flees through a window, and Bascombe chases him out of the school. When Ryan is caught, he reveals that the knife belonged to him; he and another friend, Tommy, had given Jamie the knife, thinking he would use it to intimidate Katie into retracting the Instagram replies. Ryan is arrested for conspiracy to murder. Back at the school, Bascombe meets up with Adam and asks to spend time with him. Adam agrees and they leave the school together. Meanwhile, Eddie visits the site of Katie's murder to leave flowers in respect.</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>"Episode 3"</td><td>Philip Barantini</td><td>Jack Thorne & Stephen Graham</td><td>13 March 2025 (2025-03-13)</td></tr><tr><td>Seven months after the murder, forensic psychologist Briony Ariston meets with Jamie at a secure training centre to prepare a pre-trial report on his mental capacity. Briony assures Jamie that her only goal is to evaluate his understanding of the circumstances surrounding the case, not the case itself. Jamie, however, engages in a tenuously gripped game of one-upmanship. Briony questions Jamie about his attitude towards masculinity, women, and himself. Briony recalls that Jamie had said he and his friends had been bullied at school. Jamie recounts that Katie had sent a topless photo to a classmate she was attracted to, and that the classmate spread it around the school without her consent. This hurt Katie, and Jamie asked Katie out, believing she would be more likely to accept him in an emotionally vulnerable state. She rebuffed him and proceeded to leave insulting comments on his Instagram page. Throughout the interview, Jamie's mood fluctuates between friendly and aggressive. This includes several outbursts of anger, the confession that he was tempted to grope Katie during the confrontation and that he borrowed the knife to threaten her. After Briony informs Jamie that this session is their last, he demands to know if she likes him personally, but she refuses to answer, further agitating Jamie. The security guard is forced to drag Jamie out of the interview room. Alone, Briony is visibly distressed.</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>"Episode 4"</td><td>Philip Barantini</td><td>Jack Thorne & Stephen Graham</td><td>13 March 2025 (2025-03-13)</td></tr><tr><td>A year after the murder, the Millers have made attempts to return to normality as Jamie awaits trial. On Eddie's 50th birthday, his van is spray-painted by teenagers who attend Jamie's school. Eddie plans to take Manda and Lisa to the cinema later that day to lighten the mood, but they first go to a hardware store to buy something to remove the paint from the van. There, Eddie is further distressed by an employee recognising him and awkwardly expressing support for Jamie. Eddie buys some paint to recoat the van. Outside, he spots the teens who tagged the van and angrily threatens them before throwing the contents of the can of paint on his van out of anger. On the drive home, Jamie calls and announces his plan to plead guilty. At the house, Eddie and Manda come to terms with Jamie's predicament, blaming themselves for not paying attention to his online radicalisation. Lisa joins them, expressing support for Eddie's decision not to move the family, knowing their connection to Jamie would eventually catch up with them. They decide instead to rent a film and order Chinese food to turn the day around, with Manda and Lisa leaving to prepare breakfast. Alone, Eddie breaks down on Jamie's bed. He tucks in a teddy bear, kisses its head, and apologises to Jamie for not doing better, before joining his family.</td></tr></tbody></table>
Production
Development
Adolescence was originally conceived by Stephen Graham as a response to cases of knife crime by male teenagers in the United Kingdom, including the then-recent (2021 and 2023) murders of Ava White, Elianne Andam, and Brianna Ghey. He decided to create a drama exploring the motivation of extreme acts of violence against girls by young boys, and collaborated with screenwriter Jack Thorne. Thorne has stated that no part of the drama is based on a specific true story. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's arts programme Front Row, Thorne stated that the two writers wanted to "look in the eye of modern male rage" and examine the influence of public figures, such as Andrew Tate on boys.
The series was announced in March 2024, with the working title Adolescence, to be written by Thorne and Graham. It is a four-part limited crime drama told in a real-time, one-shot style, with Philip Barantini as director. Barantini and Graham previously collaborated on Boiling Point (2021), which was also shot in one take. Warp Films, Matriarch Productions, and Plan B Entertainment produced the series for Netflix. Jo Johnson served as series producer, and Graham, Thorne and Barantini served as executive producers, alongside Mark Herbert, Emily Feller, Hannah Walters, Brad Pitt, Jeremy Kleiner, Dede Gardner, and Nina Wolarsky.
Casting
Owen Cooper, Erin Doherty, Graham, Faye Marsay, Christine Tremarco, and Ashley Walters star. Cooper was cast in the role of the teenage murder suspect, Jamie Miller, at the age of 13, with no previous professional acting experience. Casting director Shaheen Baig had considered 500 boys for the part, but Cooper attracted her attention after sending her a demo tape and secured the role. Baig found Cooper and several of the other young cast members through Drama MOB in Manchester and Articulate Drama School and Agency in Bradford. Staff members of these drama schools, which serve students from underrepresented and deprived communities, resented the narrative that these actors had "done nothing and came from nowhere" prior to this production.
Filming
Filming began in the United Kingdom in July 2024 and wrapped around October 2024.
Adolescence is noted for its extensive use of one-shot filming, as each episode is shot in one take by cinematographer Matthew Lewis. Shooting was planned through multiple rehearsals building up to full technical run-throughs, during which the director of photography would plan camera movements. Each one-hour episode was shot around 10 times, with two takes per day. Episodes were shown as completed in one take, with no cuts or blending of shots together with CGI. Graham said that each episode took three weeks in total. The takes used were as follows: first episode, 2nd take; second episode, 13th take; third episode, 12th take; fourth episode, 16th take. The episodes were not shot in chronological order; Cooper's first day on set was shooting episode 3.
Filming locations for Adolescence included South Kirkby, South Elmsall, and Sheffield in Yorkshire. Minsthorpe Community College in South Elmsall was used as a location for the school scenes in episode 2, filmed over 1 week during 2024's summer. The interior scenes at the police station were shot at a specially constructed film set at the Production Park studio facility in South Kirkby in order to accommodate the complexities of single-shot filming.
Release
Adolescence (TV series)
The series was released on Netflix on 13 March 2025. It became the most-watched streaming television show in the United Kingdom in a single week, beating the record set by the Netflix series Fool Me Once in January 2024.
Adolescence has seen significant viewership success on Netflix following its release. In its first three weeks, the series garnered 96.7 million views on the platform. For the week ending 30 March 2025, it recorded 30.4 million views and ranked in the top 10 most-watched lists across all 93 countries tracked by Netflix's top 10 metrics. This performance has placed Adolescence ninth on Netflix's all-time viewership list, which is based on viewership data collected over the first 91 days of a title's availability.
Reception
Critical response
Adolescence has been widely praised by critics. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 97% of 113 critics' reviews are positive. The website's consensus reads: "Stylistically bold and beautifully acted from top to bottom, Adolescence is a masterclass in televisual storytelling and a searing viewing experience that scars." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, calculated a score of 91 out of 100, based on 29 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".
Writing in The Guardian, Lucy Mangan stated that Adolescence was "the closest thing to TV perfection in decades", singling out the acting by Cooper and Doherty for particular praise. Nandini Balial of RogerEbert.com also praised Cooper's acting for capturing "the quicksilver nature of those fraught years between childhood and adulthood". The Telegraph's Anita Singh found the series to be "quietly devastating" and the acting to be "phenomenal", although she said that the single-take filming technique could feel "like a gimmick". Sophie Butcher of Empire praised the continuous shooting, writing that it was "the most dizzying TV feat of the year" which served to enhance the on-screen emotion.
Adolescence was the first streaming show to attain the top of the Barb Audiences weekly television ratings.
Viewership
According to data from Showlabs, Adolescence ranked first on Netflix in the United States during the week of 17–23 March 2025.
Political impact
Prime Minister Keir Starmer holding a round table with the creators of the show on 31 March 2025
According to The Guardian, the show highlights the ways in which the manosphere has affected adolescent boys, with characters directly naming Andrew Tate and the "red pill" community as key influences on Jamie and other boys his age. Anneliese Midgley, a Member of Parliament, called for the series to be screened to Parliament and in schools, claiming it could help counter misogyny and violence against women and girls. Prime Minister Keir Starmer backed the call, writing on X, "As a father, watching Adolescence with my teenage son and daughter hit home hard." The series was made free for viewing in UK secondary schools after Starmer's backing.
In March 2025, businessman and then-Trump administration advisor Elon Musk, who has in more recent times faced increasing accusations of promoting far-right and white supremacist ideologies, labeled the show as "anti-white propaganda" owing to the casting of a white actor to portray Jamie. The theory alleged that the show was based on the 2024 Southport stabbings, whose perpetrator was Black British, and that depicting the perpetrator as white was an intentional choice to demonise white people. Thorne called the claim "ridiculous" and stated that the television series was inspired by but not directly based on any real-life events. The show itself was written several months prior to the Southport attack, though the attack occurred early during filming, before episode 2; the show was not filmed chronologically.
Accolades
In 2025, Cooper won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for his performance as teen murderer Jamie Miller, making him the youngest male winner in the history of the Primetime Emmy Awards. Cooper also won the Actor Award, Critics' Choice Award and Golden Globe Award, making history as the youngest actor ever to win the four major television acting awards for a single performance and to achieve this feat for a single season of television.
<table><thead><tr><th>Award</th><th>Date of ceremony</th><th>Category</th><th>Recipient(s)</th><th>Result</th><th>Ref.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>AACTA Awards</td><td>6 February 2026</td><td>Audience Choice Award for Favourite TV Series</td><td>Adolescence</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>AACTA International Awards</td><td>6 February 2026</td><td>Best Drama Series</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Best Actor in a Series</td><td>Owen Cooper</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Stephen Graham</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Best Actress in a Series</td><td>Erin Doherty</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>AARP Movies for Grownups Awards</td><td>10 January 2026</td><td>Best TV Series or Limited Series</td><td>Adolescence</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Best Actor – Television</td><td>Stephen Graham</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Actor Awards</td><td>1 March 2026</td><td>Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series</td><td>Owen Cooper</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Stephen Graham</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series</td><td>Erin Doherty</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Christine Tremarco</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>American Film Institute Awards</td><td>4 December 2025</td><td>Top 10 Television Programs</td><td>Adolescence</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>American Society of Cinematographers</td><td>8 March 2026</td><td>Limited or Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for Television</td><td>Matthew Lewis (for "Episode 2")</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Art Directors Guild Awards</td><td>28 February 2026</td><td>Television Movie or Limited Series</td><td>Adam Tomlinson</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Artios Awards</td><td>26 February 2026</td><td>Limited Series</td><td>Shaheen Baig</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Astra Awards</td><td>11 June 2025</td><td>Best Limited Series</td><td>Adolescence</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Best Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie</td><td>Stephen Graham</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie</td><td>Owen Cooper</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Ashley Walters</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Streaming Movie</td><td>Erin Doherty</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Best Directing in a Limited Series or TV Movie</td><td>Philip Barantini (for "Episode 3")</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Best Writing in a Limited Series or TV Movie</td><td>Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham (for "Episode 3")</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Best Cast Ensemble in a Limited Series or TV Movie</td><td>Adolescence</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>11 December 2025</td><td>Best Casting – Television</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Black Reel TV Awards</td><td>18 August 2025</td><td>Outstanding Supporting Performance in a TV Movie or Limited Series</td><td>Ashley Walters</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>British Academy Television Awards</td><td>10 May 2026</td><td>Best Limited Drama</td><td>Stephen Graham, Jack Thorne, Philip Barantini, Jo Johnson, Mark Herbert, and Hannah Walters</td><td>Pending</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Best Leading Actor</td><td>Stephen Graham</td><td>Pending</td></tr><tr><td>Best Supporting Actor</td><td>Owen Cooper</td><td>Pending</td></tr><tr><td>Ashley Walters</td><td>Pending</td></tr><tr><td>Best Supporting Actress</td><td>Erin Doherty</td><td>Pending</td></tr><tr><td>Christine Tremarco</td><td>Pending</td></tr><tr><td>Memorable Moment</td><td>Jamie snaps at the psychologist</td><td>Pending</td></tr><tr><td>British Academy Television Craft Awards</td><td>26 April 2026</td><td>Best Director: Fiction</td><td>Philip Barantini</td><td>Pending</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Best Writer: Drama</td><td>Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham</td><td>Pending</td></tr><tr><td>Best Scripted Casting</td><td>Shaheen Baig</td><td>Pending</td></tr><tr><td>Best Photography & Lighting: Fiction</td><td>Matthew Lewis</td><td>Pending</td></tr><tr><td>Best Sound: Fiction</td><td>James Drake, Jules Woods, Rob Entwistle, Kiff Mcmanus, Kyle Pickford, and Adam Méndez</td><td>Pending</td></tr><tr><td>British Society of Cinematographers</td><td>7 February 2026</td><td>Best Cinematography in a Television Drama (International/Streaming)</td><td>Matthew Lewis (for "Episode 2")</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Broadcasting Press Guild Awards</td><td>18 March 2026</td><td>Best Single Drama or Mini-Series (1–4 Episodes)</td><td>Adolescence</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Best Actor</td><td>Stephen Graham</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Best Actress</td><td>Erin Doherty</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Best Writer</td><td>Jack Thorne</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>BPG Breakthrough Talent Award</td><td>Owen Cooper</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Cinema Audio Society Awards</td><td>7 March 2026</td><td>Non-Theatrical Motion Pictures or Limited Series</td><td>Kiff McManus and Rob Entwistle (production mixers); Jules Woods and James Drake (re-recording mixers); Mike Tehrani and Simon Diggins (ADR mixers); Adam Méndez (foley mixer) (for "Episode 1")</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Critics' Choice Awards</td><td>4 January 2026</td><td>Best Limited Series</td><td>Adolescence</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television</td><td>Stephen Graham</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television</td><td>Owen Cooper</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Ashley Walters</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television</td><td>Erin Doherty</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Christine Tremarco</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Dorian TV Awards</td><td>8 July 2025</td><td>Best TV Movie or Miniseries</td><td>Adolescence</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Best TV Performance – Drama</td><td>Stephen Graham</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Best Supporting TV Performance – Drama</td><td>Owen Cooper</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Erin Doherty</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Most Visually Striking TV Show</td><td>Adolescence</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Film Independent Spirit Awards</td><td>15 February 2026</td><td>Best New Scripted Series</td><td>Jack Thorne, Stephen Graham, Philip Barantini, Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Nina Wolarsky, Hannah Walters, Mark Herbert, Emily Feller, Carina Sposato, Niall Shamma, and Peter Balm</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series</td><td>Stephen Graham</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series</td><td>Erin Doherty</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Best Breakthrough Performance in a New Scripted Series</td><td>Owen Cooper</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Golden Globes</td><td>11 January 2026</td><td>Best Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television</td><td>Adolescence</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Best Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television</td><td>Stephen Graham</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Best Supporting Actor on Television</td><td>Owen Cooper</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Ashley Walters</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Best Supporting Actress on Television</td><td>Erin Doherty</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Golden Reel Awards</td><td>8 March 2026</td><td>Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Broadcast Long Form Dialogue / ADR</td><td>James Drake (supervising sound editor), Emma Butt (ADR editor), and Michele Woods (dialogue editor) (for "Episode 2")</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Gotham TV Awards</td><td>2 June 2025</td><td>Breakthrough Limited Series</td><td>Stephen Graham, Jack Thorne, Philip Barantini, Emily Feller, Dede Gardner, Mark Herbert, Jeremy Kleiner, Brad Pitt, Hannah Walters, and Nina Wolarsky</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Outstanding Lead Performance in a Limited Series</td><td>Stephen Graham</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Limited Series</td><td>Owen Cooper</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Erin Doherty</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Hollywood Music in Media Awards</td><td>19 November 2025</td><td>Original Score – TV Show/Limited Series</td><td>Aaron May and David Ridley</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Location Managers Guild International Awards</td><td>23 August 2025</td><td>Outstanding Locations in a Television Anthology, Mow, or Limited Series</td><td>Adolescence</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>National Television Awards</td><td>10 September 2025</td><td>New Drama</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Drama Performance</td><td>Owen Cooper</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Stephen Graham</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Primetime Emmy Awards</td><td>6 September 2025</td><td>Outstanding Casting for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie</td><td>Shaheen Baig</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie</td><td>Matthew Lewis (for "Episode 2")</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Outstanding Contemporary Costumes for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie</td><td>Jessica Schofield, William Maher, and Tracey Cliffe (for "Episode 2")</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series</td><td>Kelly Caton, Jordan Anderson, Bram De Jonghe, Kia Milan, Nyle Washington, and Simon Richards</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Outstanding Sound Editing for a Limited or Anthology Series, Movie or Special</td><td>James Drake, Michele Woods, Emma Butt, Rob Davidson, Jessica Watkins, Oli Ferris, and Sue Harding (for "Episode 1")</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie</td><td>Jules Woods, Kiff McManus, Rob Entwistle, and Adam Méndez (for "Episode 1")</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>14 September 2025</td><td>Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series</td><td>Mark Herbert, Emily Feller, Hannah Walters, Stephen Graham, Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Nina Wolarsky, Jack Thorne, Philip Barantini, Carina Sposato, Niall Shamma, Peter Balm, and Jo Johnson</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie</td><td>Stephen Graham</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie</td><td>Owen Cooper (for "Episode 3")</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Ashley Walters (for "Episode 2")</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie</td><td>Erin Doherty (for "Episode 3")</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Christine Tremarco (for "Episode 4")</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie</td><td>Philip Barantini</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie</td><td>Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Producers Guild of America Awards</td><td>28 February 2026</td><td>Outstanding Producer of Limited or Anthology Series Television</td><td>Mark Herbert, Emily Feller, Hannah Walters, Stephen Graham, Brad Pitt, Jeremy Kleiner, Dede Gardner, Nina Wolarsky, Jack Thorne, Philip Barantini, Carina Sposato, Niall Shamma, Peter Balm, and Jo Johnson</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Outstanding Short Form Program</td><td>Adolescence: The Making of Adolescence</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Queerties Awards</td><td>10 March 2026</td><td>TV Performance</td><td>Erin Doherty</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Royal Television Society Programme Awards</td><td>24 March 2026</td><td>Limited Series and Single Drama</td><td>Adolescence</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Leading Actor – Male</td><td>Stephen Graham</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Supporting Actor – Female</td><td>Erin Doherty</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Supporting Actor – Male</td><td>Owen Cooper</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Writer – Drama</td><td>Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Breakthrough Award</td><td>Owen Cooper</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Satellite Awards</td><td>10 March 2026</td><td>Best Miniseries & Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television</td><td>Adolescence</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Best Actor in a Miniseries, Limited Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television</td><td>Stephen Graham</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries & Limited Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television</td><td>Owen Cooper</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries & Limited Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television</td><td>Erin Doherty</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Seoul International Drama Awards</td><td>2 October 2025</td><td>Grand Prize</td><td>Adolescence</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Best Miniseries</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Best Actor</td><td>Owen Cooper</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Best Director</td><td>Philip Barantini</td><td>Runner-up</td></tr><tr><td>Best Screenwriter</td><td>Stephen Graham</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Television Critics Association Awards</td><td>20 August 2025</td><td>Program of the Year</td><td>Adolescence</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries or Specials</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Individual Achievement in Drama</td><td>Owen Cooper</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Stephen Graham</td><td>Nominated</td></tr></tbody></table>
Future
Adolescence (TV series)
In April 2025, executive producers and Plan B Entertainment co-presidents Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner confirmed that they spoke to Barantini about the "next iteration" of the series. Gardner said that they had thought about how they can "widen the aperture, stay true to its DNA [and] not be repetitive", but did not reveal too much about their plans; Kleiner added that they hope Graham and Thorne will reteam on the project.