Adolescence is not based on one specific real-life event, but its story is inspired by real incidents. The creators, Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham, developed the series after hearing troubling news reports about young boys committing violent crimes, particularly knife attacks.
The idea for the show came from news reports that co-creator Stephen Graham had heard. He recalled:
“There was an incident where a young boy [allegedly] stabbed a girl,” Graham tells Tudum. “It shocked me. I was thinking, ‘What’s going on? What’s happening in society where a boy stabs a girl to death? What’s the inciting incident here?’ And then it happened again, and it happened again, and it happened again. I really just wanted to shine a light on it, and ask, ‘Why is this happening today? What’s going on? How have we come to this?’”
Hearing about these repeated cases deeply disturbed him, pushing him to explore the root causes of such violence.
As they worked on the script, Thorne, Graham, and director Philip Barantini started to examine the concept of male rage. They questioned how society influences young boys and their behavior. Thorne admitted:
“That is a journey I’ve never gone on as a writer before, and it scared me and excited me because it felt like we had something to say.”
They explored the roles of men as fathers, partners, and friends, aiming to understand the factors that contribute to toxic masculinity and violent behavior.
What is Adolescence about?
The four-episode drama begins with police breaking into the bedroom of 13-year-old Jamie (played by Owen Cooper) and arresting him for the murder of a girl from his school. But Jamie insists he did not commit the crime.
The show is unique in its execution, as it was filmed in one continuous take, giving it a raw and immersive feel.
Most of the series was shot in Pontefract, a town in the City of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England. The decision to film there was influenced by Owen Cooper’s casting. Director Barantini explained:
“We knew it was going to be set somewhere in the North of England, and we also knew it would be from somewhere around wherever our Jamie was from — in this case near Warrington — because it would have been unfair to make him do an accent.”
This approach helped make the character feel more authentic.
The creators wanted to spark a conversation about these tragic events and the societal issues behind them.
Even though the show is fictional, the events are real.
By focusing on Jamie’s story, Adolescence raises pressing questions about youth violence, the influence of online communities, and the factors shaping young men in today’s world.
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