When I think about some of the most important and powerful dramas of the last few years – and the stars that helped them shine – two names spring instantly to mind: Ashley Walters and Stephen Graham. 

Between them, the pair have starred in This is England, Top Boy, Time, Boiling Point and many more dramas that punch you in the gut while offering a unique and gritty depiction of life across the cultural spectrum. More recently, they’ve worked together on the brilliant boxing drama A Thousand Blows, and now they’re pairing up for an unflinching new Netflix series that puts a fractured family at the heart of it all.

So, here are all the details we know so far about Adolescence, including a new trailer and a confirmed release date.

What is the plot of Adolescence? 

Over four episodes, the series tells the story of a family whose world is ripped into shreds when Jamie, their 13-year-old son, is charged with the murder of a teenage girl from school. It will explore who is responsible for the crime, why they did it, and how it could have been prevented.

Graham will play Jamie’s dad and acts as his ‘appropriate adult’ (someone who supports a child or young adult if arrested or questioned by the police). Ashley Walters will play Detective Inspector Bascombe, while Erin Doherty is the clinical psychologist working on Jamie’s case.

What marks the series apart is that it is directed by Boiling Point’s Philip Barantini. In a similar style to the Boiling Point film and the TV series, each episode is filmed in one continuous shot with a main character as the focus. This means that the story unfolds in real time as the main characters search for answers in the aftermath of a shocking tragedy.

As well as starring, Graham has also produced (alongside his wife and Matriarch Productions co-founder, Hannah Walters) and co-written (with Jack Thorne) the new series.

“One of our aims was to ask, ‘What is happening to our young men these days, and what are the pressures they face from their peers, from the internet, and from social media?’” Graham told Netflix. “And the pressures that come from all of those things are as difficult for kids here as they are the world over.”

Who stars in Adolescence?

Graham and Walters will be joined by Erin Doherty (The Crown and A Thousand Blows), Faye Marsay (Game Of Thrones), Christine Tremarco (The Responder), Mark Stanley (Happy Valley), Jo Hartley (After Life) and newcomers Owen Cooper and Amélie Pease.

When and where can I watch Adolescence? 

The series is out now on Netflix. Get a taste of what to expect in the trailer below.

Images: Netflix