In among the dramas, documentaries and thought-provoking series, sometimes what you want is something a little fresher; perhaps something that skews a little younger, but is still engaging.

One Of Us Is Lying, Cruel Summer, Moxie, Never Have I Ever, Atypical are just some of the coming-of-age dramas that fall under that very category.

Well, joining the ranks of teen dramas – and one we cannot wait to tuck into – is Netflix’s Heartstopper. The upcoming series is based on Alice Oseman’s popular young adult webcomic, and trust us, the internet has been waiting expectantly for this one.

Many have been praising the new series for its LGBTQ+ representation and the newly released trailer gives us a glimpse into the blossoming teen romance that many are excited to see play out on their screens.

In the trailer, we see the moment that Charlie and Nick meet in class and through a daily exchange of awkward greetings, Charlie begins to form a crush.

His friends quickly tell him, though, that Nick is “the straightest person I have ever seen!” It’s also enough to make Charlie interrogate his teacher and ask: “How do I stop liking someone? Specifically, a straight guy.”

But as the trailer progresses and more stolen glances (and laughs) are shared between the pair, Charlie (and his friends) start to see Nick for the genuinely nice guy he is. If you’re looking to get deep in your feels and reminisce over teen romances, watch the trailer here:

Releasing the trailer just today (13 April), the internet has been quick to react to the highly anticipated look at the new series:

It’s an emotional rollercoaster for fans of the graphic novel who are now seeing their favourite characters on screen:

And is also a vital reminder that on-screen representation is so important and necessary:

And if you want to experience more Heartstopper magic in the form of another teaser trailer, you can watch it here:

Also releasing a series of first-look images last month, many fans have praised the show for how uncanny the character resemblances are to their graphic novel counterparts. 

One Twitter user wrote: “Netflix, I love you now” while another stated that the pictures were “the best thing to wake up to – hands down”.

It’s safe to say that people are excited about the drama series, and here’s everything you need to know about it. 

What is the plot of Heartstopper?

The coming-of-age tale follows Charlie Spring and Nick Nelson as they form an unlikely bond while at school. As the synopsis reads: “Boy meets boy. Boys become friends. Boys fall in love.

“When gentle Charlie and rugby-loving Nick meet at secondary school, they quickly discover that their unlikely friendship is blossoming into an unexpected romance. Charlie, Nick and their circle of friends must navigate the ever-relatable journey of self-discovery and acceptance, supporting each other as they learn to find their most authentic selves.”

If there was ever a series to take you back to your school days and have you reminiscing about teenage love, it’s this one. But also, Heartstopper is set to provide us all with some genuine on-screen representation of being gay, coming out and navigating mental illness. 

Who will star in Heartstopper?

Joe Locke and Kit Connor (Rocketman) will be leading the cast of Heartstopper as Charlie and Nick respectively.

An expansive open-casting audition process took place in January 2021 and saw over 10,000 people take part. Having narrowed it down, Netflix confirmed the main cast late last year. 

William Gao will be starring as Tao, Yasmin Finney as Elle, Corinna Brown (Daphne) as Tara and Kizzy Edgell as Darcy.

Sebastian Croft (Game Of Thrones) joins the cast as Ben, Cormac Hyde-Corrin as Harry, Tobie Donovan as Isaac, and Rhea Norwood as Imogen.

The eight-part series is written by Oseman and directed by Euros Lyn, who is best known for his work on Doctor Who and Sherlock. 

When and where will Heartstopper be available to watch?

Heartstopper will be available to stream on Netflix on 22 April.

Images: Netflix