Netflix Adolescence boss issues stark warning to Starmer’s government following series success: ‘It’s about fighting!’
Jack Thorne, the creator of Netflix’s hit drama Adolescence, has issued a stark warning about the future of British television, describing the current funding crisis as “devastating” for the industry.
Thorne has cautioned that shows like Adolescence could disappear unless urgent action is taken to address budget cuts at UK broadcasters, international financing issues, and rising inflation.
The acclaimed writer, whose credits include His Dark Materials and Harry Potter And The Cursed Child, expressed particular concern for emerging talent.
“If Channel 4 and the BBC are denied the opportunity to make these shows, that’s devastating,” Thorne said.
He fears that distinctively British storytelling traditions are at risk of “crumbling” without proper funding support.
The funding crisis threatens to stifle new writing talent, according to Thorne, who credits the show Skins with launching his own career.
“The problem of international finance is incredibly current and leading to a lot of my friends and emerging writers being denied the opportunity to tell stories,” he told Deadline.
He warned that without proper support, “the whole culture starts to crumble, and shows like Adolescence and Toxic Town are no longer possible.”
Thorne expressed concern that the industry is currently “drowning in crime” dramas rather than developing diverse storytelling.
He noted that Adolescence wasn’t pitched to UK broadcasters due to prohibitive costs.
Thorne has called on the Sir Keir Starmer and UK government to introduce enhanced tax breaks and a streamer levy to help sustain British television production.
Rather than simply taxing streaming platforms, Thorne suggests a collaborative approach.
“It’s not about going, ‘We’re going to tax you.’ It’s about going, ‘We would love you to contribute to a scheme that is keeping our television ecology going,'” he explained.
He emphasised that Netflix should be included in the solution, adding: “It’s about fighting to build something together.”
Thorne revealed that Adolescence was originally developed with Amazon Prime Video before switching to Netflix.
Adolescence has become a runaway success for Netflix, amassing an impressive 24.3 million views in just four days of availability.
The four-part limited series has topped Netflix’s most-watched TV charts, making it the streaming platform’s top show for the week of March 10-16.
The British drama has garnered universal acclaim, currently standing at 98 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.
After five days in the UK alone, it has amassed 4.7 million viewers, outperforming other major 2024 hits including Bridgerton and Baby Reindeer, according to official Barb figures.
The show’s popularity continues to grow as more viewers discover the gripping story of 13-year-old Jamie Miller (played by Owen Cooper).
One of the most distinctive features of Adolescence is its innovative filming technique, with each episode shot in one continuous take.
Director Philip Barantini described the technical challenges this presented to The Independent.
“[Tech rehearsals] would be an opportunity for the sound team to put the booms where they needed to be,” he explained.
The production team had runners and assistants dressed as police officers and teachers so they could appear on camera while cueing scenes.
“It was technically challenging, but a huge collaboration… sort of a dance really,” Barantini said.
The cast had one week of rehearsals, followed by another week for the technical crew before shooting began.
Adolescence delves deeply into the troubling themes of male rage and online influences on youth.
Co-creator Thorne told The Independent the show explores “male rage and looking at our own anger and looking at who we are as men.”
Stephen Graham, who co-wrote and stars in the series, explained that the show was inspired by real-life cases of young boys stabbing girls to death.
“The internet is as much of a teacher and a parent to our children as we can be,” Graham warned.
Thorne added that young people are exposed to content “a lot more dangerous” than controversial figures like Andrew Tate.
The series intentionally portrays an “ordinary family” to highlight how these influences can affect any household.