Adolescence: The Scripts

The complete scripts of one of the most urgent and talked-about television series of recent times.

Set in a northern English town, Adolescence tracks the aftermath of the brutal murder of a thirteen-year-old schoolgirl. When her classmate Jamie Miller is arrested in a dawn raid for the crime, his family, psychologist and the detective in charge are all left asking: how could this have happened?

Adolescence gripped audiences and commentators around the world when it was released on Netflix in 2025, sparking headlines and debate about the difficult and vital issues it confronts head on. Also applauded for its technical ingenuity – with each episode presented in one continuous shot, in real time – it became one of Netflix's most-watched series of all time and won numerous accolades, including eight Emmy Awards, four Golden Globes and four BAFTA television awards, including Best Limited Drama.

This volume contains the full shooting scripts of all four episodes, as well as new insights and commentary from the creators – including writer Jack Thorne, co-writer and star Stephen Graham, and director Philip Barantini – colour photographs, and essays about the issues it explores.

A must-read for admirers of this acclaimed series, it's also an invaluable resource for screenwriters and other filmmakers, as well as anyone looking to understand more about the pressures and challenges facing young people today.

Jack Thorne is a playwright and BAFTA-winning screenwriter.

His plays for the stage include: When Winston Went to War with the Wireless (Donmar Warehouse, 2023); The Motive and the Cue (National Theatre and West End, 2023; Evening Standard Award for Best Play; Critics' Circle Award for Best New Play); After Life, an adaptation of a film by Hirokazu Kore-eda (National Theatre, 2021); the end of history... (Royal Court, London, 2019); an adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol (Old Vic, London, 2017); an adaptation of Büchner's Woyzeck (Old Vic, London, 2017); Junkyard (Headlong, Bristol Old Vic, Rose Theatre Kingston & Theatr Clwyd, 2017); Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Palace Theatre, London, 2016); The Solid Life of Sugar Water (Graeae and Theatre Royal Plymouth, 2015); Hope (Royal Court, London, 2015); adaptations of Let the Right One In (National Theatre of Scotland at Dundee Rep, the Royal Court and the Apollo Theatre, London, 2013/14) and Stuart: A Life Backwards (Underbelly, Edinburgh and tour, 2013); Mydidae (Soho, 2012; Trafalgar Studios, 2013); an adaptation of Friedrich Dürrenmatt's The Physicists (Donmar Warehouse, 2012); Bunny (Underbelly, Edinburgh, 2010; Soho, 2011); 2nd May 1997 (Bush, 2009); When You Cure Me (Bush, 2005; Radio 3's Drama on Three, 2006); Fanny and Faggot (Pleasance, Edinburgh, 2004 and 2007; Finborough, 2007; English Theatre of Bruges, 2007; Trafalgar Studios, 2007); and Stacy (Tron, 2006; Arcola, 2007; Trafalgar Studios, 2007).

His television work includes Adolescence (with Stephen Graham), His Dark Materials, Then Barbara Met Alan (with Genevieve Barr), The Eddy, Help, The Accident, Kiri, National Treasure and This is England ’86/’88/’90.

His films include The Swimmers (with Sally El Hosaini), Enola Holmes, Radioactive, The Aeronauts and Wonder.

He was the recipient of the Writers' Guild of Great Britain Award for Outstanding Contribution to Writing in 2022, and was elected the Guild's President in 2025.

Author photo by Antonio Olmos

Stephen Graham is an actor and film producer.

His work for television includes: This is England ’88/88/90; Accused; Boardwalk Empire; Little Boy Blue; White House Farm; Line of Duty; Save Me; The Virtues; The North Water; Time (also as executive producer); Help; Peaky Blinders; A Thousand Blows (also as executive producer) and Adolescence (also as co-creator, co-writer and executive producer).

His work for film includes: This is England; Public Enemies; Pirates of the Caribbean; Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy; Modigliani: Three Days on the Wing of Madness; Yardie; Journey’s End; Rocketman; The Irishman (nominated for ten Academy Awards); Greyhound; two Venom films (Let There Be Carnage and The Last Dance); Matilda the Musical; Young Woman and the Sea; Blitz; Deliver Me from Nowhere; Peaky Blinders; Bunker and Ibelin.

He set up Matriarch Productions alongside his wife, Hannah Walters, in 2019, and they released their first project, the film Boiling Point, in 2021. Following the success of the film, Stephen starred in and Matriarch produced its sequel, a five-part drama for the BBC.

Awards include Emmys for Best Supporting Actor, Best Writing in a Limited Series and Best Limited Series for Adolescence; the BIFA Richard Harris Award for outstanding services to drama, and an OBE for his services to drama. He has been nominated for seven BAFTA acting awards.