Stephen Graham has unveiled that his latest Netflix drama, Adolescence, was sparked by two distinct crime stories from opposite ends of the UK.
The gripping four-part series delves into the lives of Eddie (portrayed by Graham) and Manda Miller (Christine Tremarco), whose world is shattered when their 13-year-old son Jamie (Owen Cooper) is arrested for the murder of a female classmate.
Co-created with Jack Thorne, the drama addresses the radicalisation of young boys through misogynistic online groups like the Manosphere, alongside the escalating issue of knife crime.
At the London premiere, the star of Boiling Point disclosed his motivation behind the series: “We’d been asked to create a one-shot piece which was going to be a series,” said Graham. “So we were coming up with the possibilities of what we’d make it about.”
He added, “And I’d read an article in the paper about a young boy stabbing a young girl, and it made me feel a bit cold.
Stephen Graham says two real-life tragedies inspired his new Netflix series (Image: NETFLIX)
“Then, about three or four months later there was a piece on the news. And it was a young boy, again, who had stabbed a young girl – and they are young boys. They’re not men. And it was the complete opposite end of the country.”
The narrative comes at a time when knife crime is surging in the UK, despite an overall drop in homicides. Teenagers face more than double the risk of fatal stabbings compared to a decade ago, as per the latest 2024 data from the Office for National Statistics.
“So, if I’m really honest, it really hurt my heart,” the actor confessed. “For many different reasons.
“Predominantly as a father but also, kind of, where we’re at in society for this to happen.
“Me and Phil [Barantini, director) were in the car and I just came up with the possibility of an idea.”
13-year-old Jamie is arrested for the murder of his classmate (Image: NETFLIX)
Graham also revealed that his fondness for a particular documentary series served as inspiration, which is evident in the first episode detailing Jamie’s arrest and police interrogation.
“I’m slightly obsessed with 24 Hours in Police Custody, as well,” he admitted.
“We knew, because of the technique and how we shoot that we had to grab the audience straight away, and there’s no better beginning than smashing through the door on a raid and coming into the house.
“Pointing their guns at a 13-year-old boy. With that possibility we’d grab the audience’s attention.”
A family’s lives are thrown upside down in this harrowing and timely drama (Image: NETFLIX)
He immediately chose screenwriter Jack Thorne to write the script, renowned for his iconic This Is England series with Shane Meadows as well as another recent success, the critically acclaimed Toxic Town.
“Jack’s one of the finest writers,” Graham complimented. “He writes the human condition with such complexities.”
The latest project from one of the UK’s most dependable acting talents is shaping up to be one of the best TV series of the year, so ensure you don’t miss Adolescence this week.
Adolescence is available to stream on .