Adolescence, starring Stephen Graham, has received praise for its gritty depiction of radicalisation and incel culture involving young boys – and has sparked a debate in Parliament
Adolescence co-writer Jack Thorne has slammed online conspiracy theorists who had claimed the hit Netflix show is “based on a true story”.
The acclaimed writer brutally hit back at the suggestion Adolescence is attempting to make a point about race, a claim sent through the rumour mill by online trolls. Mr Thorne, who wrote the four-part series with Stephen Graham, instead stressed the programme highlights the threat of knife crime, radicalisation and incel culture teenage boys – of all backgrounds and races – face across the UK.
The plot sees Owen Cooper’s character, 13-year-old Jamie Miller, arrested on suspicion of murder and the consequences for he and his family, including his dad, Mr Graham’s character. Mr Thorne, who has worked with Mr Graham on previous projects, said: “We’re not making a point about race with this. We are making a point about masculinity. We’re trying to get inside a problem. We’re not saying this is one thing or another. We’re saying this is about boys.”
The depiction of the issues has been praised widely, so much so it sparked a debate in Parliament. Sir Keir Starmer has even suggested Adolescence should be shown in schools to educate young teens.
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“There is no part of this that’s based on a true story… They’ve (online trolls) claimed that Stephen [Graham] and I based it on a story and so they’re saying that we race-swapped it, because we were basically here and then ended up there, and everything else, and nothing is further from the truth,” Mr Thorne added, talking on The News Agents podcast this week.
“It’s absurd to say that this (crime) is only committed by black boys. I have told a lot of real-life stories in my time. I know the harm that can come when you take elements of a real-life story, and you put it on screen, and the people aren’t expecting it. There is no part of this that’s based on a true story, not one single part.”
Mr Thorne, who has won five BAFTAs, again teamed up with Mr Graham following several murders carried out by children in the UK in recent years. Mr Graham referenced a stabbing in Liverpool – believed to be the murder of 12-year-old Ava White – in a recent interviwew with The Radio Times.
The actor told the magazine: “Where it came from, for me is there was an incident in Liverpool, a young girl, and she was stabbed to death by a young boy. I just thought, why?
“Then there was another young girl in south London who was stabbed to death at a bus stop. And there was this thing up North, where that young girl Brianna Ghey was lured into the park by two teenagers, and they stabbed her. I just thought, what’s going on? What is this that’s happening?”
