The Romesh Ranganathan Show Jack Thorne: Adolescence, Stephen Graham, and Anxiety
Feb 2, 2026
Jack Thorne, award-winning playwright and screenwriter behind Skins, This Is England and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, talks about the shockwaves of Adolescence and working closely with Stephen Graham. He explores incel culture, online kindness, shifting TV power and his writing routine. He also opens up about social anxiety and how Desert Island Discs prompted an autism diagnosis.
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Episode notes
Online Echoes Amplify Youth Anger
- Thorne differentiates between the manosphere and incel culture and notes violence isn't inherent to incels but harmful narratives are.
- He highlights how young creators preaching anger to peers amplifies hate and radicalises vulnerable viewers.
From TV To 10 Downing Street
- Thorne recounts being invited to 10 Downing Street and feeling conflicted but attending with NGOs to keep the focus on experts, not fame.
- He hoped the noise from the show would prompt political listening and possible change, though he remains uncertain about real policy impact.
Viewers Used The Show To Talk To Kids
- Thorne shares emails from viewers who used the show to start difficult conversations with their teenagers on the sofa.
- He values small, real-world responses more than political headlines as signs the show mattered.
