Skins UK (2007)

About Skins UK

"Skins" is a British teen drama TV series that first premiered in January 2007 on E4. It was created by father-and-son duo Bryan Elsley and Jamie Brittain. The plot revolves around a group of teenage students living in Bristol, England, navigating their way through adolescence while dealing with complex issues like substance abuse, dysfunctional families, mental health issues and sexuality.

Making / Production

The series was hailed for its innovative approach to teen-centred drama which drew a dedicated global fanbase. Produced by Company Pictures, the show was filmed on location in Bristol and was known for its distinctive visual style and high-energy storytelling. It ran for seven seasons and concluded in 2013.

Actors

• Nicholas Hoult as Tony Stonem: A manipulative, yet charming character, Hoult excelled in portraying Tony's complex personality.
• Kaya Scodelario as Effy Stonem: As Tony's rebellious younger sister, Scodelario embodied Effy's balance of vulnerability and strength.
• Dev Patel as Anwar Kharral: Known for his humorous and fun-loving portrayal of Anwar, a practicing Muslim straddling his faith and teenager life.
• Hannah Murray as Cassie Ainsworth: Murray gave a haunting performance as Cassie, a character struggling with mental health issues.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• Certain cast members of the show like Dev Patel and Nicholas Hoult successfully transitioned to Hollywood.
• The show was known for replacing its main cast every two seasons.
• "Skins" has been praised for its realistic depiction of youth culture and is often considered a cult classic.

Awards

"Skins" was nominated for a BAFTA audience award in 2008 and won the Philips Audience Award at the BAFTA Television Awards 2009.

Quotes

• "I can't waste any more of my time doing things I don't want to do" – Cassie Ainsworth
• "Everybody needs good neighbours..." - Chris Miles
• "I mean, I was depressed, basically. Those pills just made me happy, all the time." -Cassie Ainsworth

Music, Soundtrack

• "Standing in the Way of Control" - Gossip
• "Wild World" - Cat Stevens
• "Helicopter" - Bloc Party
• "What He Wrote" - Laura Marling
• "Time to Pretend" - MGMT