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Skins (British TV series)

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Skins
Logo
GenreTeen drama
Dramedy
Created byJamie Brittain
Bryan Elsley
StarringKaya Scodelario
Lisa Backwell
Jack O'Connell
Kathryn Prescott
Megan Prescott
Ollie Barbieri
Lily Loveless
Luke Pasqualino
Merveille Lukeba
1st Generation
Theme music composerSegal
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series4
No. of episodes37 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producersBryan Elsley
Charles Pattinson
George Faber
John Griffin[1]
ProducerChris Clough
Production locationsBristol, England
Camera setupMultiple-camera
Running time47 minutes
Production companyCompany Pictures
Original release
NetworkE4
Release25 January 2007 (2007-01-25) –
present

Skins is a British teen drama that follows a group of teenagers in Bristol, South West England through the two years of sixth form. The controversial plotline explores issues including narcissism, dysfunctional families, personality disorders, substance abuse, sexuality, teenage pregnancy, disability, and death. The show was created by father and son television writers Bryan Elsley and Jamie Brittain for Company Pictures,[1] and premiered on E4 on 25 January 2007.[2] Skins has currently finished its fourth series on E4, and has been commissioned up to a sixth.

The show is notable for its casting of amateur actors and young writers. The cast are entirely replaced every two series, when the characters leave sixth form.

Cast and characters

First generation

Main article: List of Skins characters (First generation)
File:Skins-cast-s1 2.jpg
The first generation of Skins characters. From left to right, Cassie Ainsworth, Michelle Richardson, Tony Stonem, Sketch, Anwar Kharral, Sid Jenkins, Chris Miles, Jal Fazer, and Maxxie Oliver.

Tony Stonem (portrayed by Nicholas Hoult) is an attractive, intelligent and popular boy. His manipulative ways often go unnoticed by many, and are a catalyst for the majority of the events in the series. Sid Jenkins (Mike Bailey) is Tony's best friend, but has an entirely opposite personality. He lacks confidence, is socially uneasy and struggles with school work.

Tony's girlfriend is Michelle Richardson (April Pearson), a beautiful girl who can never stay angry at his mischievous behaviour for long. Outwardly, Michelle appears shallow, vain and conceited but she works hard and is emotionally mature. She is friends with Cassie Ainsworth (Hannah Murray), a positive and cheery girl who attempts to hide her struggles with mental health. Her flamboyant parents ignore her in favour of their new baby, and her eating disorder goes unnoticed for some time.

Chris Miles (Joe Dempsie) is the party animal of the group. He has a difficult home life; he lost his brother to illness at a young age, and is an emancipated minor due to his ambivalent father and absent mother. He has a crush on his psychology teacher Angie (Siwan Morris). Jal Fazer (Larissa Wilson) is a sensible girl with a talent for playing the clarinet. Her runaway mother has left her to live with her famous musician father and aspiring rapper brothers.

Maxxie Oliver (Mitch Hewer) is an openly gay character who loves to dance and, unlike most gay teenagers on British television, is still considered "one of the lads". His best friend Anwar Kharral (Dev Patel) takes a pick-and-choose approach to Islam, and has no qualms indulging in pre-marital sex, alcohol, and drugs. He has a slightly off-the-wall personality, known for his silly antics and sense of humour.

Lucy, better known as "Sketch" (Aimee-Ffion Edwards), is a quiet Welsh girl, who is polite yet unnerving. She is a young carer for her mother Sheila, who suffers from multiple sclerosis.

As well as the regular cast, there are several important recurring characters. Effy Stonem (Kaya Scodelario) is Tony's younger sister, and shares many of the same qualities as him. She is mysterious and manipulative, but almost mute, she regularly breaks the fourth wall. Abigail Stock (Georgina Moffat) is Tony Stonem's mistress, a posh school girl with psychotic tendencies. "Posh" Kenneth (Daniel Kaluuya) goes to the same college as the main cast and often found spending time with the boys. Madison Twatter (Stephen Walters) features as Sid's emergency drug dealer, Doug (Giles Thomas) is a senior teacher at Roundview College, and British comedian and co-writer Josie Long appears as the college's careers counsellor.

The central cast's parents are often played by well-known British actors credited in a guest starring role. Harry Enfield portrays Tony and Effy's father, Jim Stonem, with Morwenna Banks playing his wife Anthea Stonem. Peter Capaldi and Josie Lawrence act as Sid's parents, Mark and Liz Jenkins. Neil Morrissey and Naomi Allisstone play Cassie's parents Marcus and Margeritte. Arabella Weir acts as Michelle's mother, Anna Richardson, and Danny Dyer as her step father Malcolm. Ronnie Fazer (Mark Monero) is Jal's musician father, and Elaine (Josette Simon) her estranged mother. Mark Heap portrays Graham Miles, Chris' father, and Sarah Lancashire his stepmother Mary. Inder Manocha plays Istiak Kharral, Anwar's father, with Nina Wadia as Anwar's mother. Heidi Monsen acts as Dr. Victoria Stock, Abigail and Josh's mother. Maxxie's parents Walter and Jackie Oliver are played by Bill Bailey and Fiona Allen.

Second generation

Main article: List of Skins characters (Second generation)
File:Skins-Cast-2.jpg
The second generation of Skins characters. From left to right, JJ Jones, Naomi Campbell, Emily Fitch, Katie Fitch, James Cook, Effy Stonem, Freddie Mclair, Pandora Moon and Thomas Tomone.

Effy Stonem (Kaya Scodelario), Tony's younger sister, becomes the lead character for the second generation. Effy is beautiful, popular, and a natural leader like her brother, but also quiet and distant, attempting to keep her own troubles hidden. She is fully aware of her desirability and capacity for manipulative behaviour, but feels expressing her own emotions will show weakness. Pandora Moon (Lisa Backwell) is her best friend, having appeared for the first time in a second series episode. She is innocent to the sexual and narcotic world in which Effy indulges, but is ready and willing to explore it.

Thomas Tomone (Merveille Lukeba) is an immigrant from the Congo, with a morally upright outlook and good-hearted nature. He becomes Pandora's love interest throughout series 3 and 4.

James Cook (Jack O'Connell), Freddie Mclair (Luke Pasqualino) and JJ Jones (Ollie Barbieri) have been best friends since childhood, known as "the Three Musketeers". Cook is charismatic and sociable, but boisterous and not afraid of authority. His womanising drives many of the events in the series. By contrast, Freddie is an easy-going skater who likes to smoke weed, and as the more sensible and responsible friend, he is often put out by Cook's behaviour. JJ's Asperger syndrome makes it difficult to fit in socially, but he has learnt to use magic tricks to make friends. His friends view him kindly but with a degree of amusement, and sometimes irritation, but he knows Cook and Freddie will always take care of him.

Katie (Megan Prescott) and Emily Fitch (Kathryn Prescott) are very different identical twin sisters. Quietly insecure Katie thinks of herself as something of a WAG and wants to usurp Effy's place as queen bee of the group. Her homophobia causes problems with her sister Emily, who is coming to terms with her identity as a lesbian. The quieter of the two, Emily is used to being the shadow of her sister, and is sulky but perceptive. She hugely admires Naomi Campbell (Lily Loveless), a fiery, politically-charged passionate young woman with idealistic views and an abundance of ambition.

Other characters include Karen McClair (Klariza Clayton), Freddie's sister who is desperate to become famous.[3] Mackenzie Crook guest stars as Johnny White, a psychotic Bristol gangster with comedians Jordan Long and Justin Edwards as his inept henchmen.[4] Ardal O'Hanlon is the gang's careless Northern Irish college tutor, Kieran MacFoeinaiugh (pronounced Mac-Phew).

As with the first generation, the central cast's parents are played by established British comedic actors. Harry Enfield and Morwenna Banks return as Effy's parents, with Banks' real life partner David Baddiel appearing as her fictional husband's work colleague. Sally Phillips is introduced as Pandora's mother Angela, and Maureen Lipman as her Aunt Elizabeth. Other parents include Cook's father (Matt King) and mother (Tanya Franks), JJ's mother (Juliet Cowan) and father (Douglas Hodge), Freddie's dad (Simon Day), Naomi's mother (Olivia Colman), and Katie and Emily's parents played by impressionist Ronni Ancona and stand-up comedian John Bishop.

Plot synopsis

Main article: List of Skins episodes

Series 1

Episode one, "Tony", is an ensemble piece, which introduces the characters and the format. Episode two ("Cassie"), features Cassie's time in an eating disorder hospital. Episode three ("Jal") features Jal's ambition to win BBC Young Musician of the Year. Episode four ("Chris") features Chris left alone with £1,000 left to him by his mother, and his eventual move into temporary student accommodation. Episode five ("Sid") shows Sid's struggle with his dysfunctional family and his victimisation at the hands of Tony's manipulation, Michelle breaks up with Tony. Tony manipulated both Michelle and Sid so they would date, but that only led to Michelle thinking Sid was in on it. Sid then tries to apologise, only for Tony to intervene and win Michelle back for himself. Unlike episodes one to five, episode six ("Maxxie and Anwar") focuses on both the two named characters and how they build up conflict through Maxxie's homosexuality and Anwar's Muslim faith. Episode seven ("Michelle") shows Michelle's understanding of Tony's manipulative and cheating ways, and her gradual acceptance a relationship with him is not good for her. Episode eight, ("Effy"), focuses less on its namesake than on the central characters' search for her. "Finale" focuses on the whole group in general. The series finishes with the anti-hero Tony being run down by a bus after he begins to change his personality for the benefit of winning back Michelle, then the main cast sings the Cat Stevens 1970 classic "Wild World." It is also noted that each episode starts with the eyes of the main character.

Series 2

The second series premiered on E4 on 11 February 2008, however the first episode was available in four parts to MySpace users prior to airing. The series is set six months after the conclusion of the first. Tony is alive after being hit by a bus, but he is now severely mentally impaired despite having no apparent physical injuries. The first episode focuses on Maxxie and Tony and features comedian Bill Bailey as Maxxie's father. Shane Richie stars in Episode 2 as a college drama lecturer, Bruce, who is producing the controversial school play Osama: The Musical, written by Julian Ronnie in which Maxxie and Michelle have lead roles. Working on the production as a lighting technician is Sketch, a student who has been stalking Maxxie. She dramatically disrupts the play to get him to kiss her.

Sid has not been the same since his girlfriend Cassie moved to Scotland and his best friend Tony suffered brain damage. In Episode 3 a chaotic visit from his — ironically — Scottish relatives ends in disaster as his father dies in his armchair. Episode 4 sees the group take a camping trip to Wales with Michelle's new stepsister Scarlet, where Sid and Michelle end up having sex, leading to a short lived relationship. Cassie returns from Scotland to visit Sid, but is heartbroken when she discovers him kissing Michelle and becomes a much darker version of her former self. Maxxie discovers Anwar's relationship with Sketch, causing a falling out of the two best friends. In Episode 5 Chris is expelled from college, and is forced to get a job. He becomes Jal's boyfriend, and after failing at several jobs recommended by the college careers adviser (played by Josie Long), Chris becomes a successful estate agent. This gives him access to the keys for a small flat, but this leads to being reluctantly fired after a client comes to visit the flat he is living in post-party. At the party, he cheats on Jal with his old psychology teacher Angie. Jal later discovers she is pregnant. Anwar splits up with Sketch after Maxxie shows him he is being manipulated by her.

Tony continues his recovery in his third featured episode, Episode 6, which is a metaphor for several elements of Jungian psychology. He visits the University of Exeter to attend an interview, but meets a strange, possibly imaginary girl who helps him sort out the physical co-ordination issues he has been having since his accident. Afterwards, Tony becomes the person that he once was in Series 1 indicating a full recovery. Many of the teens' relationship problems are resolved in Episode 7, as Sid reconciles with Cassie, and Tony with Michelle. Episode 8 was written by Daniel Kaluuya, who plays "Posh" Kenneth. In this episode Jal continues to do battle with her conscience over her pregnancy, while Chris is rushed to hospital with a blood clot in his brain. We learn that Maxxie has found a boyfriend, James. In Episode 9, Chris has discharged himself from hospital and seems well. Cassie attends her exams, but later Chris has another stroke and dies in Cassie's arms. Cassie simply packs her bags and runs, ending up in New York. She makes a friend called Adam, who lets her stay in his flat, and takes her out to a nightclub. However, one morning, she wakes up to find he has left her.

In Episode 10 Chris's father visits Sid to explain that he does not want any of Chris' friends at his funeral. Upon hearing this Sid and Tony decide to steal Chris's coffin, but Jal finds out and forces them to return it before the funeral. In the same episode during the evening the central characters sit around a campfire and read out each others' results. Everyone gets the grades they need apart from Anwar who goes missing. Maxxie becomes upset that he is leaving to London without saying goodbye to his best friend. Sketch seemingly fancies Anwar more than Maxxie now and attempts to persuade Anwar to be friends with her in Bristol. However, Maxxie manages to convince him to go to London with him and James, leaving Sketch behind in tears. Tony buys Sid a ticket to New York and after an emotional farewell, sends him off to find Cassie. After this, Tony, headed for Cardiff University, and Michelle, who has a place at the University of York, come to terms with the inevitable end of their relationship and decide they were "better than" a good couple. The last scenes are of Sid searching for Cassie in New York, ambiguously stopping in front of the cafe she is working in.

Anwar is the only person to not get a character centric episode, although the final episode is based loosely around him.

Series 3

We meet Emily putting clothes out for college, and her sister, Katie, who walks all over Emily and tries to be best friends with Effy. Now in school we see Pandora who is set on losing her virginity, but she hasn't got a boyfriend. Finally in the assembly hall we meet Naomi who is passionate about political issues and hates her hippy mother who brings strangers to her house all the time. Romantic tension is clearly felt between Emily and Naomi throughout the series. Emily is initially reluctant to admit to her feelings for Naomi, partially because of her sister Katie, however, she soon resolves this and tells Naomi how she feels about her. Naomi, however, is much more unwilling and struggles to come to terms with her sexuality, repeatedly demonstrating that she does care for Emily, then rejecting her. Ultimately, however, both acknowledge their feelings for each other, and the two enter into a relationship.

In episode 2 we get to meet Karen, Freddie's sister who wants to be famous. In episode 5, we learn that she has entered a talent contest called "Search for a Sexxbomb" but in the end, loses. Episode 3 focuses on Thomas who comes from the Congo. Once his mother sees what the kids of England get up to, he is forced to leave England and return to the Congo. However, he finally returns to be with Pandora, but finds out she is having casual sex with Cook (when he reveals all after taking JJ's STUN medication), and they split. However, Thomas eventually forgives her and the two rekindle their relationship.

Throughout the series, Freddie is seen to have feelings for Effy, but she repeatedly rebuffs his advances, choosing instead to pursue a sexual relationship with Cook. It becomes clear, however, that Effy reciprocates Freddie's feelings, but is unable to tell him. Effy seems to be coming to terms with her feelings for Freddie, but is disconcerted when Freddie enters into a relationship with Katie. Effy eventually breaks up with Cook, but by this time, Freddie is with Katie. When the group are at a party in the woods, Effy, who has been consuming hallucinogenic mushrooms, hits Katie over the head with a rock when Katie wrestles her to the ground. Effy and Freddie then have sex, Freddie being unaware of what transpired between Effy and Katie. When it is revealed, Freddie is seemingly very upset with Effy and so, Effy leaves Bristol with Cook. In the series finale, Freddie and JJ go searching for Cook and Effy, who has finally admitted to Freddie that she loves him. It becomes obvious that Cook has fallen in love with Effy also. The three boys decide to enter a race and agree that whoever wins will be the one who gets to "keep" Effy. JJ wins, but instead of 'claiming' Effy, he demands that the four resolve their problems once and for all. He forces the two boys to admit their love for Effy then insists that Effy finally choose between them. Effy does not need to say anything as it is clear from the look she gives Freddie that she chooses him. Cook storms out. When JJ follows him, Effy and Freddie are left alone, and the two have sex. However, the outcome of the love triangle is left unclear, because Cook tells Freddie that he could never let Freddie and Effy be together, because he loves her too. Freddie, reluctant to hurt his friend, seems to be undecided as to what he should do, and the series ends as Freddie asks "What do we do now?"

Series 4

The fourth series began filming in July 2009 and concluded in November 2009. The series continues with the second generation of characters and consists of eight episodes which began airing on 28 January 2010.[5] Guest stars for the series include Georgia Henshaw, who appears as Lara, JJ's new girlfriend who has a nine-month old baby. |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/showbiz-and-lifestyle/2009/12/06/skins-star-georgia-henshaw-won-t-let-family-watch-sex-scenes-91466-25327333 |title=Skins star Georgia Henshaw won't let family watch sex scenes |author=Emily Woodrow |date=6 December 2009}}</ref> Ben Evans will also appear as Sam, and Lily Davis-Broome as Candy.[6] Will Young acts as a school counsellor,[7] Chris Addison appears the Sixth Form's new "Cameronian" headmaster[8] and Felicity Montagu also appears in the second episode as Anne, the mother of the suicide victim.[9] Pauline Quirke recurs as "quite a scary character" who is part of "an incident that involves everyone".[10]

The series begins at a club, with most of the series' main characters present. A girl named Sophia takes MDMA and commits suicide. Thomas, working there as a DJ, is expelled by new school headmaster David Blood (Chris Addison) due to his connection with the incident. As the police begin to investigate, Thomas begins to rethink his life and breaks up with Pandora.

Emily and Naomi are planning a trip to Mexico, which Jenna Fitch strongly disapproves of. Emily promptly moves in with Naomi after Jenna attempts to bribe her into going on a trip alone. Meanwhile, Emily begins to investigate the relationship between Naomi and Sophia (the deceased girl from the previous episode) after the police interviews both of them. It turns out Naomi had gone to a University Open Day that Emily was unaware of, and cheated with Sophia as well as selling her the MDMA, which she had bought off Cook. Heartbroken, Emily is comforted by her father, who admits that he cheated on her mother with Emily's aunt when he was younger. Telling her it gets better after it gets worse, the episode ends with Emily visiting Naomi, whose front door has the note "I'll do anything" attached. Emily enters Naomi's home. Meanwhile, Effy returns and begins a relationship with Freddie. In an outburst of jealous rage, Cook assaults a nearby boy.

Following the assault, Cook is arrested and given bail with an electric tag (which forces him to live with his younger brother and apathetic, alcoholic mother) and is expelled from school by the headmaster, David Blood. He revels in teaching his younger brother his own dangerous habits, before realising his actions are exactly that - childish. Cook and Naomi share their feelings of responsibility over the death of Sophia. In the culmination of the episode, Cook pleads guilty to GBH, and confesses to selling Sophia the MDMA, saving Naomi from suspicion whilst condemning himself.

Katie is told by doctors she has premature menopause and can never have children. She attempts to help in her mother's wedding planning business with disastrous results. With the Fitch family bankrupt, they are evicted and are forced into moving in with Emily and Naomi, who have not properly reconcile. Katie reveals to Thomas she cannot conceive, and Thomas promises her to be her friend. The Fitch family reunite for one last meal on the floor of their old house.

Living out a hedonistic existence in Effy's empty house, Freddie begins to be concerned about Effy's state of mind. Seeing similarities in Effy and his own late mother's depression (and eventual suicide), he seeks advice from his grandfather Norman (Dudley Sutton). Realising Effy is in danger, Freddie reaches her just as she has slit her wrists and manages to get her to hospital. Cook reappears, apparently having escaped from juvenile detention, and comforts a broken Freddie.

JJ is infatuated with Lara, a girl from his work. When he finally manages to get up the courage to ask her out on a date, she accepts. Cook, who has been hiding out in Freddie's shed is now hiding in JJ's bedroom- gives JJ some "shagging adivce". He arrives at her house, only to be met by a big surprise - she has a baby. The father of the child is still in love with Lara, and does not want JJ and her to be together. While their first date is a bit of a disaster, he wins her over when she tells him to be himself. JJ is later provoked by Liam (the ex boyfriend/father of the child) into punching him in front of Lara, which causes her to end it with JJ, he then wins back her affections by serenading her from below her window with "True" by Spandau Ballet. JJ's absent father opens up to his son in this episode, saying he does not think JJ needs all the pills that his mother and psychiatrist push onto him. This is a turning point in JJ's life.

Since Effy's suicide attempt, she has beeen admitted to a psychiatric hospital, under the supervision and counselling of her psychiatrist John T. Foster. As she is permitted to leave, albeit with conditions from John, she decides to visit Freddie, in which she confirms she only has love for him, and "That is all". However, at a celebration party where all the other characters are celebrating their A levels, Effy suddenly states that she is finished and is saying goodbye to everyone - including Freddie.

Over the course of the episode Effy's condition deteriorates to the point of where she forgets who she is and who her friends are. Cook notices this and after a brief chasing scene Effy demands to be taken back to Freddie. As Cook does so he notices a duffel bag; hinting towards Freddie's near escape, the two talk and Cook leaves implying he is finished with chasing Effy.

Effy is admitted back to the psychiatric hospital, although refusing to go back under the supervision of John as it is apparent he has been using hypnotic methods to cause Effy to forget everything about her past. After a brief scuffle with Freddie, John exits hastily, only to later invite Freddie to his home.

Freddie advances his threats that John leave Effy alone and begins to leave. The door is locked, and John is seen brandishing a baseball bat. We hear Freddie try to reason with John as he begins to beat the skater mercilessly. After a few more yells and blood splatting onto the window the counsellor continues beating the now dead Freddie.

Freddie's sister is worried about him going missing and goes to Cook for answers. However Cook is as much in the dark as she is and has no idea of the whereabouts of Freddie. To distract themselves from what's happening they throw a party at Naomi's and then continue in Freddie's shed, where everyone gets drunk and has a good time. At the party Naomi reconciles with Emily, as does Thomas with Pandora.

Cook steps outside for a minute and catches a glimpse of a shadow. He follows the shadow and is lead to John Foster's basement where he finds bloodstained clothes belonging to Freddie. John steps from the dark brandishing his baseball bat, saying that he belongs with Effy. He knocks Cook to the ground and Cook gets back up no problem, with a smile on his face. He states that yes, he is a nobody, but John killed his best friend. This seems to be the turning point for Cook, and he realises that it doesn't matter how the fight goes, he has not much left to care about. He shouts "I AM COOK!" and swings at John, with the camera freezing mid-swing and the credits rolling after.

Future

E4 has commissioned a fifth and sixth series of Skins, to air in 2011.[11] As in previous series, an entirely new cast will be introduced.[12]

Bryan Elsley had previously revealed that the new series would feature an entirely new cast, dubbed the "third generation". Asked if any characters might remain in the next generation, writer Georgia Lester replied: "I can't imagine anyone at the moment. I just love James Fitch, but he is not at the right age to join the main cast!"[13] Open auditions will take place in April for the new cast.

Although the show airs in the United States on BBC America, MTV is planning to create an American adaptation.[14] In February 2010, filming began on a pilot episode for a North American version of Skins in Toronto, Canada.[15]

Production

Writing

The show's realistic plot lines are often credited to the writing team, who have an average age of 21. The series co-producer Bryan Elsley said, "It's all about the writing. [...] We're about letting our audience feel they are not alone. [...] We're always having people miss [writing] meetings because they've got A-levels or even GCSEs". Mr Elsley and his fellow producer Simon Edmonds have remarked upon the success, in particular of Series 1, as "groundbreaking" for British teen television. [16]

Filming

The show is filmed in Bristol; Roundview College school scenes are shot at Henbury School, having formerly been shot at Filton College's WISE Campus and John Cabot Academy, and multiple scenes are located around College Green.[17] Special locations for individual episodes have included the Gower Peninsula, Sharpness Docks, the University of Exeter and New York City. The series was shot entirely in High Definition, using Sony HDW-750P cameras for the first two series, and Sony HDW-F900R thereafter, both supplied by Panavision.[18] It was edited at BBC Studios and Post Production in Bristol, using Autodesk Lustre and Autodesk Smoke.[19]

It was announced in April 2008 that all of the original cast (except Kaya Scodelario and Lisa Backwell) will be replaced for series 3.[20] Creator Bryan Elsley said: "There are risks associated with dumping a cast, but we just did it. There was some disquiet at the channel, but then they told us just to go with it." Speaking at Broadcast's television drama conference, he also confirmed the show would stick to its pattern of introducing college-age characters, moving them on in the next series, then letting them go. "The first year is about getting to know the kids, and the second gives us the advantage of being able to explore their psyches a little more," said Elsley. Creator Jamie Brittain said that the new cast would be quite different from the original characters, although people may still spot some similarities. Open auditions for the second generation of cast members were held in Bristol, which attracted 1,500 16- to 18-year-olds, followed by a further two days of auditions in London.[21]

Online content

A variety of videos have been released on the Skins website, including character profiles, and "Unseen Skins" mini-episodes that interweave with every aired episode.[22] In addition to character profiles on the official E4 website, accounts for the lead Skins characters are maintained on popular social networking website MySpace. Each series is launched on MySpace, with previews of the first episodes a few days before they are aired on television.[23] There is also an official Skins Internet bot for Windows Live Messenger, which allows users to receive automated messages throughout the airing of each episode with music credits, trivia, and behind-the-scenes gossip.[24]

Reception

Critical reception

The first series received positive reviews, although some critics complained that the series depicts teenagers unrealistically and stereotypically.[25] Others criticised the excessive promotion of the show (specifically in the UK) and having relatively mediocre writing in comparison to other similarly themed shows. Actor Nicholas Hoult defended criticism of the extreme storylines, saying they would not reflect "everyone's teenage life", adding "it is maybe heightened for entertainment but all of it is believable."[26]

Marieke Hardy was extremely admiring of the show, and particularly enjoyed the fact that the show was "beautiful and sad and poignant and perfectly hurtful", while also managing to give impression of being drama that is "edgy, funny and rude".[citation needed] However, she did state that she was unsure whether the show was meant for teenagers or not.[27] Stewart Lee has remarked during an interview on the BBC4 programme Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe that he feels lucky for having been a teenager watching TV for teenagers in the 1970s and not the 2000s as "there was something really comforting for nerds and weirdos about programmes like Children of the Stones and The Changes."[citation needed] He said that watching Skins as a teenager today would make him feel lonelier than he already would have been.[28] However, Brooker himself gave the programme a positive review in his Guardian column "Screen Burn",[29] and specifically stated that "the series had wrong-footed me",[citation needed] comparing his initial expectation of Skins as a shallow show to after he had finished watching the series.[citation needed]

In his book Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale, Russell T. Davies and his co-author, Benjamin Cook, discuss Skins at length, with Davies praising the show's innovation in a genre that was fast becoming tired and out of date. They are critical of some elements of the first series, such as the believability of Tony's character, or episode 6 which is described as "Carry On Russia", but give high praise to the second series as a whole, highlighting the death of Sid's dad as a superb moment, and calling the finale "perfect". Davies, creator of the award-winning Queer as Folk, also praised the handling of the show's homosexuality-related storylines, saying that he knew a boy very like Maxxie in the 80s.[30] The Age called it a "refreshing, entertaining and worthy series"[citation needed] and wrote it was "compulsory viewing for parents of teenagers as much as for teens."[31]

Awards

The show won the Best Drama prize at the 2008 Rose d'Or ceremony,[32] and also won the Best Production Design (Drama) for Amelia Shankland's work on "Cassie", at the Royal Television Society Awards 2007, in addition to being nominated for Best Photography (Drama). Tal Rosner's graphics for Skins won a BAFTA for Best Title Sequence at the British Academy Television Craft Awards in May 2008.[33] In March 2008 the show was nominated for Best Drama Series in the British Academy Television Awards 2008.[34] The show's innovative marketing was awarded Best Advertising Campaign at the MediaGuardian Awards for Innovation in 2008.[35] The viral marketing preluding the second series won the Entertainment category at the Interactive Marketing and Advertising Awards 2008.[36] Skins won the Philips Audience Award at the BAFTAs 2009. The series Director of Photography, Nick Dance has been nominated for a BAFTA and an RTS Award for Photography and Lighting for his work on the series.[18] In 2010, Skins was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award for "Outstanding Drama Series" during the 21st GLAAD Media Awards.[37]

Television ratings

The pilot episode of Skins averaged 1.5 million viewers.[38] The ratings for the second series which launched peaked at 884,000 viewers, which gave it 5.9% audience share and taking 60% of the 16-24 demographic, however this was still more than 500,000 viewers down on its series one premiere.[39] The series finale attracted an audience of 740,000 on E4, equating to a 4.65% share of the audience.[40] The start of the third series drew in 877,000 viewers,[41] proving popular with its key audience demographic of younger people — 56.2% of viewers were aged between 16 and 34.[42] Series 4 premiered with 1.5 million viewers across E4 and E4+1, the highest rated episode since series 1.[43][44]

Cultural influence

The programme has given rise to the term 'skins party', referring to a debauched night of heavy drinking and recreational drug use.[45] During the 2007 Easter holiday a girl in County Durham threw a house party; it was advertised on her MySpace profile as a "Skins Unofficial Party," referring to the party in the first series' trailer, with the subtitle "Let's trash the average family-sized house disco party". 200 people turned up, breaking into the house and causing over £20,000 of seemingly deliberate damage. She alleges that her account was hacked and someone else placed the ad.[46][47] Similar incidents have taken place in the Republic of Ireland, with major household damage and theft of personal property being reported in Firhouse and Foxrock. Although these attacks have not been conclusively linked to the show, news outlets have reported that they are called Skins parties.[48] Club nights marketed as 'Skins Secret Parties' have also taken shape in Leicester and Brighton.[49] Following this, a series of parties were run by Company Pictures in spring 2008.[50]

DVD releases

Series Release Dates Ep # Additional Information
Region 1 Region 2 Region 4
1 13 January 2009 24 September 2007 20 February 2008 9 This three-disc box set includes all nine episodes from series one. Bonus features include nine unaired online-only Unseen Skins episodes, music video for Standing in the Way of Control, and extended trailers.[51] Much of the popular music used in the original broadcasts is not found on this DVD due to the high cost of licensing.[52] Of particular note to R1 audiences is that the cast ensemble performance of "Wild World" that appeared at the end of the series is completely missing from the release.
2 14 April 2009 5 May 2008 20 August 2008 10 This three-disc box set includes all ten episodes from series two. Bonus features include the six accompanying Unseen Skins episodes, interviews with cast and crew, and short behind the scenes documentaries.[53] Much of the popular music used in the original broadcasts is not found on this DVD due to the high cost of licensing.[52]
3 TBA 6 April 2009 9 September 2009 10 This three-disc box set includes all ten episodes from series three. Bonus features include four editions of Unseen Skins, ten character video diaries, and behind the scenes featurettes from the episodes, trailers and auditions. Much of the popular music used in the original broadcasts is not found on this DVD due to the high cost of licensing.[54]
4 TBA 22 March 2010[55] TBA 8 This two-disc box set includes all eight episodes from series four. Bonus features include: Bonus Skins stories, Animated feature, Behind the scenes videos, and Commentaries with the show's writers and directors.
1-2 N/A 5 May 2008[56] N/A 19 This six disc box set contains all episodes from the first two seasons.
1-3 N/A 6 April 2009[57] N/A 29 This nine disc box set contains all episodes from the first three seasons.
1-4 N/A 22 March 2010[58] N/A 37 This twelve disc box set contains all episodes from the first four seasons.

Other media

In May 2009, E4 confirmed that Film4 and Company Pictures are in "preliminary talks" about a movie spin-off.[59]

In September 2009, Company Pictures announced that Skins has been licensed to Crystal Entertainment.[60] The firm is to help creator Bryan Elsley expand the brand into areas such as film, fashion and music. They described Skins as "the most authentic teen brand on TV".[citation needed]

In January 2010, Hodder & Stoughton published Skins: The Novel (ISBN 1-4449-0004-8), a short novel by Ali Cronin that describes events taking place between series 3 and 4.[61]

References

  1. ^ a b "Skins 3". Company Pictures. January 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
  2. ^ Johns, Ian (2007-06-07). "Spaced out with the Skins generation". The Times. Retrieved 2009-10-14.
  3. ^ "Karen McClair's a firecracker with big dreams of being famous". Skins. E4. Retrieved 2009-01-05.
  4. ^ "The Office's Mackenzie Crook finally gets to play the tough guy". Mirror.co.uk TV Land. Trinity Mirror plc. 2008-08-01. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
  5. ^ "Skins 4 Episodes". E4. 29 July 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
  6. ^ "Latest News". Mark Jermin Management. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
  7. ^ Dan French (11 December 2009). "Writer: 'Will Young amazing on Skins'".
  8. ^ Mayer Nissim (18 November 2009). "Chris Addison records part in 'Skins'".
  9. ^ LocateTV (4 February 2010). "Skins: Series 4 Episode 2". {{cite web}}: Text "LocateTV" ignored (help)
  10. ^ Dan French (10 December 2009). "2010 TV Preview: 'Skins' series 4".
  11. ^ "Skins gets two more series – and another all-new cast". The Guardian. 12 March 2010. Retrieved 16 March 2010.
  12. ^ "Skins Hunt". The Sun. 12 March 2010. Retrieved 16 March 2010.
  13. ^ http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/tubetalk/a190824/2010-tv-preview-skins-series-4.html
  14. ^ Weisman, Jon (24 August 2009). "MTV developing U.S. 'Skins'". Variety. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
  15. ^ http://popgoesthenews.blogspot.com/2010/02/toronto-welcomes-another-tv-pilot.html
  16. ^ Armstrong, Stephen (11 May 2009). "Loyalty points". The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
  17. ^ "Anwar". E4. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
  18. ^ a b Dance, Nick (24 March 2009). "Making of the C4 drama series Skins". Sony. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
  19. ^ "BBC Post Production uses Lustre and Smoke to give Channel 4 beautiful Skins". Autodesk. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
  20. ^ Wilkes, Neil (2008-04-10). "'Skins' creator talks finale, new series". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
  21. ^ Holmwood, Leigh (2008-03-28). "Skins 3: the hunt for the new Tony begins". Organ Grinder. The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
  22. ^ "Unseen Skins". E4. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
  23. ^ Ramsay, Fiona (2008-01-30). "Channel 4 to debut Skin's online". MediaWeek. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
  24. ^ Forde, Steve (2009-02-27). "Skins on Windows Live Messenger". Channel 4. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
  25. ^ Mangan, Lucy (2007-01-26). "Last night's TV". Guardian. Retrieved 2008-12-20.
  26. ^ Holmwood, Leigh (2008-01-30). "Skins series 2: The countdown begins..." Organ Grinder. Guardian. Retrieved 2008-12-20.
  27. ^ Hardy, Marieke (2008-01-31). "Kids these days get under your skin". The Age. Retrieved 2008-12-20.
  28. ^ Lee, Stewart. "Stewart Lee on Skins". Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe. BBC Four. Retrieved 2008-12-20.
  29. ^ Brooker, Charlie (2008-02-09). "Charlie Brooker's screen burn". Guardian. Retrieved 2008-11-19. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  30. ^ Russell T. Davies and Benjamin Cook, Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale (BBC Books, 2008), passim
  31. ^ Farrer, Gordon (2008-02-04). "Skins Review". The Age. Retrieved 2008-11-19. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  32. ^ "Skins among Rose d'Or TV winners". BBC News. 7 May 2008. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
  33. ^ Krieger, Candice (2009-01-22). "Tal Rosner is awarded a Bafta for his hard graft on Skins". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 2009-02-21.
  34. ^ Gibson, Owen (2008-03-19 url =http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/mar/19/television2). "Cranford wins three Bafta nominations". The Guardian. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help); External link in |date= (help); Missing pipe in: |date= (help)
  35. ^ "Skins and Radiohead win Guardian awards". The Guardian. 2008-03-07. Retrieved 2008-11-23.
  36. ^ "Winners 2008: Skins II". Interactive Marketing and Advertising Awards. Retrieved 2008-11-23.[dead link]
  37. ^ "21st Annual GLAAD Media Awards - English Language Nominees". Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. 2010. Retrieved February 21, 2010.
  38. ^ Holmwood, Leigh (2008-01-07). "Celebrity Hijack hoists E4 ratings". guardian.co.uk. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 2008-11-19.
  39. ^ West, Dave (2009-02-12). "'Skins' return pulls more than 'Pulling'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
  40. ^ 'Skins' finale draws 740,000 for E4. Digital Spy. 15 April 2008. Retrieved 17 April 2008.
  41. ^ http://www.barb.co.uk/report/weeklyTopProgrammes
  42. ^ Rogers, Jon (2009-01-23). "Skins returns with 665,000". Broadcast Now. Retrieved 2009-02-21.
  43. ^ "TV ratings - 28 January: Skins storms back with nearly 1 million viewers". guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-01-29. {{cite web}}: Text "Media" ignored (help); Text "guardian.co.uk" ignored (help)
  44. ^ "Television - News - 'Skins' series four opens to 1.1 million - Digital Spy". www.digitalspy.com. Retrieved 2010-01-29.
  45. ^ "Britain Pushes Gossip Girl Envelope With Skins". Parentstv.org. Retrieved 2009-03-12.
  46. ^ Police arrest MySpace party girl, The Telegraph, 14 April 2007
  47. ^ House trash party girl: "I'm sorry", Sunderland Echo, 15 April 2007
  48. ^ Filthy party-crashing craze is blamed on teen TV show Skins, The Herald, 7 November 2008
  49. ^ Leicester rock gigs - live music in Leicester
  50. ^ "SkinsLife - SkinsLive Tour".
  51. ^ "Amazon.com Skins" Series 1 DVD". Retrieved July 2, 2009. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
  52. ^ a b Brittain, Jamie (2007-09-27). "The DVD". Skinheads. Retrieved 2008-12-20.
  53. ^ "Amazon.com Skins" Series 2 DVD". Retrieved July 2, 2009. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
  54. ^ "Amazon.com Skins" Series 3 DVD". Retrieved July 2, 2009. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
  55. ^ [1]
  56. ^ [2]
  57. ^ [3]
  58. ^ [4]
  59. ^ Holmwood, Leigh (2009-05-11). "Skins: Channel 4 plans movie spin-off". The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
  60. ^ Rosser, Michael (2 September 2009). "Skins going global with "Brand Beckham" exec". Broadcast Now. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
  61. ^ Cronin, Ali (7 Jan 2010). [Skins: The Novel (Paperback) Skins: The Novel]. Hodder & Stoughton. ISBN 1444900048. {{cite book}}: Check |url= value (help)
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