Adolescence Emmy success left no time for loo, says producer

EPA Sixteen people, split into two rows, pose for a picture in front of a purple wall decorated with the Emmys logo. Six of them are seated at the edge of a stage covered in red carpet while the others stand behind them. They are all smartly dressed and hold golden trophies in their hands as they smile for the camera. EPA

The Adolescence team posing for a photo at the Emmys

The head of the production company behind hit TV drama Adolescence has joked that they won so many Emmys it was nearly impossible to even make a trip to the loo during the ceremony.

The Netflix drama took home a total of eight trophies this year, with 15-year-old actor Owen Cooper becoming the youngest male to win an Emmy award.

Chief executive of Sheffield-based Warp Films, Mark Herbert, said the winning streak just “kept going”.

“It was bonkers. It was hard to go to the loo,” he told BBC 5Live Breakfast, “but it was a good evening.”

Adolescence, which centres around a 13-year-old boy who is accused of murdering a schoolmate, received widespread praise for shining a light on the impact of smartphones and social media on teenagers.

Written by Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne, the show was filmed in and around studios in South Kirkby, Wakefield, and nearby Minsthorpe Community College in South Elmsall.

The mini-series, comprising four episodes all shot in one take, won best limited series, as well as prizes for its directing and writing.

Sheffield’s Warp Films: How we made Adolescence

Lead actor Stephen Graham won outstanding lead actor in a limited or anthology series or movie and Erin Doherty won outstanding supporting actress in a limited or anthology series or movie.

Cooper, who played teenager Jamie Miller, was named best supporting actor in a limited series.

Adolescence had also scooped up two Creative Arts Emmy awards last week – bringing its total haul to eight.

Herbert, who is currently working on a remake of 1980s nuclear war film Threads, said the show’s success had “absolutely blown our minds”.

A bald man sits in front of a microphone with his chin in his hand. He is wearing a white T-shirt and is smiling.

Mark Herbert, one of the executive producers of Adolescence, said they wanted the work to “hold a mirror up to society”

“It’s just over a year ago that we wrapped this series, which is just insane,” he said.

“We were in a little place called South Kirkby in West Yorkshire and a year later, we’re here [at the Emmys].”

Herbert said friends had come up to him and told him they have had a chat with their 10-year-old child because of the programme.

“We’re not politicians, but we just want to hold a mirror up to society,” he said.

“If you can make people feel in their gut and in their heart that something is disgusting, then that’s all we want as creators.”

Continue Reading