Adolescence may have only been out for one day on Netflix, but it already has the makings of a massive hit.
The series debuted not only to number one in the UK, but globally on the streamer.
Adolescence focuses on a young boy who is arrested on suspicion of murder, and every one of the show’s four episodes are shot entirely in one take.
Starring alongside Stephen Graham, Faye Marsay and Owen Cooper is Ashley Walters, who plays DI Luke Bascombe in the show.
Ashley Walters (right) plays the lead detective on the case (Netflix)
Walters plays a detective whose son went to the same school as both the boy who is arrested, and the girl he is accused of stabbing to death with a kitchen knife.
The actor, previously most well-known for his role in Top Boy, spoke out recently about the horrifying real-life inspiration for the new show, and what led him to f**king regret agreeing to star in it.
The Netflix series is in part influenced by the recent surge in online incel (involuntary celibate) culture.
Incel refers to nearly entirely male spaces online where people believe that they are celibate against their, often driving young men to misogyny and hatred of women.
Walters spoke to the Daily Mirror about the series, sharing that he ended up reading more about content from ‘manosphere’ creators, often watched by misogynists such as Andrew Tate, which ‘shocked’ him.
He said: “I'd seen bits of the Andrew Tate stuff kind of popping up online or whatever, but I never really delved into it. For me, this was the first real experience.
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The show is heavily inspired by online incel culture and how it can lead to violence against women and young girls (Netflix)
"I do sometimes feel sorry for [kids]. When I was growing up, I was in a bubble.
“I didn't have a clue what was going on in the States and other parts of the world.”
The actor also went on to state at a screening of the show that he ‘f**king regretted’ signing on to the show once he was on set.
He said that Stephen Graham, who he referred to as a mentor, had invited him to the show and that ‘you never say no to Stephen Graham’.
He said: “When you get the opportunity [to work with people you respect such as Stephen Graham], you do it and that's what it was.”
Walters got laughs from the audience before going on to say: “When I got there... I f**king regretted it.
“Every day, Phil [Barantini] will tell you, I was in tears! Every day I was going home, crying in my script. Rocking, you know. It was the hardest thing in the world. No, no it was.
“I was so insecure. I was so insecure, and it's a lot. I had to learn the whole script.
“I had a lot to say in that first episode and you're leading a lot of it, as well. A lot of it is police jargon and whatever."
Despite the uncertainty Walters has expressed he had, the show hasn’t been hindered one bit – with a massively positive reaction from viewers and critics alike and particular praise given to his performance. The series currently sits at a perfect 100 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes.
Adolescence is available to stream on Netflix now.
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