Screenwriter Jack Thorne says Adolescence was influenced by Lord Of The Flies – and warns on ‘the savagery of populism’

Screenwriter Jack Thorne has said his Emmy award-winning script for Adolescence was influenced by his work on an adaption of Lord Of The Flies at the same time.

Thorne said the ‘savagery of the populism’ seen by the 1954 literary classic’s author William Golding ‘has a lot of parallels with where we find ourselves now’.

He told the Big Issue: ‘Some of Golding’s story slipped into Adolescence, and I’m sure a bit of Adolescence slipped into Lord of the Flies.

‘Lord of the Flies looks populism in the eye.’

He said of Golding: ‘He was trying to examine that moment of horror and the savagery of the populism he saw – and there is no doubt we are under the shadow of populism again.

‘And we need to understand it. We need to understand how we behave. We need to understand how others around us will behave. This has a lot of parallels with where we find ourselves now.

‘And it’s got more stark since I started working on this story. I don’t just mean in the United States. We’re seeing it everywhere. Everyone feels safe dividing themselves.’

Screenwriter Jack Thorne has said his Emmy award-winning script for Adolescence was influenced by his work on an adaption of Lord Of The Flies at the same time

Asked about a second season, Stepehn said: It’s somewhere in the deep recesses of my mind and (co-creator) Jack (Thorne)’s mind, and we’ll pull it out in three or four years, so stay tuned’

Thorne also told the Big Issue that he did not agree with Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy’s criticism of the BBC’s coverage of last year’s Glastonbury festival.

Thorne said: ‘Lisa Nandy’s comments on Glastonbury were really wrong. She went beyond the remit of what a culture secretary should do by demanding resignations.

‘The charter renewal is a crucial moment, and I hope people within government treasure the BBC and realise how important it is.’

Thorne, who has won multiple Baftas and Olivier Awards and written scripts for film, TV and the stage, spoke to the Big Issue to commemorate 100 years since John Logie Baird showcased the first ever working television set in January 1926.

Stephen Graham has also confirmed there are plans for a second season of Adolescence in the coming years.

The actor, 52, won the Golden Globe for Best Male Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for Television for his stellar role in hard-hitting Netflix drama.

Speaking to Deadline after his win, Stephen was asked about the potential for another season.

He said: ‘I cannot answer that question. It’s somewhere in the deep recesses of my mind and (co-creator) Jack (Thorne)’s mind, and we’ll pull it out in three or four years, so stay tuned.’

In the show, Stephen’s character is forced to deal with the devastating aftermath of his teenage son’s arrest for the murder of a female classmate

Along with Stephen’s win, his co-stars Owen Cooper and Erin Doherty won Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress respectively

Along with Stephen’s win, his co-stars Owen Cooper and Erin Doherty won Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress respectively while the show took home the Best Limited or Anthology Series award.

Stephen previously said if Adolescence does return for a second season, it likely wouldn’t focus on the Miller family and could become an anthology series.

He told Variety: ‘It still is a possibility… If we were to go again, would I like it to go again? With a different story completely? Yes.

‘It was always made very intently as a little British story, and I think that was the beauty of it,’ he shared.

‘We didn’t expect it to transcend the way it did, but we were very true. I think it was because it was made with truth, integrity, respect and a lot of love.’

In the show, Stephen’s character is forced to deal with the devastating aftermath of his teenage son’s arrest for the murder of a female classmate.

During his Golden Globes acceptance speech, the actor credited his wife Hannah Walters for turning his life around when they exchanged vows 18-years ago while accepting his award at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.