[Title card] EACH ADOLESCENCE EPISODE WAS SHOT IN A CONTINUOUS TAKE

[intriguing music playing]

[moody contemplative music playing]

Stephen Graham: We always see the perspective of the victim's family. Which is rightly so, do you know what I mean? Of course we should. And with Episode 4, I wanted to have a look at the impact it has upon the family of the boy who has committed the act.

[clip] All right, nonce.

[boys laughing]

[Eddie] Hey. Hey! Hey!

[boy] All right, nonce!

[Eddie] Did you do that to my van?! Did ya?!

Jack Thorne: This started with a phone call from Stephen. He introduced me to Phil. We three started talking about what we went through as young men. And then, I said to Stephen, "What about us writing it together?" 

[clip] [Eddie] In you go. 

Stephen Graham: I always wanted to tell a tale over a long timespan. But not do it the way normal chronological stories work.

Philip Barantini: That was the idea of spanning it across 13 months but dipping in and out.

[clip] [Eddie sobs]

Jack Thorne: So we quickly worked out, OK, we're gonna do the arrest, we're going to do school, then we're going to spend time with Jamie, and then spend time with the family. 

Stephen Graham: How do they move forwards, and will they always have this hanging over them?

[clip] [Eddie] Stay away from my family!

Jack Thorne: It was important to Stephen that this wasn't a show that made easy answers. The one thing he said at the beginning was, "We can't blame the parents."

[moody, contemplative music continues] 

Stephen Graham: I didn't want Jamie to come from a background where his mum was a drinker or his dad was violent and aggressive. I wanted to eliminate all of those things. The trying… get the audience to ask the question, "Why?" But also in the same respect, think, "That… could be me." "That could be my child."

[clip] [Eddie exhales deeply] Oh, he should've picked you. You'd've done better.

[Manda] No.

Yeah, you would. You'd've done better.

Jo Johnson: Stephen's performances are real. He opens up his heart for people to see. He knows exactly what he wants.

[clip] Stephen Graham and Philip Barantini on set: I thought it was… Yeah?

That was fantastic. 

Philip Barantini: I love working with him. He's incredible. He's passionate.

Jack Thorne: Stephen is an instinctive leader. He's someone that just… you kind of flock to. There was a feeling of a gang on this show. Everyone was excited about what we were doing.

[clip] Stephen Graham: Ready? We're going to do a take.

[man] Ready. Let's go.

Matthew Lewis: Before we take, my heart is pounding. Absolutely everyone feels it. Everyone knows how important their job is.

[clip] [woman] Ah… Action.

Philip Barantini: It takes a real army of people to put together… 'Cause there's not one person on that set who's not important. 'Cause without every single person, it could all collapse. 

Jack Thorne: Watching it come to life, watching the decisions that Matt and Phil made, as they were telling the story through the camera, it was really thrilling.

Matthew Lewis: If anything can force us to look at a subject we don't want to look at, it's a one-shot, 'cause you are forced to watch it. There's no break from it.

[music becomes dramatic]

Ashley Walters: The fact is we are dealing with the harsh reality of what is going on. I hope it makes people stand up and think about what they're doing or not doing. 

[clip] [Jamie] Do you like me?

Erin Doherty: You don't know what's going on behind closed doors with anyone ever. No one is just evil, no one is just all bad. It's just so much more complex. 

[clip] [Manda] I was a good mum.

Jack Thorne: We're not trying to give answers, not trying to lay blame particularly. It's a really complicated time. But we need to be talking about these things. 

[clip] [Eddie] I'm sorry, son.

Stephen Graham: I hope it creates debate and I hope it creates conversation between parents and child.

[music fades]

[Title card] EPISODE 4 WAS CAPTURED ON THE LAST TAKE