Netflix’s ‘Adolescence’ Breaks Records, Tops UK TV Ratings for the First Time

The gripping crime drama becomes the first streaming show to surpass traditional UK broadcasts, winning praise from critics and even the Prime Minister

Washington DC [US], March 26: Netflix’s critically acclaimed crime drama Adolescence has made television history by becoming the first-ever streaming series to top the UK’s weekly TV ratings, outshining long-standing broadcast hits like The Apprentice and Death in Paradise, as reported by Variety.

According to official figures released by the Broadcasters Audience Research Board (BARB), the debut episode of Adolescence amassed a staggering 6.45 million viewers in its first week. This breaks the previous record of 6.3 million set by Fool Me Once earlier this year.

Created by Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham, and directed by Philip Barantini, Adolescence is a four-part British miniseries that follows the arrest of 13-year-old Jamie Miller (played by Owen Cooper), who is accused of murdering a classmate. Each episode is uniquely filmed in a single, unbroken take, heightening the tension and realism of the story.

Stephen Graham, who also co-created the show, stars as Jamie’s father, Eddie Miller, adding emotional weight to the gripping narrative.

Premiered on March 13, Adolescence has received widespread acclaim for its storytelling, performances, and bold technical approach. The series has also attracted attention from political circles—UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer revealed that he watched the show with his teenage children and even endorsed its use in Parliament and schools to spark important societal conversations.

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Tags: Adolescence Netflix, UK TV ratings, BARB ratings, Netflix streaming success, Stephen Graham, Jack Thorne, Owen Cooper, British crime drama, single take series, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Netflix records, Fool Me Once, UK Parliament

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