Skins (British TV series): Difference between revisions

{{Use dmy dates|date=SeptemberMarch 20152024}}

'''''Skins''''' is a British [[teen drama|teen]] [[comedy drama]] television series that follows the lives of a group of teenagers in [[Bristol]], [[South West England]], through the two years of [[sixth form]]. Its controversial story-linesstorylines have explored issues like [[Dysfunctional family|dysfunctional families]], [[mental illness]] (such as [[depression (mood)|depression]], [[eating disorder]]s, [[post-traumatic stress disorder]], and [[bipolar disorder]]), [[adolescent sexuality]], [[gender]], [[substance abuse]], [[death]], and [[bullying]].

Each episode generally focuses on a particular character or subset of characters and the struggles they face in their lives, with the episodes named after the featured characters. The show was created by father-and-son television writers [[Bryan Elsley]] and [[Jamie Brittain]] for [[Company Pictures]],<ref name="cp">{{cite web|url=http://www.companypictures.co.uk/production.aspx?code=skins3|title=Skins 3|date=January 2009|publisher=Company Pictures|access-date=7 October 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090922041443/http://www.companypictures.co.uk/production.aspx?code=skins3|archive-date=22 September 2009|df=dmy-all}}</ref> and premiered on [[E4 (TV channel)|E4]] on 25 January 2007.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article1296076.ece|title=Spaced out with the Skins generation|last=Johns|first=Ian|date=7 June 2007|work=The Times|access-date=14 October 2009|location=London|archive-date=15 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615192058/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article1296076.ece|url-status=livedead}}</ref>

{{Main|Skins (series 1)}}

Episode one, "Tony", is an ensemble piece that introduces the characters and the format. Wethat meetwill be seen in the effortlesslyshow. The attractive, popular, and intelligent Tony as he arranges for his friends to attend a party held by upper-class girl Abigail Stock (Georgina Moffat). The second episode, "Cassie", focuses on Cassie's final visit to an eating disorder clinic under the supervision of Abigail's mother, Dr Stock. In her day-to-day life, she hallucinates messages instructing her to eat, which seem to come from Sid, for whom she develops feelings. Jal's episode follows her attempt to win [[BBC Young Musician of the Year]], and her strained relationship with her famous musician father.

When drug dealer '"Mad Twatter'" smashes her clarinet as payback for Sid not giving him money for drugs he bought, Jal's father sees to it he will not bother the group again. In "Chris", Chris's mother abandons him, leaving £1,000 in cash. He blows the money on a party, and is eventually helped into temporary student accommodation by his psychology teacher, Angie ([[Siwan Morris]]). Episode five, "Sid", shows Sid's struggle with his parents' break-upbreakup while Tony organises a scheme to set him up with Michelle. A heartbroken and fragile Cassie attempts suicide by drug overdose.

"Maxxie and Anwar" focuses on the conflict between Anwar's Muslim faith and Maxxie's homosexuality. On a school trip to Russia, Tony tells Maxxie that he wants to '"try something new'", and Michelle ultimately witnesses Tony cheating on her with Maxxie. In "Michelle", Michelle faces up to Tony's manipulative and cheating ways. She begins to date Josh Stock (Abigail's brother, played by [[Ben Lloyd-Hughes]]) until Tony breaks them up by sending naked photos of Abigail from Josh's phone. In "Effy", Josh seeks revenge on Tony and his younger sister, Effy, by drugging her and effectively taking her for ransom.

In the finale episode, "Everyone", it is Anwar's birthday. Anwar and Maxxie are reconciled when Anwar's father welcomes Maxxie to the birthday party, accepting his homosexuality. Chris's relationship with Angie ends violently when her fiancé returns. Tony confesses to Michelle that he loves her and wants to change his manipulative ways (whilst on the phone), only to be hit by a bus, as Effy watches on from Sid's dad Mark's car. The characters begin to sing "[[Wild World (song)|Wild World]]" by [[Cat Stevens]] as Tony lies unconscious and Sid searches for Cassie.

{{Main|Skins (series 2)}}

The second series premiered on E4 on 11 February 2008,; however, the first episode was available in four parts to MySpace users prior to airing. "Maxxie and Tony" starts the series, showcasing Tony's impairments following his accident and Maxxie's involvement in his recovery. The episode also reveals more about Maxxie's life; revealed are his ambitions to be a dancer, his surname, his difficulties with homophobic bullies, and his parents (played by [[Bill Bailey]] and [[Fiona Allen]]). The second episode introduces a new character in Maxxie's stalker, young carer Lucy, also known as '"Sketch'".

Sketch disrupts the school play organised by drama lecturer Bruce ([[Shane Richie]]) to steal a kiss from Maxxie. To spite Maxxie, Sketch begins a sexual relationship with Anwar. Episode three focuses on Sid's life, coping with Cassie's departure to Scotland, and he suspects her of cheating. Sid's Scottish relatives visit and his mother ([[Josie Lawrence]]) temporarily moves back in,; Sid's father, Mark ([[Peter Capaldi]]), does not want to disappoint his father, as he has yet to tell him they have separated. Mark stands up to his own father's abuse and ultimately reconciles his relationship with Sid;, allowing for the unforeseen, peaceful death of Mark. Sid reconnects with brain-damaged Tony when he is able to open up to him about his father's death.

In "Michelle", the group gogoes on a camping trip to a beach. Maxxie discovers Sketch having sex with Anwar, and Sid sleeps with Michelle, starting a relationship; he comes home to find Cassie waiting for him. In "Chris", Chris agrees to start a job and Jal learns to start being more open to new things, and the two end up in a relationship. Chris cheats on her with Angie after Cassie tells Chris that Jal left him, but they move back in together, and Jal discovers she is pregnant.

'"Tony'", directed by recurring actor [[Harry Enfield]], sees Tony Stonem attend a university open day not long after taking an ecstasy tablet that awakens elements of his old personality. In a visual metaphor for [[Jungian psychology]], a mysterious girl who is a projection of Tony's subconscious helps him conquer his mental impairments. His old self again, he confronts Michelle and Sid and tells them their relationship is '"wrong'".

With the Stonem parents unable to run the house, Effy takes over in episode seven. At her private school, she befriends weird girl [[Pandora Moon]] (Lisa Backwell). She also resolves to solve her brother's and his friends' relationship problems. Cassie is hurting and turning to promiscuity, but, through Effy's machinations, she and Sid get back together, as do Tony and Michelle.

Actor [[Daniel Kaluuya]] wrote "Jal", which sees her struggle with her pregnancy, while Chris is rushed to hospital with a [[subarachnoid haemorrhage]]. Meanwhile, Maxxie introduces his new boyfriend, James (Sean Verey). In "Cassie", Jal tells Chris she is having an abortion. Cassie feels, without her eating disorder and other problems, she is disempowered; she is traumatised when Chris dies in her arms offrom athe subarachnoid haemorrhage and flees to New York City.

{{Main|Skins (series 3)}}

WeThe arenew introducedcast tois the new castintroduced on their first day at Roundview College in the series premiere, "Everyone". JJ Jones, James Cook and Freddie McClair are best friends to begin with. Twins Katie and Emily Fitch know Naomi Campbell from school, but are distant with her, because Katie is homophobic and suspects her of being a lesbian. The gang meetmeets Effy, and sidekick Pandora;, Katie wants to become Effy's best friend, and both Cook and Freddie are instantly smitten. Cook passes the test set by Effy and begins a casual sexual relationship with her.

Episode two focuses on Cook, who invites the whole group over, but their friendships are not very strong yet; chaos ensues, and Cook angers local gangster Johnny White ([[Mackenzie Crook]]). Thomas Tomone is only introduced in only the third episode. He is an immigrant from [[Democratic Republic of the Congo|the Congo]], and develops a crush on Pandora. He endears himself to the group when he is able to get Johnny White off their backs by besting him in a pepper-eating competition. However, despairing at his decadent life in Bristol, Mrs Tomone brings Thomas back to the Congo. In "[[Pandora (Skins episode)|Pandora]]", Pandora's innocent slumber party becomes an [[MDMA]]-fuelled rave after Katie spikes the brownies. Emily and Naomi kiss; Naomi denies being gay, but urges Emily to admit that she is, whoyet alsoshe denies it. Pandora allows Cook to take her virginity, but regrets it when later Thomas returns from the Congo.

Freddie's episode shows his difficult relationship with his widower father ([[Simon Day]]) and his sister Karen ([[Klariza Clayton]]), who has ambitions to be a celebrity. His father converts Freddie's shed—hisshed — his personal sanctuary—intosanctuary — into a dance studio for Karen. Freddie witnesses Effy's parents' break-up, discovers that Cook slept with Karen, gets punched in the face by his father, and, when he goes to tell Effy how he feels about her, discovers she is with Cook.

In "[[Naomi (Skins episode)|Naomi]]", Naomi runs against Cook for student president on the basis that, if he wins, she will have to sleep with him. When he wins, however, he does not force her to take it further than kissing. She and Emily begin a sexual relationship, but Naomi is unwilling to accept the reality of its romantic nature. In "[[JJ (Skins episode)|JJ]]", Freddie and Cook's feud over Effy negatively affects JJ. At Emily's encouragement, he manages to confront them both about it, and later loses his virginity when Emily decides to have pity sex with him. Thomas discovers that Pandora has been cheating on him, and, while high on JJ's medication, Cook reveals to Freddie that Effy loves Freddie and not him.

In Effy's episode, she has nothing: her Queen Bee status has been usurped by Katie, sex with Cook means nothing, and her home life is a wreck. She finally feels something when she has sex with Freddie, but, after being tormented by Katie, an intoxicated Effy hits her with a rock. Katie is recovering in "[[Katie and Emily]]", but her relationship with her sister is falling apart. However, at the college ball, Emily is able to assert herself, and Naomi confesses she loves Emily back. Thomas and Pandora also reunite. The finale episode sees Cook and Effy hiding out with Cook's father ([[Matt King (comedian)|Matt King]]). JJ tracks them down, however, and forces Effy to confess it is Freddie thatwhom she loves, but Cook is adamant he loves her, too. Freddie closes the series, asking '"What do we do now?'".

{{Main|Skins (series 4)}}

Emily discovers Naomi had slept with Sophia, and is the one who sold her the MDMA, leaving their relationship fraught. In "Cook", Cook is in trouble for an assault and, to be a better influence on his younger brother, accepts a prison sentence for dealing the drugs that led to Sophia's death, covering for Naomi. When Katie loses her job and discovers she has [[Premature ovarian failure|premature menopause]], she cannot confide in her mother at first because of the stress of their bankruptcy and homelessness;. theThe Fitches are forced to move into Naomi's house.

In the penultimate episode, Effy's psychiatric counsellor, John Foster ([[Hugo Speer]]), uses unorthodox hypnotic methods to cure Effy's depression, making her forget and want to abandon her old friends. After an incident at the spot of Tony's accident, where she nearly suicides again, her psychosis comes back, and Freddie insists Foster cease treating Effy. Later, Foster lures Freddie to discuss Effy, and brutally murders Freddie with a baseball bat. In the finale episode, everyone deals with Freddie's absence, thinking that he has left of his own volition.

Naomi and Emily finally repair their damaged relationship, scorched by cheating, and Naomi confesses she has loved Emily since they first met;. Thomas and Pandora are thrown back together by chance when they both get into [[Harvard University]];, and a mostly- recovered Effy holds Freddie's birthday party in his shed, knowing that he loved her and pining for his return. Cook, who is on the run from the police after breaking out of prison, uncovers Dr Foster's killing and after confronting him, furiously lunges at Foster. The series ends here in freeze- frame, leaving both Cook's and John Foster's fates unknown.

{{Main|Skins (series 5)}}

In episode two, "Rich", Grace finds herself drawn to Rich. She attempts to help him win over an elusive girl, and eventually he gets past his shyness to realise his attraction to her, too. After Mini's fashion show in "Mini", the two agree to begin dating. Mini, however, feels pressured to have sex with boyfriend Nick, who does not know she is a virgin. Mini's cruelty to Grace and her new friends backfires when her fashion show goes completely awry. When she realises that her best friend Liv has slept with Nick, she forces herself to have sex with him, which is disappointing. She is devastated to see the parallel between her and her promiscuous mother ([[Clare Grogan]]) as they encounter one another on their [[walk of shame|walks of shame]].

The affair between Nick and Liv continues, though they both suspect Mini knows when she unifies the two groups of friends under Liv's roof for a party, in "Liv". Because she cannot handle the stress of her family life or Mini's scheme, Liv leaves the house. In town, she meets drifter Matty, and the pair embark on a drug-fuelled bender. Back at her house, she discovers that Matty is, in fact, Nick's brother, and Liv's affair with Nick comes out in the open. The brothers reconcile, however, and Matty comes home again.

In "Nick", Matty is re-enlisted at Roundview, but his relationship with Liv causes a new love triangle to form—betweenform among him, Liv and Franky. Having lost both Mini and Liv, and now living in Matty's shadow, Nick has a nervous breakdown and smashes up his house with a golf club. Through Matty, however, Nick comes to see their father, Leon ([[Dorian Lough]]), and his parenting in a more negative light, and the two brothers take a stand. In his episode, Alo's parents take him out of sixth form to work on the farm, and, after he causes an explosion, they sell all of his belongings.

In protest, he throws a massive party and, when he confronts his parents, his father suffers a heart attack. Rather than burden his friend Rich, who has just proudly had sex for the first time with Grace, he goes home and attempts to repair things with his parents. In "Grace", Grace introduces Rich to her parents; Rich is shocked to discover that her father is headmaster David Blood (Addison). Blood schemes to have Grace's grades slip on her drama assessment, a staging of ''[[Twelfth Night]]'', so that he can justify removing her from Roundview.

Grace sees her dilemma, as peacemaker, through ''[[Hamlet]]''{{'}}s "[[To be, or not to be|sea of troubles]]" soliloquy; she uses ''Twelfth Night'' to bring the love triangle betweenamong Matty, Liv and Franky to a head, and ultimately receives an A. After Blood still forces Grace to change schools, Rich is inspired by ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]'', and proposes to her. In the series finale, the two attempt to marry in secret with the gang as witnesses, though Alo's van breaks down.

Mini begins to recognise her attraction to Franky, and becomes very protective of her. After an attempt at sex with Matty, Franky has a panic attack, charges through a forest, and accidentally falls over a ledge. After being rescued by Mini, Matty and Liv, Franky reveals more to her friends about her insecurities. Though Blood intervenes and Grace and Rich do not marry, they are happily allowed to continue dating and the gang, solidified as friends, party together at a local fête.

{{Main|Skins (series 6)}}

Series 6 starts with the gang on holiday in Morocco; Franky has lost her virginity to Matty but is already becoming bored, and is tempted by wealthy drug dealer Luke (played by [[Joe Cole (actor)|Joe Cole]]). Mini also decides to take Alo's virginity and swears him to secrecy. Matty pursues Luke and Franky, which quickly escalates into a car chase; his truck overturns, putting Grace in a critical condition, and he runs away to avoid being arrested for the possession of the marijuana and ketamine Luke placed inside his vehicle.

Back in Bristol, Franky struggles to cope with her guilt, and Rich is prevented by her father from seeing Grace in hospital, where she lies in a coma, in "Rich". When Mr Blood takes Grace for treatment in Switzerland, Rich squats in the Bloods' home for some time, convinced that Grace is still alive, but, after a party at the house, a mournful David Blood informs him that Grace has subsequently died. In "Alex", new kid Alex, who is a little strange, arrives while the gang are at odds still mourning Grace; Liv in particular develops feelings for him, only for him to disclose to her that he is, in fact, gay. Nevertheless, they form a close in bond, particularly as Mini remains distant from Liv.

In her episode, Franky, overwhelmed with guilt, escapes to '"bad boy'" Luke for companionship and excitement. Her actions are negatively viewed, and she quickly becomes alienated. She turns against authoritative figures at school and at home, pushing her to get more involved in her violent and destructive relationship with Luke. During a full-blown fight at a bar, Nick saves Franky and quietly confesses he loves her. After Luke gets rough with her, Franky escapes to a park near home where her father meets her; he is there to fend Luke away when he returns in an attempt to win Franky back.

Subsequently, in "Mini", Mini continues to distance herself from her friends after Grace's death, while continuing her '"no- strings- attached'" relationship with Alo, but is hit further by the revelation that she is pregnant with Alo's baby. To get away from it, she clings to her deadbeat dad, Gregory, who she is convinced has changed. Though he abandons her, with the support of Franky, she is able to accept her pregnancy.

In "Nick", Nick struggles to find money to pay for Russian gangsters to smuggle Matty back into England, all the while struggling with his feelings for Franky. After emotionally pouring his heart out to her during an argument in a nightclub toilet, he subsequently blows the deal., Butbut, to his happiness, Franky finally reciprocates his feelings, and they form a relationship. In "Alo", Alo is finally forced to grow up when, in his effort to put his failed relationship with Mini behind him, he has sex with a girl named Poppy Champion ([[Holly Earl]]), whowhom he did not initially know to be underage.

Poppy reports him to the police when he breaks up with her. Although charges are eventually dropped, he and Mini are forced furtherfarther apart than ever before. "Liv" focuses on Liv's isolation. Since meeting Alex, she has been 'dealing' with Grace's death by going out, partying, drinking, and staying at Alex's house instead of her own home. Alex leaves Bristol one weekend, and Liv finds that—asidethat, aside from her sister Maude—sheMaude, she has truly drifted from her friends, and Mini in particular.

Soon, Mini wishes to return home, despite Franky's insistence. Alo learns of Mini's pregnancy and, to her surprise—insurprise, in the end—vowsend, vows to take care of her no matter what. In the finale, Franky attempts to track down her mother, but instead finds her biological sister, who declares that their mother has died. At Alex's house party to celebrate leaving Bristol behind, she tells both Matty and Nick she loves them, but cannot be with either of them.

In the conclusion, Mini goes into labour, while Franky's sister takes her to see her mother—whomother, who is not dead, after all. Nick and Matty bond once again, and the latter turns himself in to the police. In the final scene, playing in parallel, Alex leaves Bristol for Thailand; Alo and Liv are beside Mini as she gives birth; Franky lays eyes on her mother; and Rich, outside the room where Mini is giving birth, looks at the camera and says '"bye'".

{{Main|Skins (series 7)}}

The seventh series, titled ''Skins Redux'', aired on 1 July 2013. It saw the return of former ''Skins'' stars Hannah Murray as Cassie, Jack O'Connell as Cook, and Kaya Scodelario as Effy in three individual stories. Lily Loveless as Naomi and Kathryn Prescott as Emily also starred in guest roles. The three stories have their own titles: ''[[Skins Fire]]'' (Effy), ''[[Skins Pure]]'' (Cassie) and ''[[Skins Rise]]'' (Cook). The six-part series began filming on 22 October 2012 and concluded at the end of January 2013.

'''''Skins Fire''''' depicts Effy as a 21-year-old [[hedge fund]] receptionist for a London firm. She lives with Naomi, who is drifting through life with vague ambitions of being a stand-up comedian. Effy is much more serious and driven than in the past, and impresses her bosses enough to win a shot at being a [[stock trader]]. In her attempts to succeed in her career, she becomes embroiled in an [[insider trading]] scandal, as well as romantically involved with her boss, Jake ([[Kayvan Novak]]). To spare her lovelorn friend Dom ([[Craig Roberts]]) from jail time for his part in the crime, she makes a full confession to the Financial Services Authority of hers and Jake's activities. Meanwhile, Naomi reveals that she has cancer, and pleads with Effy not to tell Emily, who is in New York on an internship. Dom and Effy support Naomi until it is clear her condition is terminal; Emily returns to London, hurt and betrayed, and comforts Naomi while Effy is prosecuted.

'''''Skins Rise''''' follows Cook at 21, who is on the run and living alone in Manchester. In an introductory voiceover, Cook explains his thoughts and alludes towards a murder he may have committed; it is implied, but not outright stated, that he is avoiding capture after killing John Foster a few years back. He is now a drug dealer and has a semi-serious relationship with a woman named Emma ([[Esther Smith]]), but becomes mesmerised by Charlie (Hannah Britland), the girlfriend of local drug lord Louis ([[Liam Boyle (actor)|Liam Boyle]]) after he is asked to watch over her for a few days. After Louis brutally kills a man named Jason ([[Lucien Laviscount]]) for having an affair with Charlie, Cook flees Manchester, taking Emma with him. En route, Charlie calls Cook and begs him to take her with them. The three end up at Emma's family's old country home, in a remote part of the country. Not long after though, Louis arrives, explaining that he tracked their car. After Charlie refuses to go with him, the three leave the house and find Emma's parents' car abandoned, indicating they have been killed. The trio are stranded in the woods, where Louis catches up with and murders Emma. Seeing this, Cook decides he is done running, confronting Louis and beating him to a pulp. He declares, "I'm Cook. You thought you could kill me? I'm fucking Cook." He helps Charlie escape and alerts the police to Louis. In a final voiceover, he ponders the significance of life and death and how it gets ‘under your skin’. His fate, like at the end of season 4, remains ambiguous.

"The trip to Russia" episode was actually shot in [[Lithuania]], near the capital Vilnius. This episode was shot in co-operation with Lithuanian Film Studios and professional Lithuanian actors.

[[Marieke Hardy]] expressed admiration for the show, and particularly enjoyed the fact that the show was "beautiful and sad and poignant and perfectly hurtful", while also managing to givebe impressionat of being drama that isonce "edgy, funny and rude".<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/tv--radio/marieke-hardy/2008/01/29/1201369132138.html?page=2 | location=Melbourne | work=The Age | title=Kids these days get under your skin | date=31 January 2008 | first=Marieke | last=Hardy | access-date=3 August 2010 | archive-date=28 June 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628200704/http://www.theage.com.au/news/tv--radio/marieke-hardy/2008/01/29/1201369132138.html?page=2 | url-status=live }}</ref> However, she did state that she was unsure whether the show was meant for teenagers or not.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/tv--radio/marieke-hardy/2008/01/29/1201369132138.html|title=Kids these days get under your skin|last=Hardy|first=Marieke|date=31 January 2008|work=The Age|access-date=20 December 2008|location=Melbourne|archive-date=4 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204123640/http://www.theage.com.au/news/tv--radio/marieke-hardy/2008/01/29/1201369132138.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Rebecca Nicholson in a review for ''[[The Guardian]]'' praised the show's balance in showing "hedonism with consequences, the comedy with tragedy" and criticised those who "Slammed it for being irresponsible" to have "missed the point".<ref name=":2" /> [[Stewart Lee]] has remarked during an interview on the [[BBC Four|BBC4]] programme ''[[Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe]]'' that he feels lucky for having been a teenager watching TV for teenagers in the 1970s and not the 2000s as "there was something really comforting for nerds and weirdos about programmes like ''[[Children of the Stones]]'' and ''[[The Changes (TV series)|The Changes]]''." He said that watching ''Skins'' as a teenager today would make him feel lonelier than he already would have been.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWcpkNbIJZg| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211031/XWcpkNbIJZg| archive-date=2021-10-31 | url-status=live|title=Stewart Lee on Skins|last=Lee|first=Stewart|work=Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe|publisher=BBC Four|access-date=20 December 2008}}{{cbignore}}</ref> However, [[Charlie Brooker|Brooker]] himself gave the programme a positive review in his ''Guardian'' column "Screen Burn", and specifically stated that "the series had wrong-footed me", comparing his initial expectation of ''Skins'' as a shallow show to after he had finished watching the series.<ref>{{cite news | first=Charlie | last=Brooker | title=Charlie Brooker's screen burn | date=9 February 2008 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2008/feb/09/television.media | work=The Guardian | access-date=19 November 2008 | location=London | archive-date=4 March 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304145300/http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2008/feb/09/television.media | url-status=live }}</ref> Caroline Preece wrote that "The genius of that first season was its disguise."<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|last=Preece|first=Caroline|date=2017-01-25|title=Skins: Revisiting the British Teen Drama 10 Years Later|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/culture/skins-revisiting-the-british-teen-drama-10-years-later/|access-date=2020-09-15|website=[[Den of Geek]]|language=en-US|archive-date=16 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200916214549/https://www.denofgeek.com/culture/skins-revisiting-the-british-teen-drama-10-years-later/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The pilot episode of ''Skins'' averaged 1.5&nbsp;million viewers.<ref>{{cite news|first=Leigh|last=Holmwood|title=Celebrity Hijack hoists E4 ratings|date=7 January 2008|work=[[The Guardian]]|publisher=[[Guardian News and Media]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/jan/07/bigbrother.television|access-date=19 November 2008|location=London|archive-date=6 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006170947/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/jan/07/bigbrother.television|url-status=live}}</ref> The ratings for the second series which launched peaked at 884,000 viewers, which gave it 5.9% audience share and taking 60% of the 16–24 demographic,; however this was still more than 500,000 viewers down on its series one premiere.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/a89186/skins-return-pulls-more-than-pulling.html|title='Skins' return pulls more than 'Pulling'|last=West|first=Dave|date=12 February 2009|work=Digital Spy|access-date=3 July 2009|archive-date=29 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091029094719/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/a89186/skins-return-pulls-more-than-pulling.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The series finale attracted an audience of 740,000 on E4, equating to a 4.65% share of the audience.<ref>[http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/a93862/skins-finale-draws-740000-for-e4.html 'Skins' finale draws 740,000 for E4] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080418094040/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/a93862/skins-finale-draws-740000-for-e4.html |date=18 April 2008 }}. ''[[Digital Spy]]''. 15 April 2008. Retrieved 17 April 2008.</ref> The start of the third series drew in 877,000 viewers,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.barb.co.uk/viewing/weekly-top-10 |title=Weekly Top 10 Programmes |publisher=Barb.co.uk |date=5 September 2010 |access-date=18 September 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130113222519/http://www.barb.co.uk/viewing/weekly-top-10 |archive-date=13 January 2013 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> proving popular with its key audience demographic of younger people—56.2% of viewers were aged between 16 and 34.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/multi-platform/news/skins-returns-with-665000/1973430.article|title=Skins returns with 665,000|last=Rogers|first=Jon|date=23 January 2009|work=Broadcast Now|access-date=21 February 2009|archive-date=15 July 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090715063257/http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/multi-platform/news/skins-returns-with-665000/1973430.article|url-status=live}}</ref> Series 4 premiered with 1.5&nbsp;million viewers across E4 and E4+1, the highest rated episode since series 1.<ref>{{cite news

In a ten-year retrospective, Rebecca Nicholson, noted that ''Skins'' transitioned teen dramas from stories of luxury to more frank and gritty depictions of "what young viewers might want and aspire to by actually thinking about and consulting young viewers."<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Nicholson|first=Rebecca|date=2017-01-25|title=10 years of Skins: the show that revealed the explicit truth about teenage life|url=http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/jan/25/skins-tv-teenage-life-truth-10-years-on|access-date=2020-09-15|website=[[The Guardian]]|language=en|archive-date=21 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921053545/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/jan/25/skins-tv-teenage-life-truth-10-years-on|url-status=live}}</ref> Caroline Preece shared a similar sentiment in her retrospective, calling the show's casting and use of online marketing as indicative of it being a "trailblazer".<ref name=":3" /> Its dark and realistic portrayal of mental illness influenced shows to depict it similarly.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wheeler|first=André-Naquian|date=2017-03-22|title=how 'skins' provided teens with vital, nuanced depictions of mental illness|url=https://i-d.vice.com/en_uk/article/nenb8b/how-skins-provided-teens-with-vital-nuanced-depictions-of-mental-illness|access-date=2020-10-02|website=[[Vice Media|Vice]]|language=en|archive-date=11 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811040842/https://i-d.vice.com/en_uk/article/nenb8b/how-skins-provided-teens-with-vital-nuanced-depictions-of-mental-illness|url-status=live}}</ref>

The characters of Cassie and Effy were influential to young audiences, with many young female viewers praising the impact of Cassie representing them and their struggles.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|last=Rex|first=Hatti|date=2020-07-09|title=How TikTok resurrected the cult of Effy Stonem|url=https://i-d.vice.com/en_uk/article/akz78a/tiktok-effy-stonem-skins-fashion-makeup-videos|access-date=2020-10-02|website=[[Vice Media|Vice]]|language=en|archive-date=9 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200909093511/https://i-d.vice.com/en_uk/article/akz78a/tiktok-effy-stonem-skins-fashion-makeup-videos|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web|last=Leszkie|first=Anna|date=25 January 2017|title=Ten years on, how Cassie from Skins' eating disorder affected a generation of teenage girls|url=https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/tv-radio/2017/01/ten-years-how-cassie-skins-eating-disorder-affected-generation-teenage|access-date=2020-10-02|website=[[New Statesman]]|language=en|archive-date=15 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201215013222/https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/tv-radio/2017/01/ten-years-how-cassie-skins-eating-disorder-affected-generation-teenage|url-status=live}}</ref> She has, however, been criticised her for being an extreme example, causing some to feel disingenuous in their struggles with [[Anorexia nervosa|anorexia]].<ref name=":5" /> Both characters have been said to trigger eating disorders in those trying to replicate their look and behaviour.<ref name=":4" /> Cassie, who became a poster child for eating disorders, has also been linked to [[pro-ana]] media although there was still vocal opposition to pro-ana sentiments from fans of her.<ref name=":5" /> Effy had a particular popularity on the blogging site [[Tumblr]] where blogs dedicated to the character could be found.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Rosenberg|first=Samuel|date=19 February 2019|title=It's cool to be sad: The search to understand online grief and digital melancholy|url=https://www.michigandaily.com/section/statement/it%E2%80%99s-cool-be-sad-search-understanding-online-grief-and-digital-melancholy|access-date=2020-10-02|website=[[The Michigan Daily]]|language=en|archive-date=21 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121143457/https://www.michigandaily.com/section/statement/it%E2%80%99s-cool-be-sad-search-understanding-online-grief-and-digital-melancholy|url-status=live}}</ref> Samuel Rosenberg of ''[[The Michigan Daily]]'' criticised this subcommunity for "[reframing] the instability of Effy's [life] into something attractive and exciting through which people can live vicariously."<ref name=":6" /> The show as a whole has been embraced by communities dedicated to depression and anxiety on Tumblr.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Premack|first=Rachel|date=2016-10-24|title=Tumblr's Depression Connection|url=https://www.theringer.com/2016/10/24/16041350/tumblr-communities-depression-mental-illness-anxiety-c2ca927cd305|access-date=2020-10-02|website=[[The Ringer (website)|The Ringer]]|language=en|archive-date=8 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108095429/https://www.theringer.com/2016/10/24/16041350/tumblr-communities-depression-mental-illness-anxiety-c2ca927cd305|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2020, it saw a resurgence among [[Generation Z|Gen Z]] audiences after popular [[TikTok]] users took fashion inspiration from and made videos about Effy.<ref name=":4" />

| style="text-align:center;"|1||13 January 2009||24 September 2007||20 February 2008|| style="text-align:center;"|9||This three-disc box set includes all nine episodes from series one. Bonus features include nine unaired online-only unseen ''Skins'' episodes, the music video for "[[Standing in the Way of Control (song)|Standing in the Way of Control]]", and extended trailers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0016NKOYM|title=Amazon.com ''"Skins"'' Series 1 DVD|website=Amazon UK|date=24 September 2007 |access-date=2 July 2009|archive-date=10 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230910215124/https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0016NKOYM|url-status=live}}</ref> Much of the popular music used in the original broadcasts is not found on this DVD due to the high cost of licensing.<ref name="Brittain">{{cite web|url=http://theskinhead.blogspot.com/2007/09/dvd.html|title=The DVD|last=Brittain|first=Jamie|date=27 September 2007|work=Skinheads|access-date=20 December 2008|archive-date=5 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205142326/http://theskinhead.blogspot.com/2007/09/dvd.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Of particular note to R1 audiences is that the cast ensemble performance of "Wild World" that appeared at the end of the series is completely missing from the release.

[[Category:2000s British LGBTQ-related drama television series]]

[[Category:2000s British LGBTLGBTQ-related comedy television series]]

[[Category:2010s British LGBTQ-related drama television series]]

[[Category:2010s British LGBTLGBTQ-related comedy television series]]

[[Category:AlcoholTelevision abuseshows inabout televisionalcohol abuse]]

[[Category:E4 (TV channel) dramas]]

[[Category:British English-language television shows]]

[[Category:TelevisionBritish television series about teenagers]]