Skins
Screenshot of the opening sequence.
Genre	Dramedy
Created by	Jamie Brittain Bryan Elsley[1]
Starring	Mike Bailey Joseph Dempsie Mitch Hewer Nicholas Hoult Hannah Murray Dev Patel April Pearson Larissa Wilson[1]
Theme music composer	Fat Segal
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Language(s)	English
No. of episodes	9 (List of episodes)
Production
Produced by	Chris Clough[1]
Executive producer(s)	Bryan Elsley George Faber Charles Pattinson[1]
Location	Bristol
Running time	45 minutes approximately, 60 minutes with adverts
Broadcast
Original channel	E4
Picture format	PAL (576i)
Audio format	Surround sound
Original run	25 January 2007 – present
Links
Official website
IMDb profile
TV.com summary

Skins is a British teen drama from Company Pictures which premiered on E4 on 25 January 2007. Skins is one of the first programmes at the forefront of the network Channel 4's aim to start showing more British content on its channels. A second series of ten episodes has been commissioned ^[2] due to its high ratings on E4 (in excess of 2.0 million viewers at peak, one of the biggest Digital TV premieres ever) with filming to begin in June 2007. Image File history File links Skins_titles. ... Dramedy, a portmanteau of drama and comedy, is a genre of movies and television in which the lines between these very different genres were blurred. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Bryan Elsley (born 17 May 1961, Dalkeith) is a television writer. ... Michael James Bailey[1] (born 6 April 1988) is an English actor from Bristol. ... Joe Dempsie in Skins Joseph Joe Dempsie (born 22 June 1987) is a British actor best known for playing the role of Chris in the E4 television show Skins. ... Mitch Hewer as Maxxie in Skins Mitchell Scott Mitch Hewer [1] (Born July 1989 in Bristol) is a British Actor and currently plays Maxxie in the E4 teen drama, Skins. ... Nicholas Caradoc Hoult[1] (born December 7, 1986) is an English film and television actor. ... Hannah Murray is a British actress. ... Dev Patel is an actor, currently playing Anwar in the popular E4 drama Skins. ... April Pearson is a British actress. ... Larissa Wilson is a British actress. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... The following is a list of episodes from the E4 television series, Skins. ... View from Cumberland Basin of the Clifton Suspension Bridge and the Avon Gorge Bristol (IPA: ) is a city, unitary authority and ceremonial county in South West England, 115 miles (185 km) west of London. ... E4 share of viewing BARB figures E4 is a British digital television channel launched as a pay-tv companion to Channel 4 on 18 January 2001. ... Television encoding systems by nation PAL, short for Phase Alternating Line, is a colour encoding system used in broadcast television systems in large parts of the world. ... 576i is the shorthand name for a video mode. ... Multichannel audio is the name for a variety of techniques for expanding and enriching the sound of audio playback by recording additional sound channels that can be reproduced on additional speakers. ... January 25 is the 25th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The year 2007 in television involves some significant events. ... A teen drama is a television drama series that centers on teenage characters. ... Company Pictures is an independent British television production company, who have produced drama programming for many broadcasters. ... E4 share of viewing BARB figures E4 is a British digital television channel launched as a pay-tv companion to Channel 4 on 18 January 2001. ... January 25 is the 25th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the CE era. ... It has been suggested that Channel Four Television Corporation be merged into this article or section. ... Digital television (DTV) uses digital modulation and compression to broadcast video, audio and data signals to television sets. ...

The writing team includes the Dawson brothers, Steve, Andrew and Tim (Balls of Steel, Dirty Tricks), Jack Thorne (Shameless) and Josie Long^[3]. They also have guest writers for certain episodes, such as Simon Amstell (Popworld, Never Mind The Buzzcocks). Skins is filmed in Bristol; the school scenes are all filmed at John Cabot CTC. It was shot entirely in High Definition though is currently only being broadcast in Standard Definition. Balls of Steel is a Channel 4 comedy series hosted by Mark Dolan, where his special guests perform stunts, holding their nerve during hidden camera set-ups or by being juvenile and stupid in the presence of celebrities or the British public. ... Shameless is an offbeat British comedic drama television series set in the fictional Chatsworth Estate in Manchester, England. ... Josie Long (born April 17, 1982) is a British comedian. ... Simon Amstell (born 29 November, 1979) is an English comedian and television presenter. ... Popworld is a British television programme broadcast on Channel 4, offering pop news, trivia, gossip, interviews and music vidoes, as well as musical performances from todays top artists. ... Never Mind the Buzzcocks is a comedy panel game show with a pop and rock music theme, produced by talkbackTHAMES for the BBC, and usually aired on BBC Two. ... John Cabot CTC is one of 15 City Technology Colleges that first opened for students in the 1993/1994 academic year. ... This article is about high-definition video technology. ...

The first series of Skins has now come to an end but Channel 4 have confirmed a re-run on the main channel in the Summer.^[4] The complete first series will be available on DVD from 3 September 2007.^[5] September 3 is the 246th day of the year (247th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the CE era. ...

Plot

Skins is focused around the lives of a group of 16-18 year old friends who live in Bristol. The drama is meant to represent the daily lives of adolescents. The group includes an attractive and popular boy; his girlfriend; a drug-taking Muslim boy; a gay character; a girl with an eating disorder; a boy who is desperate to lose his virginity; an intelligent and privileged girl with family problems; and a party animal in love with his teacher. These characters attend a sixth form college in Bristol. Each installment has a self-contained theme, but there are several story arcs that span different episodes. View from Cumberland Basin of the Clifton Suspension Bridge and the Avon Gorge Bristol (IPA: ) is a city, unitary authority and ceremonial county in South West England, 115 miles (185 km) west of London. ... Young Men Organization Teenager and Teen also redirect here. ... There is also a collection of Hadith called Sahih Muslim A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم, Persian: Mosalman or Mosalmon Urdu: مسلمان, Turkish: Müslüman, Albanian: Mysliman, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of the religion of Islam. ... Homosexuality refers to sexual interaction and / or romantic attraction between individuals of the same sex. ... This article or section cites very few or no references or sources. ... A sixth form college is an educational institution in England, Wales or Northern Ireland where students aged 16 to 18 complete post-compulsary further education qualifications, such as A Levels. ...

Episodes

Main article: List of Skins episodes

Skins episodes follow the pattern of being named after central characters, whom the episode will primarily focus on. Accompanying the episode title at the beginning of each episode is a short few second montage of that episode's central characters. Episode one, "Tony" was more of an ensemble piece, introducing the characters, format and themes. Subsequent episodes "Cassie", "Jal", "Chris", "Sid" and "Michelle" focused on specific characters, and "Maxxie and Anwar" was a shared episode, between characters whose stories were interlinked. Episode eight "Effy" also focused less on its namesake, and more on the central characters' search for her. The series finale was an ensemble piece like the pilot and made no reference to the title for the episode. The following is a list of episodes from the E4 television series, Skins. ... This is the pilot episode of the television show Skins, which first aired on E4 on 25th January 2007. ... This is the second episode of the television show Skins, focusing on the character Cassie. ... This is the third episode of the first series of television show Skins, focusing on the character Jal. ... This is the forth episode of the first series of television show Skins, focusing on the character Chris. ... Sid is the fifth episode of the first series of television show Skins, focusing on the character Sid Jenkins. ... Michelle is the seventh episode of the first series of television show Skins, focusing on the character of Michelle Richardson. ... This is the sixth episode of the first series of television show Skins, focusing on the characters of Maxxie and Anwar. ... Effy is the eighth episode of the first series of television show Skins, focusing on the character of Effy Stonem, Tonys sister. ... Episode 9 is the first season finale of Skins and is an ensemble piece episode like episode one, Tony. Spoiler warning: Its Anwars birthday party, yet no-one is in the mood to celebrate. ...

Cast

Main article: List of Skins characters

Main cast of Skins

Main cast of Skins This article contains character information for the British dramedy television series Skins. ... Image File history File links SkinsC4_450x562. ... Image File history File links SkinsC4_450x562. ...

Main characters

• Tony Stonem (Nicholas Hoult) — Philosophy-reading, manipulating and womanising hedonist.
• Sid Jenkins (Mike Bailey) — Frequently unlucky virgin and much-abused best friend of Tony.
• Michelle Richardson (April Pearson) — Tony's adoring girlfriend and the object of Sid's affections.
• Cassie (Hannah Murray) — Anorexic, self harming and emotionally fragile girl in love with Sid.
• Chris Miles (Joseph Dempsie) — Happy-go-lucky party animal with an eye for the psychology teacher, Angie.
• Maxxie (Mitch Hewer) — tap dancing gay enigma of the group
• Jal Fazer (Larissa Wilson) — Caring focused and intelligent aspiring musician.
• Anwar Kharral (Dev Patel) — Muslim boy who finds his faith and his lifestyle do not mix well.

Anthony Tony Stonem is a fictional character in the television series Skins. ... Nicholas Caradoc Hoult[1] (born December 7, 1986) is an English film and television actor. ... Hedonism is a word used to describe any way of thinking that gives pleasure a central role. ... Sid Jenkins is a fictional character in the television series Skins portrayed by Mike Bailey. ... Michael James Bailey[1] (born 6 April 1988) is an English actor from Bristol. ... Michelle Richardson is a fictional character in the television series Skins played by April Pearson. ... April Pearson is a British actress. ... Cassie is a fictional character in the television series Skins. ... Hannah Murray is a British actress. ... Anorexia (deriving from the Greek word ανορεξία = without appetite (αν = without + όρεξη = appetite)) is the medical name for loss of appetite. ... Chris Miles is a fictional character in the television series Skins portrayed by Joe Dempsie. ... Joe Dempsie in Skins Joseph Joe Dempsie (born 22 June 1987) is a British actor best known for playing the role of Chris in the E4 television show Skins. ... Maxxie is a fictional character in the television series Skins portrayed by Mitch Hewer. ... Mitch Hewer as Maxxie in Skins Mitchell Scott Mitch Hewer [1] (Born July 1989 in Bristol) is a British Actor and currently plays Maxxie in the E4 teen drama, Skins. ... Jal Fazer is a fictional character in the television series Skins portrayed by Larissa Wilson. ... Larissa Wilson is a British actress. ... Anwar Kharral is a fictional character in the television series Skins portrayed by Dev Patel. ... Dev Patel is an actor, currently playing Anwar in the popular E4 drama Skins. ...

Supporting characters

• Abigail Stock (Georgina Moffat) — Highly medicated rich girl.
• Kenneth (Daniel Kaluuya) — "Posh Kenneth" finds himself constantly oscillating between heavy use of urban British slang and Standard English.
• Effy Stonem (Kaya Scodelario) - Tony's secretive and very quiet little sister.
• Angie (Siwan Morris) - Welsh Psychology teacher who notices her student Chris' affections

Abigail Stock is a fictional character in the television series Skins. ... -Georgina Moffat is a teenage actress currently playing Abigail in E4s skins. She is the granddaughter of Hollywood screen writer/producer Ivan Moffat. ... Daniel Kaluuya is a freind of mine. ... Standard English is a controversial term used to denote a form of written and spoken English that is thought to be normative for educated users. ... Elizabeth Effy Stonem is a fictional character in the television series Skins. ... Kaya Scodelario plays Effy Stonem in the 2007 British E4 drama Skins. ... Siwan Morris is a Welsh actress, born in Glynneath, South Wales. ...

Special guests

In addition to the regular cast, there have been a number of guest appearances in almost every episode:

Nina Wadia (born 1969 in Bombay, India) is a comedy actress of Parsi descent. ... Inder Manocha (born 1968) is a British Asian stand-up comedian and actor. ...

Unseen Skins

Main article: List of Unseen Skins episodes

Accompanying each episode of the program was an online mini-episode, released after first broadcast. The storyline of this mini-episode interweaves with the main episode and shows parts of the story that may not have been elaborated upon before. The mini-episodes for the final two episodes have not been released online and are only available on the series' DVD.^[6] This is a list of Unseen Skins episodes. ...

• Episode 1 - "I Mostly Do" - Cassie is released from the hospital and meets Michelle who has a favor to ask

• Episode 2 - "Careers Advice" - Chris, Jal and Sid get careers advice from an advisor who isn't quite sure how to advise

• Episode 3 - "Shoot 'Em Up Bang Bang Props To The Hood" - Jal's brothers try to get onto the radio with the help of a new unexpected friend

• Episode 4 - "A Friend In Need" - The group try to get a naked Chris some clothes after he turns up naked to school

• Episode 5 - "Careers Advice II" - It's Anwar, Tony and Michelle's turn to hear some careers advice, but this time the advisor seems to have given up

• Episode 6 - "To Russia with Love..." - The boys see a porn star and Chris needs some money

• Episode 7 - "The Cat & The Duck" - Michelle and Jal drink away their problems in a pub and discuss who would be who when it comes to Michelle's step-dad's statues

Cultural influence

During the 2007 Easter holiday a girl in County Durham threw a house party; it was advertised on her Myspace as an Unofficial Skins party, refering to the party in the first episode, with the subtitle "Let's trash the average family-sized house disco party". 200 people turned up, causing over £20,000 of seemingly deliberate damage and breaking into the house. She alleges that her account was hacked and someone else placed the ad. ^[7] 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the CE era. ... Easter, the Sunday of the Resurrection, Pascha, or Resurrection Day, is the most important religious feast of the Christian liturgical year, observed at some point between late March and late April each year (early April to early May in Eastern Christianity), following the cycle of the moon. ... County Durham is a county in north-east England. ...

Criticism

Critics have complained that the series depicts an unrealistic and stereotypical portrayal of teenagers^[8] and that it indulges a 'teenage fantasy world' portrayed as being close to realistic. It has also been criticised for excessive promoting of the show using new media and many TV trailers, whilst other critics critised the writing as poor in comparison to other similar themed series.^[9]

References

Digital Spy (or DS as it is often known by its users) is a leading British media and entertainment website, noted for its extensive Big Brother coverage and forums. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the CE era. ... March 17 is the 76th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (77th in leap years). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the CE era. ... March 22 is the 81st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (82nd in leap years). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the CE era. ... March 23 is the 82nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (83rd in leap years). ...

External links

• Skins at the Internet Movie Database
• Official Channel4 site
• Company Pictures
• Get ready for a skin full from Canvas Magazine

The Internet Movie Database (IMDb) is an online database of information about movies, actors, television shows, production crew personnel, and video games. ...