TV fans have been in for a treat lately, as two hit shows, Netflix’s Adolescence and BBC’s This City Is Ours, have become the talk of the town. What viewers might not know is that two stars from these shows share an unexpected connection.
Adolescence, featuring Stephen Graham, has made its mark in British history by becoming the first streaming show to top the most-watched programme of the week. On the other hand, BBC’s crime drama This City Is Ours, starring actors like Sean Bean and Shaun Fagan, has also kept viewers on the edge of their seats.
The entire series is available to binge on iPlayer, despite its weekly airing schedule.
Interestingly, Steven Graham, who portrays Eddie Miller in Adolescence, and Shaun Fagan, who plays Barney in This City Is Ours, have previously shared screen space.
Shaun has even credited Stephen as “the reason he got into acting,” although he jokingly added that he ‘probably couldn’t say that to his face’, reports the Mirror.
The pair both appeared in BBC’s Boiling Point in 2023. This four-part series was a follow-up to the 2021 Netflix film of the same name, which starred Stephen Graham and Vinette Robinson in lead roles.
It delved into the high-pressure environment of a bustling restaurant kitchen.
Shaun took on the character of Bolton as the hit film transitioned to television. Although he played a lead role in the movie, Stephen had a lesser presence on the TV adaptation, with his character Andy stepping out of the limelight.
Speaking about why he wasn’t at the forefront of the BBC series, Adolescence star and producer of the show, Stephen shared with Graham Norton: “There is not enough working-class drama on our screens and with our own production company we’re in a position to make that happen.
“This time I am not front and centre because we wanted to give others their moment in the sun.”
Before Boiling Point’s release, Shaun expressed admiration for his co-star Stephen, saying: “I was a massive fan of Boiling Point and of Stephen Graham. I probably couldn’t say this to his face but he’s the reason I got into acting. Getting to share this space with actors like him was an incredible experience.”