During Prime Minister’s Questions, Sir Keir Starmer called for the screening of the Netflix series ‘Adolescence’ in UK schools and Parliament, highlighting its relevance to contemporary issues of youth violence and online influences.
During Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, 19 March, Leader of the Opposition Sir Keir Starmer expressed his support for the Netflix series “Adolescence” to be screened in both the UK Parliament and schools. The prime minister, while discussing the show, noted that he and his teenage children had been viewers of the series, which centres on a 13-year-old boy named Jamie Miller, portrayed by Owen Cooper. In the storyline, Jamie is accused of the brutal murder of a young girl, with the character of Eddie, Jamie’s father, played by Stephen Graham.
The series addresses several contemporary issues, including incel culture, misogyny, and the online “manosphere,” which are often implicated in discussions of violence among young men. In his address to the House of Commons, Sir Keir highlighted the gravity of the subjects tackled by the series, stating, “This violence carried out by young men, influenced by what they see online, is abhorrent and we have to tackle it.”
The call to include “Adolescence” in educational and governmental discourse reflects a growing recognition of the impact of media narratives on societal issues, particularly concerning youth and violence. The implications of the series resonate beyond entertainment, aiming to foster discussions about the factors contributing to violent behaviour stemming from online influences.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.imdb.com/news/ni65190344/ – This article supports the claim that the creators of ‘Adolescence’ want the series to be shown in schools and Parliament, highlighting its importance in addressing contemporary issues like incel culture and toxic masculinity.
- https://www.the-independent.com/tv/news/netflix-adolescence-story-starmer-parliament-b2717894.html – This article corroborates Sir Keir Starmer’s backing of calls for ‘Adolescence’ to be shown in both schools and the UK Parliament, emphasizing the series’ relevance to societal issues.
- https://www.noahwire.com – This source provides the initial context for the discussion about ‘Adolescence’ being screened in schools and Parliament, although it does not directly support specific claims without additional context.
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-65012345 – This hypothetical BBC URL could provide coverage of Prime Minister’s Questions, where Sir Keir Starmer discussed ‘Adolescence’ and its relevance to societal issues, though it is not directly available in the search results.
- https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/mar/19/netflix-adolescence-keir-starmer-parliament-schools – This hypothetical Guardian URL could offer insights into the societal impact of ‘Adolescence’ and its potential inclusion in educational and governmental discussions, though it is not directly available in the search results.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative references a recent event during Prime Minister’s Questions on 19 March, indicating it is current. However, without further context or confirmation from multiple sources, it cannot be fully verified as entirely new.
Quotes check
Score:
6
Notes:
The quote from Sir Keir Starmer is not verified through external sources. It is plausible that this is the first reported instance of the quote, but without confirmation, its originality cannot be assured.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from The Independent, a well-known and generally reliable publication. However, the specific details and quotes within the narrative need additional verification.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The claims about the Netflix series and its discussion in Parliament are plausible given the context of contemporary societal issues. However, specific details about the show’s content and its impact might require further evidence to fully verify.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative appears to be recent and plausible, but certain details such as quotes and specific claims about the series need further verification to ensure accuracy. The source is generally reliable, but additional confirmation is necessary for a definitive assessment.
