Skins (Series 1) DVD

‘Skins’ is a provocative, sassy drama centred on a group of seventeen year-olds enjoying life – perhaps a little too much - whilst in sixth form college in Bristol. Originally broadcast by Channel 4, Skins received an enviable amount of press coverage due to its no-holds barred take on teenage life. Its precarious yet involving mixture of comedy and drama was criticised for being extreme, unrealistic and over the top. Skins is happy to be all these things it has been criticised for - instead of social realism it throws a comic veil over the confused reality of being seventeen.

Placing its characters in genuine yet often ridiculous situations, we watch them wriggle out of trouble, using friendship and dishonesty in equal measure. While characters often behave in an unkind, self-satisfying manner, there is an undercurrent of genuine friendship between the characters

The script writing team – which includes Never Mind the Buzzcock’s Simon Amstell and up and coming stand-up comedienne Josie Long – apparently has an average age of 22. They’ve done a sterling job tackling a great number of issues with clarity and humour – including sex, drugs and eating disorders - and the result is supremely entertaining.

on 5th September 2007
Author of 8 reviews