Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 31, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Series

Skins

Skins is a British teen drama television series created by Bryan Elsley and Jamie Brittain.

Updated July 31, 20261 min readCited sources

Skins is a British teen drama that aired on E4 from 2007 to 2013, following a group of teenagers in Bristol through school and adolescence.

What it is

Created by Bryan Elsley and Jamie Brittain for Company Pictures, Skins is a seven-season, 61-episode series known for its ensemble structure and frequent cast turnover. Each episode typically focuses on a single character or small group, offering different perspectives on teenage life.

Key details

The series premiered on 25 January 2007 and ran until 2013. It is set in Bristol, England, and addresses themes such as friendship, sexuality, substance abuse, mental health, and teenage relationships. Its frank portrayal of adolescent issues made it both distinctive and controversial.

Why it matters

Skins is widely discussed for its unflinching treatment of difficult social topics, including substance use, pregnancy, eating disorders, and mental illness. Canadian viewers may know it through streaming and international television distribution, as it has appeared on Canadian-facing catalogues.

In short

  • British teen drama set in Bristol, 2007–2013
  • Known for shifting cast and character-focused episodes
  • Addresses controversial teenage issues frankly
Canadian angle

Canadian viewers may know Skins through streaming and international television distribution; the series has also been listed on Canadian-facing streaming catalogues.

Quick questions

What is Skins about?
It follows a group of teenagers in Bristol through school and adolescence, with episodes often focusing on one character or a small group.
Who created Skins?
The series was created by Bryan Elsley and Jamie Brittain.
How many seasons does Skins have?
The original British series ran for 7 seasons, with 61 episodes.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skins_(British_TV_series)
    Supports: Creators, premise, premiere date, and episode-format description.
  2. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0840196/
    Supports: Series dates, genre, runtime, and country of origin.
  3. Apple TV — https://tv.apple.com/ca/show/skins/umc.cmc.v4r89tl3qvdk9kuq0hcqmsse
    Supports: Canadian listing, setting, year, and series description.
  4. Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/title/70140438
    Supports: Series description, creators, cast, and genre labels.
  5. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/skins
    Supports: Original run, genre, themes, and changing-cast format.
  6. Fandom — https://skins.fandom.com/wiki/Skins_(UK)
    Supports: Season count, episode count, network, premiere date, finale date, and overview.