One of the actors from Netflix’s new smash hit, Adolescence, is a Greater Manchester-born and bred talent and has now taken time to reflect on the “overwhelming” response the show has seen thus far.
You’ll recognise her from countless roles in British films and TV over the years, including multiple Shane Meadows projects, but Jo Hartley is one of several stars to have impressed audiences across the globe with her performance in the incredible new drama.
Topping the streaming giant’s charts after just four days, Adolescence is one of the biggest shows of the year and most streamed UK exports in some time, receiving rave reviews across the board, as well as serious plaudits for how it tackles some seriously tough subject matter.
With most having now made it through all four extremely heavy episodes, the local actor from Oldham hopped on social media not only to express her gratitude for having been part of the project, but also the incredible reaction it received and why so many feel it’s an important watch.
Overwhelmed by so many kind and generous messages about #Adolescence we are so grateful to you all! Thanks.
Sharing a lengthier response spotlighting episode two, when we first meet her character, on Instagram, Hartley wrote: “Overwhelmed by all the generous messages we are getting so far. Being part of such a groundbreaking project has given me deep joy.
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“Seeing people respond so abundantly is very moving and feels quite wonderful. These kids are epic! They smashed it. Cast and crew too. I loved our downtime, we’d all hang out and play games, chat and laugh, we became a family. What a team of talented artists and creators.”
Speaking more broadly in an earlier post, she said of the early reviews: “I’ve been so overwhelmed by such powerful messages over the last few days. THANK YOU. Thank YOU!!! It’s been wonderful to see this show make such an impact on the world.
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“Adolescence asks questions… It presents us with a fatal situation caused by one unconscious act of violence – actions have consequences. Over the four ‘one shot’ episodes we see how it devastates not only a family but a whole community. If Adolescence saves one life, it will have worked.”
Before the limited drama had even dropped, she described it as a “life-changing experience” as an actor and, from a viewer’s perspective, nothing short of a “heart-wrenching and powerful one-shot drama that’ll blow your mind and take your breath away.” We can only echo her words.
As well as Oldham‘s finest being celebrated for her extremely believable, accurate and nuanced performance as teacher Mrs Fenumore, audiences are hailing not only the impressive talent of Owen Cooper, who plays the lead role of Jamie Miller but also the sublime Stephen Graham as his father.
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Co-creator Graham, who also shared the screen with Hartley in This Is England, has been praised for numerous roles in recent years – including director Philip Barantini’s equally talked about Boiling Point (2023) – but many viewers are saying he has officially cemented himself as “one of Britain’s greatest-ever actors.”
If you’ve still not seen anything about it, we won’t dare spoil a morsel more but we will sincerely recommend that you join the millions of others in watching it – though we’ll warn you, Adolescence is by no means easy-going.
You can see the trailer down below:
The Greater Manchester actor is one of numerous show-stealers in Adolescence.
Fairfield Social Club has been voted the Best Comedy Venue in the North
Danny Jones
Let’s toast another feather in Greater Manchester’s cultural cap as local arts venue, bar and hangout, Fairfield Social Club (FSC), has been named the Best Comedy Venue in the North.
That’s according to the much-revered annual Chortle Awards, the 2026 edition of which has named Fairfield not just one of the best in our specific city or region, but currently the benchmark for any live comedy spot located in the top half of the country.
And that’s not all: they actually took home another award this year, because why just win one when you can take home two?
For starters, congratulations are in order, and we couldn’t be prouder of our grassroots Manc venues continuing to set the bar; now let’s get into exactly what they won and why…
In addition to taking home the accolade for leading their field when it comes to hosting live comics and more, having quickly built up a strong reputation in the industry beyond just the North West, FSC also claimed a second gong, thanks to ‘CroppaChoppa’s Slumber Party‘.
The resident stand-up and sleepover games format show, which has been based over at the Green Quarter complex for some time now, just won Best New Comedy Format for the second year running.
Reacting to the consecutive awards, founder Charlotte Cropper said: “We are so thrilled to have won Best Comedy Format two years in a row! Lying our sleepover bag down at Fairfield Social Club is our favourite thing to do every month.
“Who knew a sleepover show with a misogynistic teddy bear mascot would become the best night of our lives?”
This, of course, is just one of many regular comedy-centric events happening throughout the FSC calendar – and you really should going along if you haven’t before.
Speaking on an incredible year all-round, Fairfield Social Club’s GM and live bookings manager, Jessie Perillo, added: “We’ve spent the last year building a comedy programme we’re really proud of; it’s one that supports emerging talent while also attracting some of the biggest names touring right now.
“To have both the venue and the shows recognised nationally is a dream and as a comedy lover myself, I couldn’t be happier!
“We’ve got some incredible new shows lined up over the next few months that we can’t wait to announce, and launching ‘A Lovely Weekend’ is just the beginning of what’s to come.”
Congrats again and well done to all those involved in helping keep Manchester-based humour and live arts on the comedy map; we can’t wait to see what else in store for 2026. Speaking of…
Featured Images — Press shots/Em Humble (supplied via Fairfield Social Club)
TV & Showbiz
The Oldham Man and The Sea: the documentary about the Latics owner’s record-breaking Atlantic voyage
Danny Jones
It doesn’t matter if you’re not an Athletic fan or native to the borough; we think everyone should go along to watch the much-anticipated documentary about football club owner Frank Rothwell and his record-breaking journey across the Atlantic Ocean: The Oldham Man And The Sea.
One of the simplest and most satisfying names for a film we’ve heard in a long time.
For anyone who doesn’t know about the Oldham Athletic FC chairman turned OBE’s incredible story, Frank Rothwell has set multiple records with his impressive sea-faring feats in recent times.
This new doc, which just premiered at this year’s Manchester Film Festival, charts his latest trip across one of the biggest bodies of water on the planet in March 2024.
As you can see from the recent trailer, it’s almost as arduous a tale as the original Hemingway story.
This movie – produced by Journeyman Pictures and Chief Productions – made its full debut at the Odeon in Great Northern Warehouse for MFF 2026, and is set to have a number of other screenings in and around Greater Manchester in the coming weeks and months.
One of those is happening rather soon, in fact, over at Saddleworth’s Millgate Arts Centre on Saturday, 28 March, which is ideal for those local to the region; grab your tickets now.
ln fact, there’s also one happening even closer to his hometown the following month, with Oldham’s very own Queen Elizabeth Hall also hosting a special screening of Rothwell’s incredible achievement.
You can reserve your seats for that one right HERE.
Having not only become the eldest (70) Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge finisher back in 2021, but now holding the Guinness World Record for the oldest person to ever complete the crossing while rowing solo at 73 years old, he’s become nothing short of a local hero – and that’s just his stewardship of the Latics…
The film does, obviously, touch on his time at the helm of the League Two side, who finally returned to the EFL last June, but the heart and soul of this inspiring watch is the sail itself.
More importantly, it also documents not just the gruelling nature of the 64-day, seven-hour and 53-minute trek, but also how Frank has now helped raise more than £1.4 million on behalf of Alzheimer’s Research UK.
What an absolute icon.
Hopefully, this should be just about all the reason you need to watch The Oldham Man And The Sea the very next opportunity you get to do so – and, of course, all proceeds from ticket sales will also be going to charity, because just the kind of bloke he is.
And here’s hoping we get a streaming version sometime soon.
Danny Jones -
19th March 2025 
