Sex Education

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Season 4
Season 3
Season 2
Season 1

General Information

Genre

Comedy drama • Sex comedy • Teen drama

Creator

Laurie Nunn

Country

United Kingdom

Language

English

Seasons

1 • 2 • 3 • 4

Episodes

32

Producers

Jamie Campbell
Ben Taylor
Laurie Nunn
Clara Couchman (season 4)

Network

Netflix

Release date

January 11, 2019 – September 21, 2023

Sex Education is a British teen sex comedy drama, created by Laurie Nunn, that premiered on January 11, 2019, on Netflix.

In February 2019, Netflix renewed the series for a second season, after Netflix revealed the viewership of the series within its first four weeks. The second season was released on January 17, 2020.^[1]

On February 10, 2020, it was announced that Netflix has renewed the series for a third season. The news came after the launch of its second season in January 2020. Netflix made the announcement in a video featuring Alistair Petrie.^[2] It was released on September 17, 2021.^[3]

On September 25, 2021, Netflix announced that the series got renewed for a fourth season at its fan event Netflix Tudum. The announcement came only a week after the launch of the third season.^[4]^[5]

On July 5, 2023, it was announced that season 4 would be the final one.

Synopsis[]

Socially awkward teenager Otis Milburn is ambivalent about sex, despite his mother being a sex therapist who is frank about all aspects of sexuality. After inadvertently assisting the school bully with his sexual performance anxiety, Otis sets up a sex advice business with Maeve—a confident but vulnerable classmate—to educate their fellow students in how to deal with their own sexual problems.

Cast[]

Main cast[]

Asa Butterfield as Otis Milburn
Gillian Anderson as Jean Milburn
Ncuti Gatwa as Eric Effiong
Emma Mackey as Maeve Wiley
Connor Swindells as Adam Groff
Kedar Williams-Stirling as Jackson Marchetti
Alistair Petrie as Michael Groff
Aimee Lou Wood as Aimee Gibbs
Mimi Keene as Ruby Matthews
Simone Ashley as Olivia Hanan (seasons 1-3)
Chaneil Kular as Anwar Bakshi (seasons 1-3)
Tanya Reynolds as Lily Iglehart (seasons 1-3)
Mikael Persbrandt as Jakob Nyman (seasons 1-3)
Patricia Allison as Ola Nyman (seasons 1-3)
Anne-Marie Duff as Erin Wiley (seasons 2-3)
Rakhee Thakrar as Emily Sands (season 3; recurring seasons 1-2; minor season 4)
Jemima Kirke as Hope Haddon (season 3)

Recurring[]

Chinenye Ezeudu as Vivienne Odusanya (season 2-4)
George Robinson as Isaac Goodwin (season 2-4)
Samantha Spiro as Maureen Groff
Jim Howick as Colin Hendricks
Chris Jenks as Steve Morley (season 1-3)
Doreene Blackstock as Beatrice Effiong
Conor Clarke McGrath as Connor Pearson
Jojo Macari as Kyle (season 1-3)
George Somner as Joe Goodwin (season 2-4)
Dua Saleh as Cal Bowman (season 3-4)
Dan Levy as Mr. Molloy (season 4)
Thaddea Graham as Sarah Owen (season 4)
Marie Reuther as Ellen Rasmussen (season 4)
Felix Mufti as Roman (season 4)
Anthony Lexa as Abbi (season 4)
Alexandra James as Aisha (season 4)
Imani Yahshua as Tyrone Harris (season 4)
Lisa McGrillis as Joanna Franklin (season 4)
Andi Osho as Nicky Bowman (season 4)
DeObia Oparei as Abeo Effiong (season 1)
Lisa Palfrey as Cynthia (seasons 1-2; minor season 3)
Daniel Ings as Dan (season 1; minor season 3; Season 4)
Joe Wilkinson as Jeffrey (seasons 1-2; minor season 3-4)
Kadeem Ramsay as OctoBoy (season 1)
Femi Elufowoju Jr. as Prophet Joshua (seasons 1-2)
James Purefoy as Remi Milburn (seasons 1-2)
Sharon Duncan-Brewster as Roz Marchetti (seasons 1-2, 4)
Lily Newmark as Ruthie (season 1; minor season 2)
Edward Bluemel as Sean Wiley (season 1, 4)
Hannah Waddingham as Sofia Marchetti (seasons 1-2; minor season 3; Season 4)
Toby Williams as Tim (seasons 1-2)
Max Boast as Tom Baker (season 1)
Lino Facioli as Dex Thompson (season 2; minor season 3)
Mirren Mack as Florence Simmons (season 2)
Jack Helsby as Man on Bus (season 2)
T'Nia Miller as Maxine Tarrington (season 2)
Sindhu Vee as Mrs. Hanan (season 2)
George Georgiou as Yousef (season 2)
Tom Atkinson as Nick (seasons 2-3)
Conor Donovan as Quentin (seasons 2-3)
Jonny Muir as Simeon (seasons 2-3)
Armin Karima as Malek Amir (seasons 2-3)
Sami Outalbali as Rahim Harrak (seasons 2-3)
Jason Isaacs as Peter Groff (season 3)
Indra Ové as Anna (season 3-4)
Sophie Thompson as Carol Iglehart (season 3)
Reece Richards as Eugene (season 3)
Noel White as Hugh (season 3)
Robyn Holdaway as Layla (season 3)
Robert Wilfort as Mark (season 3)

Episodes[]

Image	Episode Information
	"Episode 1" Airdate: January 11, 2019 Episode / Series Number: 01 / 01 Directed by: Ben Taylor Written by: Laurie Nunn
	"Episode 2" Airdate: January 11, 2019 Episode / Series Number: 02 / 02 Directed by: Ben Taylor Written by: Laurie Nunn
	"Episode 3" Airdate: January 11, 2019 Episode / Series Number: 03 / 03 Directed by: Ben Taylor Written by: Sophie Goodhart
	"Episode 4" Airdate: January 11, 2019 Episode / Series Number: 04 / 04 Directed by: Ben Taylor Written by: Laura Neal & Laurie Nunn
	"Episode 5" Airdate: January 11, 2019 Episode / Series Number: 05 / 05 Directed by: Kate Herron Written by: Sophie Goodhart & Laura Hunter
	"Episode 6" Airdate: January 11, 2019 Episode / Series Number: 06 / 06 Directed by: Kate Herron Written by: Laurie Nunn & Freddy Syborn
	"Episode 7" Airdate: January 11, 2019 Episode / Series Number: 07 / 07 Directed by: Kate Herron Written by: Sophie Goodhart
	"Episode 8" Airdate: January 11, 2019 Episode / Series Number: 08 / 08 Directed by: Kate Herron Written by: Laurie Nunn
	"Episode 2.1" Airdate: January 17, 2020 Episode / Series Number: 01 / 09 Directed by: Ben Taylor Written by: Laurie Nunn
	"Episode 2.2" Airdate: January 17, 2020 Episode / Series Number: 02 / 10 Directed by: Sophie Goodhart Written by: Laurie Nunn & Mawaan Rizwan
	"Episode 2.3" Airdate: January 17, 2020 Episode / Series Number: 03 / 11 Directed by: Sophie Goodhart Written by: Sophie Goodhart
	"Episode 2.4" Airdate: January 17, 2020 Episode / Series Number: 04 / 12 Directed by: Alice Seabright Written by: Laurie Nunn & Rosie Jones
	"Episode 2.5" Airdate: January 17, 2020 Episode / Series Number: 05 / 13 Directed by: Alice Seabright Written by: Laurie Nunn & Richard Gadd
	"Episode 2.6" Airdate: January 17, 2020 Episode / Series Number: 06 / 14 Directed by: Ben Taylor Written by: Sophie Goodhart
	"Episode 2.7" Airdate: January 17, 2020 Episode / Series Number: 07 / 15 Directed by: Ben Taylor Written by: Laurie Nunn
	"Episode 2.8" Airdate: January 17, 2020 Episode / Series Number: 08 / 16 Directed by: Ben Taylor Written by: Laurie Nunn
	"Episode 3.1" Airdate: September 17, 2021 Episode / Series Number: 01 / 17 Directed by: Ben Taylor Written by: Laurie Nunn
	"Episode 3.2" Airdate: September 17, 2021 Episode / Series Number: 02 / 18 Directed by: Ben Taylor Written by: Sophie Goodhart
	"Episode 3.3" Airdate: September 17, 2021 Episode / Series Number: 03 / 19 Directed by: Ben Taylor Written by: Laurie Nunn & Alice Seabright
	"Episode 3.4" Airdate: September 17, 2021 Episode / Series Number: 04 / 20 Directed by: Runyararo Mapfumo Written by: Selina Lim
	"Episode 3.5" Airdate: September 17, 2021 Episode / Series Number: 05 / 21 Directed by: Ben Taylor Written by: Mawaan Rizwan
	"Episode 3.6" Airdate: September 17, 2021 Episode / Series Number: 06 / 22 Directed by: Runyararo Mapfumo Written by: Temi Wilkey
	"Episode 3.7" Airdate: September 17, 2021 Episode / Series Number: 07 / 23 Directed by: Runyararo Mapfumo Written by: Sophie Goodhart
	"Episode 3.8" Airdate: September 17, 2021 Episode / Series Number: 08 / 24 Directed by: Runyararo Mapfumo Written by: Laurie Nunn
	"Episode 4.1" Airdate: 2023 Episode / Series Number: 01 / 25 Directed by: Written by: Laurie Nunn

Production[]

Development[]

On November 28, 2017, it was announced that Netflix had given the production a series order. The series was created by Laurie Nunn with Ben Taylor expected to direct, who also executive produced. Executive producers were set to include Jamie Campbell and Joel Wilson via their production company Eleven Film.^[6]On December 4, 2018, Netflix unveiled first look images and announced that the series would premiere on January 11, 2019.^[7]

On February 1, 2019, Netflix renewed the series for a second season. Creator Laurie Nunn will continue to executive produce alongside Eleven’s Jamie Campbell and Ben Taylor, who served as a director on season one with Kate Herron. Sian Robins-Grace co-executive produces.^[1] November 11, 2019, Netflix unveiled first look images^[8] and announced on November 25, 2019 that the series would premiere on January 17.^[9]

On February 10, 2020, Netflix renewed the series for a third season.^[2] On June 24, 2021 it was announced that the series would premiere on September 17, 2021.

Casting[]

On May 17, 2018, Gillian Anderson, Asa Butterfield, Ncuti Gatwa, Connor Swindells, and Kedar Williams-Stirling joined the series main cast.^[10] On September 24, 2020, Jason Isaacs, Jemima Kirke and Dua Saleh joined the series cast.^[11]^[12] On April 12, Simone Ashley appeared on U.K. network ITV’s This Morning, where she revealed that she will not be returning for the fourth season.^[13] On July 5, 2022, Patricia Allison appeared on U.K. radio’s Capital Xtra Breakfast podcast, where she revealed that she will not be returning for the fourth season. On July 13, 2022, Radio Times magazine revealed that Tanya Reynolds will not be returning for the fourth season. On August 1, 2022, Radio Times magazine revealed that Rakhee Thakrar will not be returning for the fourth season. On August 3, 2022, Variety magazine revealed that Ncuti Gatwa will be returning for the fourth season. On August 19, 2022, it was announced that Dan Levy, Thaddea Graham, Marie Reuther, Felix Mufti, Anthony Lexa, Alexandra James and Imani Yahshua joined the cast. On October 14, 2022, Lisa McGrillis appeared on U.K. network BBC One’s Breakfast, where she revealed that she joined the cast. On December 7, 2022, What’s on Netflix revealed that Andi Osho joined the cast. On February 19, 2023, Variety magazine revealed that Jodie Turner-Smith joined the cast. On March 3, 2023, Eshaan Akbar revealed that he joined the cast. On July 6, 2023, Digital Spy revealed that Jim Howick and Rakhee Thakrar were going to appear in one episode of the fourth season.

Filming[]

Filming for the series took place in the Wye Valley in England and Wales, including locations in Llandogo, Tintern, and also in Penarth in 2018. The scenes set at Moordale Secondary School were filmed at the former campus of the University of South Wales in Caerleon, Newport.^[14] Production on season two took place in spring 2019 in the UK.^[1]

The third season shoot of the series was among the latest UK productions impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Eleven Film was due to go into production on the series in Wales in May 2020, but plans changed amid strict social distancing measures being extended for a least another three weeks.^[15] Netflix had a hopeful target of August, 2020 to get the series back into production amid the coronavirus pandemic, but it wasn't officially as the situation with COVID-19 developed quickly.^[16] The series officially went into production in September 2020 in Wales. Netflix announced production had officially started in a video post on Twitter.^[17]^[18]

On August 5, 2022, Asa Butterfield confirmed that the fourth season of the series began filming. On August 19, 2022, it was announced that the fourth season was officially production.

On February 10, 2023, the filming of the fourth season was officially wrapped.

Trivia[]

The series was watched by over 40M households within its first four weeks.^[1]^[19]
The series’s shortest episode, episode 5, has a runtime of 47 minutes and 16 seconds, while the longest episode is episode 4.8, which has a runtime of 1 hour, 25 minutes and 22 seconds; that's the difference of over 38 minutes.