‘Tell Me Everything’ Is ITVX’s New Must-See Teen Drama

The small towns of Britain are often overshadowed by the hectic nature of its large cities, despite the fact life is happening everywhere. In the small town of Welwyn Garden City, however, ITVX’s new teen drama—Tell Me Everything—finds its origin and setting. Created by Mark O’Sullivan, the show serves as a compilation of ideas stemming from Mark’s past growing up in this town, including channelled moments of his own upbringing and a wave of realities ever present in the lives of today’s youth.

Tell Me Everything is focused on the limbo stage of teenagers on the backend of their adolescence transitioning into adulthood, carefully dealing with mental health struggles, characters coming to terms with loss, and understanding relationships. How to find and manage love and money, while figuring out a philosophy of life, is also on the plate. This six-part series follows the life of Jonny (Eden H Davies) and his childhood best friends, Neve (Lauryn Ajufo) and Louis (Spike Fearn), as they go through the trials of adolescence. The show starts with a tone that sets up the divide of Jonny—who, when in full force with his friends, is the beacon of enjoyment and life of the party—by sinking you into the middle of a tense counselling session.

Jonny is traumatised by the loss of a parent, struggling to reach a point of peace as he endeavours to appease his depression by seeking what he immediately wants and not what he needs. When Jonny finds a way to speak out, he chooses to do so through anonymity and online forums, which speaks volumes for the self-driven attitude many are accustomed to even when dealing with depression. Caught between friends who are clearly struggling and her own cultural pressures of expectation, success, and a constant comparison with a golden child sister, Neve’s journey is one of self-discovery. Her rebellious nature clashes with a strict Nigerian upbringing, which pushes her to focus on understanding who and what she invests in while having to be considerate of the forces that keep her together.

In comparison to his friends, Louis is somewhat an anomaly. He comes from a wealthy family, disrupted by a break-up of his parents, and has the smarts, looks, and no overbearing worries. His distraught relationship with his parents, and his lack of interest in the stereotypical behaviours of teens breaking out of adolescence, sets Louis on a different journey altogether. Struggling with being able to fit in, he must address a lack of confidence, a lack of understanding with his own sexual preferences, and the blurred lines that set him up for cases of social anxiety.

Tell Me Everything is an intriguing series from the lifeline of the likes of Skins, The Inbetweeners and Fresh Meat, with undertones of Top Boy and The Misfits, picking at real characters and underappreciated settings. With the spread of young actors immersed in their roles, this show is one of the must-watches of ITV’s new streaming service.

All episodes of Tell Me Everything are streaming now on ITVX.