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Heartstopper is a British coming-of-age romantic comedy-drama television series created by Alice Oseman for Netflix. It is based on Oseman's webcomic and graphic novel of the same name. The series primarily tells the story of Charlie Spring (Joe Locke), a gay schoolboy who falls in love with classmate Nick Nelson (Kit Connor), whom he sits next to in his new form. It also explores the lives of their friends Tao Xu (William Gao), Elle Argent (Yasmin Finney), Isaac Henderson (Tobie Donovan), Tara Jones (Corinna Brown) and Darcy Olsson (Kizzy Edgell).
| Heartstopper | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | |
| Created by | Alice Oseman |
| Based on | Heartstopper by Alice Oseman |
| Written by | Alice Oseman |
| Directed by |
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| Starring |
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| Music by | Adiescar Chase |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 24 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Producer | Zorana Piggott |
| Cinematography | Y Diana Olifirova
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| Editors |
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| Running time | 26–41 minutes |
| Production company | See-Saw Films |
| Original release | |
| Network | Netflix |
| Release | 22 April 2022 – present |
The television rights for the series were purchased by See-Saw Films in 2019 and Netflix acquired distribution rights in 2021. Euros Lyn was enlisted as the director. Filming took place from April to June that year, with teasers released throughout the timeframe. Various pre-existing songs were used as the series' soundtrack, in addition to an original score by Adiescar Chase. The cinematography and colour grading were planned ahead to give the series a unique atmosphere, amplified by the use of traditional animation adapted from the source material. For the third season, the director role was handed over to Andy Newbery.
The first season of Heartstopper was released on 22 April 2022, the second on 3 August 2023 and the third on 3 October 2024.[1] The series has received critical acclaim, particularly for its tone, pacing and portrayal of LGBTQ people, with the first season receiving nine nominations and five wins for the inaugural ceremony of the Children's and Family Emmy Awards. It gained instant popularity, being among the top ten most-watched English-language series on Netflix within two days of release. It also increased the popularity of the graphic novels and the songs featured in the series.
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Overview
| Name | Portrayed by | Season[a] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | ||
| Nick Nelson | Kit Connor | Main | ||
| Charlie Spring | Joe Locke | Main | ||
| Tao Xu | William Gao | Main | ||
| Elle Argent | Yasmin Finney | Main | ||
| Isaac Henderson | Tobie Donovan | Main | ||
| Tori Spring | Jenny Walser | Main | ||
| Ben Hope | Sebastian Croft | Main | ||
| Harry Greene | Cormac Hyde-Corrin | Main | Featured | |
| Mr Ajayi | Fisayo Akinade | Main | ||
| Sarah Nelson | Olivia Colman | Main | ||
| Tara Jones | Corinna Brown | Main | ||
| Darcy Olsson | Kizzy Edgell | Main | ||
| Imogen Heaney | Rhea Norwood | Main | ||
| Coach Singh | Chetna Pandya | Featured | Main | |
| Headmaster Barnes | Stephen Fry[b] | Featured | ||
| Mr Farouk | Nima Taleghani | Main | ||
| Sahar Zahid | Leila Khan | Main | ||
| David Nelson | Jack Barton | Featured | ||
| Stephane Nelson | Thibault de Montalembert | Featured | ||
| James McEwan | Bradley Riches | Guest[c] | Featured | |
| Jane Spring | Georgina Rich | Guest | Featured | Main |
| Julio Spring | Joseph Balderrama | Guest | Featured | Main |
| Prom singer | Baby Queen | Featured | ||
| Naomi Russell | Bel Priestley | Recurring | Main | |
| Felix Britten | Ash Self | Recurring | Main | |
| Michael Holden | Darragh Hand | Main | ||
| Mariam Argent | Laura Hanna | Guest | Featured | |
| Yan Xu | Momo Yeung | Guest | Featured | |
| Ivy Olsson | Annette Badland | Featured | ||
| Mr. Lange | Alan Turkington | Guest | Recurring | Featured |
| Aunt Diane | Hayley Atwell | Featured | ||
| Geoff Young | Eddie Marsan | Featured | ||
| Ant Spring | Martin Marquez | Featured | ||
| Grandad Roger | Malcolm Rennie | Featured | ||
| Grandma Nancy | Tamara Ustinov | Featured | ||
| Principal Edwards | Rebecca Root | Guest | Featured | |
| Jack Maddox | Jonathan Bailey | Featured | ||
Main
- Kit Connor as Nick Nelson, a popular Year 11 rugby player at Truham Grammar School seated next to Charlie in form class. Nick realizes that he is bisexual in season 1.
- Joe Locke as Charlie Spring, a Year 10 student at Truham Grammar School who was outed as gay before the events of Season 1.
- William Gao as Tao Xu, Charlie's protective best friend.
- Yasmin Finney as Elle Argent, Charlie, Tao and Isaac's friend who transferred to Higgs Girls School after coming out as transgender.
- Corinna Brown as Tara Jones, a student at Higgs Girls School who befriends Elle.
- Kizzy Edgell as Darcy Olsson, Tara's girlfriend and a friend of Elle's, who comes out as non-binary in season three.
- Tobie Donovan as Isaac Henderson, an asexual and aromantic quiet member of Charlie, Tao and Elle's friend group.
- Jenny Walser as Tori Spring, Charlie's older sister.
- Sebastian Croft as Ben Hope (seasons 1–2),[2] Charlie's first, clandestine relationship.
- Cormac Hyde-Corrin as Harry Greene (seasons 1–2; guest: season 3), a boy on the rugby team who is a homophobic bully.
- Rhea Norwood as Imogen Heaney, one of Nick's friends who had a crush on him in season 1.
- Fisayo Akinade as Mr Ajayi, an Art teacher who looks out for Charlie.
- Chetna Pandya as Coach Singh, the rugby coach who looks out for Nick and Charlie.
- Olivia Colman as Sarah Nelson (seasons 1–2),[3] Nick and David's mother.
- Jack Barton as David Nelson (season 2; guest: season 3), Nick's older brother.
- Leila Khan as Sahar Zahid (season 2–present), a new student at Higgs Girls School who befriends Elle, Darcy and Tara.
- Nima Taleghani as Mr Farouk (season 2–present), a stern teacher for exams who is Mr Ajayi's new love interest.
- Bradley Riches as James McEwan (season 2; guest: season 1; recurring: season 3), a student at Truham Grammar School who has a crush on Isaac.
Recurring
- Araloyin Oshunremi as Otis Smith, a boy on the rugby team.
- Evan Ovenell as Christian McBride, a boy on the rugby team.
- Ashwin Vishwanath as Sai Verma, a boy on the rugby team.
- Georgina Rich as Jane Spring, Charlie and Tori's mother.
- Joseph Balderrama as Julio Spring, Charlie and Tori's father.
- Momo Yeung as Yan Xu, Tao's mother.
- Alan Turkington as Mr. Lange, a history teacher and Nick and Charlie's form tutor.
- Stephen Fry as the voice of Headmaster Barnes, the Headteacher of Truham Grammar School.
- Bel Priestley as Naomi Russell (season 2–), a transgender student at the art school Elle applies to.
- Ash Self as Felix Britten (season 2–), a student at the art school whom Elle befriends.
- Thibault de Montalembert as Stéphane Nelson (season 2), Nick and David's father, Sarah's ex-husband.
- Hayley Atwell as Diane (season 3), Nick and David's aunt, Sarah's sister.
- Eddie Marsan as Geoff Young (season 3), Charlie's therapist.
- Annette Badland as Ivy Olsson (season 3), Darcy's paternal grandmother.
- Darragh Hand as Michael Holden (season 3), Tori's friend.
Notable guests
- Rachael Stirling as Amanda Olsson (season 2), Darcy's homophobic and abusive mother.
- Jonathan Bailey as Jack Maddox (season 3), a classical historian whom Charlie admires.
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Season 1 (2022)
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Meet" | Euros Lyn | Alice Oseman | 22 April 2022 | |
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Truham Grammar School student Charlie Spring is in a secret relationship with Ben Hope. In his new form, Charlie is assigned to sit next to Nick Nelson, a rugby player for whom he develops feelings. They become friends, though Charlie is unsure of Nick's sexuality. Nick invites him to join the rugby team and he accepts. After seeing Ben kissing a girl and realising his own unhappiness in the relationship, Charlie tells Ben he does not want to meet up anymore. Later, Charlie reluctantly meets with Ben again, who forcibly kisses him but is fended off by Nick. Meanwhile, one of Charlie's friends, Elle Argent, has moved to Higgs Girls School after coming out as a transgender girl. | ||||||
| 2 | 2 | "Crush" | Euros Lyn | Alice Oseman | 22 April 2022 | |
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Charlie vents to Nick about his relationship with Ben, whom Nick condemns. Charlie's friend Tao Xu assumes that Nick is heterosexual and tells Charlie to abandon his feelings, but he refuses. Tao tells him that Nick has a crush on a girl named Tara Jones, whom Elle soon learns is in a same-sex relationship with Darcy Olsson. While hanging out at Charlie's house, Nick tries to hold Charlie's hand while he is sleeping and begins to question his sexuality. | ||||||
| 3 | 3 | "Kiss" | Euros Lyn | Alice Oseman | 22 April 2022 | |
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Nick is invited to his friend Harry Greene's 16th birthday party. He invites Charlie, who accepts. Tao is unhappy that Nick has been causing his and Charlie's friendship to become more distant. At the party, Harry and his group try to set Nick up with Tara. Tara comes out to Nick, who tells off Harry after he makes fun of Charlie. Imogen Heaney, one of Nick's friends, tells Nick she likes him. Charlie tells Ben to leave him alone. Nick and Charlie go to a secluded room, where they kiss; Nick is dumbfounded and leaves after he hears Harry looking for him. Though heartbroken, Charlie is surprised to see Nick at his doorstep the next day in the pouring rain. | ||||||
| 4 | 4 | "Secret" | Euros Lyn | Alice Oseman | 22 April 2022 | |
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Charlie apologises to Nick for what happened the previous day. Nick kisses him, explaining that he is still closeted and confused; Charlie says he does not need to publicly declare anything. At school, they spend more time together while eating lunch. After a rugby game, Nick visits Charlie in the sick bay and is briefly interrupted by their friend, Isaac Henderson. Tao and Elle overhear Nick reluctantly agreeing to a peer-pressured date with Imogen. | ||||||
| 5 | 5 | "Friend" | Euros Lyn | Alice Oseman | 22 April 2022 | |
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Nick is about to cancel the date with Imogen when she reveals that her dog died and Nick reverts his plan because he feels sorry for her. Charlie invites Nick to his 15th birthday celebration, which happens to be on the same day as Nick's date, but he decides to be with Charlie. Tao tells Charlie about Nick and Imogen. Nick overhears the two of them, later clarifying to Charlie before explicitly admitting his feelings for him, which Charlie reciprocates. The next day, Nick explains to Imogen that he does not like her romantically. Imogen thanks him for his honesty. | ||||||
| 6 | 6 | "Girls" | Euros Lyn | Alice Oseman | 22 April 2022 | |
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Nick thinks he might be bisexual; Charlie tells him to take his time. Nick comes out to Tara and Darcy, who suggest a double date. After Elle reveals she has feelings for Tao, the group then secretly makes it a triple date, hoping to set the two up. On the date, Elle notices their intentions and confronts them, saying she does not want any more change in her life and wants to protect her friendship with Tao, though she is happy for Nick and Charlie. That day, there is an orchestral concert with Truham and Higgs. Tara angrily leaves after hearing homophobic comments; Darcy calms her down and they go back to perform. | ||||||
| 7 | 7 | "Bully" | Euros Lyn | Alice Oseman | 22 April 2022 | |
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Nick invites Charlie to the cinema with his friends, reassuring him that Harry and Ben are not coming. However, they both turn out to be there and Harry bullies Charlie about his sexuality. After Charlie leaves, Nick tells Harry to stop the bullying. Harry calls Charlie a fag and a fight ensues. At the car park, Ben tells Charlie that Nick does not care for him and that no one could. Tao feels guilty for unintentionally worsening Charlie's situation by verbally attacking Harry, but as Charlie continues to ignore him, he gets into a fight with Harry and confronts Charlie for not telling him about his relationship with Nick. | ||||||
| 8 | 8 | "Boyfriend" | Euros Lyn | Alice Oseman | 22 April 2022 | |
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Harry is suspended for the fight and Charlie's friendship with Tao is still strained. Depressed, Charlie quits rugby and ignores Nick. Tao and Nick bond and find common ground on wanting Charlie to be happy. Tao reconciles with Charlie, who also confronts Ben for being abusive. Nick tells Charlie that he does not want to break up and they kiss. On a date at the seaside, Nick reveals his plan to come out and tell their friends, which makes Charlie happy. Later that day, he comes out to his mother, who accepts him. | ||||||
Season 2 (2023)
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 1 | "Out" | Euros Lyn | Alice Oseman | 3 August 2023 | |
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As Nick and Charlie's relationship matures, Nick faces the challenge of opening up to others outside their friend circle. At a sleepover with Charlie's friend group, he gradually manages to come out to Imogen, who acknowledges that she already knows, and reveals that she is dating Ben. Elle and Tao face uncertainties about forming a relationship. Charlie rejoins Truham's rugby team and opens up to his parents about his relationship; however, his father bans Nick from coming over to prevent any sexual behaviour. Charlie vows to be there for Nick in his coming out process. | ||||||
| 10 | 2 | "Family" | Euros Lyn | Alice Oseman | 3 August 2023 | |
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With grades coming in, Charlie's parents ban him from visiting Nick until he has improved his grades and finished a school essay. Tao begins to feel distant and jealous of Elle as she visits the Lambert School of Art and makes new friends. His mother encourages him to fight to keep her as a friend and he admits to Charlie and Isaac that he likes her. Nick's brother David returns from university and disapproves of Nick and Charlie's relationship. Nick grows worried about Imogen dating Ben; he tells her that she should stay away from Ben, but when she asks him what Ben has done, Nick says he cannot tell her. | ||||||
| 11 | 3 | "Promise" | Euros Lyn | Alice Oseman | 3 August 2023 | |
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Charlie finishes his essay and motivates Nick for his final General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) exam, in which he succeeds. Nick tries to come out to his rugby friends but is constantly interrupted by Harry. Recognising his stress, Charlie suggests that Nick forget about coming out first. After doing some research on how to impress a crush, Tao asks Elle out and she accepts. After a failed date, Tao is jealous of Elle getting closer to her new friends from Lambert, then blames himself for seemingly ruining every situation. | ||||||
| 12 | 4 | "Challenge" | Euros Lyn | Alice Oseman | 3 August 2023 | |
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The students go on a school trip to Paris. Charlie, Nick, Tao and Isaac are assigned to the same hotel room, with Tara, Darcy, Elle and Sahar Zahid assigned to another room. Tao and Elle begin to warm toward each other and decide to remain friends; Tao apologises for his earlier outburst. Charlie and Tara discuss the problems with their respective partners. Imogen breaks up with Ben after he ignores her and obsesses about Charlie; Nick and Charlie comfort her. Nick gives Charlie a hickey on his neck while making out. | ||||||
| 13 | 5 | "Heat" | Euros Lyn | Alice Oseman | 3 August 2023 | |
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Charlie's hickey prompts speculation among the other students about who gave it to him. Charlie forgives Tao for unintentionally causing him to be outed in the past and challenges his pessimism regarding him and Elle. Later, while spending time together, Elle kisses Tao, who kisses her back. After fainting, Charlie admits to Nick that he has an eating disorder. Tara confronts Darcy for not responding when Tara said she loves Darcy. | ||||||
| 14 | 6 | "Truth/Dare" | Euros Lyn | Alice Oseman | 3 August 2023 | |
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Nick introduces Charlie to his French father Stéphane, who reveals his plan to visit England. As an apology, Darcy arranges a party at the room on Tara's birthday. Fellow student James McEwan, who has a crush on Isaac, kisses him but Isaac takes no interest. Harry apologises about his past bullying to Charlie, who rejects the apology. In a game of truth or dare?, Nick comes out and says he is fine with people knowing his sexuality. After the party, Darcy tells Tara she loves her. Meanwhile, supervising teachers Mr Ajayi and Mr Farouk develop feelings for each other and kiss. They and the students go home the next day. | ||||||
| 15 | 7 | "Sorry" | Euros Lyn | Alice Oseman | 3 August 2023 | |
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Elle is accepted into Lambert; Tao says he has gotten over his envy and Elle says she is still undecided on Lambert. Isaac discovers he is asexual. Prior to leaving Truham, Ben asks Charlie to forgive his past actions, but Charlie refuses, noting that Ben's apology merely demands self-validation. During a dinner at the Nelson home with the Nelsons and Springs, Nick confronts David for his bullying and his father for being uninterested in his life. Nick tells his father that Charlie is his boyfriend. His father apologises and says he likes Charlie, before leaving. Darcy has an argument with her homophobic mother and leaves her home. | ||||||
| 16 | 8 | "Perfect" | Euros Lyn | Alice Oseman | 3 August 2023 | |
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Nick comes out publicly on Instagram. Elle tells Tao she is going to Lambert, then accepts his proposal to be his girlfriend. At a school prom, everyone is present but Darcy, who later shows up and opens up to Tara about her situation at home. Nick and Charlie's friend group leave the prom to celebrate at Nick's house. Everyone leaves except Charlie. Nick asks Charlie about his past bullying. Charlie opens up about it and how it caused him to cut himself, although he doesn't do it anymore. Nick asks Charlie to tell him if he's ever stressed, and Charlie promises to do so. On the way home Charlie composes a text to Nick that says "I love you". The episode ends with Charlie's finger poised above the send button. | ||||||
Season 3 (2024)
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | 1 | "Love" | Andy Newbery | Alice Oseman | 3 October 2024 | |
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Charlie resolves to tell Nick he loves him before the latter leaves for a Menorca holiday. The two and their friends take a day trip to the beach. Before Charlie has the chance to confess his love, Nick confronts Charlie with his fears that Charlie has an eating disorder, but he denies it. Tara convinces Darcy to move out of Tara's house and live with her grandmother Ivy. After Tao tries too hard to have a "summer of romance" with Elle, she assures him he does not have to impress her. At Nick's house, Charlie's mum texts him to come home, so he confesses his love to Nick while he is in the shower through the bathroom door and hurriedly leaves. Nick dresses and chases after him. Outside, the couple confess their love face-to-face. | ||||||
| 18 | 2 | "Home" | Andy Newbery | Alice Oseman | 3 October 2024 | |
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Nick leaves for Menorca with his aunt Diane and her family, whom he tells about his relationship. Everyone receives their GCSE results. On the second week of Nick's trip, Isaac notices Charlie pulling away, but he insists he is fine. On the final week of Nick's trip, Tori finds eating disorder research on Charlie's computer after noticing him avoiding both eating and their mother. She messages Nick that she is worried about Charlie. Elle soothes Tao's fear of abandonment after connecting it to his father's death and the two confess their love. Nick calls an increasingly despairing Charlie, who admits that he may have an eating disorder. Diane tells Nick that he alone cannot address Charlie's mental illness, urging him to help Charlie find professional treatment. | ||||||
| 19 | 3 | "Talk" | Andy Newbery | Alice Oseman | 3 October 2024 | |
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Everyone returns to school and Nick and Charlie reunite. Nick increasingly worries about Charlie, who plans a zoo trip for Nick's birthday. There, Isaac expresses his annoyance with feeling left out because most of the friend group are in relationships, coming out as asexual and aromantic. Elle convinces Tao to apologise to Isaac for ignoring him. Tao and Nick notice Charlie is becoming concerningly lethargic. Later, Nick convinces Charlie to tell his parents about his mental health struggles and seek treatment. | ||||||
| 20 | 4 | "Journey" | Andy Newbery | Alice Oseman | 3 October 2024 | |
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In December, Nick journals about the past few months. Earlier, in September, Charlie receives a referral for eating disorder treatment but cannot get an appointment until January. As a result, his mental health and eating disorder worsen, and he starts self-harming again. He agrees to go to an inpatient mental health clinic. At a Halloween party, Nick breaks down from missing Charlie and is comforted by Tao. Charlie eventually calls Nick from the clinic and reveals he has been diagnosed with anorexia nervosa and obsessive–compulsive disorder. Nick and Charlie's family visit Charlie in the clinic. The episode then depicts the events from Charlie's point of view. Charlie steadily recovers with the help of kind doctors. During Nick's visit, Charlie watches a home video Tao made featuring all his friends, which includes Imogen and Sahar kissing at the Halloween party and Darcy trying out they/them pronouns. In December, Charlie returns home from the clinic and his mother allows him to visit Nick. | ||||||
| 21 | 5 | "Winter" | Andy Newbery | Alice Oseman | 3 October 2024 | |
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On Christmas, Tori and Charlie dread the day. After several awkward conversations with his extended family about his mental health, Charlie fights with his mother about their insensitivity. He leaves for Nick's house, despite Tori's plea for him to stay. Nick argues with David over their father. Elle reveals to Tao her worries that having sex will make her feel gender dysphoria. Charlie meets Nick's new puppy Henry and his extended family, including Aunt Diane. Tori then arrives in the rain to bring Charlie home and reminds him she is there for support. On New Year's Eve, Charlie reunites with his friends at Harry's party. After Naomi assures Elle that Tao will help and support her, the couple go to a private room and have sex. Partially adapted from the novella This Winter by Oseman[4] | ||||||
| 22 | 6 | "Body" | Andy Newbery | Alice Oseman | 3 October 2024 | |
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In April, Charlie and his therapist Geoff review his return to school in January and a fight with Nick in February about his eating that led to a self-harm relapse. Geoff congratulates Charlie on being three months clean and his ever-strengthening relationship with Nick. Tao and Isaac help Charlie realize he is ready to have sex, which he drunkenly expresses to Nick at his birthday party. Charlie's friends meet Tori's new friend Michael, who Charlie suspects is her boyfriend. Imogen and Sahar decide to only be friends. Tara has a panic attack about her future and university, but Charlie helps calm her down. Due to her artwork becoming popular, Elle gets an interview with a local radio station but is disheartened when the interviewer is primarily interested in discussing her trans identity, not art. Nick takes Charlie to meet his celebrity crush for his birthday. Later, he and Nick try to have sex, but Charlie's intense body consciousness holds him back. | ||||||
| 23 | 7 | "Together" | Andy Newbery | Alice Oseman | 3 October 2024 | |
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Nick and Charlie grow increasingly desperate to have sex. Charlie seeks advice from Tao and Nick from Tara, who reminds him to look after himself. Mr. Ajayi and Mr. Farouk nominate Charlie to be Head Boy. Darcy travels to see Tara's dance class, after which Darcy confirms to Tara that they are non-binary. Noticing Elle is down following the interview, Tao makes a home movie of her to cheer her up. Charlie tries to get his mother to let him sleep over at Nick's, but it devolves into a fight. Angry at her for coddling him due to his mental illness, Charlie storms off to Nick's. Having considered university options, Nick tells Charlie he fears he has no identity without Charlie. The two then have sex for the first time, with Charlie keeping his shirt on. | ||||||
| 24 | 8 | "Apart" | Andy Newbery | Alice Oseman | 3 October 2024 | |
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Charlie's mother apologises to him and shares her difficult relationship with her overbearing mother. Nick, Elle, Tara, and Imogen take a road trip to visit university options. At the University of Oxford, Imogen tells Nick she does not like boys and has been struggling with compulsory heterosexuality. Tara realizes she does not like Oxford and ponders her future. Having preferred the University of Leeds to schools closer to home, Nick expresses his fears of being away from Charlie to the girls, who encourage him to branch out. Charlie prepares to play the drums with Sahar's band at a summer fete. Charlie encourages Tori to share love with others, especially Michael. Nick and the girls fight traffic to see the band's performance. Elle tells Tao she wants to study elsewhere in Europe. Charlie's parents let him sleep over at Nick's, where Charlie takes his shirt off and the two have sex. | ||||||
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Writing and pre-production
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The first two seasons of the series were directed by Euros Lyn.
In September 2016, Alice Oseman started a webcomic titled Heartstopper which later expanded to a graphic novel after gaining a cult following.[5] Sometime in 2019, See-Saw Films asked Oseman if she could try writing a screenplay.[6] The production company had been suggested[7] by its own executive producer Patrick Walters,[8] who helped with Oseman's Kickstarter campaign in 2018.[7] She expressed interest in doing it, noting the lack of wholesome, teenage LGBT representation on television, hoping that this could potentially assure LGBT youth "that they can find happiness and find romance and find friendship". She wrote a screenplay based on the first two volumes of the graphic novel. See-Saw Films liked it[6] and optioned the television rights later that July.[9]
In January 2021, it was revealed that Netflix had ordered Heartstopper as an eight-episode half-hour series.[9] It was deemed the best platform by Oseman and Walters due to its global availability.[7] Euros Lyn was enlisted as director and executive producer. He had not read the original source material and called the screenplay riveting.[10] Netflix "Kids & Family Content" director Alexi Wheeler said that the story "deserves to be told" due to its relatability among the young demographic.[5] Walters served as executive producer for the series, alongside Jamie Laurenson, Hakan Kousetta, Iain Canning and Emile Sherman, with Zorana Piggott as producer.[11] During production, the programme had working titles of Evergreen for its first season,[12] Electric for its second season[13] and Firework for its third season.[citation needed]
Casting
To provide an authentic depiction, Oseman wanted actual young people to portray the characters.[6] Daniel Edwards served as casting director. An open casting call went out in January and February 2021 for five of the main characters and three of the recurring cast.[14] Oseman explained that the character Aled Last would not appear in the adaptation to respect his story in another novel within the Heartstopper universe, Radio Silence. After over 10,000 people auditioned via Zoom, she announced the first round of casting decisions in April 2021, with Kit Connor and Joe Locke starring as Nick and Charlie respectively.[6][15] Heartstopper marked Locke's acting debut.[16] After agreeing that Locke suited Charlie's role, Connor was auditioned and the production team found chemistry between the two;[10] the actors themselves recalled only taking a few hours to bond.[16]
The rest of the cast members were announced days later and included Yasmin Finney, Sebastian Croft, William Gao, Corinna Brown, Kizzy Edgell, Cormac Hyde-Corrin, Rhea Norwood and Tobie Donovan.[17] Jenny Walser joined in the cast in May 2021.[18] The final audition was conducted face-to-face.[6] Having worked with her previously, Lyn reached out to Olivia Colman after Oseman expressed an interest in a notable actress to portray Sarah; Colman accepted the offer. It was also noted that fans of the webcomic and graphic novel agreed that Colman was suited for the series.[19] Lyn said that Colman's "instinctive" and "warm" character was a good fit for Nick's mother Sarah.[10]
In July 2022, an open casting call was announced for a 16-year-old character named Sahar Zahid, a British female or non-binary person of South Asian descent.[20] That September, it was announced that Leila Khan would play the role and much of the lead cast would return for the second season. Other roles announced included Jack Barton as David, Nick's older brother; Bradley Riches as Truham student James McEwan; and Nima Taleghani as schoolteacher Mr Farouk.[21][22] In November 2022, it was announced that Colman, Chetna Pandya, Fisayo Akinade and Alan Turkington would reprise their roles in the second season, along with new casting including Bel Priestley and Ash Self as Elle's new friends Naomi and Felix respectively, with Thibault de Montalembert as Nick's father Stéphane.[23]
In August 2023, shortly after the release of the second season, it was confirmed that Sebastian Croft would be exiting the series, given that his storyline had come to its conclusion.[2] In November 2023, it was announced that Darragh Hand had joined the cast as Michael Holden.[24] In February 2024, it was announced that Hayley Atwell had joined the cast as Diane.[25] In March 2024, Colman said that she would not return for the third season of Heartstopper due to other commitments.[3] In April 2024, it was announced that Jonathan Bailey and Eddie Marsan had joined the cast as Jack Maddox and Geoff respectively, for the third season.[26] In the second episode of the official podcast, it was revealed that Annette Badland will play Darcy's grandmother in season 3.[27]
Filming
Season 1
Filming for series one began on location throughout England in April 2021 and finished that June.[28] It mostly took place in Berkshire and Buckinghamshire.[29] Harry's party was filmed at the Hampton Court House in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.[30] The rugby match shown in the episode "Secret" was filmed at the Thames Valley Athletics Centre. A Hollywood Bowl bowling alley in High Wycombe was used for filming. The railway station from which Nick and Charlie depart to the seaside is North Weald railway station in Essex, and the scene on the seaside was filmed in Herne Bay, Kent. After milkshakes, Charlie and his friends are seen walking along the River Thames in Windsor, Berkshire, before their concert.[31] Colman filmed all her scenes in two days.[32] In the episode "Boyfriend", during a scene where Nick and Charlie take a train, Oseman decided to give herself a cameo as a passenger; she is drawing the couple nearby.[33] The scene near the end of the episode featuring a merry-go-round was filled with crew members.[34]
Diana Olifirova was enlisted as cinematographer. She was immediately presented with challenges in visually depicting "love and emotion and tenderness". Using two Arri Alexa Mini LFs with Canon K35 spherical lenses, she used hand-held cinematography to give the cast space and to achieve an effect that resembled the documentary genre. With production designer Tim Dickel, they conceived a light-hearted colour palette of orange, yellow, turquoise and a mix of pink and blue. Olifirova employed colour gel for the lighting, which she had previously done for We Are Lady Parts. The colours of the school building were controlled to not be overdone but, at the same time, to be vivid. The scenes during Harry's birthday party were filmed in the daytime, and thus, the production team had to shut the windows and use artificial lighting to resemble outdoor lights. Transitions between seasons were achieved through lens flares.[30][35] The opening scene was achieved in two takes; in the first, the depth of field for Nick achieved through the Contrazoom was deemed overdone; they later managed to reshoot the scene to make it more minimalistic.[10] As Tara and Darcy kiss in the third episode, Nick is bathed in bisexual lighting (pinks, purples and blues) symbolising him realising his sexuality; this was suggested to Olifirova by the series' creative team.[36]
Production designer Tim Dickel worked with set decorator Maxwell Fine, who used his experience in past art lessons to create a realistic representation of British classrooms.[34] Dickel, meanwhile, asked his friends to photograph their kids' rooms, creating a mood board, which was reviewed by the cast.[37] Some of the set objects also changed as the characters progressed and grew. In the geography classroom, Nick's seat was located to have him in front of images of rocks; Fine correlated this with metamorphic rocks forming under pressure, symbolising Nick and Charlie's romantic development. Nick has his room littered with items representing his complicated life. Elle's room is "more refined" and artistic, Tao's room was designed to reflect his cinephilia and Tara's is awash with teddy bears per the screenplay. With respect to the source material, several set objects were given a hand-drawn style. Reflective of the characters, Charlie's room is wide and chaotic, while Nick's is tidier. Oseman drew murals to be depicted in the series; they were inspired by the works of Hokusai and Julian Opie.[34]
Season 2
The second season began filming in September 2022 at Twickenham Studios in London,[38] and finished in early December the same year.[39] Among the places throughout the Paris episodes that were filmed in England was the hotel, specifically in Slough,[40] also where Truham and the GCSE afterparty was filmed. Another instance is the café Nick takes Charlie to after he faints, which was filmed in Piccadilly Circus, London. The Lambert School of Arts was filmed at Farnham.[41] A sequence set in the Eiffel Tower was filmed in "two mornings"; the cast and crew needed to reach there by 06:00 local time prior to being open for public. Other locations include the Shakespeare and Company bookstore; the Arc de Triomphe; the Pont des Arts; a café by the Seine; and the Marais, known as a centre of LGBT culture. Some scenes featured places in the district of Montmartre, such as the Sacré-Cœur, the Musée de Montmartre and a restaurant called L'Escalier.[42][43][44] In the episode "Heat", during a scene where Nick and Charlie are running at the Louvre, Lyn decided to give himself a cameo as a security guard.
Whereas the first season features a blue-yellow colour palette, the second season features pink-pistachio. Various decors in the series settings, notably Truham, were changed to complement the summer backdrop. Costume designer Adam Dee wanted the series to feature more casual clothing and made T-shirts for Nick and Charlie that resembled the cover of the novel's third volume. Elle also wears clothing mirroring Finney's Bohemian background.[40] Tao's new haircut was inspired by Chow Mo-wan, the male main character of one of his favourite films, In the Mood for Love (2000), whose poster is also featured in his bedroom.[42][45] Production buyer Zoe Seiffert found a Fjällräven bag matching Charlie's bag in the novel. The art department also contributed to the similarities with the original source material. Donovan collaborated with Oseman in creating a new look for Isaac.[40]
To pay homage to Tara and Darcy's kiss, Tao and Elle's kiss at the prom was filmed under ultraviolet lighting.[40] Susnea painted the camera filters for some of the scenes featuring Nick and Charlie kissing, for artistic purposes.[42]
Season 3
The third season began filming in October 2023, with Andy Newbery taking the role of director from Euros Lyn.[46] Filming wrapped in December.[47]
Post-production
In the series, traditionally animated leaves float around during moments of love, a direct copy of the visual motifs in the webcomic. In Nick and Charlie's first kissing scene, sparks of electricity come out as Charlie tries touching Nick's hand. Animated seagulls and lovebirds are also seen. Oseman said that the animations represent a "feeling of magic" they intended to evoke. She had already thought of using such effects while writing the screenplay, conceiving that they would appear primarily during the intimate scenes between Nick and Charlie, which she dubbed "Heartstopper moments". Eventually, Anna Peronetto was chosen to create the animations, using a storyboard by Oseman. Peronetto had been a fan of the original source material and was chosen when Oseman made an Instagram post looking for traditional animators. She discussed with Lyn and editor Sofie Alonzi to see what kinds of animations fit in a certain scene. For the lovebirds, she analysed London feral parakeets.[30][48][49]
Using DaVinci Resolve, Olifirova worked remotely with colourist Tobias James Tomkins,[35] working for the company Cheat, to create a 3D lookup table (LUT) that resembled the shots' colour palette, as well as "add[ing] a hint of turquoise in the shadows and warmth to skin tones". Lyn had told them he wanted the colour intensity to increase as the story progressed and as seasons changed. They talked about how to create a proper Dolby Vision high dynamic range for the series, establishing colour and tonal limits. Then, the LUT's brightness was stopped down by one so that Olifirova could create additional light in the shadows and experiment with the colour grading. To enhance the HDR, an RGB colour space of DCI-P3 was chosen. Tomkins worked on the first two episodes for two days before working on individual remaining episodes for a day and a half.[30][50] Digital imaging technician Vincenzo Onorato was responsible for applying the LUTs to the dailies.[35]
Music
Adiescar Chase composed the original score and employed electronic riffs to give it a contemporary feel.[51] Heartstopper marks her first project after graduating from the National Film and Television School. She read the webcomic prior to composing and was given direction to have her music complement the pre-existing songs used.[52] She would play chords on her keyboard, then add riffs on a synthesiser, then add sound effects.[53] Some of the tracks, including the titular one, aided the "Heartstopper moments" by further emphasizing the feeling of electricity and excitement.[52] Variations of Nick and Charlie's "First Sight" music were used whenever a character meets someone for the first time. Ben's theme, "X", incorporates slapping sounds to mirror "how his attitude slaps you in the face." For Season 2, Chase rearranged some previous tracks and made new ones. In the finale featuring Tara and Darcy, she recorded her singing to represent comfort.[53]
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Heartstopper's one-minute teaser was released on 16 March 2022.[54] Collider then announced that its tagline was: "Boy meets boy. Boys become friends. Boys fall in love." Hilary Remley, who wrote the news, saw the teaser as teasing the series's "emotionally vulnerable" air, "showing the experience of teenage love in a direct and sincere way", assured that audiences will enjoy the final product due to its faithfulness to the source material's dreamlike aesthetic.[55] The series's episode titles were released on 19 April,[56] before the series's episodes were released on 22 April 2022.[57]
When asked whether there would be a second season, Walters said that they were looking forward to it, seeing that the executives of Netflix seemed to "understand" the series.[33] Locke and Connor had also expressed anticipation for a renewal, noting the narrative progression in the series's source material.[16] On 20 May 2022, following Netflix's review of the 28-day viewing figures, it was announced that the series had been renewed for two more series.[58] The second season was released on 3 August 2023;[59] the opening scene and episode titles were revealed prior on 18 June 2023,[60] and a trailer on 25 July.[61]
The title of the first episode of season 3 was revealed on 4 September 2023.[62] The teaser and date announcement for the third season was revealed on 13 May 2024,[63] while the trailer was released on 17 September 2024.[64]
Soundtrack
A selection of songs used in the soundtrack for the first season were released digitally on Spotify under the title Heartstopper: Official Mixtape to coincide with the series's release on 22 April 2022.[65] Chase's score was also released under a separate album on the same day.[66] A single by British artist Baby Queen, "Colours of You", was released by Polydor Records in conjunction with the launch.[67] Other popular songs featured in Season 1 include "Girls" by Girl in Red and "Tired" by Beabadoobee.[68] Chase's score for the second season was released ahead of the series release, on 28 July 2023.[69] Songs used in Season 2 include "Bros" by Wolf Alice and "Seven" by Taylor Swift.[68] The Spotify digital mixtape was re-released on 3 August 2023 with new songs from Season 1 and 2 under the new title Heartstopper: Official Playlist.[70][71]
Season 1
| Heartstopper (Soundtrack from the Netflix Series) | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by | |
| Released | 22 April 2022 |
| Length | 32:39 |
| Label | Maisie |
| Producer | Adiescar Chase |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "First Sight" | 1:09 |
| 2. | "Déjà Vu" | 0:57 |
| 3. | "X" | 0:44 |
| 4. | "Head In the Clouds" | 1:00 |
| 5. | "On the Move" | 1:02 |
| 6. | "Angst" | 1:25 |
| 7. | "Off to Nick's" | 0:41 |
| 8. | "Just Friends" | 1:26 |
| 9. | "Milkshakes" | 1:24 |
| 10. | "Falling Leaves" | 1:03 |
| 11. | "Electricity" | 1:03 |
| 12. | "The Lads" | 1:10 |
| 13. | "Misconceptions" | 1:11 |
| 14. | "Kiss" | 2:05 |
| 15. | "Possibilities" | 2:04 |
| 16. | "Clash" | 1:07 |
| 17. | "Rugby Match" | 3:24 |
| 18. | "Wanna Go Out Sometime" | 0:55 |
| 19. | "Happy Complications" | 0:50 |
| 20. | "New Best Friend" | 0:44 |
| 21. | "Embrace" | 1:02 |
| 22. | "Exploration" | 1:56 |
| 23. | "Sports Day" | 0:48 |
| 24. | "Heartstopper" | 2:32 |
| 25. | "Encore" | 0:57 |
| Total length: | 32:39 | |
| No. | Title | Artist(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Colours of You" | Baby Queen | 4:15 |
| 2. | "Want Me" | Baby Queen | 4:18 |
| 3. | "Lovesick" | Peace | 2:13 |
| 4. | "Dover Beach" | Baby Queen | 3:38 |
| 5. | "Don't Delete the Kisses" | Wolf Alice | 4:35 |
| 6. | "Sappho" | Frankie Cosmos | 1:52 |
| 7. | "Girls" | Girl in Red | 3:18 |
| 8. | "Dance with Me" | Beabadoobee | 3:54 |
| 9. | "Angel" |
| 3:56 |
| 10. | "Why Am I Like This?" | Orla Gartland | 3:32 |
| 11. | "My Own Person" | Smoothboi Ezra | 4:42 |
| 12. | "Telephone" | Waterparks | 2:33 |
| 13. | "Lucid" | Rina Sawayama | 3:38 |
| 14. | "Don't Leave Me (Chapter 1: Despair)" | HMLTD | 3:32 |
| 15. | "Clearest Blue" | Chvrches | 3:53 |
| 16. | "Alaska" (Toby Green remix) |
| 3:05 |
| 17. | "What's It Gonna Be?" | Shura | 3:34 |
| 18. | "Heart" | Flor | 3:42 |
| 19. | "Nothing Else I Could Do" | Ella Jane | 2:50 |
| 20. | "UrbanAngel1999" | Thomas Headon | 3:12 |
| 21. | "If You Want To" | Beabadoobee | 3:43 |
| 22. | "Buzzkill" | Baby Queen | 3:24 |
| 23. | "Fever Dream" | Mxmtoon | 3:16 |
| 24. | "Paper Mache World" | Matilda Mann | 2:59 |
| 25. | "I Want to Be With You" | Chloe Moriondo | 2:59 |
| 26. | "Knock Me Off My Feet" | SOAK | 3:08 |
| 27. | "Flirting With Her" | Sir Babygirl | 3:50 |
| 28. | "Bang Bang Bang" | Lauran Hibberd | 2:22 |
| 29. | "Tired" | Beabadoobee | 3:19 |
| 30. | "Any Other Way" | Tomberlin | 3:22 |
| 31. | "Smokey Eyes" | Lincoln | 3:15 |
| 32. | "Our Window" | Noah and the Whale | 5:48 |
| 33. | "Because I Love You" | Montaigne | 3:37 |
| 34. | "Close to You" | Dayglow | 3:14 |
| 35. | "Moment In the Sun" | Sunflower Bean | 3:09 |
| 36. | "I Belong In Your Arms" | Chairlift | 3:27 |
| Total length: | 1:56:46 | ||
Season 2
| Heartstopper: Season 2 (Soundtrack from the Netflix Series) | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by Adiescar Chase | |
| Released | 28 July 2023 |
| Length | 31:44 |
| Label | Netflix Music |
| Producer | Adiescar Chase |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Boyfriend" | 1:22 |
| 2. | "Back to School" | 1:10 |
| 3. | "Rugby Fail" | 1:06 |
| 4. | "T + E" | 2:29 |
| 5. | "Exam" | 0:59 |
| 6. | "David" | 1:04 |
| 7. | "Star-Crossed Lovers" | 1:44 |
| 8. | "School Trip" | 1:43 |
| 9. | "Panic" | 0:37 |
| 10. | "All That Mattered" | 1:45 |
| 11. | "Slumber" | 0:51 |
| 12. | "You Taste Like Toothpaste" | 1:28 |
| 13. | "Pair Up" | 2:24 |
| 14. | "Best Friends" | 1:15 |
| 15. | "What's Wrong" | 0:51 |
| 16. | "Mon Amour" | 0:46 |
| 17. | "He Doesn't Know Me" | 1:24 |
| 18. | "I'm Bi Actually" | 1:30 |
| 19. | "Out" | 0:52 |
| 20. | "Misperceptions" | 1:48 |
| 21. | "Sorry" | 0:55 |
| 22. | "Prom" | 1:06 |
| 23. | "Telling People" | 1:43 |
| 24. | "❤️" | 0:52 |
| Total length: | 31:44 | |
| No. | Title | Artist(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 37. | "Shatter" | Maggie Rogers | 3:40 |
| 38. | "Out of My League" | Fitz and the Tantrums | 3:29 |
| 39. | "Pressure to Party" | Julia Jacklin | 3:02 |
| 40. | "The Beach" | Wolf Alice | 2:35 |
| 41. | "Coming of Age" | Mxmtoon | 2:38 |
| 42. | "Paradise" | Carmody | 2:55 |
| 43. | "Welcome to the Sidelines" | Amy Michelle | 2:57 |
| 44. | "You Wouldn't Like Me" | Tegan and Sara | 2:56 |
| 45. | "Retrospect" | Vistas | 3:26 |
| 46. | "Things Will Be Fine" (Bratty remix) | 3:20 | |
| 47. | "The Sound" | The 1975 | 4:08 |
| 48. | "I Think Ur Rlly Cool" | Carpetgarden | 3:16 |
| 49. | "Le temps de l'amour" | Françoise Hardy | 2:24 |
| 50. | "Kiss Ur Face Forever" | Orla Gartland | 2:46 |
| 51. | "Foreplay" | Siouxxie Sixxsta | 3:04 |
| 52. | "Miss U" | Bad Smith | 3:32 |
| 53. | "Lovesong" | Beabadoobee | 4:05 |
| 54. | "Obsessed" | Hatchie | 5:13 |
| 55. | "Trésor" | Hervé | 2:55 |
| 56. | "Un peu plus souvent" | Alexia Gredy | 3:21 |
| 57. | "Mona Lisa" | Mxmtoon | 3:10 |
| 58. | "Freak Out" | Miya Folick | 2:43 |
| 59. | "Nobody Really Cares" | Baby Queen | 2:54 |
| 60. | "Doesn't Matter (Voleur de soleil)" | Christine and the Queens | 4:23 |
| 61. | "Fall In Love With a Girl" (feat. Orla Gartland) |
| 2:48 |
| 62. | "Never Be the Same" | Gabrielle Aplin | 3:25 |
| 63. | "On était beau" | Louane | 3:25 |
| 64. | "Bros" | Wolf Alice | 3:44 |
| 65. | "3D Feelings" | Alfie Templeman | 3:17 |
| 66. | "Then It All Goes Away" | Dayglow | 3:03 |
| 67. | "Hot & Heavy" | Lucy Dacus | 4:10 |
| 68. | "Pretty Girl Lie" | Baby Queen | 3:38 |
| 69. | "Deep End" | Holly Humberstone | 2:51 |
| 70. | "We Can Be Anything" | Baby Queen | 3:21 |
| 71. | "People Watching" | Conan Gray | 2:38 |
| 72. | "Cry!" | Caroline Rose | 3:43 |
| 73. | "Crush Culture" | Conan Gray | 3:24 |
| 74. | "I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend" | Girl in Red | 3:24 |
| 75. | "Skin" | Carmody | 4:01 |
| 76. | "Blush" | Wolf Alice | 4:19 |
| 77. | "Run Away with Me" | Carly Rae Jepsen | 4:11 |
| 78. | "Young" |
| 3:24 |
| 79. | "Happy New Year" | Let's Eat Grandma | 4:39 |
| 80. | "All the Things" | Baby Queen | 3:22 |
| 81. | "Seven" | Taylor Swift | 3:28 |
| 82. | "Ur So Pretty" | Wasia Project | 2:12 |
| Total length: | 4:49:22 | ||
Season 3
| Heartstopper: Season 3 (Soundtrack from the Netflix Series) | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by Adiescar Chase | |
| Released | 4 October 2024[72] |
| Length | 32:39 |
| Label | Netflix Music |
| Producer | Adiescar Chase |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Jellyfish" | 1:40 |
| 2. | "Beach Day" | 1:42 |
| 3. | "ILY" | 2:11 |
| 4. | "Concern" | 0:41 |
| 5. | "Tori" | 1:59 |
| 6. | "Dinner" | 1:07 |
| 7. | "Phone Call" | 1:02 |
| 8. | "Advice" | 1:25 |
| 9. | "Nick" | 1:33 |
| 10. | "Kiss Me" | 0:45 |
| 11. | "Too Much" | 1:19 |
| 12. | "Going Home" | 1:22 |
| 13. | "Safe With You" | 1:45 |
| 14. | "Better As Friends" | 1:29 |
| 15. | "Palpitations" | 2:20 |
| 16. | "We Could..." | 1:33 |
| 17. | "Cucumber" | 0:37 |
| 18. | "Little Farouk" | 0:56 |
| 19. | "Cooking" | 0:51 |
| 20. | "You Can't Stop Me" | 1:19 |
| 21. | "Feel Like I Woke Up" | 3:05 |
| 22. | "Afterwards" | 2:32 |
| 23. | "Funfair" | 1:06 |
| 24. | "Reunited" | 1:50 |
| 25. | "C'est La Vie" (Leila Khan and Adiescar Chase) | 2:26 |
| Total length: | 38:48 | |
All music is composed by Adiescar Chase, except where noted
| No. | Title | Artist(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Way Things Go" | Beabadoobee | 3:08 |
| 2. | "It's Euphoric" | Georgia | 3:41 |
| 3. | "Paradise Calling" | Birdy | 3:07 |
| 4. | "Happy, Healthy, Well-Adjusted" | Max Bennett Kelly | 2:18 |
| 5. | "A Letter to Myself at 17" | Baby Queen | 3:20 |
| 6. | "Superinlove (Roll Credits)" | Max Bennett Kelly | 1:48 |
| 7. | "Duet" | Frankie Cosmos | 2:12 |
| 8. | "Best Day of My Life" | Tom Odell | 2:27 |
| 9. | "**it gets better" | Martin Luke Brown | 3:10 |
| 10. | "I'm Not Perfect (But I'm Trying)" | Rachel Chinouriri | 3:36 |
| 11. | "Shell" | Ethan Tasch | 2:20 |
| 12. | "Abigail" | Frankie Cosmos | 1:54 |
| 13. | "Vertigo" | Griff | 3:00 |
| 14. | "My Vine" | Wasia Project | 3:08 |
| 15. | "Car Park" | Nieve Ella | 3:05 |
| 16. | "Pretty Boy" | LÉON | 3:51 |
| 17. | "Genesis" | Grimes | 4:15 |
| 18. | "One That Got Away" | MUNA | 3:52 |
| 19. | "Complex" | Katie Gregson-MacLeod | 3:59 |
| 20. | "I Spend Too Much Time in My Room" | The Band CAMINO | 4:32 |
| 21. | "Black Friday" | Tom Odell | 3:42 |
| 22. | "BLUE" | Billie Eilish | 5:43 |
| 23. | "I Wanna Know" | The Hunna | 3:37 |
| 24. | "Wide Eyes and Halos" | The Reytons | 2:50 |
| 25. | "Liquor & Cigarettes" (feat. ArrDee) |
| 3:09 |
| 26. | "darkwave sabbat" | diouxxie sixxsta | 1:45 |
| 27. | "leavemealone" (Nia Archives Remix) |
| 2:59 |
| 28. | "Witchcraft" | Pendulum | 4:13 |
| 29. | "Wish on an Eyelash" | Mallrat | 0:59 |
| 30. | "Serotonin" | Angie McMahon | 4:20 |
| 31. | "That Was the Worst Christmas Ever!" | Sufjan Stevens | 3:18 |
| 32. | "Are You OK?" | Wasuremono | 4:24 |
| 33. | "Bruises Off The Peach" | Ryan Beatty | 3:13 |
| 34. | "So Clear" | Miya Folick | 3:32 |
| 35. | "Too Much Time Together" | San Cisco | 2:50 |
| 36. | "Enjoy Your Life" | Romy | 4:00 |
| 37. | "Rush" | Troye Sivan | 2:36 |
| 38. | "Devotion" | Arlo Parks | 2:46 |
| 39. | "Loveher" | Romy | 3:49 |
| 40. | "In My Head" | Nell Mescal | 3:33 |
| 41. | "I Used to Be Fun" | Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers | 2:41 |
| 42. | "A Young Understanding" | Sundara Karma | 4:04 |
| 43. | "Just Stay For Once" | Imani Graham | 3:37 |
| 44. | "good 4 u" | Olivia Rodrigo | 2:58 |
| 45. | "sad disco" | mxmtoon | 3:03 |
| 46. | "A Running Start" | Sufjan Stevens | 4:21 |
| 47. | "Dive" | Olivia Dean | 3:21 |
| 48. | "Pegasus" (ft. Phoebe Bridgers) |
| 3:07 |
| 49. | "Heartbreaker" | Birdy | 3:04 |
| 50. | "The Most Beautiful Thing" | Thomas Headon | 3:33 |
| 51. | "Ode to a Conversation Stuck in Your Throat" | Del Water Gap | 3:19 |
| 52. | "Love You" | flowerovlove | 2:56 |
| 53. | "Right Here, for now" | Bakar | 3:01 |
| 54. | "Close One" | FIZZ | 3:56 |
| 55. | "Joe" | Joesef | 3:08 |
| 56. | "A Good Thing" | Claud | 2:46 |
| 57. | "The Outsiders" | Max Bennett Kelly | 2:23 |
| 58. | "million little reasons" | Oscar Lang | 2:43 |
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Audience viewership
During its debut week, Heartstopper ranked at number seven on Netflix's Top ten TV British titles just two days after its release. Based on Netflix's method of measuring a programme by the number of hours, the series generated 14.55 million hours viewed.[75] The following week, the show climbed to number five with 23.94 million hours viewed.[citation needed] In its third week, the show dropped to sixth position with new viewership numbers of 14.97 million viewing hours.[76][77] Variety reported the series had reached Netflix's Top Ten list in 54 countries as of 20 May 2022. The series also topped the publication's Trending TV chart for over five weeks, judging by the 1.3 million Twitter engagements.[78] The show appeared in the Top 10 list in three countries where same-sex relations are illegal[79] (Lebanon,[80] Saudi Arabia,[81] and Sri Lanka).[82]
Critical response
| Season | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 100% (61 reviews)[83] | 85 (9 reviews)[84] |
| 2 | 96% (55 reviews)[85] | 79 (19 reviews)[86] |
| 3 | 100% (28 reviews)[87] | 80 (10 reviews)[88] |
The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 100% approval rating for the first season with an average rating of 8.7/10, based on 61 critic reviews. The website's critical consensus reads: "An inclusive romance told with striking sensitivity, Heartstopper is so effortlessly charming that viewers won't dare skip a beat."[83] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 85 out of 100 based on nine critics.[84] The second season was given a 96% rating from Rotten Tomatoes with an average rating of 8.5/10, based on 55 reviews, with the consensus reading: "Beautifully acted and scripted, Heartstopper's second season is fit to bursting with emotional truth."[85] Metacritic gave it 79 out of 100 based on 19 critics.[86] The third season was given a 100% rating from Rotten Tomatoes with an average rating of 8.5/10, based on 28 reviews, with the consensus reading: "Heartstopper maintains its ooey gooey goodness while still allowing its young protagonists to grow in this fun, loving new season."[87] Metacritic gave it 80 out of 100 based on 10 critics.[88]
Reviewing the series for The Guardian, Rebecca Nicholson gave a rating of four out of five, and said, "Heartstopper may not quite live up to the dramatic promise of its title, but this adorable teen romance is a heartwarmer, at the very least."[89] Saloni Gajjar of The A.V. Club gave the series an A− and said "Thankfully, Heartstopper subverts notions by keeping its protagonist proudly gay: It's the love interest who has to sort through his unexpected feelings, not the other way around. Nick's attraction to Charlie catches him by surprise (but not disdain)."[90] Digital Spy's David Opie gave a rating of 5/5 and said, "Heartstopper centres queer love, affirming the feelings of young people watching who might be unsure or afraid to speak their truth."[91] Jonathan Wilson of Ready Steady Cut gave a rating of four out of five and stated, "Heartstopper might lack some edge and feel as if it's speaking to a younger demographic than the usual teen drama, but its deeply uplifting portrait of young love is very difficult not to get swept up in."[92] For Paste Magazine, Emily Maskell gave a rating of 8.8/10 and said, "An open-armed embrace for queer youth, Heartstopper lays the strong foundations of what you can only hope will be the uplifting and inclusive depictions of queer characters for the next generation of viewers."[93] Ezelle Alblas for The Upcoming gave a 5/5 rating and said, "Heartstopper feels like a show everyone needs to see. It's sweet without the cheese and quietly radical without the shock factor of shows like Sex Education, Euphoria or It's a Sin."[94]
Heartstopper was ranked the best show of 2022 by NME and The Mary Sue.[95][96] Meanwhile, Entertainment.ie placed it at number four,[97] TVLine at number eight,[98] Decider at number nine,[99] and PopBuzz at number 10,[100] while The Austin Chronicle and Lifehacker included it in their respective unranked list.[101][102] In addition, Collider named it one of the best new TV shows of 2022.[103][104]
Impact
Following the release of the series, the first volume of Oseman's Heartstopper graphic novel became the top-selling children's bestseller in the UK.[105] Songs featured in the series received large increases in chart sales and streams. Songs on the soundtrack that received a surge in chart sales when compared to the previous week included "Want Me" and "Dover Beach" by Baby Queen, "Why Am I Like This?" by Orla Gartland, "Clearest Blue" by Chvrches, and "I Belong In Your Arms" by Chairlift.[106]
Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Results | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Attitude Awards | TV Award | Heartstopper Season 1 | Won | [107] |
| C21 International Drama Awards | Best Comedy-Drama Series | Nominated | [108] | ||
| Children's and Family Emmy Awards | Outstanding Young Teen Series | Iain Canning, Hakan Kousetta, Jamie Laurenson, Euros Lyn, Alice Oseman, Emile Sherman, Patrick Walters, Simon Gillis, Zorana Piggott, and Dylan Rees | Won | [109][110] | |
| Outstanding Lead Performance in a Preschool, Children's or Young Teen Program | Kit Connor | Won | |||
| Joe Locke | Nominated | ||||
| Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Preschool, Children's or Young Teen Program | Yasmin Finney | Nominated | |||
| William Gao | Nominated | ||||
| Outstanding Guest Performance in a Preschool, Children's or Young Teen Program | Olivia Colman | Won | |||
| Outstanding Writing for a Young Teen Program | Alice Oseman | Won | |||
| Outstanding Casting for a Live Action Program | Daniel Edwards | Won | |||
| Outstanding Makeup and Hairstyling | Diandra Ferreira, Sorcha Fisher, and Melanie Lindsay | Nominated | |||
| Dorian Awards | Best LGBTQ Show | Heartstopper Season 1 | Won | [111] | |
| Best TV Drama | Nominated | ||||
| Best TV Performance | Kit Connor | Nominated | |||
| Edinburgh TV Awards | TV Moment of the Year | "Nick & Charlie's First Kiss" | Won | [112] | |
| Gay Times Honours | On Screen Trailblazer | Cast of Heartstopper Season 1 | Won | [113] | |
| Hollywood Music in Media Awards | Original Song/Score — Trailer | "Colours of You" | Nominated | [114] | |
| MTV Movie & TV Awards | Best Musical Moment | "Dance with Me" | Won | [115] | |
| National Television Awards | New Drama | Heartstopper Season 1 | Nominated | [116] | |
| Rising Star | Kit Connor | Nominated | |||
| Joe Locke | Nominated | ||||
| Rose d'Or Awards | Comedy Drama and Sitcom | Heartstopper Season 1 | Nominated | [117] | |
| Emerging Talent | Yasmin Finney | Won | [118] | ||
| RTS Craft & Design Awards | Casting Award | Daniel Edwards | Won | [119] | |
| Soho House Awards | Breakthrough Actress | Yasmin Finney | Won | [120] | |
| TV Choice Awards | Best New Drama | Heartstopper Season 1 | Won | [121] | |
| 2023 | British Academy Television Awards | Memorable Moment | "Nick and Charlie's First Kiss" | Nominated | [122] |
| British Academy Television Craft Awards | Best Writer: Drama | Alice Oseman | Nominated | [123] | |
| C21 International Drama Awards | Returning Comedy-Drama Series | Heartstopper Season 2 | Nominated | [124] | |
| Casting Directors' Guild Awards | Best Casting in a TV Drama Series | Daniel Edwards, Lucy Allen, Tom Payne, and Catherine Garlick | Won | [125] | |
| GLAAD Media Awards | Outstanding Kids and Family Programming – Live Action | Heartstopper Season 1 | Won | [126][127] | |
| Kidscreen Awards | Best Acting | Won | [128] [129] | ||
| Best in Class | Won | ||||
| Best Inclusivity – Tweens/Teens | Nominated | ||||
| Best Live-Action Series – Tweens/Teens | Won | ||||
| Best New Series – Tweens/Teens | Won | ||||
| Queerty Awards | TV Comedy | Heartstopper Season 1 | Won | [130] | |
| Performance – TV | Joe Locke | Won | [131] | ||
| Rolling Stone UK Awards | Television Award | Heartstopper | Nominated | [132] | |
| Rose d'Or Awards | Comedy Drama and Sitcom | Heartstopper Season 2 | Nominated | [133] | |
| Royal Television Society Programme Awards | Leading Actor: Male | Kit Connor | Won | [134][135] | |
| Satellite Awards | Best Drama Series | Heartstopper Season 1 | Nominated | [136] | |
| Visionary Arts Awards | Television Show of the Year | Nominated | [137] | ||
| 2024 | British Academy Television Craft Awards | Best Original Music: Fiction | Adiescar Chase | Nominated | [138] |
| GLAAD Media Awards | Outstanding Kids and Family Programming – Live Action | Heartstopper Season 2 | Won | [139] | |
| Television Critics Association Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Family Programming | Nominated | [140] | ||
| TV Choice Awards | Best Drama Series | Nominated | [141] | ||
| Best Actor | Kit Connor | Nominated | |||
| Best Actress | Yasmin Finney | Nominated | |||
| Velma Awards | Best Queer Show You Wish Existed When You Were Growing Up | Heartstopper Season 3 | Won | [142] | |
| 2025 | Children's and Family Emmy Awards | Outstanding Teen Series | Heartstopper Season 2 | Pending | [143] |
| Outstanding Writing for a Young Teen Program | Alice Oseman | Pending | |||
| Outstanding Casting for a Live-Action Program | Pending |
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- Heartstopper: Official Playlist contains 36 songs from Heartstopper: Official Mixtape from Season 1, five tracks from the Season 2 soundtrack ("Boyfriend", "T + E", "You Taste Like Toothpaste", "Pair Up" and "Telling People") and 46 songs featured in Season 2. The track listing here lists only those 46 songs, arranged in the order of appearance in the show.
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