Badenoch claims Adolescence ‘fundamentally changed’ story it is based on

Kemi Badenoch has said Adolescence is based on a true story that has been “fundamentally changed”, and that while it touches on an issue in society, Islamic terrorism is a bigger problem.

Co-creator Jack Thorne recently dismissed an online theory that the series changed the race of the lead character from a real-life case it was supposedly based on.

The drama about a teenage boy who is accused of killing a girl from his school examines so-called incel (involuntary celibate) culture and has prompted a national conversation about online safety.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hosted a roundtable at Downing Street with Thorne and children’s charities on Monday to talk about young boys being influenced by misogyny they encounter online.

Tory leader Mrs Badenoch said she had not watched the series.

“I don’t have time to watch anything to be honest, but I have read about it … what I understand is that this is a fictional representation of a story that is actually quite different,” she told LBC.

“And I think it’s an interesting story. It certainly touches on some of the things that are happening in the world today, but it is not the biggest thing that is happening in the world today in terms of what is happening to people being radicalised on social media.”

She said she was aware of what the series is about.

“I know what it’s about, and I’ve given a view that it is a work of fiction that is interesting, that touches on a problem in society, but there are bigger problems, such as Islamic terrorism and that kind of radicalisation, and the story which it is based on has been fundamentally changed, and so creating policy on a work of fiction rather than on reality is the real issue.”

She pointed to the Conservatives’ policy to ban mobile phones in schools, which some have said is unnecessary as many schools already do not allow children to use mobiles.

A post on social media amplified by Elon Musk has suggested the story, which features a white actor, is based on the Southport attacker.

Co-creator Thorne recently rejected the accusations of “race-swapping” in the series.

It is not based on a true story and is “making a point about masculinity” and not race, Thorne told the News Agents podcast.

“It’s absurd to say that (knife crime) is only committed by black boys. It’s absurd. It’s not true. And history shows a lot of cases of kids from all races committing these crimes,” he added.