Adolescence co-creator Jack Thorne and producer Jo Johnson have joined Tender as charity Ambassadors.

As specialists in relationships education, Tender worked closely with Netflix and the Government to develop expert guidance for parents and teachers around the dangers of online misogyny highlighted in the multi-award-winning Adolescence.

Tender is honoured to officially welcome Jack and Jo following a year’s close collaboration including an exclusive panel event about the power of drama in driving social change. They will join Tender Patron, Academy-Award winner Olivia Colman, as well as a wide range of celebrity Ambassadors including Jodie Whittaker and Toby Jones, in supporting Tender’s work and mission.

Jack Thorne is a playwright and BAFTA-winning screenwriter whose work includes This is England, Toxic Town and recent Channel 4 drama, Falling. He commented:

‘Tender is a remarkable organisation dedicated to creating difficult conversation. But the amazing thing about it is it makes that difficult conversation seem easy. By opening up paths to challenge behaviour, it creates portholes which prevent damage coming in. I’m so honoured to play a small part in their mission, and will keep shouting about the immense value of their work.’

Jo Johnson is an experienced producer working across a wide range of television dramas. including Disney+ series A Thousand Blows and Channel 4 drama Ackley Bridge with fellow Tender Ambassador Amy-Leigh Hickman.

Jo said: ‘I did not hesitate to say yes when asked to be an ambassador for Tender. It is a huge honour. What they do is crucial. I look forward to using my voice to help promote their amazing work.’

Tender CEO, Susie McDonald said:

‘We are so thrilled to welcome Jack Thorne and Jo Johnson into the Tender community.

‘Their brilliant work on Adolescence has sparked a global conversation about the troubling attitudes and behaviours fuelled by the harmful content young people encounter online.

‘Both Jack and Jo understand the urgent need for all children to receive high-quality relationships education and informed support from teachers, parents and carers. Until every child has access to high quality relationships education, real life cases of violence against girls will remain in the headlines. Until we understand that relationships education is protecting all children, we are doing a terrible disservice, not only to our girls but to our boys too.

‘Tender programmes ensure young people are absolutely clear about what is healthy and what is totally unacceptable; they are able to rehearse for real life relationships.  We look forward to our new Ambassadors’ support in reaching as many young people as we can.’

A lasting impact

Adolescence’s unflinching depiction of online misogyny and its danger to young people has sparked a global conversation around how we protect teenagers from these threats.

A new Netflix report found that more than three quarters (77%) of parents and caregivers said Adolescence made them more aware of the threats teenagers face online, from misogyny to pressure around masculinity. Over half said it had sparked a conversation they’d never had before with their child.

One in five young people discussed the series in the classroom, with teachers using it as a springboard for debates on consent, relationships and wellbeing.

Find out more about Tender’s collaboration with Adolescence.