Skins returns in January
The fourth series of critically acclaimed E4 series Skins starts in January on the digital channel. It’ll be the last season to feature Effy, Freddie, Cook and the others as producers confirm if a fifth season is commissioned it’ll feature an entirely new cast. So what does the new season hold for the teenagers of Bristol? And how will guest stars such as Pauline Quirke and Will Young fit into the action?
The fourth series of critically acclaimed E4 series Skins starts in January on the digital channel. It’ll be the last season to feature Effy, Freddie, Cook and the others as producers confirm if a fifth season is commissioned it’ll feature an entirely new cast. So what does the new season hold for the teenagers of Bristol?
Below is the Channel Four press release for the new series.
E4’s multi BAFTA award-winning drama ‘SKINS’ returns to E4 in January 2010 for its fourth series. 
Our gang are back after the summer break, in a seemingly protective bubble – their hedonism. There are no consequences, no tomorrow and everyone will live forever. Then Thomas (Merveille Lukeba) experiences a life changing event, causing him to question everything – his faith, his family and even his choice of friends. The reverberations will reach far beyond Thomas’s story, affecting the lives of all those we know around him.
Effy (Kaya Scodelario) returns – no longer with her queen-bee status, and still struggling to deal with her family issues. Her best friend, Pandora (Lisa Backwell), is back adorable and kooky as ever. Twins Katie (Megan Prescott) and Emily (Kathryn Prescott) are visibly different – after leaving her sister’s shadow Emily is head over heels in love, but while she’s finding out what life is really like, Katie is left behind in a family meltdown. Naomi (Lily Loveless) seems to have more to hide this series; while JJ (Ollie Barbieri) finally realises what love is. Meanwhile Cook (Jack O’Connell) is trying to simultaneously exorcise his demons and not reveal his weaknesses, and Freddie (Luke Pasqualino) finds out that love can lead you to the edge of sanity.
“We take great pride in the development of raw young voices in Skins. This year, our writers and cast have stepped up and broken through to new levels of boldness. Funny, disrepectful, edgy, but also poignant and heartfelt, these stories try to go to the heart of what it means to be young today” – Bryan Elsley, Skins Creator/Executive Producer
Series four will continue with guest appearances from Morwenna Banks as Anthea Stonem and Ronni Anconna as Jenna Fitch, alongside new guest artists including Chris Addison, Tanya Franks, Paul Kaye, Pauline Quirke, Simon Day, Dudley Sutton, Hugo Speer, Jenny Eclair, and Will Young.
“It’s been immensely exciting taking on the producing of ‘Skins’. It has such a young cast and writing team that there’s an incredible energy and vitality to the creative process that you just don’t get on other shows. This year, I think the stories are reaching new heights and ambitions building on the budding and fractured relationships of the last series. It’s an exciting and very bumpy ride.” – John Griffin, Producer
The eight new episodes are written by a young British writing team, and are headed up by Executive Producer Bryan Elsley, Producer John Griffin and series directors Neil Biswas, Daniel O’Hara, Phillippa Langdale, and Esther May Campbell.
Skins returns on Monday 28th January.