Jack Thorne has been hailed as one of Britain's hardest-working writers, with an astonishing list of credits that includes many of the best homegrown TV dramas of the past two decades. His prolific output spans numerous hit plays and films, with several more projects in the pipeline.
At number 20 on his TV credits is The Eddy (2020), a BBC Four series set in a Tokyo bar where everything feels off. Although it features Amandla Stenberg and Andre Holland, this show was not one of Thorne's best works.
Next up at 19 is The Accident (2019), a Channel 4 miniseries that followed the story of a community fighting for justice after local teens were killed in an explosion at a building site. Although it received praise for its rousing and righteous portrayal, it was let down by some issues with its casting.
Thorne's work has also included Cast Offs (2009), a Channel 4 mockumentary that followed six disabled people sent to a remote island for a fictional reality show. The series was darkly funny and bracingly transgressive, but its main plot was overshadowed by the more compelling flashbacks exploring their lives.
Coming in at number 17 is Lord of the Flies (2026), a BBC adaptation of William Golding's classic novel about stranded schoolboys. Although it struggled to live up to expectations with some viewers criticizing its dialogue-heavy approach, Thorne successfully managed to create an unsettling atmosphere thanks to the brilliant young cast.
Thorne has also been involved in The Last Panthers (2015), which delved into a sprawling international alliance between criminal gangs and shadowy "banksters". This Sky Atlantic series had elements of a textbook Euro-pudding but was more thrilling than most, despite some critics labeling it overly formulaic.
His work on His Dark Materials (2019-2022) for HBO/BBC did not entirely succeed in adapting Philip Pullman's epic trilogy for the screen, but it still managed to be visually stunning and strongly performed. Thorne's writing of the villainous Mrs Coulter was particularly noteworthy.
Number 14 is The Hack (2025), an ITV romp that recounted the News International phone hacking scandal with David Tennant breaking the fourth wall as Guardian journalist Nick Davies. While it had its moments, some viewers found the tone to be inconsistent and the result somewhat jarred.
Thorne collaborated with writer Genevieve Barr on Then Barbara Met Alan (2022), a BBC drama that celebrated a milestone in civil rights history by telling the true story of cabaret performers Barbara Lisicki and Alan Holdsworth. This one-off drama was both a rollicking activism biopic and a sparky romcom, complete with disabled sex scenes.
Coming in at number 12 is Don't Take My Baby (2015), another superb standalone factual drama that chronicled the fight for custody of a young disabled couple's newborn daughter. This BBC Three heartbreaker won several awards, including the Bafta for best single drama.
Thorne also wrote Toxic Town (2025), which explored the story of three women who form an unlikely friendship with toxic masculinity at its core. The series was praised for its dark humor and poignant portrayal of the struggles faced by disabled individuals in a society that often fails to support them.
The Eddy is number 10, a BBC Four drama about life behind the scenes at Tokyo bar, but this was not one of Thorne's best works.
Number 9 is The Fades (2011), a BBC Three supernatural drama that followed a bed-wetting student who could see vengeful spirits all around him. This series was tense, haunting and gory, with a strong cast that included Daniel Kaluuya and Natalie Dormer.
Thorne also worked on Skins (2007-2009), the landmark E4 teen drama that featured five episodes written by him during its first three series. Although Thorne credits showrunner Bryan Elsley as an early influence on his career, this series would have been higher in the list if Thorne had a greater role.
At number 7 is Kiri (2018), a Channel 4 miniseries that told the story of a nine-year-old Black girl who was abducted from her foster carers and later found safe. This was a beautifully observed, warmly humane drama with standout performances from Sarah Lancashire and Paapa Essiedu.
Number 6 is Help (2021), another BBC Three lockdown drama that explored how the pandemic affected people across Britain. The series was praised for its blistering portrayal of vulnerable individuals, who were subjected to horrific treatment by their government.
Thorne also wrote National Treasure (2016), a Bafta-winning miniseries about the News International phone hacking scandal starring Robbie Coltrane and Julie Walters. This drama tackled several difficult topics, including celebrity abuse and the power dynamics between those in positions of authority and those who are marginalized.
At number 4 is Best Interests (2023), another BBC series that explored a couple fighting for their disabled daughter's life after she suffered a chest infection. The drama was praised for its urgent portrayal of the issues faced by families dealing with medical cases, although some viewers might have found it emotionally taxing.
Number 3 is The Virtues (2019), a Channel 4 miniseries co-written and directed by Shane Meadows that followed an aging man who returned to his native Ireland after decades away. This drama was praised for its raw portrayal of childhood trauma and abuse, with standout performances from Stephen Graham and Niamh Algar.
Coming in at number 2 is Adolescence (2025), a Netflix series that told the story of three teenagers whose lives were dramatically altered when their social media posts went viral. The show was widely praised for its impact on modern society, although some viewers found it to be a bit too intense at times. Thorne's writing had achieved perfection according to Lucy Mangan, and he received praise from critics worldwide.
Finally, coming in at number 1 is This Is England '86, '88 and '90 (2010-2015), a Channel 4 series that was set during the tumultuous late 1980s. The show followed the lives of several young people growing up during this period, including Shaun's gang of friends from a council estate in Nottinghamshire. This is widely regarded as one of the greatest TV dramas ever made and its impact on popular culture cannot be overstated.
Overall, Jack Thorne has demonstrated remarkable versatility and skill throughout his career, consistently producing high-quality drama that often tackles difficult subjects with sensitivity and nuance.
At number 20 on his TV credits is The Eddy (2020), a BBC Four series set in a Tokyo bar where everything feels off. Although it features Amandla Stenberg and Andre Holland, this show was not one of Thorne's best works.
Next up at 19 is The Accident (2019), a Channel 4 miniseries that followed the story of a community fighting for justice after local teens were killed in an explosion at a building site. Although it received praise for its rousing and righteous portrayal, it was let down by some issues with its casting.
Thorne's work has also included Cast Offs (2009), a Channel 4 mockumentary that followed six disabled people sent to a remote island for a fictional reality show. The series was darkly funny and bracingly transgressive, but its main plot was overshadowed by the more compelling flashbacks exploring their lives.
Coming in at number 17 is Lord of the Flies (2026), a BBC adaptation of William Golding's classic novel about stranded schoolboys. Although it struggled to live up to expectations with some viewers criticizing its dialogue-heavy approach, Thorne successfully managed to create an unsettling atmosphere thanks to the brilliant young cast.
Thorne has also been involved in The Last Panthers (2015), which delved into a sprawling international alliance between criminal gangs and shadowy "banksters". This Sky Atlantic series had elements of a textbook Euro-pudding but was more thrilling than most, despite some critics labeling it overly formulaic.
His work on His Dark Materials (2019-2022) for HBO/BBC did not entirely succeed in adapting Philip Pullman's epic trilogy for the screen, but it still managed to be visually stunning and strongly performed. Thorne's writing of the villainous Mrs Coulter was particularly noteworthy.
Number 14 is The Hack (2025), an ITV romp that recounted the News International phone hacking scandal with David Tennant breaking the fourth wall as Guardian journalist Nick Davies. While it had its moments, some viewers found the tone to be inconsistent and the result somewhat jarred.
Thorne collaborated with writer Genevieve Barr on Then Barbara Met Alan (2022), a BBC drama that celebrated a milestone in civil rights history by telling the true story of cabaret performers Barbara Lisicki and Alan Holdsworth. This one-off drama was both a rollicking activism biopic and a sparky romcom, complete with disabled sex scenes.
Coming in at number 12 is Don't Take My Baby (2015), another superb standalone factual drama that chronicled the fight for custody of a young disabled couple's newborn daughter. This BBC Three heartbreaker won several awards, including the Bafta for best single drama.
Thorne also wrote Toxic Town (2025), which explored the story of three women who form an unlikely friendship with toxic masculinity at its core. The series was praised for its dark humor and poignant portrayal of the struggles faced by disabled individuals in a society that often fails to support them.
The Eddy is number 10, a BBC Four drama about life behind the scenes at Tokyo bar, but this was not one of Thorne's best works.
Number 9 is The Fades (2011), a BBC Three supernatural drama that followed a bed-wetting student who could see vengeful spirits all around him. This series was tense, haunting and gory, with a strong cast that included Daniel Kaluuya and Natalie Dormer.
Thorne also worked on Skins (2007-2009), the landmark E4 teen drama that featured five episodes written by him during its first three series. Although Thorne credits showrunner Bryan Elsley as an early influence on his career, this series would have been higher in the list if Thorne had a greater role.
At number 7 is Kiri (2018), a Channel 4 miniseries that told the story of a nine-year-old Black girl who was abducted from her foster carers and later found safe. This was a beautifully observed, warmly humane drama with standout performances from Sarah Lancashire and Paapa Essiedu.
Number 6 is Help (2021), another BBC Three lockdown drama that explored how the pandemic affected people across Britain. The series was praised for its blistering portrayal of vulnerable individuals, who were subjected to horrific treatment by their government.
Thorne also wrote National Treasure (2016), a Bafta-winning miniseries about the News International phone hacking scandal starring Robbie Coltrane and Julie Walters. This drama tackled several difficult topics, including celebrity abuse and the power dynamics between those in positions of authority and those who are marginalized.
At number 4 is Best Interests (2023), another BBC series that explored a couple fighting for their disabled daughter's life after she suffered a chest infection. The drama was praised for its urgent portrayal of the issues faced by families dealing with medical cases, although some viewers might have found it emotionally taxing.
Number 3 is The Virtues (2019), a Channel 4 miniseries co-written and directed by Shane Meadows that followed an aging man who returned to his native Ireland after decades away. This drama was praised for its raw portrayal of childhood trauma and abuse, with standout performances from Stephen Graham and Niamh Algar.
Coming in at number 2 is Adolescence (2025), a Netflix series that told the story of three teenagers whose lives were dramatically altered when their social media posts went viral. The show was widely praised for its impact on modern society, although some viewers found it to be a bit too intense at times. Thorne's writing had achieved perfection according to Lucy Mangan, and he received praise from critics worldwide.
Finally, coming in at number 1 is This Is England '86, '88 and '90 (2010-2015), a Channel 4 series that was set during the tumultuous late 1980s. The show followed the lives of several young people growing up during this period, including Shaun's gang of friends from a council estate in Nottinghamshire. This is widely regarded as one of the greatest TV dramas ever made and its impact on popular culture cannot be overstated.
Overall, Jack Thorne has demonstrated remarkable versatility and skill throughout his career, consistently producing high-quality drama that often tackles difficult subjects with sensitivity and nuance.
I gotta say, while Jack Thorne is indeed a talented writer, some of these shows on this list feel like they're just phoning it in 
. Like, The Eddy's just okay, it's not gonna blow anyone away 
. And don't even get me started on The Accident, the casting issues kinda kill the whole vibe 
. 
. Those are some real conversations worth having 
. And let's be real, This Is England '86 is a masterpiece 
, it's no surprise it's at the top of this list 
.
. Like, The Eddy is at 20, but then The Accident jumps up to 19? 
...like, he's written or co-written tons of TV shows and plays over the years! 
and The Virtues 
(which was kinda a letdown) or The Hack 
(which had some weird tone issues). What's wild is that he's got this crazy range of stuff from dramas about police corruption to romcoms with disabled characters 
...it's like, how does one person do all this?!? 
Anyway, the writer dude's been getting all sorts of praise for his versatility and skills, so yeah, that's a pretty cool thing 
. 
! 
From darkly funny mockumentaries to heart-wrenching dramas about justice & disability, his range is truly impressive 
and tackles tough topics with thought-provoking sensitivity 
. And while some of his work might be hit-or-miss (looking at you, The Eddy 
), he's always pushing boundaries and taking risks that keep us on our toes.
, churning out show after show that are both critically acclaimed and ridiculously popular. I mean, who wouldn't want to watch a show about toxic masculinity (Toxic Town), or a group of friends growing up on a council estate in the late 80s (This Is England)? 
From dark comedies like Cast Offs to gripping dramas like Adolescence, Thorne's got it all covered. And can we talk about how he adapted Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials for the screen? 
That was a bold move! 
What's up with all these BBC shows? It feels like they're dominating the top spots! 
Anyway, I think what really stands out about Jack Thorne is how he can tackle tough topics like phone hacking and disability issues with such finesse and humor. The Eddy might not be his best work, but it's still a solid show that explores some really interesting themes. And don't even get me started on Adolescence – that Netflix series was so impactful and thought-provoking!