Adult Material
Adult Material is a four-part British television drama miniseries written by Lucy Kirkwood and directed by Dawn Shadforth, first broadcast on Channel 4 beginning 5 October 2020.[1] The series centers on Hayley Burrows, portrayed by Hayley Squires, a veteran performer in the United Kingdom's adult film industry who operates under the stage name Jolene Dollar while raising three children as a single mother.[2] It follows her mentorship of novice actress Amy (Siena Kelly) amid encounters with industry figures like producer Carroll Quinn (Rupert Everett), highlighting the logistical and emotional demands of pornography production.[3] Produced by Endemol Shine UK and Fifty Fathoms Productions, the program interweaves domestic routines with on-set explicitness to depict causal pressures such as financial incentives driving participation, physical tolls on performers, and relational strains from secrecy or stigma.[4] Key episodes explore incidents of non-consensual acts reframed as professional hazards and the commodification of intimacy, underscoring how economic realities and personal agency intersect in sex work without idealizing or uniformly condemning the trade.[5] Critically received for its blend of dark humor and raw realism, Adult Material earned BAFTA Television Award nominations for Mini-Series and Supporting Actress (Siena Kelly), alongside a Writers' Guild of Great Britain nomination for long-form drama.[6][7] The miniseries garnered a 93% critics' approval on Rotten Tomatoes from 14 reviews, with praise for provoking inquiry into consent boundaries and age-related vulnerabilities in an industry often obscured by fantasy projections, though its graphic content drew parental advisories for severe nudity, profanity, and thematic intensity.[8][9] While avoiding didacticism, it illustrates empirical patterns like mentorship breakdowns leading to exploitation risks and the persistence of performer resilience amid commodified vulnerability, contributing to discourse on adult content's societal undercurrents.[10][11]Overview
Synopsis
Adult Material is a four-part British drama miniseries that follows the life of Hayley Burrows, a working-class mother of three who performs in the adult film industry under the stage name Jolene Dollar.[2] [12] The series portrays Burrows as a devoted parent navigating the demands of her profession, which she has pursued throughout her adult years, highlighting the intersection of her family responsibilities and the realities of the British pornography sector.[5] [8] The plot examines Burrows' professional relationships, including her mentorship of a young newcomer named Amy, and personal strains, such as her teenage daughter's discovery of her mother's career, which leads to conflicts over privacy, judgment, and societal attitudes toward sex work.[13] [14] It also incorporates interactions with other industry figures and an unlikely friendship with a politician, Stella Maitland, underscoring themes of compromise, exploitation, and resilience within the industry.[15] The narrative spans from the gritty origins of Burrows' involvement in adult entertainment to her efforts to sustain a successful enterprise amid legal and ethical challenges.[2]Format and Broadcast
Adult Material is a four-part limited television series, consisting of four episodes each approximately 50 minutes in length.[16][17] The series employs a dramatic narrative structure centered on character-driven storytelling within the adult entertainment industry, without recurring seasons.[2] The miniseries originally premiered in the United Kingdom on Channel 4, with the first episode airing on October 5, 2020, at 10:00 p.m. BST, followed by subsequent episodes broadcast weekly on Mondays at the same time.[1][18] All four episodes became available for on-demand viewing as a complete box set on Channel 4's streaming platform, All 4, immediately following the linear premiere.[1] In the United States, the series received a release on December 11, 2020, primarily through streaming services rather than traditional broadcast.[2]Production
Development
Adult Material was conceived by writer Lucy Kirkwood approximately nine years prior to its premiere, stemming from an initial conversation with producer Patrick Spence, who identified her interest in exploring the adult entertainment industry.[19] The project originated around 2011 as Kirkwood sought to address what she perceived as a societal blind spot regarding pornography's impact, particularly on working-class women who enter the field for practical reasons such as flexible schedules and competitive pay.[19] [20] Kirkwood's writing process spanned nearly a decade, during which her perspective evolved significantly through extensive research and consultations with industry professionals, including adult performer Rebecca More.[19] [20] Initially envisioning a more condemnatory narrative, she deliberately challenged her preconceptions to depict nuanced female agency amid the MeToo era's complexities, emphasizing class dynamics over simplistic victimhood.[20] The series is not based on specific real events but draws from broader observations of pornography's role in contemporary life.[21] Channel 4 commissioned the four-part drama, with oversight from Head of Drama Caroline Hollick and Commissioning Editor Lee Mason.[22] Development emphasized an all-female creative team to authentically portray the industry's realities, culminating in cast announcements in May 2019, including lead Hayley Squires as Jolene Dollar.[23] [24] The production aligned with Channel 4's tradition of provocative content examining sex, power, and societal taboos.[25]Casting and Filming
The principal cast for Adult Material was led by Hayley Squires in the dual role of Jolene Dollar, a veteran porn performer, and her civilian persona Hayley Burrows.[26] Siena Kelly portrayed Amy Deighton, Jolene's adult film colleague and eventual romantic interest, while Kerry Godliman played Stella Maitland, Jolene's candid best friend outside the industry.[26] Supporting roles included Joe Dempsie as Rich Gooding, Julian Ovenden as Tom Pain, and Rupert Everett as the producer Carroll Quinn, with the series directed by Dawn Shadforth from a script by Lucy Kirkwood, emphasizing an all-female creative core for authenticity in depicting female experiences within the adult industry.[3] [26] To prepare for their roles, particularly those involving simulated sex work, the cast conducted research by visiting an active porn production set for approximately four hours, observing the unremarkable, procedural atmosphere amid nudity and crew interactions to inform character realism.[27] Lead actress Hayley Squires, advised by industry veteran Rebecca Moore on porn performers' body language and psychological mindset, departed the visit early due to discomfort before on-camera intercourse began, highlighting the boundaries between observation and participation.[27] Siena Kelly similarly rehearsed intimate dynamics with Moore, ensuring performances reflected the extended, methodical nature of commercial adult filming rather than sensationalized tropes.[27] [28] Principal photography occurred in London, United Kingdom, with primary exteriors and interiors shot in the Borough of Croydon to capture the everyday urban backdrop of modern British life intersecting with the adult sector.[28] Intimate scenes were choreographed by intimacy coordinator Yarit Dor, who collaborated with actors to establish consent protocols, physical boundaries, and rehearsal techniques, prioritizing performer safety and comfort in simulating industry practices without genuine sexual activity.[28] Industry consultant Rebecca Moore further guided scene authenticity, drawing from real production workflows to portray the logistical tedium and power dynamics of porn shoots.[28] The four-episode series, produced by Fifty Fathoms, employed this approach to balance dramatic narrative with procedural fidelity, avoiding exploitative visuals in favor of character-driven realism.[26]Cast and Characters
Principal Cast
The principal cast of Adult Material, a four-part British television drama series that premiered on Channel 4 on October 23, 2020, centers on performers and key figures in the adult entertainment sector.[29] Siena Kelly leads as Amy Deighton, a young woman working as a webcam performer while managing family tensions.[2] Hayley Squires portrays Jolene Dollar (also known by her real name Hayley Burrows), Amy's estranged mother and a seasoned professional in hardcore pornography.[30] Supporting roles include Joe Dempsie as Rich Gooding, Amy's partner and fellow sex worker; Rupert Everett as Carroll Quinn, Jolene's former partner and adult film producer; and Julian Ovenden as Tom Pain, a director in the industry who interacts with the protagonists.[31] Kerry Godliman plays Stella Maitland, an opinionated Member of Parliament entangled in a related scandal.[29]| Actor | Role | Episodes Appeared |
|---|---|---|
| Siena Kelly | Amy Deighton | 4 |
| Hayley Squires | Jolene Dollar | 4 |
| Joe Dempsie | Rich Gooding | 4 |
| Rupert Everett | Carroll Quinn | 4 |
| Julian Ovenden | Tom Pain | 4 |
| Kerry Godliman | Stella Maitland | 4 |
Character Descriptions
Jolene Dollar (Hayley Burrows) is the central protagonist, a seasoned performer in the British adult entertainment industry who operates under her professional pseudonym Jolene Dollar while maintaining a family life as Hayley Burrows, mother of three children. Having worked in the sector throughout her adult years, she mentors newcomers but faces escalating personal crises after an incident involving a novice actress, prompting her to confront exploitative practices within the industry.[29][2] Amy serves as a key secondary character, depicted as a 19-year-old former dancer sidelined by injury and drawn into adult films for rapid financial gain. On her debut shoot, she receives guidance from Jolene, but an on-set mishap exposes her vulnerability and ignites broader conflicts over consent and safety.[29][2] Rich Burrows, Jolene's long-term partner and the father of their children, embodies domestic support by managing household responsibilities and her professional social media presence, reflecting a reversal of traditional gender roles amid her demanding career.[29] Carroll Quinn functions as a flamboyant producer and longstanding associate of Jolene within the UK adult industry, whose business operations come under scrutiny as she advocates against perceived abuses, highlighting tensions between commercial interests and performer welfare.[29][2] Stella Maitland, an assertive Member of Parliament entangled in a personal scandal, develops an improbable alliance with Jolene, bridging political spheres with the adult sector's underbelly.[29] Phoebe Burrows, the eldest daughter of Jolene and Rich, is portrayed as a teenage girl exploring early romantic relationships, underscoring the spillover effects of her mother's profession on family dynamics.[29]Episodes
Episode Summaries
Episode 1: "Rosebud"Aired on 5 October 2020, the premiere introduces Jolene Dollar, a seasoned pornographic film actress and mother of three who serves as the family's primary earner, as a prominent figure in the adult industry. Her routine is disrupted by the arrival of newcomer Amy on a film set and the unexpected return of a figure from her past, prompting initial tensions in her professional and personal spheres.[32][33] Episode 2: "Dry for Wet"
Broadcast on 12 October 2020, this installment addresses the aftermath of a party organized by producer Carroll, where Jolene and Carroll attempt to manage escalating consequences, including a hospitalization and a police involvement affecting Amy. Meanwhile, Jolene's daughter Phoebe confronts repercussions at school for her actions, and her son Gabriel receives alarming medical information that heightens family strain.[32][34] Episode 3: "Hayley"
Aired on 19 October 2020, the episode jumps nine months forward, depicting Jolene's life unraveling after she exits the adult industry, compounded by an impending defamation trial. Disgraced Member of Parliament Stella Maitland emerges as a potential ally, offering support amid Jolene's deepening personal and financial crises.[32][35] Episode 4: "Deep Fake"
The finale, transmitted on 26 October 2020, centers on Stella's courtroom defense while Jolene reckons with unresolved elements of her history, resorting to drastic measures to avert her family's economic collapse. The narrative culminates in explorations of accountability and survival within intersecting personal and institutional domains.[32][36]