Pleasureland

a television series

Pleasureland is a 2003 Channel 4 feature length television drama focusing on a group of teenagers in Liverpool who feel pressured to grow up. Written by Helen Blakeman, directed by Brian Percival and produced by Kudos, the makers of the BBC One espionage series Spooks. The drama was based on the John Adams opera Pleasureland and was filmed on location in Liverpool as part of the Channel 4's Adult at 14 season.

A modern tale of teenage sex, Pleasureland is the story of Jo, a 14 year old Scouser, who wakes up one day and decides she has to change her virgin status. In fact, she makes a promise to herself: 'I, Joanna Mosscroft, aged 14, year nine, almost year 10, promise me, Joanna Mosscroft, to have sex.' She is also motivated to have sex because it seems as if that is what all of the girls at school seem to be talking about. Thus, she feels pressured to lose her virginity. With that, she sets off on a rollercoaster journey of first time for everything. Jo soon becomes embroiled in a world of sex, drugs and betrayal.

The show attracted criticism by children's campaigners over the way in which it depicted teenage sex. Victoria Segal writing for The Times praised Katie Lyons performance as the protagonist and labelled her as 'one to watch'. She also selected Pleasureland as her 'Pick of the day' in the TV section of The Sunday Times on November 16, 2003, despite describing it as 'difficult and unpleasant viewing'.

YearAwardNomineeCategoryResultRef.2003Royal Television Society Programme AwardsKatie LyonNetwork Newcomer – On Screen 2003Royal Television Society Programme AwardsHelen Blakeman (writer)Network Newcomer – Behind the Screen2004British Academy Television Craft AwardsHelen Blakeman (writer)New Writer