‘Heartstopper’ Producer Patrick Walters on U.K. TV Drama Crisis and the ‘Risk’ of Pitching Projects That ‘Feel So Specific That There Isn’t a Precedent’

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Patrick Walters, the British executive producer of the popular Netflix series “Heartstopper” and the recent Sky/Stars show “Sweetpea,” arrived in Series Mania, France, during a time when there seems to be a crisis in the U.K. drama industry. This is because scripted commissioning is decreasing as broadcasters reduce their spending and opt for fewer risks.

In 2023, the executive from TV, who had been with See-Saw Films for a decade and recently launched his own label called Fanboy within the company, expressed that this was an emotion he had experienced.

He mentioned that it’s quite challenging, and over many seasons of ‘Heartstopper’, he’s encountered these difficulties. Right now, there are numerous complexities in television production.

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He expressed that working on ‘Heartstopper’ for multiple seasons has presented a lot of challenges, and currently, the intricacies involved in TV production are plentiful.

The issue seems to be that when you present your ideas, they should be unique and innovative enough to spark a new conversation, but these types of ideas can be risky. I frequently find myself drawn to pushing boundaries with the material we work on, so that when we approach broadcasters, we can excite them by saying, ‘this is something truly special.’ To make an impact, it requires passion.”

In this version, the meaning and tone of the original text have been preserved while making it more natural and easy to read.

Walters recently discussed his work at Series Mania, not long after See-Saw Films had transferred the majority of their ownership to the influential French company, Mediawan. He expressed optimism that this deal would pave the way for increased financial backing and resources, enabling them to tackle larger productions.

He expressed great enthusiasm. Although it’s still quite recent, just a few weeks ago, he noted. See-Saw has consistently appreciated independent creative work, and he finds similar values in Mediawan’s other companies. Thus, he’s eager to observe the development.

Regarding the fourth season of “Heartstopper,” Walters wasn’t able to provide an update since Netflix hasn’t given their approval yet. He simply mentioned that he doesn’t have any news to share at the moment, but when there is, you can expect an update promptly.

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2025-03-26 17:46