90 Fun Facts About Sex Education

Who created Sex Education?

Laurie Nunn was a newcomer who had nearly given up on the profession, and had briefly considered retraining as a therapist, when Netflix picked up her script in 2017.

Sex Education is set in which fictional town?

Moordale has smartphones beside cars and decor decades out of date, a mix its designers chose so that viewers could never pin the story to one year.

In Sex Education's first episode, where does Otis talk Adam through a crisis?

The disused toilets became the clinic's unofficial home. In series 3 Otis himself tips off the school about them, and the block is demolished.

Who plays Otis Milburn in Sex Education?

Asa Butterfield was announced in the part as Otis Thompson. The character's surname had become Milburn by the time the show reached the screen.

Which actress plays sex therapist Jean Milburn in Sex Education?

Gillian Anderson's Jean has trouble with boundaries at home: in series 1 Otis discovers she has been drafting a book about his own sexual hang-ups.

Who plays Eric Effiong, Otis's best friend, in Sex Education?

Ncuti Gatwa fluffed his first audition through nerves, then won the casting team over by bursting into a twerk at a later chemistry read.

In Sex Education, Eric Effiong's family has roots in which two African countries?

Ghana and Nigeria: in series 3 the family flies to Nigeria for a wedding, where Eric is told to keep quiet about being gay in front of his relatives.

Who plays Maeve Wiley in Sex Education?

Emma Mackey's Maeve is the one who spots the business: after watching Otis calm a classmate she proposes the clinic, then handles the bookings and the money.

In Sex Education, where does Maeve Wiley live?

A caravan park: Maeve covers the rent by doing classmates' homework for cash, including an essay that wins Adam a school prize.

In Sex Education, what is the name of the popular clique led by Ruby Matthews?

The Untouchables rule the school's social ladder, but Aimee walks away from them out of loyalty to Maeve, the outsider they bully.

In Sex Education, Adam Groff's father Michael holds which position at the school?

Headmaster Michael Groff loses the job after series 2. The stern disciplinarian ends up sleeping in other people's spare rooms and finding a new passion in cooking.

In Sex Education, head boy Jackson Marchetti is a champion in which sport?

Swimming wears Jackson down: in series 2, tired of his mother's pressure to win, he deliberately injures his hand to get out of the pool and tries acting instead.

Which Ted Lasso star plays Sofia Marchetti, one of Jackson's two mothers, in Sex Education?

Hannah Waddingham's Sofia has kept a secret: in the final series Jackson finds an old letter, tracks down the father he thought was a donor, and is turned away.

In Sex Education, Lily Iglehart writes erotica about what?

Aliens fill Lily's stories, and in series 3 a local paper prints one. The bad press gets her shamed in front of the whole school, and she nearly packs her stories away for good.

In Sex Education, what does Jakob Nyman, who starts a relationship with Jean, do for a living?

Plumber Jakob, a Swedish widower, comes to do repairs at Jean's house. He soon wants commitment, and it is the relationship expert who backs away.

In Sex Education, who becomes Otis's first girlfriend?

Ola Nyman and Otis have an unusual problem: they walk in on her father and his mother together, and learn that their parents are a couple too.

In series 2 of Sex Education, an outbreak of which infection exposes the school's poor sex education?

Chlamydia sends the school into a panic, with pupils turning up in face masks. Most of it proves to be hysteria, and Jean is called in to set everyone straight.

Who plays Otis's womanising father, Remi Milburn, in Sex Education?

James Purefoy's Remi is a therapist too, and the reason the marriage ended: as a child, Otis walked in on his father with a patient.

Which actress plays Erin Wiley, Maeve's drug-addicted mother, in Sex Education?

Anne-Marie Duff's Erin comes back claiming to be clean, with a toddler in tow. When she relapses, it is Maeve who reports her own mother to social services.

In Sex Education, who raised Maeve Wiley in place of her parents?

Her older brother Sean brought Maeve up, then vanished too. When he resurfaces he sells drugs at the school dance, and she takes the blame to protect him.

Which broadcaster appears as himself in series 2 of Sex Education, hosting a schools quiz final?

Stephen Fry is quizmaster at the televised national final. Maeve competes in it for the school in the same episode in which she reports her mother to social services.

In Sex Education, new student Rahim, who takes an interest in Eric, has moved from which country?

France is where Rahim arrives from. His family once had to flee over religion, which is why he is so uneasy when Eric takes him along to church.

Who plays Hope Haddon, the new headmistress in series 3 of Sex Education?

Jemima Kirke's Hope arrives promising a fresh start, then imposes grey uniforms and abstinence lessons. The pupils revolt on open day and she is removed.

In Sex Education, which teacher pushes Maeve to apply for a study programme in America?

Emily Sands has believed in Maeve since series 1, when she worked out that Maeve had secretly written a classmate's prize-winning essay.

Which Harry Potter actor plays Peter Groff, the older brother of Adam's father, in Sex Education?

Jason Isaacs plays a rich, sneering brother who has belittled Michael since they were boys, until Michael finally stands up to him at a dinner party.

In Sex Education, Cal Bowman moved to the school from which country?

United States: Cal comes from Minneapolis. In series 3 Cal defies the new uniform rules and is locked in a room on open day.

In series 4 of Sex Education, the students move to which sixth-form college after their school shuts?

Cavendish turns out to be friendly, inclusive and eco-minded, so the old pecking order means nothing there and former queen bee Ruby struggles to fit in.

In the final series of Sex Education, what does Maeve study at Wallace University?

Writing is Maeve's ticket out of town. Her course is taught by a cult author, and by the finale a publisher has got in touch about her own work.

Which Schitt's Creek star plays Maeve's American tutor Mr Molloy in Sex Education?

Dan Levy's Molloy savages Maeve's work and hands a prized internship to her roommate. In the finale she tells him what his negativity does to his students.

In the final series of Sex Education, who is Otis's rival sex therapist at the new college?

Sarah 'O' Owens has history with Ruby: as children at summer camp, she told everyone about Ruby's bed-wetting, a betrayal that resurfaces during the clinic election.

Which Australian comedian plays Celia, Jean's boss at a radio station, in Sex Education?

Hannah Gadsby's Celia gives Jean a radio advice show. The famous therapist proves distracted and dull on air, so a teenage co-host is hired to rescue it.

Which actress appears to Eric as God in the final series of Sex Education?

Jodie Turner-Smith's God appears as Eric agonises over being baptised. He ends up coming out to his congregation and leaving a church that will not accept him.

In the final series of Sex Education, where does Adam Groff start work?

A farm apprenticeship suits Adam better than school ever did: he gets over his fear of horses, flattens a fence with the tractor, and still keeps the job.

Which Game of Thrones actor plays Dodgy Mo, a friend of Sean's, in series 4 of Sex Education?

Jack Gleeson, the hated King Joffrey, announced he was quitting acting when he left Game of Thrones in 2014, which made his turn here a surprise.

In Sex Education, science teacher Colin Hendricks conducts which school ensemble?

The Swing Band gets its big moment in series 1, backing Jackson as he serenades Maeve in front of the whole school to ask her out.

Sex Education's school scenes were filmed at a former campus of which university?

University of South Wales shut its Caerleon campus in 2016, and the empty buildings got a second life as the show's school, dressed with lockers and banners.

Much of Sex Education's first series was filmed in which valley on the Wales–England border?

Wye Valley scenery opens the show: the first aerial shot follows the river to the Milburns' home, a real chalet perched above the water at Symonds Yat.

The school's battlefield trip in series 3 of Sex Education was actually filmed in which English county?

Kent's Shorncliffe cemetery and the Hawthorne Trench near Canterbury doubled for the Continent. It is on this trip that Otis and Maeve miss the bus and finally kiss.

Sex Education's creator has called its retro look a homage to the 1980s films of which director?

John Hughes stills filled the scrapbook 'bible' that sold Netflix on the show. Its makers then paid an artist to cover the whole thing in rude graffiti.

Netflix said Sex Education was on pace to reach about how many households in its first month?

40 million households was the projection Netflix announced six days after launch, and it ordered a second series within three weeks.

Which Sex Education cast member won the 2021 BAFTA TV Award for Best Female Comedy Performance?

Aimee Lou Wood won for the series in which her character is assaulted on a bus, a storyline the show's creator drew from something that had happened to her.

Sex Education's third series won Best Comedy Series at which 2022 ceremony?

International Emmy Awards honour television made outside Hollywood's home market, so the show's rivals for the prize were comedies from Mexico and elsewhere.

Sex Education was the first Netflix show to adopt which on-set practice?

Intimacy coordinators were a novelty when the show hired pioneer Ita O'Brien to look after its young cast. Within a few years the job was standard across television.

In 2022, Sex Education was officially adapted in Japan into which format?

A manga version began running online in July 2022. Its artist, John Tarachine, was already a fan, and called adapting a favourite drama a dream come true.

Simone Ashley left Sex Education for which period drama?

Bridgerton had made Ashley a star as Kate Sharma. Asked on ITV's This Morning whether she would be back for more Sex Education, she said: 'No, I'm a Bridgerton girl now.'

In Sex Education, what does Jean Milburn name the baby daughter born at the end of series 3?

Joy arrives after a frightening birth, and the paternity test brings a shock: her father is not Jakob but Dan, an old fling of Jean's, who is told only in the finale.

In Sex Education, which new student becomes Aimee Gibbs's boyfriend midway through series 1?

Steve Morley notices that Aimee is only going through the motions with him and asks what she actually wants, a question that sends her to Otis for advice.

In the final series of Sex Education, which relative moves in to help Jean with her new baby?

Her sister Joanna is sent for by Otis, but the helper needs help herself: she arrives with debts and nowhere else to go, and Jean ends up paying them off.

In Sex Education, which quiz-team member tutors Jackson from series 2 onwards?

Viv is hired as Jackson's tutor and becomes his closest friend: she is the one who tells his mothers he hurt himself on purpose, then coaches him through the school play.

In series 2 of Sex Education, the school stages a raunchy musical version of which Shakespeare play?

Romeo and Juliet gets some very rude scenery. Jackson conquers his stage fright to play the lead, and Mr Groff storms in to try to stop the show.

Fresh sweat barely smells, so the body odor that arrives with puberty comes from sweat meeting what?

Bacteria live on everyone's skin, and sweat only turns smelly once it touches them. Puberty hormones stimulate the sweat glands under the arms, which is why the smell is new.

Which body parts shoot up first during puberty, leaving many teenagers looking out of proportion?

Hands and feet lead the way, followed by the arms and legs, with the torso and shoulders catching up last. That uneven order is why a growing teen can feel clumsy for a while.

Where on the face does a boy's first facial hair usually sprout, years before a full beard?

The upper lip gets the first wisps, starting at its corners and spreading into a mustache. The cheeks and chin usually follow years later, though the order varies from boy to boy.

Teenagers stay up later partly because adolescence delays the nightly release of which hormone?

Melatonin, the hormone that brings on sleep, shifts to a later schedule in the teenage years, pushing back both bedtime and waking. The body clock itself has moved.

The scrotum hangs outside a boy's body because making healthy sperm needs which condition?

A cooler temperature is the point: the scrotum keeps its contents two or three degrees Celsius below the rest of the body. It tightens toward the body in the cold and hangs looser in the heat.

What is usually the first sign of puberty in girls, about two years before a first period?

Breast buds, small raised bumps behind the nipple, usually come first. One side often starts growing before the other, and the two tend to even out.

Which pea-shaped gland at the base of the brain releases the hormones that start puberty?

Pituitary hormones travel through the bloodstream to the sex glands, which respond by making hormones of their own. Those are what reshape the body.

Teenagers stop getting taller once which structures near the ends of long bones turn to solid bone?

Growth plates are bands of cartilage where new bone is laid down. They fuse most often at 14 to 15 in girls and 15 to 17 in boys, so girls tend to finish growing first.

Counted from the start of one period to the start of the next, how long is a typical cycle?

28 days is the midpoint, but anything from 21 to 35 days counts as normal. Periods are often irregular for the first few years and settle into a pattern later.

Which hormone drives most of the changes of male puberty, from a deeper voice to facial hair?

Testosterone is not exclusive to boys: girls' bodies make it too, in much smaller amounts. Adult men carry about seven to eight times as much of it as adult women.

What is the bump called that appears at the front of many boys' throats as the voice box grows?

Adam's apple is the nickname for the cartilage around the larynx, which tilts forward as it grows. The name comes from an old tale of forbidden fruit lodged in the first man's throat.

By roughly which musical interval does a boy's speaking voice drop during puberty?

An octave is the typical drop for boys. Before puberty both sexes speak at roughly similar pitches, and a girl's voice changes far more gradually.

Which tube through the penis carries urine and, from puberty onward, sperm out of the body?

Urethra is the name of the tube, which runs from the bladder to the tip of the penis. Girls have one too, but it is far shorter and carries only urine.

What is the first physical sign of puberty in boys, arriving well before the voice breaks?

Larger testicles come first, usually somewhere between the ages of 9 and 14. The penis starts to lengthen about a year later.

Which tissue do boys gain much faster than girls in puberty, reaching a three-to-one ratio with fat?

Muscle develops quickly in both sexes during puberty, but far faster in boys. Girls add relatively more body fat and end up nearer five parts to four.

During a period, blood and tissue leave the body as which pear-shaped organ sheds its lining?

Uterus is the medical name for the womb. Every cycle it prepares a fresh lining to receive an embryo, and a period is the sign that no pregnancy has begun.

What is the name for the release of a mature egg, about midway between one period and the next?

Ovulation usually releases just one egg per cycle. In the first year of having periods, most cycles pass without it.

Mood swings, bloating and headaches in the days before a period go by which abbreviation?

PMS stands for premenstrual syndrome, and its symptoms ease once bleeding begins. Over 90% of women report at least some of them.

Shaving never thickens hair; stubble just looks coarser because each cut hair has what kind of tip?

Blunt tips feel stubbly and can look darker as they grow out, which is how the myth took hold. Shaving changes nothing about a hair's thickness, color or speed.

Sperm cells make up only a few percent of which whitish fluid that carries them out of the body?

Semen gets about 70% of its volume from glands called the seminal vesicles. Their fluid is rich in fructose, the sugar that fuels the sperm cells.

What is the medical term for a wet dream, which almost all boys have at some point in puberty?

Nocturnal emission is nothing to be embarrassed about, and nobody can help having one. They happen less often as boys get older and eventually stop.

What is the medical name for the temporary swelling under the nipples that many boys get in puberty?

Gynecomastia is normal in adolescence, appearing in about half of boys or more. Three in four cases fade within two years without any treatment.

Which rare but serious illness is linked to leaving a high-absorbency tampon in for too long?

Toxic shock syndrome is the reason tampons should be changed every four to eight hours, at the lowest absorbency that copes with the flow. Cases are very rare.

Along which passage does a newly released egg travel, the usual site of fertilization?

Fallopian tube is a name honoring the priest and anatomist Gabriele Falloppio. Hairlike cilia lining it help sweep the egg along.

What is the medical term for a girl's first period, which most commonly arrives at age 12?

Menarche comes from the Greek for 'month' and 'beginning'. Its average age has dropped from about 14 or 15 in the early 1900s to 12 or 13 now.

Acne flares in puberty because hormones make skin glands produce more of which oily substance?

Sebum normally lubricates the skin and hair, but extra oil and dead skin cells can clog the follicles. Acne affects an estimated 80 to 90% of teenagers in the Western world.

Which puberty-triggering protein is named after a chocolate from the town where its gene was found?

Kisspeptin comes from the KISS1 gene, isolated in 1996 in Hershey, Pennsylvania, the home of Hershey's Kisses. Its signal helps set off the hormone cascade of puberty.

Doctors chart progress through puberty in five stages named after which British pediatrician?

James Tanner built the scale by charting and photographing children at a home in Harpenden from 1948. His data also led to the modern charts doctors use to track how children grow.

Which region of the brain starts puberty by sending out pulses of gonadotropin-releasing hormone?

Hypothalamus activity of this kind runs briefly in the first months of life, then is held in check until puberty. What lifts the brake is still not fully understood.

Progestin-only birth control pills leave out which hormone found in every combined pill?

Estrogen is the ingredient some people are told to avoid, for example with hypertension or migraines with aura. A pill without it gives them another option.

In a typical monthly pack of combined pills, the final week's tablets are usually what?

Placebos, often called reminder pills, carry no active drug and exist to keep the daily habit going. Some brands put iron in them instead.

Combined pills carry a small added risk of which condition, highest in the first year of use?

Blood clots in the veins are about twice as likely for combined pill users, yet the absolute risk stays small. Pregnancy carries a higher clot risk than the pill does.

With which type of birth control pill does a dose taken just three hours late count as missed?

The minipill in its classic form has to be taken within the same three hours every day. Combined pills are more forgiving, and so is one progestin-only brand, Slynd.

Birth control pills thicken mucus at which part of the body, making it harder for sperm to pass?

Cervix mucus turns thicker and less watery under the pill's progestin, forming a plug that sperm struggle to cross. It is a second line of defense beside stopping egg release.

Which extended-cycle pill, approved by the FDA in 2003, cuts periods from thirteen a year to four?

Seasonale stretches the run of active pills from 21 days to 84, so a bleed comes only once every three months.

The monthly bleed that combined pill users get is not a true period, so what do doctors call it?

Withdrawal bleeding was designed into the original pill to mimic a natural cycle, though the pill could have suppressed bleeding altogether. It is usually lighter than a real period.

Which pill did the FDA approve in 2023 as the first daily contraceptive sold without a prescription?

Opill is a progestin-only pill whose formula had been a prescription drug since 1973. It reached store shelves in 2024.

Which synthetic hormone is the active ingredient in the morning-after pill Plan B One-Step?

Levonorgestrel is labeled for use within 72 hours of unprotected sex. A different emergency pill, ulipristal, can be used for up to five days.

Which brand, cleared by the FDA as a contraceptive in 1960, was the first birth control pill?

Enovid had been on sale since 1957 as a treatment for menstrual disorders, three years before it could be prescribed as a contraceptive.

What word do doctors use for puberty that starts unusually early, before age 8 in girls?

Precocious puberty can leave a child shorter as an adult than they would otherwise have been. Doctors can treat it with medicine that pauses the hormone signals.