British Netflix series axed despite rave reviews as show boss admits ‘it’s really disheartening’

STREAMING giant Netflix has cancelled the popular British series Everything Now after only one season, despite rave reviews from fans. 

Addressing the news, actor Dylan Brady, who co-wrote the teen comedy-drama, admitted “it’s really disheartening” since the future of the series was completely “at the mercy of an algorithm.”

Everything Now took Netflix by storm when it premiered on the streamer on 5 October 2023. 

The eight-episode show follows four teenage best friends, Mia, William, Becca, and Cam, played by You Don’t Know Me‘s Sophie Wilde, newcomer Noah Thomas, Lauryn Ajufo from Luther: The Fallen Sun, and Life After Life’s Harry Cadby. 

Per the official synopsis, Everything Now begins when 16-year-old Mia returns home after a lengthy recovery hospital stay as she recovers from an eating disorder. Now, “she is thrust back into the chaotic world of sixth form, only to find that her friends have moved on with teen life without her.

“Along with an ever-evolving bucket list, three best mates and a major new crush, Mia throws herself headfirst into a world of dating, parties and first kisses, soon discovering that not everything in life can be planned for,” the synopsis teases.

Everything Now, which has gripped viewers with its coming-of-age twists and turns, also stars British legend Stephen Fry, alongside Niamh McCormack, Sam Reuben, Vivienne Acheampong, and Alex Hassell.

Fans quickly devoured the series. Taking to X, formerly Twitter, one viewer shared that Everything Now is “definitely a show worth binge-watching,” and added that “the cast is just immaculate.”

Others begged Netflix to renew the show for a second season. “Netflix will break my heart when they cancel this one day, but my god, was that an amazing first season,” another viewer wrote.

A third pleaded: “Yeah, imma need a season 2 ASAP, like?” (sic)

However, Netflix seems to have ignored these pleas as it put Everything Now on the chopping block and announced it won’t be returning for Season 2.”

Former Coronation Street star Dylan Brady spoke about the devastating cancellation during an interview with .

Dylan wrote the sixth episode of the show’s first season and had already penned much of Season 2 when Everything Now was cancelled by Netflix.

“I had written a script for season two… We had some great ideas, but we are at the mercy of the algorithm, I’m afraid,” Dylan revealed.

He continued: “It’s really difficult because historically, TV has worked in one way, which is a slow, consistent growth over several seasons as opposed to this kind of mentality we see now, where it’s like, ‘If it doesn’t get 16 million views in the first 28 days, it’s not worth anyone’s while.’”

Dylan admitted he was really sad to the see the show end so early. “It’s really disheartening to see because I think there’s also a lot of people who refuse to invest in a new show with the knowledge that it might just end up getting cancelled.

“I hope that landscape will change and I hope that we can stop treating art and television as a commodity that’s at the mercy of an algorithm because an algorithm isn’t people, and things often just do take a bit of time.

“When they’re given the space to grow, they can turn into really wonderful things,” the Mary & George star concluded.

Dylan worked alongside 22-year-old London-based writer Ripley Parker, who created the YA drama along with Sex Education director Alyssa McClelland, Charlie Manton, Dionne Edwards, and Laura Steinel.

Sadly, the popular show has had its fate sealed by Netflix, just like Vikings: Valhalla, Lockwood & Co, Fate: The Winx Saga, and many others which have been cancelled in recent months.

Everything Now is available to stream on Netflix.