Emmy nominee Sharon Horgan will return to HBO on September 20 with the premiere of Youth, a new comedy series that Horgan writes, stars in, and executive produces. The eight-episode season will debut with its first two episodes at 10 p.m. on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max, with subsequent episodes airing weekly on Sundays until the season finale on November 1.
Exploring the ‘Sandwich Generation’
The series follows Alex, a 50-year-old London literary agent and divorcee who is navigating a search for love and sex while simultaneously caring for her ailing parents and parenting a troubled son. Horgan described the premise to HBO as the sandwich generation,
depicting a protagonist squished between elderly parents and a teenage child.
The narrative explores the realities of middle-aged womanhood, including the pressures of a creative professional life and the aftermath of a divorce. In the series, Alex’s ex-husband is an actor who is preparing to move abroad with a younger woman. While her boss and best friend, Sam, attempts to introduce her to older men, Alex finds herself drawn to Patrick, a Scotsman who may be better suited for a casual relationship than a long-term commitment.
Cast and Character Dynamics
The series features a supporting cast including Rupert Friend, Sharlene Whyte, Robbie Gee, and Aran Murphy. Friend plays Patrick, a character described as slightly younger than Alex, shambling and indecisive. According to Friend, Patrick wants to be with Alex but also desires children, creating a conflict as Alex has no intention of returning to motherhood.
Aran Murphy, the son of actor Cillian Murphy, portrays Ruari, Alex’s 18-year-old son. The character is depicted as a “wrecking-ball” who struggles emotionally and is influenced by distorted ideas of masculinity found online. Horgan noted that while she has daughters—Sadhbh, 22, and Amer, 18—rather than a son, she wanted to address the feelings of Gen Z, whom she describes as feeling like the last generation
amid concerns over AI and the state of the world.
Production and Network Partnership
Youth is produced by Merman, Horgan’s production company, with executive producers Faye Dorn, Jim Kleverweis, and Dawn Shadforth. The project is part of a two-year first-look TV deal between HBO and Merman. This marks Horgan’s return to the network after she previously created and executive produced the comedy series Divorce, which starred Sarah Jessica Parker and ran for three seasons.
Amy Gravitt, EVP of HBO & Max Comedy Programming, stated that Horgan’s willingness to use her own experiences in her characters makes us all feel a little less lonely
.
Horgan’s Career and Awards Context
Horgan has a history of moving between comedy and drama, having created and starred in Catastrophe, Motherland, Amandaland, and Pulling. Most recently, she co-developed, showran, and starred in the Apple TV series Bad Sisters, which concluded its second season in December.
Horgan has received four Emmy nominations: twice for writing (for Bad Sisters and Catastrophe) and twice as lead actress in Bad Sisters. Due to the September premiere of Youth, she will be eligible for the winter TV awards cycle, a period during which she has previously been nominated for Writers Guild Awards and a Critics Choice Award.
