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Fathers across the UK have until Monday to submit deeply personal letters for a new book project led by award winning actor and writer Stephen Graham, best known for creating and starring in the hit Netflix series Adolescence. The book, titled Letters to Our Sons, brings together reflections on manhood, fatherhood, and the emotional challenges of raising boys in the modern world.
The project was inspired directly by Adolescence, a series that sparked widespread discussion about the pressures facing young men, including the influence of social media and the rise of toxic masculinity. The programme struck a chord with audiences and critics alike, earning multiple Emmy awards in the United States and prompting meetings between UK politicians and the show’s creators. It was also made available free of charge to schools across the UK, underlining its perceived social importance.
Stephen Graham has written a letter to his own son for the book and is encouraging men from all walks of life to do the same. When the project was launched, Graham said working on Adolescence made him realise there was a serious lack of open communication between fathers and sons. He explained that the book aims to create space for honesty and vulnerability, especially from men who may struggle to express affection or regret face to face.
Graham has called for contributions from men of all ages and backgrounds, including first time fathers, absent fathers, fathers who feel they were physically present but emotionally distant, fathers who have experienced loss, and fathers who simply want to find a way to say I love you. More than a thousand letters have already been submitted.
One contributor, Sam Zindell, wrote a letter to his 12 year old son. He said the process allowed him to pass on wisdom shaped by his own life experiences and his close understanding of his child. Zindell noted that writing letters is no longer a common practice and that putting thoughts on paper for someone you love feels increasingly rare in a digital age.
The project is being run in collaboration with Orly Klein, a psychology lecturer based in Brighton. Together, Klein and Graham have pledged to make a donation for every letter published to the charity ManUp? And to Dad La Soul, a social enterprise that supports young men dealing with mental health challenges.
Dad La Soul founder Dan Flanagan has also contributed a letter. Speaking to the BBC, he said there is something special and timeless about writing a letter. Flanagan, who has a 13 year old son, explained that serious conversations often fail in day to day life, joking that his son would likely respond to emotional talks with laughter and an emoji. For him, a letter offers a way to be heard without interruption.
The organisation worked with Klein to host letter writing workshops in Brighton, giving fathers a supportive space to reflect and write.
Publisher Bloomsbury UK confirmed that submissions have come from a wide range of fathers. Katy Follain from Bloomsbury said the project continues the conversation started by Adolescence and that similar themes are emerging across many of the letters.
Letters to Our Sons is due to be published in October and aims to stand as a lasting record of fathers trying to connect, reflect, and speak openly to the next generation.
