After the cast for the new series of Lord of the Flies was announced with initial photos released online, writer Jack Thorne revealed that he and the production team faced a lot of online backlash, with some accusing the show of being ‘anti-white’.
Christopher Thorne recently addressed the criticism surrounding his work in an exclusive interview for our series, The TopMob Writers’ Room, where we explore the minds of screenwriters. He explained that much of the negative feedback appeared to be based on a misinterpretation of the character Ralph in William Golding’s original novel.
When asked if the widespread familiarity with Lord of the Flies impacted how they made the adaptation, Thorne explained that it didn’t. They stayed very close to the original novel, basing all their choices on the text itself. He also pointed out that the book is actually much more nuanced and complex than many people realize.
As a movie buff, I’ve noticed how often people use ‘Lord of the Flies’ as shorthand for simple, clear-cut good versus evil scenarios – you know, like a stark black and white situation. But honestly, what Golding actually created in his novel was so much richer than that. It wasn’t about simple morality; it was a beautifully complex story full of nuance and shades of grey.
When photos from our casting were released online, it sparked a lot of controversy. People started claiming it was ‘anti-white’ because Ralph, a character, was played by a biracial actor [Winston Sawyers], while Jack was played by a white actor [Lox Pratt]. But that’s not the case. Ralph isn’t the hero of the story; he’s a central character, but not the one who saves the day.
Thorne explained that Golding aimed to examine a complex issue, one that resonates with writers across different perspectives. He emphasized that the characters in the story aren’t simply good or bad – they’re all flawed in their own ways, with the possible exception of Roger, who he believes is the only truly unforgivable character.
Golding’s work is remarkable because of its depth and complexity. While other stories might offer simple messages, his novels are layered and nuanced. I hope the show inspires viewers to revisit the book and appreciate that he wasn’t offering easy answers about society, but rather exploring incredibly complex ideas.
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Similar to the original book, Thorne’s four-episode series, Lord of the Flies, tells the story of a group of boys who are marooned on a tropical island after a plane crash, with no adults to guide them.
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When the boys try to build a functioning society and maintain order, Ralph is elected leader, but Jack also wants to be in charge. He begins to gather his own group of hunters, creating a separate, rival group.
During a conversation for The TopMob Writers’ Room, Thorne discussed various projects he’s worked on, both previously and currently. These included shows like This Is England and His Dark Materials, films such as Enola Holmes 3 and the upcoming Beatles biopic, as well as his work on Adolescence.
Lord of the Flies will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from Sunday 8th February 2026.
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Authors
James Hibbs writes about TV dramas for TopMob, covering shows on streaming services and traditional channels. Before becoming a writer, he worked in public relations, first at a business-to-business agency and then at Fremantle, a global TV production company. He has a BA degree in English and Theatre Studies and a Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
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2026-02-08 09:38