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Sharon Horgan’s Youth Debuts on HBO

The series foregrounds late‑middle‑age womanhood to challenge common TV portrayals of ageing.

Overview

  • The first two episodes of Youth premiered on HBO and HBO Max on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, and the eight‑episode season will continue to air weekly.
  • Sharon Horgan created, wrote, executive produced and stars as Alex, a newly single 50‑year‑old literary agent drawing on autofictional material from her own life.
  • Critics note the show centers on the ‘sandwich generation’ by placing dating, menopause and care for older parents alongside the trials of parenting a young adult.
  • Production was shot mainly in London, with reported additional scenes filmed in Mallorca, and the cast includes Aran Murphy, Rupert Friend, Sharlene Whyte and a string of supporting players.
  • Early reviews are broadly favorable, praising Horgan’s voice and the central mother‑son relationship while several critics say the series is milder in tone than some of her earlier, edgier work.