Sharon Horgan’s five-star comedy is for every woman stuck in the ‘sandwich generation’

Sharon Horgan, renowned for her work in hit comedy dramas like Pulling, Catastrophe, and Motherland, has returned with her latest series, Youth, on HBO Max. The show focuses on 50-something women, portraying their struggles of balancing a stressful career, parenting a teenage son, and caring for elderly parents - a scenario known as the "sandwich generation."

Horgan, who is divorced and has two daughters, has brought a personal touch to the series. She admits that there is an autobiographical element to Youth, though she emphasizes that the line between reality and fiction is blurred in her writing. The 56-year-old actress wanted to explore the lives of middle-aged women, focusing on the post-divorce and menopause stages of life. She aimed to create a comedy that would make light of the aging process and the body's inevitable changes.

Horgan's authenticity in her work has earned her a loyal fan base over the years. She strives to make her characters relatable, incorporating her own experiences as a parent and woman into the series. The protagonist, Alex, is a 50-year-old woman who is also back in the dating game after a divorce. Horgan has even given her character a slight obsession with sagging skin, a relatable concern for many.

In addition to the relatable storylines, Youth also features a Gen Z storyline involving Alex's son, Ruari, played by 19-year-old Aran Murphy. The show aims to offer an honest depiction of aging and the complexities of relationships, both romantic and platonic. Horgan herself has formed a more positive relationship with aging, emphasizing that it's okay to age in one's preferred manner.

The series will premiere on 21 September in the UK & Ireland on HBO Max, providing a platform for older women's stories to be told on screen.