From a cult graphic novel series penned by creator Alice Oseman to a hit Netflix show, Heartstopper has become a bona fide phenomenon. For many, the series essentially marked the first of its kind, a beautifully heartfelt evocation of adolescent LGBTQ+ love, focusing on protagonists Nick and Charlie. Ahead of season three, Hot Press was invited to the set in Burnham, Buckinghamshire to get an exclusive lowdown on the new series.

Arriving on location at Truham school, we pass hand-painted murals in Oseman’s distinctive art style. You can’t help but be struck by the sheer level of passion with which the series is crafted – everything is meticulously thought out. In terms of its story, meanwhile, Heartstopper charts the romantic relationships and day-to-day experiences of its young characters, as they face up to the trials and tribulations of adolescence.

“Working on the show is much easier now,” explains Joe Locke, who plays Charlie. “We have to put in a bit less effort, because we know the characters so well. We trust ourselves way more with them, and with the choices that we make. The content for this season is way more grown up, it deals with more serious issues. It’s the perfect time to do that, because we feel comfortable enough now to do it justice.”

Kit Connor, who plays Nick, considers the dynamic between his character and Charlie.

“The way Alice has written Nick is perfect,” he enthuses. “He always knows what to say, and he and Charlie have really mature conversations. Nick and Charlie are confronted with something they do not know how to address, let alone help each other with. It’s really cool to be able to do a whole year’s worth of story – you’re able to see such growth in the characters. Especially dealing with these kinds of topics, you need that time to see things.”

With these influential characters beloved by so many queer people, it’s no light responsibility.

“You have to not take it on,” says Joe. “When the first season came out, I felt this weird pressure to always be a role model, and then I almost started resenting it. I want to go and get drunk in an alley with my friends, and do things that normal teenagers should do. I felt like we couldn’t do that. You have to have space for both.

“I’ve been a part of this amazing thing that’s done so much for so many people. I’m really proud of that, and I hope that my work can continue to help people – but I want to go and get drunk in an alley with my friends! It’s about having space for both of those things. We’ve all have had our struggles with it, but we’ve found a nice balance.”

The denouement of season two left things in an awkward space between Nick and Charlie, the characters having failed in their attempts to articulate their love for each other.

“I personally think it’s all just words,” Kit insists. “It’s clear that Nick and Charlie are deeply and madly in love with each other. That’s why it was such a cliffhanger – we were just begging for them to say it. But some conversations definitely need to be had, and those are explored in this new season. Still, whether they say it or not, they’re in love.”

Talking to the show’s stars, it’s striking how close they seem.

“It does make life so much easier,” Kit acknowledges. “We all pile into a car in the morning half asleep, work together for the whole day, and then we go home, Someone will be cooking dinner, so we all eat together. It does feel like a family now.”

Next up is an audience with Heartstopper’s creative mastermind, Alice Oseman. We suggest that being onset with characters you’ve created must be quite a surreal experience.

Alice Oseman

“I never get used to it,” she admits. “It’s always surprising and exciting – I love every second of it. I went into this season thinking, ‘I don’t need to be on set as much. I’ve spent the summer writing – now I can take a little step back and let everyone do it.’ But I’ve been here every day, I just can’t stay away from this place!”

Still only 29, Oseman reflects on her good fortune.

“Book adaptations don’t always go that well,” she notes. “It’s always a risk for an author to allow an adaptation, because anything can happen, but I feel like I’ve had the best possible experience. I’ve been allowed to be so involved, to voice my thoughts and ideas on every aspect of the show. I’m very grateful for that. From day one, it was our goal to preserve the aesthetics of the books. Everyone has been briefed on that, from the art department to costuming.

“We want to take elements of the comics and make them into real life, so that’s infused everything about the show, particularly here in the school. The hardest thing is plotting the TV show. The comics are very low-stakes – problems arise that are resolved very quickly, and the story is quite gentle to read. There’s not a lot of intense drama in the books.

“But in a TV show, you want people to keep watching, so you need to add a bit more drama. I want it to feel like a complete story each season, so each one has its own feeling and storylines.”

Oseman teases out the trajectory of the main characters.

“In season two, it’s Nick who’s going through a lot of the harder stuff,” she says. “He’s trying to come out to lots of people and he’s finding it very hard. He’s worrying about how that affects Charlie, while Charlie is just trying to support him. Obviously, towards the end of season two, we learn Charlie’s been dealing with his own struggles.

“It’s pretty clear that in season three, the see-saw will be flipping the other way. We’ll be focusing more on Charlie’s journey, his mental health, and how Nick is going to react and support him through that.”

Having explored mental health issues since her 2014 debut novel Solitaire, Oseman now wants to tackle these vitally important subjects with a new narrative lens.

“It’s a very real thing that a lot of queer teens experience,” she says. “It feels very relevant to Heartstopper, which is all about communication and supporting each other through the darker parts of life. It’s going to feel like a really different season. It would be easy to do the same thing we’ve always done, but we’re doing something very different, and people will be surprised – I can’t wait.

“As always, I try to keep it very faithful to the comics. If you’ve read volume four, you’ll know there’s a bit of a change in format. It’s all told through journal entries. I was very excited to translate that into TV and it was really fun to write. It changes what we think a Heartstopper episode is going to be like – it’s a real break in the form, which I think is very exciting.”

• Heartstopper season three is streaming on Netflix now.