TV
© Channel 4
In the new version of the British drama currently being developed by MTV, gay teen Maxxie (Mitch Hewer) has been replaced by a lesbian character, Tea (played by Sophia Black D'Elia).
"I understand the concerns [about the change]," Elsley told AfterElton. "And I know that everyone loved Mitch. Skins is always cast from the kids that I have available. In other words, there's a big open audition and the characters always emerge from what is there in front of me."
The writer explained that he had not found an actor that he felt would be suitable as a gay male character in the initial round of auditions.
"I couldn't find a kid who could bring the same tenor to the performance," he claimed. "And I'd met Sofia and I started to think about things in a different way."
He insisted that, despite the change, the US version of the programme would present "a range of diverse characters, including gay male characters".
"It just so happens on this occasion that there isn't a gay male character in the central cast," he added.
The US Skins will air on MTV in 2011.
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