Award-winning actor Stephen Graham’s upcoming book includes an array of star-studded names from the worlds of sport, entertainment, and literature penning heartfelt letters from fathers to their sons.
The highly anticipated collection Letters to Our Sons is co-created by the Adolescence actor and psychology lecturer Orly Klein. The collaboration between the pair began after the success of Adolescence, which caused wide-spread debate on toxic masculinity and the manosphere’s effect on boys.
Graham said: “After the huge impact of Adolescence, I realised there was a greater need for communication between fathers and sons. There is arguably an even bigger disconnect than ever before, and I would love to help create more opportunity for fathers to reach out to their sons and carry on the conversation.”
The collection explores the highs and lows of modern parenting, juxtaposing the experiences of celebrity contributors with everyday fathers, including a Leicester carpenter and a Nigerian headteacher. Klein’s extensive academic background in marginalisation and community therapy adds further depth to this exploration of contemporary masculinity.
View 3 ImagesPsychology lecturer Orly Klein wrote the book with Stephen Graham
The book sought submissions from the public for inclusion in the book. Graham said he wanted to include the words of “men of all ages, first-time fathers, absent fathers, fathers who’ve been there but never truly been there, fathers who’ve lost and fathers who just want to find a way to say I love you, to tell their sons what they mean to them and to talk openly about what it means to be a man.”
Scheduled for publication on 24 September 2026, the book brings together a diverse range of global perspectives on modern fatherhood. Alongside ordinary dads, Stephen Graham’s book line-up includes high-profile figures such as Olympian Tom Daley, Oscar-winning actor Javier Bardem, and documentary-maker Louis Theroux.
Football favourites Chris Kamara and Jamie Redknapp, comedian Romesh Ranganathan, and actors Ashley Walters, Daniel Mays, and Riz Ahmed have also penned letters, joined by musicians Goldie, Giggs, and Kasabian’s Sergio Pizzorno.
UK publisher Bloomsbury announced a series of major events in Liverpool and London to celebrate the launch of Letters to Our Sons. The celebrations will kick off with a special homecoming launch on Wednesday 23 September at the Liverpool Playhouse, a sister theatre to Graham’s alma mater, the Everyman Youth Theatre. Organised in partnership with Waterstones, the evening will focus heavily on the local community, featuring appearances from friends, family, and unannounced special guests.
View 3 ImagesLetters to Our Sons by Stephen Graham with Orly Klein
The following night, on Thursday 24 September, the authors will head down to London for a flagship event at Central Hall Westminster. Hosted in collaboration with FANE, the presentation will feature several contributors on stage before an audience of nearly 2,000 people. This massive gathering marks a significant continuation of the vital dialogue between fathers and sons that Graham has championed since his award-winning Netflix series, Adolescence .
The acclaimed television show served as a major creative catalyst for the book. Produced by Matriarch Productions, the groundbreaking, one-shot limited series became Netflix’s second most-watched English-language show worldwide. It earned fourteen Emmy nominations and took home eight awards, including Best Limited Series and Best Lead Actor for Graham himself, alongside a BAFTA TV Award and a Golden Globe.
Reflecting on the overwhelming response to the project, Katy Follain, Head of Bloomsbury General, says: “We have been overwhelmed by the response to Stephen and Orly’s call-out, which prompted dads from all backgrounds and with a huge range of experiences to write in. And to have fathers in the public eye now contributing too adds to the incredibly powerful messaging of this unique book: we are all in this together, whatever our status and profession.
“It shows how parenting is the great leveller and how we can learn from one another, and we are truly touched to have so many voices come together for this era-defining collection. The events in Liverpool and London will be inspiring, moving and entertaining, and we look forward to fathers coming together to celebrate and share their personal stories.”
Tickets for both events will go on general sale on Friday 3 July at 10am, available through the respective venue and organiser websites.
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Letters to Our Sons by Stephen Graham with Orly Klein will be published on 24th September 2026.
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