It’s round two for Skins’ third generation later this month as the gang return to E4 for a new series.

To celebrate their return, CultBox attended a preview screening of the much-anticipated opening episode and a Q&A with the cast in London last night.

Series 5 of Skins ended with our gang on good terms with each other and finally united after eight episodes of backstabbing and sexual jealousy.

Following such a surprisingly upbeat conclusion, Series 6 needs to develop new conflicts and explore new aspects of the characters and their interactions. Episode 1, written by co-creator Bryan Elsley, begins this process with aplomb.

From the opening shots of the cast biking through Morocco on a holiday that will change their lives, it’s clear that E4 are really going for it this year. An extended episode run, from 8 to 10, is another indication of their faith in the property as it enters its sixth year.

Much like Series 4’s drug suicide, the fallout from the Moroccan holiday – with its partying, a run in with some unsavoury characters and the most exciting scenes ever seen in the series (produced in association with legendary Indiana Jones stuntman and action director Vic Armstrong) – is the setup for the entire series.

“People often ask me why there isn’t a Skins movie and the answer is because we’re giving everything we’ve got to this,” explained Bryan Elsley, keen to stress how much effort the production team put into the series, as well as his belief that its now established format of renewing the cast and investing in young creative talent means that Skins could turn out to have a very long shelf life.

It’s interesting to note the ways in which the characters have and have not progressed: while Franky’s sexual and gender identity is vastly more easily defined this year (ostensibly as a result of her relationship with Matty), the essential character point for Rich remains merely the fact that he’s “metal”.

The young cast still impresses, while the series continues its tradition of great casting for older characters, including returns for Josie Long, Chris Addison and John Sessions and new roles for the likes of Peep Show’s Isy Suttie and Him & Her star Sarah Solemani.

After such a storming opener some viewers may worry that the rest of the series will be tame by comparison but Dakota Blue Richards (Franky) was keen to dispel those worries, promising: “I warn you. It’s not”.

Are you looking forward to Series 6? Let us know below…

> Buy the Series 5 DVD on Amazon.

Watch the Series 6 trailer…