Sex Education cast reveal how they filmed opening masturbation scene in season 2 | PopBuzz Meets

17 January 2020, 09:22

By Woodrow Whyte

Warning: mild spoilers ahead for Sex Education season 2.

Netflix's Sex Education returns for its second season on Friday (Jan 17) and the show's stars Asa Butterfield and Ncuti Gatwa have revealed how they filmed one of the most ludicrous scenes from the first episode of season 2.

***This article contains mild spoilers about the first episode of season two. No major storylines are discussed. You have been warned!***

In an interview with PopBuzz, Asa and Ncuti discuss the very first scene in which Otis, played by Asa, is overwhelmed by his teenage hormones. We'll leave it to your imagination but the scene involves a prosthetic erection and A LOT of masturbation. The scene led to Asa being known as "the Mozart of Masturbation" on set.

We asked Asa how he felt about his new moniker. "It was one of the nicest things anybody has ever said to me", he quipped. During the scene - which took three days to film and was then dubbed "wank week" by the cast - Asa used his "trusty steed" to film the scene. "It was the same one as season one. It got a bit cracked and wonky, so I had to get this piece of wood and shove it inside it to re-stiffen..."

Through tears of laughter, Ncuti added: "Before any scene where he had to have an erection, he would be like, 'Uh, can we cut please? Can we engage boner, please?" Incredible scenes.

Elsewhere in the interview, Ncuti talked about the relationship between his character Eric and Adam Groff. During season one, Adam bullies Eric but, by the end of the season, they eventually get together. Despite the problematic nature of their relationship, fans loved the scenes between Eric and Adam, so we asked Ncuti what he thought of their relationship.

"Sometimes when I see the fan-made video using romantic music and hearts", he says, "and Adam is literally choking Eric against the locker [Ncuti grasps his hand as if he is choking someone], I say to myself, OK, guys. We need to think about things a little bit."

"But I think what's really great about the relationship is that we see it [develop] through the course of the series and we see Adam through the course of the series", he adds. "He's not just, like, a bad guy. He's not just a bully. We see that he's dealing with a lot with his dad, with his identity and his sense of masculinity. We don't excuse his behaviour but I think we gain an understanding of his behaviour and where it comes from."

Ncuti has no idea what's in store for Eric and Adam in the future. Asa says he's just as confused about Otis and Maeve's relationship. "They really get each other. And they get each other better than anybody else, aside from my man over here [Eric]. But who knows? I want to see where it goes."

As for season three, which the writers are already scripting, Asa and Ncuti agree that they want to see more of Eric and his family. "I want to see more Otis and Eric. I want to see more of Eric's family. I want Otis to see more of Eric's family.

Ncuti: "I wanna see Otis eating Jollof and seasoned food. I would love to see that [laugh]"

Let's hope season three is just as spicy, if not more, than season two.

Hit play to watch the full interview above and then head to our YouTube channel for more interviews, including our interviews with the Sex Education cast from season one.