<P> The End of the F * * * ing World is a British dark comedy - drama television programme, based on a graphic novel of the same name by Charles Forsman . The eight - part programme premiered its first episode on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom on 24 October 2017, after which all eight episodes were released on All 4 . It was released by Netflix internationally on 5 January 2018 . The programme jointly follows James (Alex Lawther), a 17 - year - old who believes himself to be a psychopath, and Alyssa (Jessica Barden), a rebellious classmate who sees in James a chance to escape from her tumultuous home life . </P> <P> The show is based on Forsman's mini-comics The End of the Fucking World, which were collected into a book in 2013 . Series creator Jonathan Entwistle contacted him about making a film, and a short was made in 2014 . Instead, an eight - part serial was commissioned, with filming beginning in April 2017 . It was written by Charlie Covell, and episodes were directed by Entwistle and Lucy Tcherniak . A second series has not been announced, though Entwistle, Covell and Lawther have all commented on the possibility of one . </P> <P> The programme has been met with critical acclaim, and has been praised for its writing, execution and subject matter, as well as for Lawther and Barden's performances . </P> <P> James is a 17 - year - old who believes he is a psychopath . He kills animals as a hobby, but grows bored of the practice . He decides he wants to try killing a human . He settles on Alyssa, a mouthy, rebellious 17 - year - old classmate with issues of her own . She proposes they run away together, hoping for an adventure away from her turbulent home - life, and James agrees with the intention of finding an opportunity to kill her . They embark on a road trip across England, and begin to develop a relationship after a series of mishaps . </P>

Who plays james in the end of the