All 30 Couples on ‘Skins,’ Ranked
Back in the day, we genuinely thought relationships would be like the chaotic couples of Skins. Each one came with a rollercoaster of emotions, an alarming amount of illegal substances, layers of black eyeliner, and dramatic sighs for days. It was basically Romeo and Juliet — except Romeo is out smoking a ciggie while Juliet adds aesthetic rips to her fishnets.
From messy hookups to tragic romances, Skins gave us some of the most unforgettable teen romances on TV, the ones we rooted for, cried over, and yes, more than once wanted to throw our laptops at. From Effy and Freddie to Michelle and Tony, we’ve rounded them all up, spanning three generations and six unforgettable seasons.
What’s your favorite — and least favorite — Skins couple? Drop your hot takes in the comments.
30. Franky & Luke (Generation 3)
We get why this couple happened, but that doesn’t mean we have to like it. Franky (Dakota Blue Richards), wracked with grief over Grace, sought comfort in Luke (Joe Cole), despite the fact that he was the opposite of comforting. Luke was an absolute trainwreck, and that’s saying something considering basically everyone in Skins was chaotic. He was violent, self-destructive, and dragged Franky down with him. Thankfully, their abusive relationship came to an end.
29. Sophia & Naomi (Generation 2)
This storyline is heartbreak incarnate. Sophia (Amberley Gridley) and Naomi (Lily Loveless) had an affair that meant far more to Sophia than to Naomi, and it pushed Sophia toward obsession. In the end, Naomi sold Sophia the drugs she took before her death by suicide — a decision that haunted Naomi with guilt. When the affair came to light, it shattered Naomi and Emily’s relationship, leaving pain and regret in its wake.
28. Sketch & Anwar (Generation 1)
Anwar (Dev Patel) deserved a break. This was his second foray into romance, and… well, it was messy. He had a brief relationship with Sketch (Aimee-Ffion Edwards), a mentally unwell girl who was completely obsessed with his best friend Maxxie. Yikes.
27. Angie & Chris (Generation 1)
First things first: This was an inappropriate student-teacher relationship, and ethically, it was completely wrong. Okay, now that that’s out of the way, it was an interesting plot line. There was obviously no hope for Angie (Siwan Morris) and Chris (Joe Dempsie), and it clearly stemmed from his messy relationship with his mom and deep-seated abandonment issues. Plus, it got in the way of Chris and Jal — boo! But, amidst all the chaos, there were some genuinely fun and flirty moments that made it… compelling, in a twisted way.
26. Abigail & Tony (Generation 1)
Some people may have forgotten this choir-loving duo, but we never will. Tony (Nicholas Hoult) started a flirtatious thing with local rich girl Abigail (Georgina Moffat), mostly just to wind up Michelle. Then he “got caught” cheating with her and claimed it was all so Sid could chase his crush on Michelle. Naturally, he ended up leaving Abigail for Michelle anyway. Honestly, what a mess. We’d feel bad for Abigail… but she’s the worst, basically a female Tony.
25. Michelle & Josh (Generation 1)
Ah, now for the other side of that mess. Michelle (April Pearson) got revenge by dating Abigail’s brother, Josh (Ben Lloyd-Hughes). He was… a weird one, probably thanks to his psychiatrist mom medicating him. Their romance was brief but genuinely sweet until Tony decided to ruin things by sending nudes of Abigail from Josh’s phone, making him look like a creep.
This couple ranks pretty low because Josh’s revenge goes next-level: kidnapping Effy, pumping her full of drugs, and trying to force Tony to sleep with her. Honestly… what even happened here?
24. Mini & Nick (Generation 3)
Now Mini (Freya Mavor) and Nick (Sean Teale) are a very classic Skins couple — at first glance, it seemed like the show had fallen straight into American high school clichés: popular girl, popular boy; skinny Barbie, rugby guy. But then… things got a little more complicated.
Contrary to popular belief, the pair wasn’t sexually intimate, much to Nick’s dismay. And honestly, we did not love how much he pressured her to lose her virginity. Then Nick started hooking up with Mini’s best friend, Liv. Mini found out, and she was more furious than heartbroken. Their relationship went up in flames with zero shot at reconciliation, and honestly… There was very little love to lose, just a lot of dignity.
23. Liv & Matty (Generation 3)
The love triangle that somehow became a love kite. Liv (Laya Lewis) went from one brother to the other. She had Nick — ending his relationship with her bestie in the process — and then she chased his brother. Girlie, really? To make matters even messier, Matty (Sebastian de Souza) was clearly obsessed with Franky and eventually cheated with her. What was the point of this Freudian nightmare?
22. Franky & Nick (Generation 3)
This one’s a slight improvement… but honestly, not by much. Reeling from Grace’s death, Franky slept with Nick, who was hopelessly in love with her. She did it just to feel better for a second — classic Franky behavior. But of course, she’d also been with his brother, Matty. Eskimo brothers again?! Seriously, Franky, what was happening here?
21. Michelle & Sid (Generation 1)
Let’s be real, there wasn’t exactly a #couplegoals moment in Generation 1 of Skins. They were all a bit of a mess. We were maybe supposed to root for Sid (Mike Bailey) and Cassie, or Michelle and Tony? Honestly, we were definitely not rooting for Michelle and Sid.
Sid was convinced he was in love with Michelle — a fact she fully knew — and used him to make Tony jealous. Which, surprise, didn’t really work and just ended up hurting Cassie in the process. Not a vibe.
20. Maxxie & Tony (Generation 1)
Tony seemed determined to explore his sexuality — or at least prove that he could give blowjobs. On a school trip to Russia, he relentlessly pursued Maxxie (Mitch Hewer) until his friend finally gave in and let him give head. Awkwardly, Maxxie immediately pointed out that Tony was terrible at it. Yikes. Meanwhile, Michelle was in the same room — not passed out like they assumed — and ended up witnessing the entire fiasco.
19. Katie & Freddy (Generation 2)
When it comes to Skins couples rankings, Katie (Megan Prescott) and Freddy (Luke Pasqualino) usually land pretty low. But we’re bumping them up a few spots for one key reason: There were real feelings there, they just weren’t reciprocated. That’s the thing about teen shows like Skins (though, honestly, the content might be a bit much for actual teens)… They reflect real-life growing pains. Everyone ends up crushing on someone who doesn’t crush back.
Katie and Freddy dated for a while, only for her to realize he never really cared, and she was just a distraction from Effy. As viewers, we were desperate to see Effy and Freddy together and had little sympathy for sharp-tongued Katie… and yet, somehow, this hit so close to home.
18. Liv & Nick (Generation 3)
Look, some people might rank them higher on the list, but we’ve got two major counterpoints. First, he was dating her best friend when they first started hooking up. Second, she then slept with his brother… multiple times. No. Just… no.
17. Pandora & Cook (Generation 2)
It’s time to talk about Pandora (Lisa Backwell) and Cook (Jack O’Connell). There are definitely worse couples on Skins, and the two did seem to share some respectful, fun moments. Plus, we loved seeing Pandora step into her sexual groove. But honestly… this was just weird. Like… what? How? Why? On top of that, it caused major drama in Effy and Pandora’s friendship, and we’re firmly team bros before hoes.
16. Anwar & Anka (Generation 1)
This fling was brief, but honestly, pretty harmless compared to the chaos of other Skins romances. Anwar got to lose his virginity and feel like a cool dude — and honestly, we were here for it. Then it turned out Anka’s (Olga Fedori) abusive father was actually her husband. Oops.
15. Michelle & Tony (Generation 1)
Tony and Michelle were a tricky couple to rank. On one hand, he was awful to her, and they dragged other innocent people into their games. On the other hand, they were both selfish messes who probably only deserved each other. Credit to the writers, though, because despite their terrible personalities, you couldn’t help but secretly root for them to end up together.
14. Pandora & Thomas (Generation 2)
Honestly, a lot of Thomas (Merveille Lukeba) and Pandora’s scenes now feel like a fever dream. They were one of the most unusual couples on Skins because they didn’t make sense on paper, and yet somehow… they worked. Well, until she cheated on him and they broke up. Then they got back together. Then he cheated on her, and they broke up again. And maybe got back together once more? Honestly, we’re not entirely sure. Classic Thomas and Pandora chaos.
13. Effy & Cook (Generation 2)
Now, for Effy’s (Kaya Scodelario) side of her disastrous on-off saga with Freddie. Before she even got involved with him, she was… intimate with Cook — if you can even call it that. It all started with Cook winning her “contest” on the first day of term and claiming his “prize” in the nurse’s office. From there, it spiraled, leaving a trail of hurt in its wake for them and everyone around them.
These two were undeniably bad news for each other, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t love. Deep down, it was clear they actually cared about one another. There was potential for a real, meaningful friendship… but, of course, they completely sabotaged it by, well, screwing.
12. JJ & Lara (Generation 2)
Since JJ (Ollie Barbieri) was kind of in love with Effy, too — maybe mostly because his two besties were — it was nice to see him get a break. In Season 4, he got a shot at love with Lara (Georgia Henshaw), a single teen mom. Their relationship had its ups and downs and wasn’t exactly the most compelling, but it could have been worse. That said, Emily thought Lara was just using him, and… yeah, that does slightly tarnish this couple in our eyes.
11. Andrea & Thomas (Generation 2)
In a desperate attempt to please his family, Thomas started attending church more and ended up developing a crush on the pastor’s daughter, Andrea (Adelayo Adedayo), and eventually slept with her. Later, he realized his attraction was more about their shared background than genuine feeling and called it off. Pandora was heartbroken by the betrayal, and the fallout messed with far more than just their love triangle. For a moment, Thomas and Andrea’s connection felt genuinely beautiful… but the events probably hurt her very deeply.
10. Naomi & Cook (Generation 2)
Lower your pitchforks, villagers, and hear us out! Yes, Naomi and Cook hooked up a couple of times, and honestly, there wasn’t much to their sexual chemistry. But what came out of it was something far better: A beautiful friendship that both of them truly needed. In many ways, they were the outsiders of the friend group, and it was riveting to watch the support, loyalty, and compassion they showed each other.
9. Emily & JJ (Generation 2)
Once again, we see the classic Skins trope: A queer girl sleeping with a straight guy… and somehow gaining a lifelong best friend. Emily (Kathryn Prescott) kind of hooked up with JJ out of pity, but what really mattered was the genuine, loving friendship they built — one that lasted throughout the series.
8. Franky & Matty (Generation 3)
Too much of the internet is obsessed with this Skins couple, and you’ll find countless fan edits of them to indie rock songs. But we’re not convinced, as you can tell by their mid-performance on this list. They connected strongly at the start, and eventually, after many stolen glances and elusive interactions, they got together. But they just never seemed good for each other. Then she hooked up with his brother — girrrrrrl — and chose to be with neither of them. Sigh.
7. Cassie & Sid (Generation 1)
When we were younger, we all probably rooted for Sid and Cassie (Hannah Murray). They were the ultimate oddballs of the group, and somehow, that made them perfect for each other. Their story didn’t exactly get off to a smooth start, as Sid unintentionally stood her up, and Cassie even tried to take her own life as a result. Yeah, Cassie needed some real help.
Later, they navigated a long-distance relationship after she moved to Scotland. Just when it seemed like they might finally get their happy ending, Cassie fled to New York after witnessing Chris’ death. Sid chased after her, leaving us with that one flicker of hope at the end of the season. Sadly, Season 7 made it clear: They did not live happily ever after.
6. Maxxie & James (Generation 1)
Romeo and Romeo, Maxxie and James (Sean Verey) — one of the best queer couples Skins ever gave us. Their biggest obstacle wasn’t a family feud, but Sketch and her insane crush on Maxxie. Still, the course of true love never ran smooth, and somehow, it all worked out. The pair hopped on a bus to London, and we choose to believe they lived happily ever after. At least this time, Season 7 didn’t ruin everything, and honestly, we’re here for it.
5. Mini & Alo (Generation 3)
Unpopular opinion, but… we kind of loved these two together. Yes, yes, we know they were far from perfect. But Alo (Will Merrick) and Mini’s golden retriever/black cat dynamic, mixed with enemies-to-lovers energy and a solid foundation of friendship, was hard to resist. They started out as a dirty little secret (catnip for any Skins viewer) and somehow stumbled their way into a genuinely loving bond.
Of course, they weren’t without issues: Alo’s immaturity and Mini’s snobbery caused plenty of chaos. Then Mini got pregnant, and Alo was forced to step up in a way we hadn’t seen before. In the end, they made it work, coming together for the birth of their baby girl, Grace, and even getting married. Growth! Romance! We’re choosing to believe in them.
4. Effy & Freddie (Generation 2)
Effy and Freddie were, without question, one of the most melodramatic couples on Skins. Should they be #couplegoals? Probably not.
Should we unpack this obsession in our next therapy session? Absolutely, if you haven’t already.
From the very beginning, their chemistry was off the charts. The eye contact alone was electric… and then Effy went and torpedoed everything by getting involved with Cook, aka Freddie’s best friend.
They were the ultimate on-again, off-again couple — Skins’ answer to Ross and Rachel — but when they were good, they were so good. From Freddie’s heartbreaking love confession at the lake to their quieter, softer moments, their connection always felt intense and real. Freddie tried to support Effy through her mental health struggles, even when loving her meant knowing when to step away. And somehow, even their ending managed to be devastatingly romantic, with Freddie trying to protect Effy and losing his life in the process.
3. Chris & Jal (Generation 1)
Who can resist the allure of friends-to-lovers? We watched Chris and Jal (Larissa Wilson) grow from acquaintances to friends to lovers, and every step of that journey felt earned. Their friendship — rooted in mutual respect and genuine care — was something truly special. Yes, Chris almost managed to blow it all up by getting together with Angie, but somehow, they found their way back to each other.
What sets them apart from so many other Skins couples is that they were actually good for one another. Chris helped Jal loosen up and enjoy life, while Jal helped Chris get his act together and believe he was capable of more. Tragically, their beautiful love story was far too short, ending in heartbreak — Chris’ death and Jal’s abortion. Jal’s speech at his funeral perfectly captured both the joy and the devastating pain of their love, and we’re still not over it.
2. Naomi & Emily (Generation 2)
Honestly, these two were so close to being our favorite Skins couple. Yes, their love story was messy, but it was also achingly, devastatingly beautiful. Naomi and Emily are more than just one of the show’s greatest romances; theirs is a coming-out story, a journey toward self-acceptance, and a lesson in loving yourself as much as someone else.
Their passion ran deep, woven into everything they did. Naomi felt like the only person who truly saw Emily, who heard her quiet voice in a room full of noise. Even when life and work pulled them apart, their love never disappeared. In the end, they found their way back to each other, sharing those final moments together, and honestly, that’s enough to undo us every single time.
1. Rich & Grace (Generation 3)
We’re trying to get through this without crying, but you might need to hold our hand. Rich (Alexander Arnold) and Grace (Jessica Sula) were arguably one of the healthiest relationships on Skins — a rare pairing that brought us far more happiness than misery.
They embodied the grumpy/sunshine trope, yet nothing about them ever felt cliché.
Unlike so many other couples on the show, they were genuinely good for each other and didn’t spend their time hurting or betraying one another. She fell first, but he fell harder — so much harder. Their love even became the emotional glue of the entire friendship group.
Grace’s accident and death still haunt us to this day. We will truly never be the same. The writers were unforgivably cruel for that one. But no matter how briefly we had them, Rich and Grace will forever be the best Skins couple of all time, and we feel lucky we got to experience their love at all. Got to go sob into our pillow now.
