This is why you recognise all of these characters from Sex Education on Netflix

I guarantee you have stared at someone in Sex Education a little too intensely and racked your brains over where you recognise them from.

That’s because as well as the Sex Education characters being super relatable and representative of today’s society, they’re also extremely recognisable. Mainly because a lot of the cast have had roles before which you definitely know. So to stop you sending yourself mad trying to work out why you know them all, here is where you’ve seen all their faces before.

Otis

This one is pretty obvious, and if you haven’t already noticed why you recognise Otis from Sex Education you’ll be kicking yourself soon.

Otis is played by Asa Butterfield, who in his early days played Bruno in The Boy In Striped Pyjamas. Bruno was the son of a commander at a Nazi extermination camp during World War II. Asa was nine when he played this part.

Ruby

Moordale’s resident Queen Bee, Ruby, is a big name in the world of soap operas. She’s played by Mimi Keene, who also played Cindy Beale in EastEnders.

Cindy was a pretty troubled teen in EastEnders. She was born in prison after her mum attempted to kill Ian Beale. Her mum died in childbirth. Cindy’s character was introduced into the soap in 2007 when Cindy pretended to be her dead mum and sent messages to Ian Beale’s daughter, Lucy. Mimi played the character until 2015. Mimi played the character for two years, from 2013 – 2015.

Jackson

Popular boy, swimmer and Maeve’s ex boyfriend, Jackson, is played by Kedar Williams-Stirling. You might recognise him as Tom from the CBBC show Wolfblood.

Miss Sands

Miss Sands’s biggest storyline in season two of Sex Education is her on-off relationship with Mr Hendricks. They’re having casual sex, and she is desperate for him to learn how to talk dirty.

This is a million miles from the role Rakhee Thakrar, who plays her, is best known for. She played the pretty shy character of Shabnam Masood in EastEnders for two years.

Mr Hendricks

Miss Sands isn’t the only Sex Education teacher you might already recognise. Her fling, Mr Hendricks, is a familiar face too.

Mr Hendricks is played by Jim Howick, who is famous for being in Horrible Histories and as Gerrard from Peep Show.

Nick

Nick briefly appears near the end of season two. He’s dating Anwar from The Untouchables, and they’re ready to have sex for the first time. Nick asks if Anwar has douched, and Anwar loses his shit realising he doesn’t know how to.

But, Nick has had another TV role which is completely different. Nick is played by Thomas Atkinson, who is Emmerdale bad boy Lachlan White.

Emmerdale Tumblr accounts are shaking.

And Twitter is equally as shocked.

Dex

Dex is part of the Moordale Quiz Heads – he’s the one who takes an instant disliking to Maeve being on the team. If you thought you recognised him it’s because he’s previously been in a huge show.

Dex is played by 19-year-old Lino Facioli, who is Robin Arryn in Game of Thrones. You know, the guy who had *that* glow up in the final episode?! The guy who was breastfed to adulthood?!

I am shook.

Sex Education season two is available on Netflix now. For all the latest Netflix news, drops and memes like The Holy Church of Netflix on Facebook. 

Related stories recommended by this writer:

• All of the beautiful filming locations for Sex Education season two

• Quiz: Which character from season two of Sex Education are you?

• This is how old the cast of Sex Education on Netflix are in real life