Heartstopper EP Patrick Walters has spotlighted the difficulty of getting YA projects made as he says the creative team is “working hard” on landing a fourth season of the Netflix smash.

Speaking to the present funding challenges in the drama market, Walters explained at Series Mania that best YA shows often come from “nascent IP or original ideas that are hard to get over the line.”

“I think it’s because the audience is specific, the worry is does it feel niche and is it speaking to a wide enough audience in this specificity,” said Walters, who also produced Sky-Starz’ Sweetpea via his See-Saw Films-backed label fanboy. “The best YA nails those young voices, the current mood of a generation in whatever way and it’s about trying to do that ina. way that allows your broadcasting partner to say, ‘yes, and this will also connect widely’.”

Fans are desperate for a fourth season of Heartstopper but Netflix is yet to officially announce.

Walters said “there are lots of moving parts” on a potential Season 4 and “we are working hard on it,” but added that he doesn’t have a formal update.

Walters was speaking at Series Mania in Lille, which runs till tomorrow. Others who have spoken include James Norton and Sally Wainwright.