An expert has revealed the ‘clever’ hidden meaning behind Jamie being offered half a sandwich in the Netflix hit Adolescence.

Breakout star Owen Cooper, 15, has received huge praise for his performance as 13-year-old Jamie Miller – who is accused of murder.

The episode which has seen the most acclaim is the third, where Owen’s character Jamie is interviewed by psychiatrist Briony (Erin Doherty).

But there was reportedly a hidden meaning behind one of the props used in the tense scene.

As Briony arrives, she tells Jamie she has saved him half of her cheese and pickle sandwich – and a psychologist has claimed this gesture was a test.

Expert Dannielle Haig told Tyla: ‘The half-sandwich, particularly the fact that it contains something Jamie dislikes, could be a way of testing his response.

An expert has revealed the 'clever' hidden meaning behind Jamie being offered half a sandwich in the Netflix hit Adolescence
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An expert has revealed the ‘clever’ hidden meaning behind Jamie being offered half a sandwich in the Netflix hit Adolescence

As Briony arrives, she tells Jamie she has saved him half of her cheese and pickle sandwich - and a psychologist has claimed this gesture was a test
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As Briony arrives, she tells Jamie she has saved him half of her cheese and pickle sandwich – and a psychologist has claimed this gesture was a test

‘Does he push it away? Does he eat it to be polite? Does he comment on it? These reactions provide insight into his personality.

‘If he simply tolerates it without complaint, it may suggest a history of feeling powerless and being accustomed to having things done to him rather than for him.

‘It’s a clever way of gauging how Jamie sees himself in relation to authority figures and whether he feels able to assert his own needs.’

Danielle added that nothing in a psychological setting is unintentional, with even the hot chocolate designed to remind him of home and put him at ease.

The four-episode drama follows events surrounding Owen’s 13-year-old character being arrested and investigated for the stabbing to death of a girl from his school. All episodes are filmed in one continuous take without edits.

One newspaper reviewer said his pitch-perfect performance in such a demanding role could be the best on-screen debut in more than 50 years.

And industry experts agree as more people watch the show and awards talk swells.

Robert De Niro was a long-time favourite to win the Best Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie Emmy for his portrayal of former US President George Mullen in Netflix’s Zero Day.

Expert Dannielle Haig told Tyla : 'The half-sandwich, particularly the fact that it contains something Jamie dislikes, could be a way of testing his response'
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Expert Dannielle Haig told Tyla : ‘The half-sandwich, particularly the fact that it contains something Jamie dislikes, could be a way of testing his response’

In recent weeks he dropped behind new favourite Colin Farrell for The Penguin and Kevin Kline in Disclaimer.

But Cooper’s performance has ripped up the market. This morning he was fourth-favourite behind Farrell, Kline and Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story star Cooper Koch – but was bearing down on Kline and Koch.

His rise knocked De Niro out of the Top Five, meaning he faces not being nominated.

It’s a remarkable turnaround given De Niro, 81, was asked to give the youngster life advice when they appeared on BBC One’s The One Show.

De Niro told the young actor: ‘Well, I think he’s off to a good start, that’s the main thing. And just keep at it. Keep at it! Do… I mean he’s there. Now it’s common sense, what to do, what not to do.

‘Try to stay out of trouble and all that stuff and you’ll do well. You’ll do well!’

Owen with Robert De Niro on The One Show. De Niro was a long-time favourite to win the Best Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie Emmy for his portrayal of former US President George Mullen in Netflix's Zero Day. But now Cooper's performance has ripped up the market
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Owen with Robert De Niro on The One Show. De Niro was a long-time favourite to win the Best Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie Emmy for his portrayal of former US President George Mullen in Netflix’s Zero Day. But now Cooper’s performance has ripped up the market

 Show creator and star Stephen Graham revealed he had compared the young star to the A-lister at his audition.

He said: ‘You see a rare talent like this once in a blue moon, yeah it’s a talent of a generation.

‘And I came out of the [audition] room and said to his mum, “He’s the next Robert De Niro.” I did.’

And the critics are equally blown away by young Owen, with The Standard’s Martin Robinson hailing his performance the ‘best debut since Jodie Foster’, who appeared in Taxi Driver alongside De Niro aged 12 in 1976.