White Teeth

White Teeth follows three families over roughly thirty years as their lives intersect in a rapidly changing, multi-ethnic Britain. The series moves through marriages, friendships and rivalries from the postwar era into the late 20th century, shifting focus between parents and children to show how decisions echo across generations. Characters wrestle with identity, religion and social expectations, and the tone mixes humor with domestic drama to highlight everyday tensions around belonging. At its heart are friends Archie and Samad, and the marriages and children that bind their families across cultures. It balances intimacy and social themes.

Released in 2002, the series was adapted from Zadie Smith's debut novel, with Smith credited as creator, and features performances by Om Puri, Phil Davis, Naomie Harris, Archie Panjabi and Deepak Verma. It aired on British television.

The television version helped translate the novel's portrait of postwar immigration and cultural collision to screens, increasing visibility for stories about second generation British life, and it helped raise the profile of several cast members now known internationally. The adaptation helped normalize stories about mixed communities on mainstream TV.

Critics generally noted a blend of comedy and drama, praising its ensemble cast and social observations while sometimes criticizing uneven pacing. Major themes include family, faith, class, assimilation, and the unpredictable ways personal histories shape later choices. Audiences appreciated the humor and authenticity, even when opinions varied on pacing.

Award coverage for the TV adaptation is limited; while Zadie Smith's novel received widespread literary acclaim, publicly available records do not show a notable haul of major television awards for this 2002 series. Some cast members later won recognition for subsequent work, and award listings for the series itself remain sparse.