Educating Yorkshire fans rush to support schoolboy after devastating five-word comment

Educating Yorkshire viewers were left feeling emotional after witnessing a "heartbreaking" moment.

The popular reality series recently returned to Channel 4, where audiences were thrilled to meet a fresh group of students embarking on their journey at Dewsbury's Thornhill Community Academy.

The original show initially broadcast in 2013, building on the Bafta award-winning 2011 series Educating Essex.

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Scenes from the latest episode featured both humorous and emotional moments. Year nine student Lewis bravely explored his experience studying at a mainstream secondary school.

The 13-year-old explained how he feels "relieved" when he gets to school, and added, "It's nice to be at school. You get to learn a lot, and it can help you with your future. Education is an important part of life itself."

Despite his mature outlook on school life, Lewis confessed he finds Thornhill "chaotic". He said, "The children are quite childish and the teachers are stressed."

Mrs Thornton, head of geography, described Lewis as being "polite, courteous, and respectful with other students. A lovely young lad".

Lewis was diagnosed with autism when he was eight years old. When asked to describe his condition, Lewis compared autism to "a minimised version of brain damage".

Confirming he has never felt proud to have autism, Lewis explained: "Why would you be proud of having something that is considered to be like essentially a minimised version of brain damage."

While his teacher disagreed with his explanation, Lewis added: "If it were for a machine you would say it was damaged, yet for a human mind it's not. Why is that?"

Educating Yorkshire viewers immediately rushed to social media to leave messages of support for Lewis.

Taking to X, one person wrote: "Lewis, you should always be proud of who you are mate. #educatingyorkshire."

A second stated: "I think Lewis is very articulate and will go far. #educatingyorkshire."

A third confessed: "I can't deal with Lewis. Bless him #EducatingYorkshire."

"Lewis in #EducatingYorkshire: what a great human being. The type of person you want to go far in life", gushed one fan.

"Lewis is an icon!!! #educatingyorkshire", added another.

Educating Yorkshire airs Sunday on Channel 4 at 8pm