Morangos com Açúcar (lit. Strawberries with Sugar; distributed internationally as Sweet Strawberries) is a Portuguese teen drama. It was broadcast daily on the Portuguese TV station TVI between 30 August 2003 to 15 September 2012. The Portuguese show has also been broadcast in Angola, Syria, Brazil, Romania and Galicia.

Format

There are two versions of the show: one airs during the normal school year, and the other one, "Férias de Verão" (lit. summer break), airs during the summer months. From the first to the fourth season, the main scenario was a private school. The fifth and sixth seasons took place mainly in a public school, and from the seventh season onwards, in a public arts school.

Show history and audience shares

First series (2003–04)

First summer series (2004)

Second series (2004–05)

Second summer series (2005)

Third series (2005–06)

Third summer series (2006)

Fourth series (2006–07)

Fourth summer series (2007)

Fifth series (2007–08)

Fifth summer series (2008)

Sixth series (2008–09)

Sixth summer series (2009)

Seventh series (2009-10)

Seventh summer series (2010)

Eighth series (2010-11)

Eight summer series (2011)

Ninth series (2011-12)

Ninth summer series (2012)

Film (2012)

A film of the series was released on 30 August 2012, and grossed €1,207,647.10.

Mass hysteria

In May 2006, an outbreak of the so-dubbed "Morangos com Açúcar Virus" was reported in Portuguese schools. 300 or more students at 14 schools reported similar symptoms to those experienced by the characters in a then recent episode where a life-threatening virus affected the school depicted in the show. Symptoms of the "virus" included rashes, difficulty breathing, and dizziness. The perceived outbreak forced some schools to temporarily close. The Portuguese National Institute for Medical Emergency eventually dismissed the illness as mass hysteria. This outbreak raised the concern of some parents regarding the major influence this series has on children who watch it. The story was reported internationally in newspapers, magazines and online.

Cast

Notable cast deaths

Celebrities in the series

Child sexual abuse

In July 2012, Henrique Jales was sentenced to five years in prison for sexually abusing a child while casting for the show for TVI.