Ratolesti (English: Sprouts) is a Czech drama television series, that premiered on Czech Television in 2025. The series focuses on the clash between professional and parental life in the context of current social problems. Individual episodes address issues such as drugs, gender identity, or value conflicts in education.
It is a loose sequel to the series The Defender. According to the series' creative producer, Jan Maxa, however, it differs from its predecessor: "The Protector was very much about how the education system actually deals with children who are different or complex and do not fit into the standard. Ratolesti is primarily about how difficult it is to find out what is going on in our children's heads".
The main roles were played by Anna Geislerová, Stanislav Majer, Matouš Ruml, Tomas Sean Pšenička and Milena Steinmasslová. The first episode of the series premiered on Sunday, October 5, 2025, on ČT1 in prime time.
Along with the series, Czech Television launched new content on the educational portal ČT edu called "Nebuďte na to sami" ("Don't Face It Alone"), aimed at supporting teachers, students, and parents. The goal of the project is to provide help and information to those who are dealing with challenging life situations at school or in the family.
Contents
Cast
Main
Anna Geislerová as Hana Velková, addictionist, Karel's wife and Jiří's sister
Stanislav Majer as Karel Velek, Gymnasium headmaster
Matouš Ruml as Jiří Kolář, policeman and Hana's brother
Tomas Sean Pšenička as Jan Velek, son of Hana and Karel
Milena Steinmasslová as Ludmila Kolářová, Jan's grandma
Supporting
Matyáš Řezníček as Martin Wajsar
Saša Rašilov as Marek Hilský, Karel's friend
Tomáš Dalecký as Radek Hilský
Linda Rybová as mother Sirotková
Josefína Prachařová as Lenka Sirotková
Anna Červeňová as Eva Hoffmanová
Peter Bebjak as František Bulan
Luciana Tomášová as teacher Vášová
Magdaléna Borová as teacher Drhová
Eva Leimbergerová as teacher Bílková
Adam Kraus as teacher Liška
Kristýna Badinková Nováková as headmaster Fárová
Marika Šoposká as deputy headmaster Bittnerová
Lukáš Hejlík as mayor Navara
Lukáš Jůza as councillor Drha
Michal Balcar as policemanPilný
Vratislav Brabenec as Petr Týma
Tereza Hof as Kateřina Lehká
Jan Grundman as Stanislav Lehký
Kristián Laštovka as Šimon Lehký
Production
The series was directed by Michal Blaško, and the script was written by Tomáš Feřtek and Matěj Podzimek. Story was inspired by real-life cases and criminal cases. The series was filmed from March to October 2024, mainly in the South Bohemian Region, especially in Tábor, and the first episode of the series was shot in March 2024 in Kralupy nad Vltavou.