Smoggie Queens
BBC Three, 2024
“An out-and-out comedy set in Middlesbrough, Smoggie Queens sounds like the antidote to the barrage of trauma-coms we’ve all endured lately. The BBC says it’s about “a gang of friends who are fiercely proud of their north-eastern town and their small pocket of the LGBTQ+ community”. The creator calls it “stupid” and “weird”. What’s not to love?”
In the heart of Middlesbrough, a quirky bunch of LGBTQ+ pals embrace their identities, finding solace and joy within their community's small but vibrant pocket.
Smoggie Queens is written by Middlesbrough native, Phil Dunning. I worked closely with Phil, developing the series from the seed of an idea about a dysfunctional gay relationship, into this chosen family comedy that’s full of love, life, grit and pride for a town that feels neglected in its own little corner of the UK.
Starring Phil Dunning, Mark Benton, Alexandra Mardell, Patsy Lowe, Elijah Young and directed by Andrew Chaplin, Smoggie Queens hits BBC Three and iPlayer in late 2024.
