Watch Smoggie Queens on BBC iPlayer and BBC Three on 28 November.
Set in the North East English town of Middlesbrough, Smoggie Queens is an out-and-out comedy centred around a gang of friends who are fiercely proud of their town and their small pocket of the LGBTQ+ community.
Written by Middlesbrough native Phil Dunning, Smoggie Queens tells the story of volatile Dickie (Dunning) along with drag queen Mam (Mark Benton), self-styled hun Lucinda (Alexandra Mardell), awkward Sal (Patsy Lowe) and newcomer Stewart (Elijah Young) as they navigate life, acceptance and their love for a place that feels neglected in its own little corner of the UK. This BBC comedy is an underdog story on two fronts, so expect a few scraps that may send your wig flying!
You gotta be tough as old boots around these parts to get by, and it’s safe to say that ‘passion’ and ‘pride’ are two words that come to our chosen family very easily as they plunge into mad ventures like Titanic-themed drag brunches, fairy godmother speed dating events, murder mysteries or headlining the main stage at Middlesbrough Pride.
The series’ supporting cast features a plethora of talent, including RuPaul’s Drag Race royalty Michelle Visage and Boro’s own Steph McGovern, as well as Teesside actors Charlotte Riley (Peaky Blinders) and Bill Fellows (Ted Lasso).
L to R: Elijah Young, Alexandra Mardell and Phil Dunning. Smoggie Queens ©BBC Pictures and Hat Trick Productions
Q: Phil, can you tell us what Smoggie Queens is all about? And what was the inspiration behind the series?
Phil: Smoggie Queens is a camp, silly, queer gang show set in the North East town of Middlesbrough. It follows a group of five friends as they navigate life, love and wigs. It’s essentially an out-and-out slapstick sitcom with a big old gay heart.
Having performed character comedy on the live circuit for years, I often did a character very similar to Dickie. So, the inspiration came from that. I loved playing the character and decided to try to develop it into a TV format. The initial pilot was a completely different setting and focussed more on Dickie as a millionaire protagonist with the rest of the gang as his staff. Once producer Chris got involved, he encouraged me to go down more of a ‘write what you know’ route. And so I moved the characters over to the Smoggie setting, and it is now with the gang as a group of friends. Which makes a LOT more sense because I have personally never had staff.
Q: What defines a Smoggie Queen?
Phil: A Smoggie Queen is somebody who is a bit of a weirdo. Someone who doesn’t conform to the status quo. An outsider and ideally somebody who’s from Teesside, but that’s not a prerequisite. We’re very inclusive.
Q: Can you tell us about your characters, Dickie, Lucinda and Stewart?
Phil: Dickie is a leader in the group. He tends to dictate a lot of what they get up to and steers them into various ridiculous situations. He thinks of himself as an independent gay who doesn’t need anyone to get by, but deep down, he absolutely does need the other queens. They’re his family.
Alexandra: Lucinda is a lavish, lavender, loyal lady! She might look like a doll, but she’s smarter than people think. Sometimes! She is unashamedly extra and wears her heart on her sleeve, but she’s definitely not a pushover! I’d say she’s more of a lover than a fighter, but she’s still feisty.
Elijah: Stewart is a baby gay. He’s very much in the early stages of being out, and his new friends introduce him to a world of what it’s like to be your authentic self. He’s up for trying anything and is mostly just happy to be involved!
Q: Do you all relate to your characters in any way?
Elijah: I think any queer person was a “Stewart” at some point in their life, so naturally, I relate to that. But I also relate to the fact he is often, in a loving way, of course, the butt of the joke, bless him. This is also the case for me in my own friendship group and with my older siblings, and over time, it’s a role I’ve grown to love.
Alexandra: 100%. I think we both have faces with subtitles! And I love what a loyal friend Lucinda is; I hope that my friends would say I share that with her, too. But I wish I could pinch some of her free spirit energy and her hair extensions!
Phil: I would hope that I don’t relate to him too much because Dickie is a self-obsessed narcissist. He says things I would/could never say. But maybe I’ve created him as an outlet for my own self-obsessed narcissism bubbling under the surface?!
Q: The show celebrates the idea of a chosen family. What does chosen family mean to you?
Phil: Chosen family can be everything to a queer person. Growing up, we naturally feel different and like we don’t fit in. To find others who accept and embrace you for who you are can be a lifeline.
Elijah: Chosen family to me are the people in your life who love you without judgment and who succeed where your biological family sometimes fails. It’s a beautiful type of family because they choose to love you.
Q: What do you want audiences to take away from watching the show?
Alexandra: That it’s ok to be silly sometimes! I just want people to enjoy the silliness. Each episode is full of love and touches on some serious topics, but comedy is at the forefront. We all need a good laugh. And if not that, then it’s the perfect way to introduce the rest of the UK to Boro’s delicacy, my new fave, the Parmo!
Elijah: I would die if people wanted to visit Boro from watching the show. Not enough people have experienced the Parmo, and I think it could change lives. I think people from the North East, in particular, will really rally behind it because it’s an area that’s rarely given the spotlight for positive reasons; this is such a big win for the smoggies!
Follow Us