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 - Boat Story, Feel Good) along with drag queen Mam (Mark Benton - Waterloo Road, Shakespeare & Hathaway), self-styled hun Lucinda (Alexandra Mardell - Daddy Issues, Coronation Street), awkward Sal (Patsy Lowe - Vera) 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 round 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 supporting cast of the series 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).

Queer friendship groups are chosen families and you’re more than welcome to join this lot.

Watch Smoggie Queens on BBC iPlayer and BBC Three on 28 November at 10.10pm.

Firstly, what is Smoggie Queens all about?

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.

What’s the inspiration behind the series?

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 and 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 it is now with the gang as a group of friends. Which makes a LOT more sense because I have personally never had staff. 

Do you relate to your character in any way?

I would hope that I don’t relate to him too much because he’s 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?!

How would you describe Dickie’s role in the group?

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. 

Why was it important to film the series in Middlesbrough?

It was never an option to film anywhere else. It had to be in Middlesbrough. Normally the only TV shows filmed in Boro are crime documentaries or programmes dedicated to finding the worst place to live in Britain. Smoggie Queens is a love letter to the town and highlights the warmth and humour of the people who live there. 

What defines a Smoggie Queen?

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.

What was your highlight from filming?

There were so many, it’s genuinely impossible to choose one. But I guess performing a lip sync with Michelle Visage in the green room was probably up there.

The costume and make up throughout the series is amazing, how did you find getting into character each day?

I loved getting my drag makeup done because it meant sitting in the makeup chair for a couple of hours and having a gorgeous goss with the amazing makeup team. I also find it weirdly relaxing. 

In terms of costume…  if you ask me when I first put the costumes on I would tell you how much I love wearing 8 inch stilettos and how empowered I feel in them. If you ask me 12 hours later, at the end of a filming day, I’ll probably be on the floor in a corner, crying.

My favourite look is Detective Sexy from Episode 4 because… well… I felt and looked dead sexy.

What do you want audiences to take away from watching the show?  

Apart from the obvious joy and elation, it’d be lovely for an audience to feel like they want to hang out with the queens. Each of the gang is so different and they all have their own individual quirks and characteristics. Hopefully an audience would relate to at least one of them. Just like the Spice Girls. 

The show celebrates the idea of a chosen family. What does chosen family mean to you?

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 that accept and embrace you for who you are can be a lifeline. 

pictures: BBC/Hat Trick Productions