The stars of award-winning BBC comedy Smoggie Queens have been captured in a new mural, officially unveiled today (27th May) in Middlesbrough town centre, as the BBC’s Made of Here campaign hits the North East.
The artwork has been created by local artist Stephen Irving – aka Zero Gradient (pictured) – and has been commissioned by the BBC as part of the Made Of Here campaign. The mural celebrates the stars of Smoggie Queens who are depicted in character in front of the landmark Tees Transporter Bridge.
The mural’s unveiling marks the return of the show for its second series on 15 May on BBC iPlayer and BBC Three. Smoggie Queens was written by RTS winner and BAFTA nominated Middlesbrough native Phil Dunning, as well as being filmed and set in the town, making it utterly Made Of ‘Boro.
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Highlighting the BBC’s commitment to homegrown storytelling, the 5x5m mural is located on a wall at the Cleveland Centre on Grange Road in Middlesbrough’s shopping area.
The mural follows an announcement that it has committed a further £15m of investment to the region by 2027, taking total network TV commissioning spend in the North East to at least £40m. Radio 1’s Big Weekend has just taken place in Sunderland from 22 to 24 May; new drama The Northumbria Mysteries, starring Robson Green, is to be filmed on location in Northumberland, while filming for The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ is currently underway in Hartlepool and Sunderland. On 21 May, BBC Academy’s Production Unlocked event, for industry professionals and newcomers, came to Newcastle.
BBC commissioning editor Gregor Sharp said: “Everyone involved with Smoggie Queens was over the moon when we heard about the idea for a mural in Middlesbrough and the final design has absolutely delivered.
“To see Dickie, Mam, Lucinda, Sal and Stewart immortalised alongside the Tees Transporter Bridge, right in their home town, is fantastic.
“The BBC is proud to have commissioned a show that is filmed in, set in and unmistakably made of Middlesbrough. We hope fans enjoy visiting the mural and taking plenty of selfies and that it prompts people to check out the show.”
The project has been made possible with the help of Middlesbrough Council, which owns the location.
Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke said: “Smoggie Queens is absolutely brilliant and we’re so proud it’s filmed here. The show is full of the humour and personality of Middlesbrough so we were really pleased to support the mural. I’m sure fans of the show will head down for photos in between enjoying the new episodes from series 2.”
Smoggie Queens creator Dunning added that a highlight of the show had been filming in his old haunts, as well as the opportunity to employ local talent and highlight Middlesbrough’s creative heart: “To see that now captured in Stephen’s mural is mint. Dickie, Mam, Lucinda, Sal and Stewart would be so happy,” he said.
Smoggie Queens is a Hat Trick Production for BBC iPlayer and BBC Three with funding support from The North East Production Fund delivered by North East Screen, and with worldwide distribution by Hat Trick International. It is available in the United Kingdom, Australia, Iceland and Spain (to date). The series was commissioned by Jon Petrie, Director of BBC Comedy. The producer is Chris Jones. The Commissioning Editor for the BBC is Gregor Sharp. Series 2 is directed by Tom Marshall.
Smoggie Queens series 1 and 2 is available on BBC iPlayer.
