A royal return for the Smoggies
Cast, crew and a big crowd reunite for a special preview screening ahead of the second series of BBC sitcom, Smoggie Queens
There was glitter, there were heels and wigs, and there was A LOT of excitement in the depths of Middlesbrough Town Hall on Wednesday night.
Nearly 300 people had packed into the venue’s Crypt space for the launch of series two of Smoggie Queens, the BBC Three sitcom that quickly became one of the North East’s loudest and proudest screen exports when it landed on screens at the end of 2024.
Created, written by and starring Middlesbrough native Phil Dunning, the show has struck a chord for its unapologetic humour, big-hearted chaos and its affectionate portrayal of Teesside life via a chosen family of LGBTQ+ friends navigating life, love, drag, eyebrow pencils and Dickie’s latest drama.
Series one went down a storm with audiences and notched up a trio of BAFTA nominations and a North East Royal Television Society Award win. It wasn’t a surprise when producers Hat Trick Productions were given the green light for a second series.
As the audience – a mix of cast, crew, industry figures, fans and a fabulous contingent of North East drag queens – gathered to get a first look at episodes one and two, there was a real sense of ownership in the room
“We’re just buzzing,” said Phil ahead of the screening. “We filmed in August last year and had the best time. It’s like being back with family.”
That family dynamic runs through both the show and the production itself. Much of the cast and crew have been with Smoggie Queens since its earliest stages, from pilot-pitching table read to award show red carpets and now into a second series.
“It’s the most wonderful job ever,” said Mark Benton, who plays the gloriously larger-than-life matriarch Mam. “You always have jobs where there’s someone you go, ‘oh, not them’… I can’t think of any on this one.”
That warmth translates on screen, where Dickie (Dunning), Mam, Lucinda (Alexandra Mardell), Sal (Patsy Lowe) and Stewart (Elijah Young) have all returned for a second sitting.
Series two promises new relationships, revived tensions and plenty of beautifully barbed one-liners, with Monica Dolan joining the cast and guest appearances once again from the likes of Michelle Visage and Steph McGovern.
For the cast, one of the most rewarding aspects has been the reaction from the people who know the setting best.
“To get the approval of actual Smoggies… I mean they’ll tell you if it’s bad,” laughed Elijah whose character Stewart - introduced as the “baby gay” new arrival on the scene in series one - is enjoying his newfound rightful place in the group in series two.
“I think people were just delighted to see something that actually shows how nice life is here, and the people who live here - celebrating the place.”
Showing Middlesbrough and the wider Teesside area in a positive, joyful light has been central to the show’s success. It’s also a big part of why its recommission matters beyond just entertainment.
Supported by the North East Production Fund, administered by North East Screen, the series is a growing example of what regional production can achieve.
“It proves that not only can we shoot something here, but people like it – they really like what they see,” said Gayle Woodruffe, operations director at North East Screen.
“Smoggie Queens is so Tees Valley, so Middlesbrough. To have that reflected on screen, and then recommissioned, it just means so much.”
Gayle also pointed to the increasing number of local crew working on the second series.
“We were on set on the last day of filming and all you could hear were Teesside accents,” she said. “That level of people working on a show here just means the world.”
Back in the Crypt, that sense of pride was everywhere. Between greetings, selfies and the occasional sweeping entrance, there was a clear feeling that this was a show made with the region, not just about it.
And as the lights dimmed for the first two episodes - introduced by Drag Race UK runner up Michael Marouli - the reaction was immediate. Big affectionate cheers and even bigger laughs.
“It’s so nice the way the people of Middlesbrough have embraced Smoggies,” said Mark. “I think we knew it had gone down well when we were dressed in the most outrageous costumes, skipping down the pavement outside the bus station… and nobody battered an eyelid!”
Now, with a second series ready to land on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer, the show is not just a regional success story - it’s a national one with a sequin-dipped smoggie heart.
And if the reception in Middlesbrough is anything to go by, audiences - who have already been treated to Dickie’s spin off chat show on YouTube - are more than ready to welcome the Smoggie Queens back.
“Now all we need is a Christmas special,” laughed Phil… to a chorus of agreement from his fellow Smoggie Queens.
I mean, it seems like a no brainer to me. Let’s hope the BBC agrees.
The second series of Smoggie Queens kicks off on May 15 on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer.