Smoggie Queens spin-off lands on YouTube
The Dickie Show sees Middlesbrough star Phil Dunning host a chaotic celebrity chat show online ahead of the comedy's second series hitting BBC Three
As fans of North East comedy, Smoggie Queens prepare for the second series to start, the BBC has launched a new digital spin-off on YouTube, with Middlesbrough-born creator and star Phil Dunning taking centre stage.
The Dickie Show sees Phil reprise his role as drag queen Dickie in a chaotic, DIY-style chat show filmed in the back of Mam’s garage.
Produced by Hat Trick Productions for the BBC, the series brings together familiar faces from Smoggie Queens, including Mam (Mark Benton), Lucinda (Alexandra Mardell), Sal (Patsy Lowe) and Stewart (Elijah Young).
Set firmly within the offbeat world of the original series, the show follows Dickie as he attempts to interview celebrity guests while his friends create more disruption than assistance.
Confirmed guests include Rylan Clark, Siobhan McSweeney, Dr Ranj Singh, James Acaster, Vanessa Feltz, Steph McGovern and Russell T Davies.
Jon Petrie, BBC director of comedy, said: “As we continue to experiment with comedy on YouTube, we’re sending Dickie off to show Claudia Winkleman exactly how not to do it in The Dickie Show.
“The real test of a great comedy character is whether you can throw them into a completely new world and they still make you laugh. That’s exactly what happens here, with The Dickie Show taking the brilliant Smoggie Queens characters and finding even more fun with them.”
Phil, who created and writes Smoggie Queens, added: “Giving Dickie his own chat show is crazy behaviour from the BBC. Apologies in advance to all the celebrities he will inevitably offend.”
Chris Jones, series producer at Hat Trick Productions, said: “We’re thrilled that we get a chance to expand the Smoggie-verse wider for the BBC with a YouTube chat show that Dickie has of course roped Mam, Lucinda, Stewart and Sal into basically organising for him. It feels very on brand.”
The first episode, featuring Rylan, is now available on the BBC’s YouTube channel and iPlayer, with new episodes released weekly before a second batch lands later in May. The launch comes ahead of the imminent return of Smoggie Queens for a second series on BBC Three and iPlayer.
Watch the first episode on YouTube below - and prepare for some language of the sweary variety
The Dickie Show forms part of the BBC’s wider push into digital-first comedy, aiming to reach new audiences through short-form, personality-led content online.
Earlier this year, the Corporation confirmed the four companies selected for its North East Digital Accelerator, a partnership with North East Screen designed to support the next generation of digital-first creators.
Adventure Alliance Films (County Durham), Film Nova (Gateshead), Northern Child (Newcastle upon Tyne) and Wander Films (Middlesbrough) will receive investment, mentoring and business support to create content aimed at younger audiences across platforms such as YouTube, TikTok and Twitch.
First announced at the Edinburgh TV Festival last summer (2025), the initiative reflects a broader shift in how - and where - content is being made, with the North East positioned as a testbed for new ideas and formats.