The huge artwork marks second series of award-winning show
Smoggie Queens cast members Alexandra Mardell, Elijah Young and Patsy Lowe with the mural(Image: BBC Photographer Barry Pells)
The stars of award-winning BBC comedy Smoggie Queens have been captured in a striking mural officially unveiled in Middlesbrough town centre. The artwork has been created by Middlesbrough artist Stephen Irving – working as Zero Gradient – 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 ’. Highlighting the BBC’s commitment to homegrown storytelling, the 5m by 5m mural is located on a wall at the Cleveland Centre on Grange Road in Middlesbrough’s shopping area.
Series two promises to bring more slapstick and silly laughs, with some excellent one liners from Dickie (Phil Dunning), and a copious amount of joy for viewers as Mam (Mark Benton), Lucinda (Alexandra Mardell), Sal (Patsy Lowe) and Stewart (Elijah Young) are back in the Boro showing what the North East is made of.
Mural artist Stephen Irving at his creation.(Image: BBC Photographer Barry Pells)
The mural comes during an exciting period for the BBC in the region, following an announcement that it has committed a further £15m of investment by 2027, taking total Network TV commissioning spend in the North East to at least £40m. This included the filming for The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ in Hartlepool.
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.”
(Image: BBC Photographer Barry Pells)
The project has been made possible by 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.”
Smoggie Queens’ creator, Phil Dunning, said: “Some of the best things about making Smoggie Queens have been filming in all my old haunts, employing talented people from the area and shining a light on all the creativity that you can find in Boro. To see that now captured in Stephen’s mural is mint. Dickie, Mam, Lucinda, Sal and Stewart would be so happy.”
Smoggie Queens is a Hat Trick Production for BBC iPlayer and BBC Three and with funding support from The North East Production Fund delivered by North East Screen and with worldwide distribution by Hat Trick International. Series 1 and 2 is available on BBC iPlayer.
Did you know you can make Teesside Live a preferred source of Teesside news in Google, which will mean you get more of our breaking news, exclusives, and must-read stories straight away? Here’s more information about what this means and how to do it – you can also do it by clicking here .
For the latest Teesside news direct to your inbox every day, sign up to our free newsletter