A new mural has been unveiled in the heart of a North East town celebrating the stars of award-winning BBC comedy Smoggie Queens.<\/p>\n
The artwork, created by Middlesbrough artist Stephen Irving, who works under the name Zero Gradient, has gone on display in Middlesbrough<\/a> town centre as part of the BBC\u2019s Made Of Here campaign.<\/p>\n Commissioned by the BBC, the mural celebrates the show and its cast, featuring them in character against the backdrop of the Tees Transporter Bridge.<\/p>\n Smoggie Queens cast members Alexandra Mardell, Elijah Young and Patsy Lowe check out the mural (Image: Supplied)<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n “To see Dickie, Mam, Lucinda, Sal and Stewart immortalised alongside the Tees Transporter Bridge, right in their home town, is fantastic.<\/p>\n “The BBC is proud to have commissioned a show that is filmed in, set in and unmistakably made of Middlesbrough.<\/p>\n Smoggie Queens cast members Alexandra Mardell, Elijah Young and Patsy Lowe with producer Chris Jones of Hat Trick Productions (second left) at the Middlesbrough mural (Image: Supplied)<\/p>\n “We hope fans enjoy visiting the mural and taking plenty of selfies and that it prompts people to check out the show.”<\/p>\n Measuring five metres square, the mural sits on a wall at the Cleveland Centre on Grange Road.<\/p>\n Its unveiling coincides with the launch of the show’s second series, which is now available on BBC iPlayer and BBC Three.<\/p>\n Mural artist Stephen Irving at his creation (Image: Supplied)<\/p>\n Smoggie Queens is written by Middlesbrough-born Phil Dunning, an RTS winner and BAFTA nominee.<\/p>\n The series is filmed and set in the town, and was described by the BBC as “utterly \u2018Made Of Boro<\/a>\u2019.”<\/p>\n The mural comes amid broader investment by the broadcaster in the North East.<\/p>\n Smoggie Queens cast members Elijah Young, Alexandra Mardell and Patsy Lowe with mural artist Stephen Irving (third from left) and Praxis maintenance team members at the mural (Image: Supplied)<\/p>\n The BBC recently announced an additional \u00a315 million investment in the region by 2027, bringing total Network TV commissioning spend in the North East to at least \u00a340 million.<\/p>\n Other recent BBC projects in the area include Radio 1\u2019s Big Weekend in Sunderland, a new Robson Green drama The Northumbria Mysteries, and filming of The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13\u00be in Hartlepool and Sunderland.<\/p>\n Middlesbrough mayor Chris Cooke said: “Smoggie Queens is absolutely brilliant and we\u2019re so proud it\u2019s filmed here.<\/p>\n Smoggie Queens cast members Elijah Young, Alexandra Mardell and Patsy Lowe with Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke (second left) (Image: Supplied)<\/p>\n “The show is full of the humour and personality of Middlesbrough so we were really pleased to support the mural.<\/p>\n “I\u2019m sure fans of the show will head down for photos in between enjoying the new episodes from series 2.”<\/p>\n The series follows the misadventures of a colourful cast of characters, promising plenty of “slapstick and silly laughs” in its latest run.<\/p>\n Standout lines from central character Dickie, played by creator Phil Dunning, return alongside his on-screen mother Mam (Mark Benton), Lucinda (Alexandra Mardell), Sal (Patsy Lowe), and Stewart (Elijah Young).<\/p>\n Mural artist Stephen Irving before adding the finishing touches (Image: Supplied)<\/p>\n The mural was made possible with the support of Middlesbrough Council, which owns the location.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n “To see that now captured in Stephen\u2019s mural is mint.<\/p>\n “Dickie, Mam, Lucinda, Sal and Stewart would be so happy.”<\/p>\n The series 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.<\/p>\n Read more<\/p>\n From Hogwarts to Asgard – Films and TV shows shot in Durham and Northumberland<\/a> Internationally, the show is available in the UK, Australia, Iceland, and Spain.<\/p>\n The BBC\u2019s Made Of Here campaign aims to highlight “stories and storytellers that are made of the very fabric of places right across the country,” including regions such as Manchester, Cardiff, Shetland, West Yorkshire, and Belfast.<\/p>\n Both series of Smoggie Queens are available to stream now on BBC iPlayer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A new mural has been unveiled in the heart of a North East town celebrating the stars 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Darlington singer Zoe Birkett to join Take That on Circus Live Tour 2026<\/a>
New BBC detective drama starts filming in North East with TV star from the region<\/a><\/p>\n