Ever since Queerguru’s British Editor-In-Chief migrated to the US from London his english has been constantly challenged by Americans who claim they ‘do not understand‘ him. We are only thinking about this now as the latest smash hot queer TV comedy show from across the ‘Pond’ was filmed in Middlesborough colloquially known locally as Boro, which is a port town in North Yorkshire. If you think a very ordinary London accent is tough to make out, scroll down to the bottom of the page and see/hear a Boro one
Smoggie Queens is unlike anything the BBC has aired before. Written by and starring Phil Dunning, the “silly, stupid, slapstick” six-part sitcom follows a clan of largely queer, entirely misfit friends living, loving and laughing in Middlesborough, North Yorkshire.
Dunning plays Dickie, a blistering 37-year-old drag queen who is as delusional as he is hilarious. At the beginning, he’s got a particular disdain for the guileless “little baby gay” Stewart (Elijah Young) – who joins the group after being found on his own in a gay bar – because he’s younger, better at makeup, and doesn’t murder Adele hits. “Pam Ratface,” Dickie suggests when Stewart asks him for a drag name suggestion. “You look like a rat.”
The comedy is about a subject very dear to our hearts, especially at this festive time of year where so many gay people are not welcomed into their own homes : chosen families. Dunning milks this for big laughs and his irreverent approach to the subject is hilarious. Word on the download is that the actual filming was a real riot : there is one entire episode set up as a murder mystery horror film, while another sees them dressed up as characters from Titanic (yes, including the iceberg).
Plus it will take a very sharp set of eyes to spot Drag Race’s Michelle Visage who goes against her normal glam look to play a frumpy office worker named Elaine
Mark Benton one of the cast members describes it beautifully “It’s not woke, it’s not PC. It’s offensive, basically,” and he adds “I think the brilliant thing I love about the show, what we all love about the show, is it makes no apologies for what it is“
SMOOGIE QUEENS can be screened globally online via BBCI Player
BUT here is Episode 1 to start you off
| SMOOGIE : originally, this was a term of abuse for supporters of Middlesbrough F.C. coined by their Sunderland A.F.C. counterparts. The name was meant to refer to the heavy air pollution once produced by the local petrochemical industry. Though, at first, Smoggie was used as a pejorative term, it has become an example of reappropriation with many people now proudly calling themselves ‘Smoggies’. |
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