Smoggie Queens gets a (very sparkly) green light for series two
The Middlesbrough (and lip gloss) soaked sitcom will return for another flamboyant run
Glitter pens and sequin-decked diaries at the ready… the glorious Smoggie Queens are coming back later this year!
The award-winning BBC Three comedy, which won an army of fans when it debuted at the end of 2024, has been recommissioned for a second series.
Written by and starring Middlesbrough-born Phil Dunning - who won Best Newcomer at the region’s Royal Television Society awards while also joining the rest of the team on stage to collect the trophy for Best Comedy - the series will once again be set and shot on Teesside.
Meanwhile veteran gold standard comedy telly stable, Hat Trick Productions (Derry Girls, Outnumbered, Have I Got News For You, Episodes…) are returning to producing duties.
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For the uninitiated (it’s still available to stream on BBC iPlayer if you haven’t had the pleasure), Smoggie Queens blends laugh-out-loud humour, heart, and sass via the often outrageous adventures of a gang of friends as they navigate the glam and grit of life from their corner of the LGBTQ+ community in Middlesbrough.
Centred around Dunning’s character, Dickie, the series also introduced audiences to Dickie’s drag queen Mam (Mark Benton), ‘self-style hun’ Lucinda (Coronation Street’s Alexandra Mardell), awkward pal Sal (Patsy Lowe) and new scene arrival Stewart (Elijah Young).
The hundreds of thousands who fell for them will be delighted to hear that all original cast members will be returning for the second coming of the series to serve up lots more slapstick, silliness and unadulterated joy as we find the pals forging ahead with new relationships - and rekindling some old ones.
There is currently no news on the return of Drag Race icon, Michelle Visage and Peaky Blinders’ Charlotte Riley who had supporting roles in series one.
Phil said: “Really made up that the BBC have recommissioned Smoggie Queens. I’ve pencilled it in my diary.”
Jimmy Mulville, Hat Trick’s managing director, added: "We all need a feel-good, laugh out loud show to watch, so thank God Smoggie Queens is coming back! Who doesn't want to hang out with the funniest, craziest and most lovable crew on telly at the moment.”
The BBC’s director of comedy, Jon Petrie, is also a big fan.
He said: “Smoggie Queens is back - along with the wigs, the big laughs, and the brilliantly chaotic energy that made us fall in love with Dickie and the gang. This show is something special."
Supported by the North East Production Fund - a discretionary funding scheme offering financial support to film and TV projects which are made in the region, employ locally-based crew and increase on-screen visibility of the North East - hundreds of people attended a pink carpet premiere of the series at Middlesbrough Town Hall in November.
Gayle Woodruffe, operations director at North East Screen, which manages the Fund, said: “We're thrilled that North East Production Fund supported Smoggie Queens is back for season two, and excited to see what Dickie and his chosen family get up to next.
“Continuing to work with the great team at Hat Trick allows us to create even more pipelines to industry for our brilliant on and off screen talent.”