THIS TOWN
NEW EASTER SUNDAY & EASTER MONDAY, 9PM, BBC1 DRAMA (BOX SET, BBC IPLAYER)
Steven Knight’s acclaimed series Peaky Blinders, starring Oscar winner Cillian Murphy, put Birmingham firmly on the period drama map. Now, the screenwriter is returning to his beloved West Midlands for new BBC1 project This Town.
Set against the backdrop of urban unrest in the early 1980s that inspired British two-tone group The Specials’ hit single Ghost Town, the six-part drama follows a collection of troubled youngsters as they come together to form a band in the region’s burgeoning ska-music scene.
‘This is the area where I grew up,’ explains Steven, who is also the co-creator of ITV quiz Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? ‘There was this period in Coventry and Birmingham when people who were opposites suddenly came together, and I thought that it would be interesting to tell this story of poor people in very different circumstances."
The cast boasts a mix of up-and-coming young actors alongside more established names, such as Downton Abbey's Michelle Dockery as alcoholic mother and former singer Estella, The Last Kingdom's David Dawson as local gangster Robbie, and Geraldine James as matriarch Marie.
The first episode starts with love-struck Birmingham poet Dante (Levi Brown), who has been brought up by his protective father Deuce (Marcella's Nicholas Pinnock), unwittingly stumbling into the 1981 Handsworth riots. Running from the cops, he hides in an outside toilet with young musician Jeannie (The ABC Murders star Eve Austin).
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
TOO CLOSE for comfort
Cindy frets when wounded Junior plays games
CONFESSION time
Denise tells the Brannings that daughter Chelsea caused the crush at Peggy’s
Joel MURDERED!
But which of the villain's many haters is to blame?
Love HURTS
Sam's injured when he tries to reunite Nick and Leanne
Girl BOSS!
FELICITY WARD introduces us to the female version of David Brent.
ECHOES of the past
ELEN RHYS on swapping solving crimes in Spain for a murder mystery in her native Wales
True DETECTIVES
We celebrate the crime-crackers who will be unravelling mysteries over the coming months...
Double TROUBLE
MICHAEL MCINTYRE on how fresh twists and star power will make this the best series of The Wheel yet
Time to say GOODBYE...
As Emmerdale legend Zak Dingle passes away, actor LISA RILEY pays tribute to her beloved co-star, the late Steve Halliwell
Power & PASSION!
What to expect from a lavish reworking of Dame Jilly Cooper’s steamy saga, set in the cut-throat world of TV