The BBC has released a trailer and set a March premiere date for the upcoming new drama ‘This Town’ from ‘Peaky Blinders’ and ‘SAS Rogue Heroes’ creator Steven Knight, starring Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey, Anatomy of a Scandal), Nicholas Pinnock (Life, Marcella), David Dawson (My Policeman, The Last Kingdom) and more.
Set in a world of family ties, teenage kicks and the exhilarating music of a generation, ‘This Town’ tells the story of a band’s formation against a backdrop of violence, capturing how creative genius can emerge from a time of madness. Both a high-octane thriller and a family saga, the drama opens in 1981 at a moment of huge social tensions and unrest. Against this backdrop, it tells the story of a group of young people fighting to choose their own paths in life, and each in need of the second chance that music offers.
Led by an exciting cast of rising talent, the six-part series stars Levi Brown (Loss and Return), Jordan Bolger (The Woman King, The Book of Boba Fett), Ben Rose (Line of Duty, The Innocents) and Eve Austin (You, Our Ladies) as its four young leads. Geraldine James (Back To Life, Anne with an E), Peter McDonald (The Batman, Dublin Murders), Freya Parks (The School of Good and Evil, Here We Go), Shyvonne Ahmmad (Annika, Karen Pirie), John Heffernan (Dracula, The Pursuit of Love), Stefan Asante-Boateng (Coronation Street, Suffering), Séainín Brennan (The Fall, Hidden), George Somner (This Is Going To Hurt, Sex Education) and Brendan Gibson (Peaky Blinders, Mr Selfridge) will also feature in the series.
The series is co-produced with Mercury Studios (part of the Universal Music Group) who have helped create the musical backdrop for Knight’s incredible story. Acclaimed producer Dan Carey, Brit and Mercury nominated musician, novelist and poet Kae Tempest, and singer-songwriter ESKA have written the songs performed by the band in the series. Six leading contemporary artists – Celeste, Gregory Porter, Olivia Dean, Ray Laurél, Sekou and Self Esteem – have each recorded a cover version which will play over the end credits of an episode. The songs, which will be announced at a later date, include both timeless classics and the iconic hits of the era.
‘This Town’ is created, written and executive produced by Steven Knight. It is directed by Paul Whittington and produced by Tim Whitby and Charlotte Surtees. Executive Producers are Karen Wilson, Katie McAleese and Martin Haines for Kudos, and Jo McClellan for the BBC. Matthew James Wilkinson (Stigma Films), Nick Angel and Laura Conway (Kudos North) serve as Co-Executive Producers, Alice Webb and Marc Robinson (Mercury Studios) as Co-Producers. Banijay Rights will handle international distribution for the series.
All six episodes of ‘This Town’ will premiere on BBC iPlayer from 6am on Sunday 31 March 2024, and have a double premiere with episodes one and two airing at 9pm on BBC One on Sunday 31 March and Monday 1 April, respectively.
