This Town

Since he put Birmingham back on the cultural map with Peaky Blinders, Steven Knight has almost single handedly been beating the drum for the need for TV programmes that are made in and represent the Midlands. With This Town, he has delivered - a show he sees as a natural sequel to Peaky. But ‘dow get me wrung’… this is very different.

This Town is almost instantly likeable for the heart and romanticism that runs through it. It has a similar feel to It’s A Sin, in that it takes serious cultural, societal and political themes but renders them through a softening human lens. Central character Dante (Levi Brown), is the romantic, aloof and dreamy filter through which the 1981 Handsworth Riots are tackled, and (mainly because of his charm) at no point does this show feel like a history lesson, lecture or rant. The gang of characters we follow fight to draw catharsis, artistry and happiness from their hardship.

Through a roster of similarly likeable characters, whose charm is in no small part drawn from their authentic regionalism, This Town walks the line between being philosophical and gritty/ romantic and real. Brothers Gregory (Jordan Bolger) and Dante embody this duality.

As mentioned, Dante is a dreamer. His ambition to form a famous rock band is idealistic and pure. He is serious about the love he feels for his crush Fiona (Freya Parks) and draws his greatest lyrics from standing over the M6.

His older brother Gregory, nicknamed Virgil, has had to learn how to navigate and operate within the real world. He has escaped the clutches of Birmingham gang culture by joining the army. When he is forced to return home, he is Dante’s protector and guide – the two of them must survive hell much like the Virgil and Dante of Dante’s Divine Comedy.

Birmingham is a big character in This Town that runs intrinsically through the fabric of the programme. Characters are made more characterful because of their accents and their regional outlooks. Gregory/ Virgil feels the most like an authentic Brummie who might frequent Saint Andrews. His accent is a channel for his persona: hard and disarming at the same time.

While it is under threat, we should think about the importance of the BBC in delivering on its promise for regional programming. No other channel produces shows like The Responder and This Town which so authentically showcase the unique character and history of the UK’s regions. The charm and representation evident in This Town make you wonder what a TV landscape without commitment to regional programming would look like…