‘So fake’ rage This Town viewers as they take aim at new BBC drama from Peaky Blinders boss
THIS Town viewers ripped into the new BBC drama from the creator of Peaky Blinders, raging ‘So fake’.
The newest series from the boss of the popular British drama series, takes place in Birmingham in 1981.
This Town follows four young people getting caught up in the exciting music scene of the era.
Amidst riots and IRA activity, the music provides a getaway from their tangled family troubles.
However, many of the cast are not from the area and had to learn the accent for their roles.
But viewers were left distracted by the accents, with some describing them as ‘ so fake’.
Many took to X/Twitter to express their frustration.
One wrote: “This Town accent issues ….. I cannot overlook.”
A second complained: “I have had Brummie mates most of my life so I am used to the accent but I have no idea what the blonde lady is saying.”
A third added: “Enjoying this so far but dislike their fake Birmingham accents. The Brummie accent doesn’t sound like that.”
Where was This Town filmed?
Here's what we know about the locations
Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight is behind the drama after growing up in the area himself.
He said: “This is the area where I grew up.
“There was this period in Coventry and Birmingham when people who were opposites suddenly came together, and I thought it would be interesting to tell this story of poor people in very different circumstances.”
Filming first started in November 2022 in Birmingham with locations including the city centre.
In January 2023 TV crews were in Wolverhampton filming what looked to be riot scenes for the drama.
A burnt-out van was spotted on Victoria Street and police lined up next to an old-style riot van in the city centre.
At the time casting agents put out a call for “skinheads and people with shaved heads” from in and around West Bromwich.
A fourth wrote: “Say what you like about accents from the midlands, they are f****** hard to do for actors. Nothing sticks out more than a bad Midlands accent!”
A fifth penned: “Are there no actors in the UK that come from the West Midlands? #ThisTown.”
Despite some negative feedback from viewers, others seemed to enjoy the new BBC drama.
One raved: “Really love the acting in this new series! They smashed it.”
A second added: “Love seeing Downton Abbey’s Michelle Dockery!”
A third penned: “Can’t wait to see what happens in This Town, great acting.”
Downton Abbey star Michelle Dockery was one of the actors who tried her best to nail the accent.
The 42-year-old star plays the role of an alcoholic singer named Estella – a far cry from Lady Mary.
The actress had to swap her refined Downton accent with a Brummie one.
The official synopsis of This Town reads: “An extended family and four young people are drawn into the world of ska and two-tone music, which exploded from the grassroots of Coventry and Birmingham in the late 70s and early 80s which united black, white and Asian youths.”
This Town continues on BBC One on Monday April 1 at 9pm.