Set in the world of Ska and two-tone, This Town stars Michelle Dockery, Nicholas Pinnock and David Dawson. 

Earlier in the year, we reported on the commissioning of a new drama series from Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders, SAS Rogue Heroes); at the time, the working title was “Two Tone”. Now, rechristened This Town, and with filming underway, we have more details and a cast list.

Here’s the premise:

This Town tells the story of an extended family and four young people who are drawn into the world of ska and two-tone music, which exploded from the grass roots of Coventry and Birmingham in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, uniting black, white and Asian youths.

Both a high octane thriller and a family saga, This Town 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.

This cast
The cast is led by Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey), Nicholas Pinnock (Life) and David Dawson (The Last Kingdom). With them, the show’s four young leads are Levi Brown, Jordan Bolger, Ben Rose and Eve Austin.

The show’s wider ensemble includes some familiar names; Geraldine James,  Peter McDonald, Freya Parks, Shyvonne Ahmmad, John Heffernan, Stefan Asante-Boateng, Séainín Brennan, George Somner and Brendan Gibson.

This Town’s writer, creator and executive producer Steven Knight says:

“This is a project very close to my heart. It’s about an era I lived through and know well and it involves characters who I feel I grew up with. It’s a love letter to Birmingham and Coventry but I hope people from all over the world will relate to it.”

The show co-producers are Mercury Studios who are bringing in a range of high-profile musical artists to the project. Producer Dan Carey and musician Kae Tempest have written the songs performed by the band in the series.

This Town’s director is Paul Whittington, the producer is Charlotte Surtees. Executive Producers are Karen Wilson, Martin Haines and Katie McAleese for Kudos, and Jo McClellan for the BBC. Laura Conway (Kudos North), Matthew James Wilkinson (Stigma Films) and Nick Angel serve as Co-Executive Producers.

The show comes from Kudos and Nebulastar, with Mercury Studios, in association with Kudos North, Stigma Films and Nick Angel.

Filming is taking place in the Birmingham area and at Steven Knight’s new Digbeth Loc. Film and TV Studios. We’ll keep you posted.