Smoggie Queens: Season 1 (UK) (TV Series)

I didn’t realize before watching this that people from Middlesbrough call themselves Smoggies, but that is the setting for the British sitcom Smoggie Queens. I had never even heard of this show until now, so I went in completely blind to these six episodes, each lasting about half an hour, and it turned out to be a brilliant little find. The series centers on a group of LGBTQ friends who have essentially built their own chosen family. You watch them navigate secrets, drag brunches, terrible dates, and break-ups—the kind of constant drama that only happens when everyone in a friend group knows every single detail about everyone else.
The cast includes Dickie, a drag queen; his drag mother Mam; a newly out man named Stewart; Sal, a lesbian with musical ambitions; and Lucinda, the group’s lone straight friend. As they navigate life in Middlesbrough, they are all simultaneously figuring out their careers, their relationships, and one another. The series kicks off with Dickie being dumped by his boyfriend Harrison, which is complicated enough since Harrison is also a colleague. Dickie’s immediate attempt to win him back goes exactly as poorly as you would expect. From there, the show follows a classic sitcom format where each episode explores a different premise. In one, Mam goes into full fairy godmother mode to help Lucinda find her perfect match, and in another, Mam hosts a Titanic themed brunch that is interrupted by the sudden appearance of an old enemy. I found the murder mystery game night episode to be the funniest, as Dickie loses his mind trying to manage the evening and solve the fake crime. The show also covers Sal dealing with a girlfriend who isn’t good for her, and Stewart’s struggle to come out to his nan. The series concludes at Smoggie Pride, providing a good time from start to finish.
Since I had zero expectations, it was wild that I was laughing out loud almost the entire time; this ended up being one of the funniest things I’ve watched recently. The humor is sharp, particularly the LGBTQ comedy, and I enjoyed how every episode drops the characters into a new chaotic scenario. However, the laughs are balanced by the fact that every character carries some weight. While Mam appears to be a rock solid mother figure, she has an estranged son from a previous life that remains a silent topic. Sal is dating someone who treats her badly, and while Stewart has finally found a community that understands him, he still faces a nan who rejects his true self. Lucinda seems stuck in a cycle of picking the wrong men. Then there is Dickie, who is easily the highlight of the show. He is vain, dramatic, and often completely unreasonable, yet he is impossible not to love. His constant eye-rolling and little digs at Stewart had me in stitches every episode, and his attempt to organize an LGBTQ network meeting at work is also hilarious. The actor playing Mam is brilliant, bringing both authority and warmth to the role. Lucinda radiates big loyal hun energy, Sal is wonderfully weird, and Stewart’s coming out arc provides the most emotional beats of the series. By having him join the group, the show examines queer friendship across different generations without becoming preachy or offering too neat a resolution. Ultimately, the show is about this specific group—how they argue, how they protect one another, and how they turn every minor event into a massive occasion.
I found myself laughing throughout every single episode. I loved the depiction of LGBTQ life, capturing both the positive and the difficult aspects, as well as the found family themes. While the characters are chaotic and exhausting, you end up wanting to be part of the group by the end. I am really looking forward to seeing what the next season brings.(8/10)