The new series is set in the Midlands in the 1980s.

By James Hibbs

Published: Monday, 25 March 2024 at 16:05 PM


Steven Knight’s new BBC drama, following on from the likes of Peaky Blinders and SAS Rogue Heroes, is This Town, a thriller set in the Midlands during the 1980s, exploring the ska and 2 tone music scene.

The six-part series stars Michelle Dockery, Nicholas Pinnock and David Dawson, along with relative newcomers such as Levi Brown and Ben Rose.

Knight said of the show when it first went into production: “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.”

But when is the series set to be released, who else is in the cast and what is it about? Read on for everything you need to know about This Town.

When will This Town be released?

Bardon Quinn (BEN ROSE); Gregory Williams (JORDAN BOLGER); Dante Williams (LEVI BROWN) walking together in formal attire
This Town.
BBC/Banijay Rights, Kudos

This Town will be released on Sunday 31st March, with all episodes becoming instantly available to stream on BBC iPlayer at 6am.

Meanwhile, the first episode will then air on BBC One at 9pm that night, while the second episode will air at 9pm the next day, Monday 1st April.

Subsequent episodes will air weekly on Sunday nights at 9pm, until the final episode on 28th April.

What is This Town about?

Levi Brown as Dante Williams in This Town in a record shop holding a vinyl looking off to the side
Levi Brown as Dante Williams in This Town.
BBC/Banijay Rights/Kudos

The official synopsis for This Town says: “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, 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.”