Mark Benton filming new BBC pilot Smoggie Queens
- Filming has begun on the north-east coast of new BBC sitcom pilot Smoggie Queens
- Mark Benton has been pictured in drag driving an ice cream van
- The pilot also features The Family Pile star Alexandra Mardell
Mark Benton is starring in a new BBC sitcom pilot being filmed in his native Teesside.
Smoggie Queens ("smoggie" being slang for someone from Teesside) is currently being filmed in various locations in the area.
Local newspaper The Gazette has published photos of Benton, who grew up in the Teesside area of Grangetown, performing in full drag, filming in an ice cream van parked in Hartlepool yesterday (Wednesday 25th October).
Filming began on Monday (23rd October) in Whitby, and there are unconfirmed reports of filming on location in Middlesbrough today (26th October).
The pilot is being made by Hat Trick Productions (Derry Girls, Kate & Koji).
The Gazette's photos also show Alexandra Mardell (The Family Pile, Emma from Coronation Street) on set.
Tom Kingsley (Ghosts, This Is Going To Hurt, Gregg Wallace: The British Miracle Meat) is directing, with Ed Tucker (Juice, Don't Hug Me I'm Scared) as director of photography.