BBC’s This Town is filmed in our estate – but it’s more violent in reality with no-go zones & cats thrown to deaths
LOCALS living in the estate where a new BBC series was filmed say violence is now worse on the estate than it's shown on the show.
This Town is set in the Midlands in the 1980s and hit screens at the weekend.
The series, dreamed up by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, follows a story of social unrest with young people fighting to choose their paths.
Filming first started in Birmingham in November 2022 - one of the locations included the Druids Heath high rises of Saxelby House, Kingswood House and Barratts House.
KNIFE-WIELDING PUNTERS
While some of the blocks today lie empty and neglected, some people still call the area home and have done so for years.
And they say the estate is now worse than what's been portrayed in This Town - with some fearing wandering the streets at night, cats being hurled from balconies, and knife-wielding punters often fighting at the pubs.
Read more on This Town
In 2018, reported two felines were thought to have been thrown from Kingswood House, and two years later a taxi driver was filmed being beaten by a passenger outside.
And Hotel porter David Palmer, 49, said the violence shown on the telly is tame compared to everyday life.
David said: "The show hits the nail on the head in some regards but doesn't scratch the surface of working-class' life in others.
"I think it's rougher here than the show makes out, to be honest, and has been since the 80s.
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"But the violence is tame in comparison to what I've seen on these streets on an almost weekly basis."
The 49-year-old continued: "I've seen it go from fist fights in the pubs, to then knives and guns being used - that's the reality of living in these parts of Birmingham these days I'm afraid."
Another resident agreed problems with gangs and knife crime were plaguing the area.
They said: "You wouldn't be walking around canals and motorway bridges around here after dark, that's for sure.
"Certain parts were, and still are, no-go zones at night."
'FAIRLY QUIET'
Despite the crime and fear that some say still exists, others still love living on the estate.
One of those is Pete Felton, 60, who works as a storeman at the University of Birmingham.
Pete has called Druids Heath home for 54 years and says if anything the area is calmer than what has been shown on screens.
The show hits the nail on the head in some regards but doesn't scratch the surface of working-class' life in others
David Palmer
He said: "You get issues like fly-tipping and some antisocial behaviour like kids going around on their scramblers.
"I personally don't think the area is as rough and ready as the show makes out. It's fairly quiet around here nowadays.
"There's a decent community spirit here and everyone looks out for everyone. Sure, it's had its problems but what area doesn't?"
The 60-year-old said a lot had changed since the early 80s, adding: "I remember it was quite divided and tensions were high so maybe the programme reflects that quite well.
"I remember the Handsworth Riots too. The tower blocks are empty now.
"We're in need of regeneration but nobody knows what's happening with it really."
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.
Ezekiel Hermon, 49, lived in Saxelby House, which features in many skyline shots as the home of Dante Williams (Levi Brown) for 27 years.
The dad-of-four said: "It was always a place where people looked out for each other, a great sense of community spirit despite having many problems.
I've seen it go from fist fights in the pubs, to then knives and guns being used - that's the reality of living in these parts of Birmingham these days I'm afraid
David Palmer
"The crime was quite bad but it was usually those who had come from other areas to cause trouble.
"So the tensions of the early 80s ring true to me.
"I remember being called names. It was a divisive time but I was still young.
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"They will obviously glamorise certain parts for dramatic effect. I think the average person might find it an eye-opening place still."
Fans have already shared their thoughts on the series - slamming part of it as "so fake".
This Town Cast List
Here's a look at the who's who of this BBC series:
- Michelle Dockery
- David Dawson
- Nicholas Pinnock
- Manoj Annand
- Jordan Bolger
- Eve Austin
- Ben Rose
- Mark de Freitas
- Levi Brown
- Luke Hughes
