31 March 2024

Interview with Jordan Bolger who plays George in This Town

How would you describe the premise of This Town?

The bones of it – what makes it – is the Midlands. It’s a part of the country that’s given so much culturally over the years but doesn’t really get its flowers. Steven Knight has said this show is a love letter to the Midlands. It’s about different cultures that make our country, like Irish, Jamaican, and English.

The series is raw, honest and poetic – but it’s so much more than that.

How have you found working with your on-screen family, Levi and Nicholas?

It’s been beautiful working with Nicholas and Levi because not only are they both amazing actors, but they’re amazing people and we care for each other in real life. When we work with each other there’s a consideration that you don’t always get. We’ve grown together, we’ve learnt things from each other and not just one way – that’s been a joy to have.

What do you think are the core themes of This Town?

I think creativity coming out of struggle is definitely a big theme, and something I find true of life. The Midlands – at least the locations in the series – is a working class place, I’ve grown up working class and I’m proud to be working class.

Putting a lens on that to show what the working class have contributed, and why they’ve contributed it – because they weren’t born with ease, everything wasn’t handed to them. It feels nice to be making something that’s proud of that, and is showcasing it.

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.

This Town (6×60) is produced by Kudos (a Banijay UK company) and Nebulastar for the BBC, co-produced with Mercury Studios, in association with Kudos North, Stigma Films and Nick Angel.

This Town is available in full on BBC iPlayer from 6am on Sunday 31 March, with episodes one and two airing on BBC One at 9pm on Sunday 31 March and Monday 1 April. The series continues on BBC One on Sundays at 9pm.