This Town director inspired by Nottingham upbringing

A new series called This Town, starting on Easter Sunday, has been directed by Paul Whittington, from Nottingham, and also features Nottingham actor Eve Austin

The Nottingham-born director behind a new BBC One drama says the series is "very much part" of his upbringing in the city.

This Town will air on Easter Sunday, and has been directed by Paul Whittington.

Mr Whittington has also previously directed The Crown, Hatton Garden and White House Farm.

The series, from Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, is about an extended family fighting to choose their own paths among an iconic music scene in 1980s Coventry and Birmingham.

'Express yourself'

Mr Whittington says it draws on the time of ska and reggae music fusing with punk music, creating this "explosive" new sound.

Looking back, Mr Whittington told BBC Radio Nottingham: "There was something personal with it as I grew up in the 1980s.

"I was a very young wannabe Rude Boy, but not old enough to go to any of his gigs.

"All the themes about what it's like to be a teenager, finding your tribe, express yourself through music and fashion - they are all things that resonated with me."

The series' cast features Nottingham-born actor Eve Austin, who trained at the city's Television Workshop and has since been in the soap opera Emmerdale and Netflix's hit TV show, You.

This Town also features familiar actors such as Michelle Dockery, from Downton Abbey, as well as an ensemble of new and young talent.

Mr Whittington said the theme at the heart of this new series was the question: "Can I live a life that's true to who I really am?"

He added: "Something about music bypasses the head and goes straight to the heart; for me music is the art form of all art forms."

Filming took place across the West Midlands to capture the heart of what the show is about.

The six-part series is on BBC One on Easter Sunday at 21:00, and all episodes will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer.