This Town viewers break down in tears over Michelle Dockery’s ‘incredible’ rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow in hit new BBC series

This Town viewers broke down in tears over Michelle Dockery’s ‘breath-taking’ rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow in her hit new BBC series.

The actress, 42, who played Lady Mary Crawley in Downtown Abbey, is currently starring as Estella in the six-part series.

The series – which is from Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight – follows the rise of a band in 1980s Birmingham and how ska music united young people from different backgrounds amid growing political unrest.

In last night’s episode, Estella – who is the mother of band member Bardon Quinn and struggles with addiction – pays powerful tribute to her mother at her funeral. 

Standing behind the coffin, Estella told her feuding family: ‘Hymns are all very well but I am here to say goodbye to my mother in my own way. In the way she would have wanted.

‘I am going to sing her favourite song. When I was little and I would sing it, she would always cry.’

Despite Bardon’s attempts to stop her, Estella begins tentatively singing – much to the discomfort of the mourners.

However, the attendants gave Estella a standing ovation by the end and the emotional rendition moved several to tears. 

The performance had a similar effect on viewers – with several sharing on X, formerly known as Twitter, that they were equally moved.

One wrote: ‘That was f***ing sensational from Michelle Dockery. Had a tear in my eye. Bravo!!!’ 

Using a crying emoji, another added: ‘Michelle Dockery singing Over the Rainbow in This Town was beautiful.’ 

A third asked: ‘Anyone else spellbound through this?’ Meanwhile, a fourth gushed: ‘Michelle Dockery can sing!’ 

Labelling it ‘incredible’, a fifth said: ‘That’s how Somewhere Over the Rainbow should be sung – not perfect but full of pain and yearning and lost dreams.’ 

The performance had a similar effect on viewers – with several sharing on X, formerly known as Twitter, that they were equally moved

In June 2022, Michelle performed as part of a folk duo with her Downton Abbey co-star Michael Fox. 

Their four-song EP, which was released that summer, featured Mumford and Sons’ Chris Mass on percussion and Willy Mason’s Tommy Heap on piano and drums.

Speaking about their new venture, Michelle said earlier this year: ‘There was something about that time after the series [Downton] had ended … About looking at something with fresh eyes and feeling nervous about what’s ahead.

‘Then suddenly we were just writing music.’

She added: ‘It’s a whole different set of skills and vulnerability; Acting tends to start with what’s already written on the page. Music can begin anywhere. It’s different and very freeing.’

The series – which is from Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight – follows the rise of a band in 1980s Birmingham and how ska music united young people from different backgrounds amid growing political unrest

Michelle has previously sung at the London Jazz Festival and at Ronnie Scott’s while Michael has already written and released indie folk and electronica records.

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.

Speaking in 2022, Steven – who grew up in Walsall, West Midlands – described his new series as a passion project.

‘This is a project very close to my heart, he told the BBC. ‘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.’

It was filmed on location in the Birmingham area, and at Steven’s new Digbeth Loc. Film and TV Studios.

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.