The photo showed a young, good-looking couple posing proudly on the landing of their newbuild house. The image was going viral on Twitter. In its background, dominating the entire scene, was an enormous portrait of Peaky Blinders’ Tommy Shelby.
Cue huge mirth online, ridicule and assumptions about the politics and vulgar consumption habits of the couple. They were instantly held up as a real-life version of “Deano”: the widespread meme about a call centre supervisor who lives in a Barratt new build, has whitened teeth, and likes playing Fifa, “banter”, Love Island and package holidays to Marbella. Deano’s wife (you need a dual income to get a new build) is also a call centre supervisor. In the meme, Deano’s house is decorated with Sofology sofas – imagine!
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