Netflix, under a deal withThe Weinstein Company andEndemol, acquired the rights to release the show in the United States and around the world. In January 2021, it was announced that the sixth series, released in 2022, would be the final series. A feature-length film titledThe Immortal Man, which is set a few years after the series finale, began filming in September 2024 and will be distributed by Netflix.
The second series has the Peaky Blinders expand their criminal organisation in the "South and North while maintaining a stronghold in their Birmingham heartland".[5] It begins in 1921 and ends with a climax atEpsom racecourse on 31 May 1922,Derby Day.[6]
The third series takes place in 1924, following Tommy and the gang as they enter an even more dangerous world by expanding once again, this time internationally. The third series also features Father John Hughes (Paddy Considine), who is involved in ananti-communist organization; Ruben Oliver (Alexander Siddig), a painter whom Polly enlists to paint her portrait; Russian Grand Duchess Tatiana Petrovna (Gaite Jansen); and Linda Shelby (Kate Phillips), the new wife of Arthur.
The fourth series begins onChristmas Eve 1925, with the Peaky Blinders getting word that theNew York Mafia, led by Luca Changretta (Adrien Brody), is coming to avenge the murder of his father, committed the previous series and ends following thegeneral strike of May 1926, with Tommy using communist leaderJessie Eden for information and being elected as aMember of Parliament in 1927.
The fifth series runs two years later, from 29 October 1929 (Black Tuesday) to 7 December 1929, the morning after a rally led bySir Oswald Mosley.
The sixth series begins on 5 December 1933, asprohibition is repealed in the United States. TheNazi Party has obtained power in Germany, leading to a growth in membership of Mosley'sBritish Union of Fascists. Tommy must not only deal with Mosley but also with plots from theIrish Mob as well as theAnti-Treaty IRA.
Annabelle Wallis as Grace Shelby (series 1–3, 5), née Burgess, a former undercover agent, and Irish Protestant. She is Tommy's first wife and mother of his son Charles.
Iddo Goldberg as Freddie Thorne (series 1), a knowncommunist who fought in the Great War with Tommy and was Ada's husband.
Sophie Rundle as Ada Thorne, née Shelby, the only sister of the Shelby brothers.
Joe Cole as John "Johnny" Shelby (series 1–4), the third-youngest Shelby brother and a member of the Peaky Blinders.
Ned Dennehy as Charlie Strong, owner of a boatyard and an uncle figure to the Shelby siblings.
Benjamin Zephaniah as Jeremiah 'Jimmy' Jesus, a preacher, and friend of the Peaky Blinders.
David Dawson as Roberts (series 1), Billy Kimber's accountant.
Charlotte Riley as May Fitz Carleton (series 2, 4), a wealthy widow who owns racehorses.
Finn Cole as Michael Gray (series 2–6), Polly's biological son.
Natasha O'Keeffe as Elizabeth "Lizzie" Shelby, née Stark (series 2–6; guest series 1), an ex-prostitute who worked for Tommy as his secretary. She is his second wife and the mother of his daughter Ruby.
Aimee-Ffion Edwards as Esme Shelby-Lee (series 3–4, 6; recurring series 1–2), John's wife and a member of the Lee clan.
Gaite Jansen as Princess Tatiana Petrovna (series 3), aWhite Russian princess who has an affair with Tommy.
Alexander Siddig as Ruben Oliver (series 3), a portrait artist in a romantic relationship with Polly.
Packy Lee as Johnny Dogs (series 3–6; recurring series 1–2), Tommy'sGypsy friend.
Jan Bijvoet as Arch Duke Leon Romanov (series 3), Tatiana's uncle.
Dina Korzun as Grand Duchess Izabella Petrovna (series 3), Tatiana's aunt.
Paddy Considine as Father John Hughes (series 3), a priest working with the anti-communist Section D (theEconomic League) in the British government
Kate Phillips as Linda Shelby (series 4–6; recurring series 3), Arthur's wife who is a devout Christian.
Adrien Brody as Luca Changretta (series 4), aNew York mafioso with a vendetta against the Peaky Blinders.
Ian Peck as Curly (series 4–6; recurring series 1–3), a horse expert and Charlie's assistant.
Jack Rowan as Bonnie Gold (series 4–5), Aberama's boxing champion son.
Aidan Gillen as Aberama Gold (series 4–5), an ally of the Peaky Blinders and Polly's lover.
Anya Taylor-Joy as Gina Gray (series 5–6), Michael's American wife.
Kingsley Ben-Adir as Colonel Ben Younger (series 5; guest series 4), a young colonel who begins a relationship with Ada. He is also investigating socialist and fascist political activities.
Cosmo Jarvis as Barney Thomason (series 5), a WWI sniper who was Tommy's comrade and old friend who is locked in an insane asylum.
Alfie Evans-Meese (recurring series 1) and Harry Kirton (series 6; recurring series 2–5) as Finn Shelby, the youngest Shelby brother and a member of the Peaky Blinders.
Charlene McKenna as Laura McKee/ Captain Swing (series 6; guest series 5), anIRA leader from Belfast.
Pauline Turner as Frances (series 6; recurring series 4–5), Tommy's housekeeper.
Stephen Graham as Hayden Stagg (series 6), the union convenor for the workers at theLiverpool docks.
Conrad Khan as Erasmus "Duke" Shelby (series 6), Tommy's first-born son from before the Great War.
Jordan Bolger (recurring series 2–4) andDaryl McCormack (series 6; recurring series 5) as Isiah Jesus, Jeremiah's son and a member of the Peaky Blinders.
Emmett J. Scanlan as Billy Grade (series 6; recurring series 5), an ex-footballer turned singer and an ally to the Peaky Blinders.
Lobo Chan as Mr. Zhang (series 1), a business owner in Chinatown.
Neil Bell (series 1) as Harry Fenton, a former landlord and owner of the Garrison pub.
Samuel Edward-Cook as Danny "Whizz-Bang" Owen (series 1), Tommy's former comrade and a loyal member of the Peaky Blinders.
Tony Pitts as Sergeant/Inspector Moss (series 1–4), a police officer from Birmingham.
Kevin Metcalfe as Scudboat (series 1–2), a henchman of the Peaky Blinders.
Jeffrey Postlethwaite as Henry (series 1–2), a Peaky Blinders henchman.
Matthew Postlethwaite as Nipper (series 1–2), a Peaky Blinders henchman.
Simone Kirby as Irene O'Donnell (series 2), a Pro-Treaty IRA member, who works with Donal Henry and Inspector Campbell to blackmail Tommy into carrying out an assassination.
Rory Keenan as Donal Henry (series 2), a spy who worked for the Irregulars against the Pro-Treaty IRA.
Adam El Hagar as Ollie (series 2), Alfie's assistant.
Sam Hazeldine as Georgie Sewell (series 2), the right-hand man and consiglieri to Sabini.
Wanda Opalinska as Rosemary Johnson (series 2, 4), Michael's foster mother, whom she named Henry.
Daniel Fearn as King Maine (series 2, 4), a boxing trainer in Birmingham who trains Arthur and Bonnie.
Paul Bullion as Billy Kitchen (series 2), a Black Countryman, who briefly worked as a Head Baker for Tommy and Alfie.
Josh O'Connor as James (series 2), Ada's friend and housemate.
Dorian Lough as Mario (series 2), the owner of The Eden Club, ran by Sabini.
Allan Hopwood as Abbey Heath (series 2)
James Eeles as "TheDigbeth Kid" Harold Hancox (series 2), an aspiring actor hired by the Peaky Blinders to get stood up and spend a week inside jail, only to be killed by Sabini's henchmen.
Erin Shanagher as Mrs. Ross (series 2, 4), a vengeful mother who hates Arthur for the death of her son.
George Gwyther (series 3) and Callum Booth-Ford (series 5–6) as Karl Thorne, the only child of Ada and Freddie.
Stephanie Hyam as Charlotte Murray (series 3), a wealthy girl, with whom Michael has a short affair.
Kenneth Colley as Vicente Changretta (series 3), the father to Changretta and his brother Angel.
Bríd Brennan as Audrey Changretta (series 3–4), Changretta's mother, wife of Vicente Changretta, head of the Italian crime family in Birmingham, the enemy of the Peaky Blinders.
Frances Tomelty as Bethany Boswell (series 3), a wise old woman living in Wales, whom Tommy seeks out.
Richard Brake as Anton Kaledin (series 3), a Russian refugee, who attempted to discuss business with Sabini and Tommy on Tommy and Grace's wedding day.
Alex Macqueen as Patrick Jarvis MP (series 3), a Member of Parliament and a member and representative of the Economic League, working with Father Hughes
Ralph Ineson as Connor Nutley (series 3), a Lancaster factory foreman.
Peter Bankole as William Letso (series 3), a former diamond miner and tunneler from the South African Labor Corps and Tommy's friend.
Richard Dillane as General Curran (series 3), Grace's uncle.
Wendy Nottingham as Mary (series 3), Tommy's housekeeper.
Billy Marwood (series 3), Jenson Clarke (series 4–5), and Billy Jenkins (series 6) as Charles Shelby, the son of Tommy and Grace.
Luca Matteo Zizzari as Matteo (series 4), one of Changretta's henchmen.
Jake J. Meniani as Frederico (series 4), one of Changretta's henchmen.
Graeme Hawley as Niall Devlin (series 4), a working man in the Peaky Blinders Limited, working for Tommy.
Donald Sumpter asArthur Bigge (series 4), the King's Private Secretary, who deals with the case of the execution of Polly, Arthur, John and Michael.
Jamie Kenna as Billy Mills (series 4), a former heavyweight boxing champion and a worker for the Shelby Company Limited, who fights against Bonnie at the company.
Joseph Long as Chef (series 4)
Andreas Muñoz as Antonio (series 4), the Italian assassin who came into Tommy's house as a sous-chef and planned to kill Tommy.
Ethan Picard-Edwards as Billy Shelby (series 4), the son of Arthur and Linda.
Dave Simon as Mulchay (series 4–5)
Heaven-Leigh Clee (series 5) and Orla McDonagh (series 6) as Ruby Shelby, the daughter of Tommy and Lizzie.
Elliot Cowan as Michael Levitt (series 5), a Birmingham journalist.
Peter Campion as Micky Gibbs (series 5), barman of The Garrison pub.
Tim Woodward as Lord Suckerby (series 5), a High Court Judge.
Darragh O'Toole as Liam (series 6), an associate of Jack Nelson's.
Peter Coonan as Connor Dunn (series 6), an associate of Jack Nelson's.
Candidates for roles as teenage male extras queuing in Birmingham
Peaky Blinders was created and written bySteven Knight.Screen Yorkshire provided funding for the production through the Yorkshire Content Fund, ensuring that the majority of the show was filmed in Yorkshire as part of the deal.[7] Linguists were not hired in the production to assist in the show, leading to the Romani Gypsies in the earlier series frequently speaking brokenRomanian (as opposed toRomani).[8]
Ulster-born, New Zealand-raised Sam Neill enlisted the help of Northern Irish actorsJames Nesbitt andLiam Neeson to help him recover his lost Northern Irish accent for the role of C.I. Campbell. In the end, he had to tone down the accent since the series was marketed in the United States.[14]
A second series was commissioned shortly after the broadcast of the first and aired in October and November 2014.[5] On 11 January 2014, auditions were held in Digbeth area of Birmingham (near where parts of the series are set) for white and mixed race teenage male extras, resulting in lengthy queues.[15][16]
Shortly after the final episode of the second series, the show announced via its Twitter account that it had been renewed for a third series.[17] On 5 October 2015, the officialPeaky Blinders Twitter account announced that filming had begun for series 3.[18] Filming completed on 22 January 2016, after 78 days of shooting.[19][20]
During the initial broadcast of series 3, theBBC renewedPeaky Blinders for series 4 and 5, each of which comprises six episodes.[21] Filming for series 4 started in March 2017 and premiered on 15 November 2017 onBBC Two.[22] BothThe Weinstein Company and its logo in its credits weren't included, even though the company was formerly involved in the US distribution of the series.[23]
The BBC commissioned a fifth series in mid-2016. On 22 August 2018, it was confirmed that series 5 would be broadcast onBBC One.[24][25] Having already premiered to a select audience at Birmingham Town Hall on 18 July 2019, the series began airing on BBC One on 25 August 2019.[26]
On 5 May 2018, Steven Knight toldBirmingham Press Club that "we are definitely doing [series] six".[27] Production on the series was due to begin in March 2020, but was delayed due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[28] During 2020, rumours emerged linking comedianRowan Atkinson to the show for the role ofAdolf Hitler in series 6, but the producers denied the involvement saying that the news is "completely false".[29]
On 18 January 2021, it was announced that series six, which had just begun filming, would be the final television series ofPeaky Blinders; though Knight revealed "the story will continue in another form".[30]Helen McCrory, who played the character of Polly Gray, died in April 2021, thus unable to film any scenes for the series.[28] Series six premiered on 27 February 2022.[31][32]
Throughout its run,Peaky Blinders received widespread critical acclaim. David Renshaw ofThe Guardian summarised the series as a "riveting, fast-paced tale of post-first world war Birmingham gangsters", praising Murphy as the "ever-so-cool Tommy Shelby" and the rest of the cast for their "powerful performances".[33] Sarah Crompton ofThe Telegraph gave the series four out of five, praising the show for its originality and "taking all of our expectations and confounding them".[34] Alex Fletcher fromDigital Spy believes that "Peaky Blinders has started as sharp as a dart",[35] whileDen of Geek called the series "the most intelligent, stylish and engrossing BBC drama in ages".[36] Cult TV Times critic Hugh David said the show "warrants the billing" by "managing to tick several ratings boxes – period drama, gangster epic, film star leads – yet go against the grain of those in the most interesting of ways".[37]
The show has been particularly celebrated for its stylish cinematography and charismatic performances, as well as for casting an eye over a part of England and English history rarely explored on television.[38] Historians have been divided over whether bringing characters and events from other decades into a 1920s story undermines claims to historical accuracy, or whether working-class life in the period is nevertheless depicted in a truthful and resonant way.[39] Reviews of the second series remained positive, with Ellen E. Jones ofThe Independent commenting that "Peaky Blinders can now boast several more big-name actors to supplement the sterling work of Cillian Murphy, Helen McCrory and Sam Neill", referring to second series additions Tom Hardy and Noah Taylor.[40]
Several critics have compared the show favourably to the American seriesBoardwalk Empire,[41][42] which shares the same themes and historical context. Show writer Steven Knight stated in an early interview: "Do you know – and I'm not just saying this – but I've never watched them. I've never seenThe Wire, I've never seenBoardwalk Empire, I've never seen any of them." When asked if he deliberately avoided watching those shows, he responded: "It's sort of deliberate in that I don't really want to be looking at other people's work because it does affect what you do inevitably."[43] On 2 March 2016, Knight told theCrime Scene Quarterly "I've had unsolicited communication fromMichael Mann, the film director, fromDennis Lehane,Snoop Dogg – he's such a fan. And the lateDavid Bowie was a huge fan – more of that to come" (strongly hinting Bowie's involvement on series three). It was later confirmed that Bowie's music would be featured, andLeonard Cohen had also written a new song for series three.[44][45][46]
OnMetacritic, it has a weighted average score of 86 out of 100 based on seven reviews.[47] The last season holds a 93% approval rating onRotten Tomatoes based on 14 reviews, with an average critic rating of eight out of ten. The website's critical consensus reads, "Peaky Blinders' sixth series gracefully addresses the untimely passing of star Helen McCrory while setting the stage for a fitting climax to this epic saga of likable scalawags."[48]
Although the series received widespread critical acclaim, the filmmakers appeared to place less emphasis on providing the characters with a clearly defined Romani background, focusing instead on creating "gypsy characters"[49] that serve various narrative functions. This situates the protagonists on the margins of society,[50] allowing the series to address themes of intersectionality relevant to contemporary discussions and to depict the lower strata of British interwar society, which are often underrepresented in popular culture.[51] The series portrays these “gypsy figures” not solely as victims but as active agents in shaping events. However, their actions are frequently depicted as violent and deceitful, reinforcing certainantigypsyist stereotypes.[52]
Series four introduced the characterJessie Eden, based on the real-lifeBritish communist and trade union leader.[53] Although the reception was mixed, some people who had known Jessie Eden took offence to the way she was depicted.[54][55]Graham Stevenson, a trade union leader and writer on British communism, a friend of Jessie Eden and the writer of her biography, was a harsh critic of the show,
I knew Eden, and as a callow 22-year-old, I didn't ask the 70-year-old Jessie about her relationships, let alone sex life. But I doubt her private life was as complicated or dramatic as her eponymous character's. Nor can I see any young woman during the 1920s gratuitously going into a gents' toilets, as Eden is shown doing, for any reason at all other than life or death. The social values of the programme are ahistorical. It is surely the conceit that Tommy Shelby, the gangster villain-hero of the series, could ever convince a woman like Eden to be wined and dined, let alone be seduced, that finally reveals the true motives of the creators of the programme.[56]
Stevenson also criticised the show for its clothing choices, incorrectly showing Churchill as Home Secretary in 1919, incorrectly depicting Eden as a mass leader during the 1926 General Strike; eventually these inaccuracies led Stevenson to stop watching the show.[57] He went on to say "Although the TV series' cinematography, music and fast-paced action is obviously attractive, especially matched to outstanding charismatic performances, it's disappointing that an expert in Tudor history was the historical adviser to the series, rather than someone with a background in trade unionism or communism".[56]
At a round table event featuring Stevenson, the poet Dave Puller, and cultural historian Paul Long, the three discussed the series and its depictions of the British working class. Long rated the series positively and praised the series as a great representation of interesting working-class protagonists. Puller had mixed feelings and was disappointed that the show chose to focus on Jessie Eden's fictional romance with Tommy, rather than her real achievements as a communist and a trade union leader.[54]
On 24 September 2014, it was announced thatNetflix had acquired exclusive US distribution rights from the Weinstein Company andEndemol. The entirety of series 1 became available for streaming on 30 September 2014; series 2 launched in November 2014.[80] Series 3 was made available 31 May 2016.[81] Due to licensing restrictions, however, most of the show's original soundtrack is not available on the Netflix-distributed version of the series.[82] In 2018, it was announcedPeaky Blinders would be moved from its original broadcast channel, BBC Two, to BBC One for its fifth and sixth series.[83]
According to theOffice for National Statistics (ONS),Peaky Blinders has had a detectable cultural impact in the UK. In 2018, the name Arthur surged into the top 10 boys names for the first time since the 1920s, and Ada jumped into the girls' top 100 for the first time in a century as well. The assumption reached by the ONS is that the popularity of these names was inspired by the characters Arthur Shelby Jr. and Ada Thorne.[84]
5 December 2024 soldiers of theNational Guard of Ukraine from the "Peaky Blinders" unit received gifts from the series' creators of the same name."The legendary National Guard unit "Peaky Blinders" from Kharkiv now has actual caps from Stephen Knight, the scriptwriter of the cult series of the same name, with the autograph of the main character, Cillian Murphy"[85].
In 2024Birmingham Airport leased out a retail unit that is namedShelby & Co. Bar + Kitchen in homage to the show. The outlet, which offers dishes such as sometimes named after characters from the show, is located in the departures lounge.
Following the announcement that the sixth series would be the last, Knight clarified that, following the year-long production hiatus in 2020, it had been decided to produce a feature-length movie in place of a seventh television series, with other connected television series potentially following.[86][87]Peaky Blinders won the Returning Drama award at the2022 National Television Awards ceremony, with Knight subsequently confirming during his acceptance speech that that film would begin production in mid-spring 2023, but would later be delayed.[88] In June 2024, thePeaky Blinder's film was confirmed byNetflix with Cillian Murphy reprising his role as Thomas Shelby.[89] Production began in September 2024 under the titleThe Immortal Man.[90]
In October 2025, a sequel series was announced, produced byKudos and Garrison Drama for BBC One and Netflix, with Murphy returning to the role and serving as an executive producer.[91]
In September 2022,Rambert Dance presented a dance production based on the series titledPeaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby directed and choreographed by Benoit Swan Pouffer, written by Knight. It premiered at theBirmingham Hippodrome, before touring the UK and was filmed for theBBC.
^Gosling, George Campbell (12 April 2016)."On Peaky Blinders".Musings of a Social Historian.Archived from the original on 1 October 2016. Retrieved16 April 2016.
^Mladenova, Radmila (2022).The 'White' Mask and the 'Gypsy' Mask in Film. Antiziganismusforschung interdisziplinär. Heidelberg: Heidelberg University Publishing.ISBN978-3-96822-131-1.
^Hokin, Catherine (7 February 2018)."Jessie Eden: Working Class Hero".Historia: Magazine of the Historical Writers' Association.Archived from the original on 23 January 2021. Retrieved17 February 2021.
