Peaky Blinders 'a Western In The West Midlands'

24 February 2026
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Ed James, BBC Radio WMand


Tim Page, West Midlands


A has actually raised the lid on the making of Peaky Blinders, and the "mythology" at the heart of the story.


Peaky Blinders: The Real Story features interviews with the individuals behind the show, consisting of developer Steven Knight speaking about the Birmingham household folklore that motivated it.


"My mother was a bookie's runner. Gambling was prohibited at the time, she was 8 years old and she would stroll down the street with a basket of cleaning and individuals would drop bets into the basket," Knight stated.


The documentary, which introduced on streaming websites today, has been made by filmmaker Robin Bextor, who said he set out to different truth from fiction.


"The first reported reference of Peaky Blinders that happened at all was in 1890, whereas the Peaky Blinders we see on screen do not begin until after the First World War," he informed BBC Radio WM.


"The real Peaky Blinders had ended up before the series starts".


The documentary also checks out the production techniques of the 6 BBC series of Peaky Blinders, including its use of modern rock music together with folk and blues.


Bextor said designer Grant Montgomery desired the show to be "based upon a series of Western films that he liked".


"I brought a sort of Americana to it. I was always drawn to that aesthetic, the lawlessness of it," Montgomery informed the brand-new production.


It comes weeks before the release of a brand-new Netflix film, the Immortal Man, continuing the story of the Shelbys into World War Two. This will be followed by 2 more BBC series heading through to the 1950s.


Bextor said his movie was a tribute to Peaky Blinders' Brummie roots, and the "unmatched" ability of its developer, Knight.


"It's not a mishap that he's becoming the king of drama now. He's been asked to write the brand-new Bond motion picture, he's got 2 brand-new series running on TV, he's got the Peaky Blinders movie ... and he was asked to compose Star Wars.


"I imply, this guy is a huge achiever. Plus of course, what Peaky Blinders offered us was 6 series of a brilliant efficiency by Cillian Murphy."


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