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 new documentary has actually raised the cover on the making of Peaky Blinders, and the "mythology" at the heart of the story.


Peaky Blinders: The Real Story functions interviews with individuals behind the program, including developer Steven Knight discussing the Birmingham household folklore that inspired it.


"My mommy was a bookmaker's runner. Gambling was unlawful at the time, she was 8 years old and she would walk down the street with a basket of cleaning and people would drop bets into the basket," Knight stated.


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


"The initially reported reference of Peaky Blinders that took place at all remained in 1890, whereas the Peaky Blinders we see on screen do not start up until after the First World War," he informed BBC Radio WM.


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


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


Bextor stated designer Grant Montgomery desired the program to be "based on a series of Western movies that he enjoyed".


"I brought a type of Americana to it. I was constantly drawn to that aesthetic, the lawlessness of it," Montgomery informed the 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 two more BBC series heading through to the 1950s.


his movie was a tribute to Peaky Blinders' Brummie roots, and the "unsurpassed" skill of its creator, Knight.


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


"I mean, this guy is a big achiever. Plus naturally, what Peaky Blinders gave us was 6 series of a brilliant performance by Cillian Murphy."


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