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 brand-new documentary has lifted the lid on the making of Peaky Blinders, and the "folklore" at the heart of the story.


Peaky Blinders: The Real Story functions interviews with individuals behind the show, including creator Steven Knight discussing the Birmingham family folklore that motivated it.


"My mama was a bookmaker's runner. Gambling was prohibited at the time, she was 8 years of ages and she would walk down the street with a basket of washing and people would drop bets into the basket," Knight stated.


The documentary, which launched on streaming websites this week, has been made by filmmaker Robin Bextor, who said he set out to separate reality from fiction.


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


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


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


Bextor said designer Grant Montgomery wanted the program to be "based on a series of Western movies that he loved".


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


It comes weeks before the release of a brand-new Netflix movie, 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.


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


"It's not a mishap that he's ending up being the king of drama now. He's been asked to compose the brand-new Bond film, he's got 2 brand-new series operating on TV, he's got the Peaky Blinders film ... and he was asked to compose Star Wars.


"I indicate, this guy is a substantial achiever. Plus naturally, what Peaky Blinders offered us was 6 series of a dazzling performance by Cillian Murphy."


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