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 raised the lid on the making of Peaky Blinders, and the "folklore" at the heart of the story.


Peaky Blinders: The Real Story features interviews with the people behind the program, including creator Steven Knight discussing the folklore that inspired it.


"My mama was a bookmaker's runner. Gambling was unlawful 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 actually been made by filmmaker Robin Bextor, who stated he set out to different truth from fiction.


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


"The genuine Peaky Blinders had actually finished before the series starts".


The documentary likewise explores the production methods of the six BBC series of Peaky Blinders, including its usage of contemporary rock music along with folk and blues.


Bextor stated designer Grant Montgomery wanted the program to be "based on 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 told the new production.


It comes weeks before the release of a 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 said his movie was a tribute to Peaky Blinders' Brummie roots, and the "unparalleled" ability of its developer, Knight.


"It's not an accident that he's ending up being the king of drama now. He's been asked to write the brand-new Bond movie, he's got two new series working on TV, he's got the Peaky Blinders movie ... and he was asked to write Star Wars.


"I mean, this guy is a huge achiever. Plus obviously, what Peaky Blinders offered us was six series of a fantastic efficiency by Cillian Murphy."


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