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 lifted 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, consisting of developer Steven Knight talking about the Birmingham household folklore that motivated it.


"My mother was a bookmaker's runner. Gambling was illegal 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 said.


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


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


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


The documentary also checks out the production strategies of the six BBC series of Peaky Blinders, including its use of modern-day rock music along with folk and blues.


Bextor stated designer Grant Montgomery wanted the show to be "based upon a series of Western films that he enjoyed".


"I brought a sort of Americana to it. I was always drawn to that visual, the lawlessness of it," Montgomery informed the brand-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 film was a tribute to Peaky Blinders' Brummie roots, and the "unparalleled" ability of its creator, Knight.


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


"I suggest, this guy is a substantial achiever. Plus of course, what Peaky Blinders gave us was 6 series of a fantastic efficiency by Cillian Murphy."


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