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 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 program, including developer Steven Knight talking about the Birmingham household folklore that influenced it.


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


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


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


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


The documentary also explores the production methods of the six BBC series of Peaky Blinders, including its use of modern rock music alongside folk and blues.


Bextor stated 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 constantly drawn to that visual, the lawlessness of it," Montgomery told the brand-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 2 more BBC series heading through to the 1950s.


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


"It's not a mishap 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 working on TV, he's got the Peaky Blinders movie ... and he was asked to compose Star Wars.


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


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