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 "folklore" at the heart of the story.


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


"My mother was a bookie's runner. Gambling was illegal at the time, she was eight years old and she would stroll down the street with a basket of washing and individuals would drop bets into the basket," Knight stated.


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


"The initially reported mention of Peaky Blinders that happened at all remained in 1890, whereas the Peaky Blinders we see on screen don't begin till after the First World War," he informed BBC Radio WM.


"The real Peaky Blinders had finished before the series begins".


The documentary likewise checks out the production strategies of the 6 BBC series of Peaky Blinders, including its usage of contemporary rock music along with folk and blues.


Bextor stated designer Grant Montgomery desired the program to be "based upon a series of Western films that he loved".


"I brought a kind of Americana to it. I was constantly drawn to that visual, the lawlessness of it," Montgomery informed the brand-new production.


It comes weeks before the release of a 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.


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


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


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


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