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 individuals behind the show, including creator Steven Knight discussing the Birmingham family folklore that influenced it.


"My mother was a bookie's runner. Gambling was unlawful at the time, she was 8 years old and she would stroll down the street with a basket of cleaning and people would drop bets into the basket," Knight stated.


The documentary, which released on streaming websites today, has been made by filmmaker Robin Bextor, who stated he set out to different truth 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 up until after the First World War," he told BBC Radio WM.


"The real Peaky Blinders had actually completed before the series starts".


The documentary likewise explores the production methods of the 6 BBC series of Peaky Blinders, including its usage of contemporary rock music alongside folk and blues.


Bextor stated designer Grant Montgomery wanted the show to be "based on a series of Western movies that he liked".


"I brought a kind of Americana to it. I was always drawn to that visual, the lawlessness of it," Montgomery informed 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 homage to Peaky Blinders' roots, and the "unmatched" skill of its developer, 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 movie, he's got 2 brand-new series running on TV, he's got the Peaky Blinders movie ... and he was asked to write Star Wars.


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


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