Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight teases spin-off series WITHOUT Tommy Shelby đź‘€
Fans aren't ready for the story to end
Last updated 19th Apr 2021
Peaky Blinders is arguably one of the biggest TV shows of the last 10 years, so it's no surprise that fans are over the moon to discover that the sixth season of the show is now on the way after the global pandemic put a stop to production in 2020.
But it's coming up to a bittersweet moment for viewers, as the show's creator, Steven Knight, has confirmed that the sixth season will be the last one, scrapping the idea of the seventh season he was initially going to do and instead, we could see the Shelby family on the big screen.
However - Steven has now added fuel to the fire of a spin-off series, something he initially spoke out about in January 2020. Speaking to Birmingham Live, Steven has now said that the show could live on - but without Cillian Murphy as the iconic Tommy Shelby.
"In the form it is in, it is absolutely impossible for this to work without Cillian," he explained. "As it grows and progresses, who knows? There may be worlds that are part of the Peaky world that are about someone else but he is the centre around which everything orbits."
He added, "It will go on in another form, which will be the film, and beyond that we want to keep the world going. In other words, the story of Small Heath and the Shelby family will continue on. I want to keep it going until... whenever."
Back in January 2020, Steven began to plant the idea of a spin-off in the minds of fans, saying that while he's hoping to end the current storyline in series six, there's no reason why there couldn't be spin-off shows which follow different strands of the story.
Speaking to the Radio Times, Steven mused, "I know how it's going to end, this particular incarnation of the family story, I know that it's going to end at the beginning of the Second World War.
"But after that I think that the momentum is such that maybe we will continue with other bits of the story."
He added that he'd considered a prequel, but wasn't happy without the freedom to do whatever he wants, "The problem with prequel is you're limiting yourself as to where it can go. You can't kill a character who can show up in the series."
Remembering Helen McCrory
The heartbreaking news was announced in April that Helen McCrory, who played the iconic Polly Gray, had passed away at the age of 52. Following the sad news, many celebrities and former co-stars of Helen's shared touching tributes to the late star.
Scroll through to see all the Peaky Blinders filming locations...
The Black Country Living Museum
The Black Country museum is home to many of the filming locations for Peaky Blinders, and if you take a trip around the museum for a day you'll be sure to recognise some past scenes of the show.
Pictured here is Uncle Charlie's dockyard, home to many dodgy dealings between the Shelby brothers as well as allowing safe passage for who or whatever they need to get out of the Midlands. Read up on the museum here.
Powis Street, Liverpool
Much of the filming for Peaky Blinders is done in and around Liverpool, and different companies host many tours in the city so that fans of the show can see where the magic happens. This particular street is used for the Shelby families homes in the first season, named Watery Lane on the show.
Formby Beach, Liverpool
Many heartbroken viewers will spot that Formby Beach in Liverpool was the spot where Alfie Solomons (played by Tom Hardy) admitted his betrayal to Tommy, and basically forced Tommy into shooting him dead after confessing that he had cancer. It was very emotional.
Port Sunlight, Wirral
Port Sunlight is a model village in the Wirral, Merseyside. Although the village and the homes within it were originally built for workers at the Lever Brothers Factory, it's now a tourist attraction. Eagle-eyed Peaky fans will recognise the timbered housing as Aunt Polly's home, which is 'in' Sutton Coldfield in the show.
Arley Hall, Cheshire
Once Tommy became as 'legit' as he could in season three, he and Grace moved themselves into an incredible country house. Sadly, Grace was shot dead at a party they hosted there, but Tommy continued to live there with their son Charlie as well as their staff.
Arley Hall is situated in Northwich, Cheshire, and is often used as a wedding venue. Other shows to be filmed there include Coronation Street, Antiques Roadshow and Cold Feet.
General Manager Steve Hamilton said, "It's been incredible to see the effort and attention to detail that goes into a production such as Peaky Blinders. There was a real buzz around Arley during the filming and it was great to work with the BBC on such a popular and critically acclaimed drama. The great thing now is that people will be able to visit us this summer and walk in the rooms where these amazing stars have filmed their scenes."
Manchester Town Hall
The town hall in Manchester was apparently used as a building front in a scene in one of the first two seasons where Sam Neill's character, Major Campbell, visits Winston Churchill, but Peaky Blinders' Production Designer Grant Montgomery told i News that "the interiors were done in another location." So cryptic!
Victoria Baths, Manchester
The Victoria Baths in Manchester were used for scenes in season two. After Polly's son Michael returned, having been raised in the countryside by adoptive parents, the Shelby brothers took him along to a horse fair where Tommy bought a filly and also met May Carleton. Of course, in true Peaky style, the day ends in a fight, but the filming for the fair took place at the baths.
Montgomery told i, "I remember thinking Victoria Baths could give it a really good look. One of the baths had timber over it, so we put sawdust down on top."
Bolton
The centre of Bolton was used for various scenes in the show, but Le Mans crescent in Bolton was used for shots to capture the Shelby brothers' trip to London, and specifically the exterior of the Eden Club - the jazz den owned by Sabini, who becomes a nemesis to the family.
Montgomery told i, "We were thinking how to do London in the 1920s, and Bolton has that wonderful crescent. So I said, 'Well, this is our London.' And the exterior to the Eden Club was all done in Bolton."
Brooke’s Mill, Huddersfield
Producers used Brooke's Mill in Huddersfield as the location for the gypsy campsite, using traditional caravans and carts, as well as horses.
Leeds Town Hall
Many fans of the show were convinced that the scenes in which Campbell and Grace share information about the Shelby family in the art gallery were filmed at the Town Hall in Birmingham. However, the front was actually shot at the Town Hall in Leeds.
Newby Hall & Gardens, Ripon
However, the scenes on the inside of the art gallery where Campbell and Grace surreptitiously pass notes to each other were filmed at the Newby Hall & Gardens in Ripon, North Yorkshire.
Keighley and Worth Valley Steam Railway
Most of the Peaky moments that take place on a train or at a station happen on the Keighley and Worth Valley railway line. It's a 5-mile long rail line that runs through a small part of West Yorkshire, and many will recognise Keighley as the station where Grace shot Major Campbell in season one.
Undercliffe Cemetery, Bradford
The shots in season one where Polly pays her respects at the cemetery and meets Freddie Thorne laying flowers for his mum is thought to have been shot in Bradford at the Undercliffe Cemetery.
Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, Yorkshire
If it's a scene involving a train station, this historic Yorkshire station is likely to be the filming location, boasting gorgeous old platforms and carriages, picturesque walking paths and eye-catching backdrops.
Chatsworth House, Derbyshire
If you're looking for May Carleton's mansion, featured in season two of Peaky Blinders, then Chatsworth House, in Bakewell, Derbyshire, is the place! The stunning historic building is perfect for aristocratic horse-trainer May Carleton.
Episodes shot at Chatsworth include huge stars of the show, including Cillian Murphy (as Thomas Shelby), Charlotte Riley (as May Carleton) and Annabelle Wallis (as Grace Burgess).
Read more:
Here are all the new faces for Peaky Blinders season six
Sophie Rundle speaks out on 'all guns blazing' final season of Peaky Blinders
A Peaky Blinders film could be on the way đź‘€