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 the individuals behind the show, consisting of creator Steven Knight speaking about the Birmingham family folklore that inspired it.


"My mother was a bookie's runner. Gambling was unlawful at the time, she was eight years of ages and she would walk down the street with a basket of cleaning and people would drop bets into the basket," Knight said.


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


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


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


The documentary likewise explores the production techniques of the six BBC series of Peaky Blinders, including its usage of modern rock music along with folk and blues.


Bextor said 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 told the 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 2 more BBC series heading through to the 1950s.


Bextor stated his movie was a homage to Peaky Blinders' Brummie roots, and the "unmatched" skill 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 compose the new Bond movie, he's got two brand-new series operating on TV, he's got the Peaky Blinders film ... and he was asked to compose Star Wars.


"I imply, this guy is a substantial achiever. Plus obviously, what Peaky Blinders provided us was six series of a dazzling efficiency by Cillian Murphy."


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