Entertainment • Television

Peaky Blinders

Peaky Blinders is a British historical crime drama television series created by Steven Knight.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Peaky Blinders is a British historical crime drama television series created by Steven Knight. Set mainly in Birmingham, England, after the First World War, it follows the Shelby family and the fictional Peaky Blinders gang as they expand their criminal and political influence. The series ran for six seasons and starred Cillian Murphy as Tommy Shelby.

Premise

Peaky Blinders follows the Shelby family as they build power through illegal betting, black-market trading, and broader criminal and political dealings in postwar Birmingham.

Historical basis

The drama is inspired by the real Peaky Blinders gang, but the television story is fictional and only loosely based on the historical group.

Production and broadcast

The series premiered in 2013 and completed its sixth and final season in 2022, with 36 episodes in total. It was created by Steven Knight and became strongly associated with BBC television broadcasting.

Legacy and expansion

The series has been widely recognised for its crime-drama style and central performance by Cillian Murphy. Reporting and recaps published around the finale have also discussed an intended film continuation.

Key facts

The series is set in Birmingham in the aftermath of the First World War.
It centres on the Shelby family and the Peaky Blinders criminal gang.
The fictional gang is loosely based on a real Birmingham street gang active from the late 19th century into the 1920s.
Cillian Murphy plays Tommy Shelby, the series' central character.
The television series aired for six seasons and ended in 2022.

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Canadian context

The series has a substantial Canadian audience through international streaming and TV distribution, and it is frequently discussed in Canadian pop-culture coverage as a major British crime drama.

Frequently asked questions

What is Peaky Blinders about?

It is about the Shelby family, a Birmingham crime family, and their rise to power through gambling, black-market activity, and organised crime after World War I.

Is Peaky Blinders based on a true story?

Partly. The series is fictional, but it is loosely based on the real Peaky Blinders street gang that operated in Birmingham from the late 1800s into the 1920s.

Who plays Tommy Shelby in Peaky Blinders?

Cillian Murphy plays Tommy Shelby.

How many seasons of Peaky Blinders are there?

There are six seasons.

Where is Peaky Blinders filmed?

The series is set in Birmingham, England; the provided sources do not verify a complete filming-location list.

Will there be a Peaky Blinders movie?

The provided sources indicate discussion of a film continuation, but they do not confirm a released movie or provide a final production status.

References

IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2442560/plotsummary/
Supports: Series premise; Birmingham setting; Tommy Shelby; gangster family focus.
IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2471500/plotsummary/
Supports: Post-World War I setting; Thomas Shelby leads the gang; illegal betting and black-market activity.
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peaky_Blinders_(TV_series)
Supports: Created by Steven Knight; set in Birmingham; loosely based on a real gang.
— https://www.wiki.com
Supports: Unavailable; not used.
Wikipedia — https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Peaky_Blinders_episodes
Supports: Six series; 36 episodes; final series announcement; 2013–2022 run.
— https://www.wiki.com
Supports: Unavailable; not used.
Shelby Brothers — https://www.shelbybrothers.com/en/service/peaky-blinders/
Supports: Cillian Murphy as Tommy Shelby; six seasons; final season in 2022; series overview.
Wikipedia — https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peaky_Blinders
Supports: Historical gang background; Birmingham origins; activities; period clothing.