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 brand-new documentary has raised the cover on the making of Peaky Blinders, and the "folklore" at the heart of the story.


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


"My mama was a bookmaker's runner. Gambling was prohibited at the time, she was 8 years old and she would stroll down the street with a basket of washing and individuals would drop bets into the basket," Knight said.


The documentary, which launched on streaming websites today, has been made by filmmaker Robin Bextor, who said he set out to different truth from fiction.


"The first reported mention of Peaky Blinders that occurred at all remained in 1890, whereas the Peaky Blinders we see on screen do not start till after the First World War," he informed BBC Radio WM.


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


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


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


"I brought a sort of Americana to it. I was always drawn to that aesthetic, the lawlessness of it," Montgomery told the brand-new production.


It comes weeks before the of a brand-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 said his film was a homage to Peaky Blinders' Brummie roots, and the "unmatched" ability of its creator, Knight.


"It's not a mishap that he's ending up being the king of drama now. He's been asked to write the new Bond motion picture, he's got two new series running on TV, he's got the Peaky Blinders film ... and he was asked to write Star Wars.


"I mean, this guy is a big achiever. Plus of course, what Peaky Blinders offered us was six series of a dazzling efficiency by Cillian Murphy."


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