Peaky Blinders: 10 Years in 10 Fun Facts About the Cult Series Starring Cillian Murphy
Peaky Blinders celebrates 10 years of gangster epic, in the period police drama that launched Cillian Murphy. Set in the Small Heat neighborhood of Birmingham (although it was mostly filmed in Liverpool), in post-Great War England, the show tells the bloody adventures of the “gang with the pointed hats”. It is impossible not to be seduced by the gray atmosphere of the West Midlands of 1919 and by the charismatic crime boss Thomas Shelby, played by the Oppenheimer star.
Created by Steven Knight, the British TV series debuted on September 12, 2013 on the BBC, ending after 6 successful seasons. Fans are waiting for a spin-off film, which will start production next spring. Season after season, the anti-Downton Abbey has seen actors of the caliber of Sam Neill, Tom Hardy, Adrien Brody, Anya Taylor-Joy and Sam Claflin follow one another on the screen. In a deal with the Weinstein Company (whose logo was cut from the credits) and Endemol, online streaming giant Netflix acquired the rights to distribute the series in the United States and the rest of the world in 2014. Glasses of Irish whiskey in hand to toast a decade of Peaky Blinders with 10 curiosities: from the 3,000 cigarettes smoked by the protagonist to the street thugs inspired by the ancestors of the show’s creator.
- The Peaky Blinders really existed (and are the ancestors of the show’s creator)
The Peaky Blinders were an urban criminal gang active in Birmingham from 1880 to the 1910s. The gang, born from the harsh economic deprivation of the British working class, was made up of young people from the lower middle class. The Peaky Blinders come from Steven Knight’s past. The creator of the series based the show on childhood stories passed down by his family; his father George’s uncles were the Sheldons (who, on legal advice, became Shelby in the series).
- The Peaky Blinders did not have razor blades sewn into their caps
The real Peaky Blinders took their name from their pointed hats. However, since razor blades were a luxury item, it was unlikely that they would have them for street fights.
- Cillian Murphy smoked 3,000 cigarettes per season
Unlike Thomas Shelby, the Irish actor does not smoke. Over the course of 6 seasons, he consumed 3,000 fake, tobacco-free, herbal cigarettes.
- Cillian Murphy hated Tommy Shelby’s haircut
One of the protagonist’s distinctive traits is, of course, his iconic “Peaky Blinder” haircut. It’s a shame that even though it has become trendy, Cillian Murphy is horrified by it.
- Some Hollywood stars were cut from the cast
Although the series launched actors such as Anya Taylor-Joy and Josh O’Connor, some stars were cut from the cast. For example, Tom Holland who auditioned but was not cast.
- Brothers in the cast
Joe Cole (John Shelby) and Finn Cole (Michael Gray) play cousins in the series but are actually brothers.
- Shelby’s accent
Cillian Murphy based Tommy’s Brummie accent on Birmingham City fans.
- There is a character inspired by Ozzy Osbourne
The late Helen McCrory, who passed away prematurely in 2021 from cancer, was inspired by the legend of Black Sabbath for the accent of Aunt Polly. The sixth and final season is dedicated to her.
- Knight avoided sensationalizing violence
Along with Game of Thrones and Boardwalk Empire, Peaky Blinders is one of the most violent TV shows ever to air. Steven Knight went to great lengths to depict violence in the show in a realistic and unattractive way, showing the repercussions of brutal acts.
- David Bowie was a huge fan of the show
One of Peaky Blinders’ most famous fans was David Bowie before his tragic and untimely death in 2016. The Thin White Duke even once sent Cillian Murphy a photo of himself wearing a cap with razor blades sewn into it.
