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 lifted the cover on the making of Peaky Blinders, and the "mythology" at the heart of the story.


Peaky Blinders: The Real Story features interviews with individuals behind the show, consisting of creator Steven Knight talking about the Birmingham household folklore that motivated it.


"My mama was a bookmaker's runner. Gambling was unlawful at the time, she was eight 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 introduced on streaming websites today, has been made by filmmaker Robin Bextor, who said he set out to separate fact from fiction.


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


"The real Peaky Blinders had completed before the series begins".


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


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


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


It comes weeks before the release 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 stated his film was a homage to Peaky Blinders' Brummie roots, and the "unparalleled" skill of its developer, Knight.


"It's not a mishap that he's becoming the king of drama now. He's been asked to compose the new Bond film, he's got 2 new series running on TV, he's got the Peaky Blinders film ... and he was asked to write Star Wars.


"I suggest, this guy is a huge achiever. Plus of course, what Peaky Blinders gave us was 6 series of a dazzling efficiency by ."


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