Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight has unveiled the deeply personal family stories that inspired his iconic Birmingham-based series, including a surprising revelation about his mother's hidden childhood life. The filmmaker shared these insights during a special online session following the world premiere of the new feature film Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man in Birmingham this week.
Family Secrets and Birmingham Roots
During an Ask-Me-Anything session on Reddit's film community, Knight explained how the Peaky Blinders stories were first told to him during his childhood. The most surprising inspiration came from his own mother's experiences as a nine-year-old bookies runner in Birmingham's streets.
"My mother was a bookies runner when she was nine years old," Knight revealed. "She would carry a basket of washing down the street so gamblers could drop their illegal bets and coins in without the police knowing. She would arrive at the bookies house where there was a dog on a chain just the right length to let a kid squeeze past. The bookie would give her six pence."
Real Peaky Blinders in the Family
Knight's connections to the actual Peaky Blinders gang run even deeper through his father's family. His dad's uncles were known as the Sheldon brothers and were recognized as genuine Peaky Blinders members in Birmingham's history.
The filmmaker recounted a vivid childhood story his father shared: "Once my dad was sent to give them a message when he was a kid. He knocked a door and when it opened there was a wave of cigarette smoke and whisky fumes. Seven immaculately dressed men in peaked caps with blades were sat around a round table covered in coins and bank notes. They were drinking whisky out of jam jars. These men didn't waste money on glasses or cups."
Cultural Impact and Childhood Memories
Beyond direct family connections, Knight explained how the Peaky Blinders legend permeated Birmingham's culture during his upbringing. The gang's name was used as a cautionary tale by parents throughout the city.
"Also when I was a kid mothers would say to their kids who misbehaved...'you do that again the Peaky Blinders will get ya'," Knight recalled, highlighting how the gang's reputation became embedded in local folklore.
The Immortal Man Premiere and Release
The revelations came during promotional events for Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, which had its world premiere in Birmingham this week. The feature film serves as a sequel to the hit BBC series and sees Cillian Murphy returning to his iconic role as Birmingham gangster Thomas Shelby.
According to the official synopsis: "Birmingham, 1940. Amidst the chaos of WWII, Tommy Shelby is driven back from a self-imposed exile to face his most destructive reckoning yet. With the future of the family and the country at stake, Tommy must face his own demons, and choose whether to confront his legacy, or burn it to the ground. By order of the Peaky Blinders..."
The film will debut in selected cinemas on Friday, March 6, before streaming globally on Netflix starting Friday, March 20. The premiere event saw stars including Cillian Murphy, Packy Lee, and Steven Knight himself walking the red carpet in Birmingham, celebrating the continuation of a story deeply rooted in the city's history and the filmmaker's personal family experiences.
