We’re currently at a turning point for Peaky Blinders. The hit series from Steven Knight recently rounded off an era centred around Cillian Murphy’s Tommy Shelby with a film spin-off called The Immortal Man, which went to cinemas and Netflix before the BBC, the programme’s original home.
The upcoming sequel series, which will centre on Tommy’s children Duke and Charles, played by Jamie Bell and Charlie Heaton, will be back airing on the BBC in the UK, with Netflix acting as the show’s home internationally.
Now, Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight has explained why the story has moved between the platforms across its different iterations, saying that Netflix has paid the lion’s share of the cost to make the film.
“You won’t get that budget from the BBC,” Knight told a House of Commons inquiry into the BBC’s future.
In spite of this, Knight was clear that he didn’t think Peaky Blinders would exist at all if the BBC hadn’t commissioned it.
He said: “I don’t think I could have made Peaky Blinders at all outside of the BBC. It falls into a category of ‘curious’ and not of the time or of the fashion of the time. And often — not always, but often — it’s the BBC that tends to take a chance on things like that.”
He also said that while the BBC has “always been known that it’s not the place you go to for the big bucks,” it is “where you go get if you want to express something,” and there’s “less of a sense that you’re going to be involved in meetings or calls where lots of people feel they must say something to justify being there”.
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Knight’s evidence session was as part of the House of Commons committee for culture, media and sport’s inquiry into how the BBC can adapt to the changing media landscape, as its royal charter review continues.
The upcoming Peaky Blinders sequel series is currently only confirmed to feature two returning cast members, with Ned Dennehy and Packy Lee back as Charlie Strong and Johnny Dogs.
Peaky Blinders is set to return in 2027.
Peaky Blinders seasons 1-6 are available to watch on BBC iPlayer. The Peaky Blinders movie, The Immortal Man, is streaming now on Netflix. Sign up for Netflix from £5.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream.
Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Authors
James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
