Peaky Blinders: everything you need to know about season 6

The final series of Peaky Blinders is almost upon us with the first episode of season 6 set to air this Sunday (27 February).

Since the first season aired in 2013, the BBC gangster drama has become a huge hit, not only in the UK, but also across Europe and the US after it was picked up by Netflix.

Created by Birmingham-born writer Steven Knight, the show follows the lives of the notorious Shelby family, a Birmingham gang rising to prominence in post-war Birmingham.

Cillian Murphy stars as gang leader Tommy Shelby, with the likes of Adrien Brody, Tom Hardy, Stephen Graham and Anya Taylor-Joy all featuring in the series.

Knight’s show was inspired by the gang of the same name whose members are said to have operated in Small Heath and other city areas from the 1880s until the 1910s.

The series has always offered a blend of fact and fiction, and historical figures such as Winston Churchill and Oswald Mosely are as much a part of Peaky Blinders as those drawn from creator Steven Knight’s imagination.

So, with final season set to air, here’s everything you need to know about Peaky Blinders season 6.

What will happen in season 6?

The new season follows on from series five, which introduced Sam Claflin as the leader of the British Union of Fascists, Oswald Mosley, and ended with a cliffhanger as the Shelby family were betrayed by their allies.

In the finale, Tommy’s plan to kill Mosley failed after he was outwitted by the MP, and according to the series 6 trailer, it looks as though Mosley and Tommy will again be arch enemies.

Another shocking moment of the series 5 finale was the revelation that Alfie Solomons (played by Tom Hardy) was still alive.

It was revealed that Tommy had not actually killed Alfie in series 4, but just injured him, when viewers were previously left believing he had been killed off.

Alfie then helped Tommy with his botched plan to assassinate Mosley.

The final episode of the series also revealed that Michael Gray (Finn Cole) was planning to take control of the Peaky Blinders with Tommy demoted.

Bur after Tommy rejected his plan, it looked as though Michael would pursue it regardless.

Who is in the Peaky Blinders season 6 cast?

Lead actor Cillian Murphy will of course return as Thomas Shelby, who concluded season five with Oswald Mosley (Sam Clafin).

Also returning is the Shelby gang, who have starred in the series alongside Murphy since series one.

This includes Paul Anderson (Arthur Shelby), Harry Kirton (Finn Shelby) and Sophie Rundle (Ada Thorne).

Sadly, critically acclaimed actress and Peaky Blinders’ Aunt Polly, Helen McCrory, passed away in April after years of battling cancer.

Cillian Murphy previously confirmed that Helen had not filmed any new episodes of the show prior to her death.

Tom Hardy will return to the show as Alfie Solomons alongside Anya Taylor-Joy (The Queen’s Gambit) Gina Gray.

The show has attracted some star-studded names, including Hardy, Taylor-Joy and Adrien Brody.

But which new names will feature in the upcoming season?

Line of Duty and Help star Stephen Graham is also set to make an appearance in the upcoming series, as the official Peaky Blinders Twitter page confirmed he had joined the cast.

Australian actor James Frecheville has also joined the cast for the new season.

What else do we know about series 6?

The final series will have six episodes, and it has been confirmed that episode one of the new series will be called ‘Black Day.’

What’s been said about the new series?

Speaking at the season 6 premiere at Cineworld on Broad street on Thursday night (24 February), Steven Knight said: “Expect the unexpected. It’s the best yet, and Tommy, poor Tommy, he’s facing lots of enemies but the worst enemy he faces is himself.”

Knight previously said of the sixth series: “Peaky is back and with a bang. After the enforced production delay due to the Covid pandemic, we find the family in extreme jeopardy and the stakes have never been higher.

“We believe this will be the best series of all and are sure that our amazing fans will love it.

“While the TV series will be coming to an end, the story will continue in another form.”

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