Peaky Blinders

Season 3 BBC First (*119) 20:00 Drama

When last we checked in with gangster Thomas Shelby (Cillian Murphy) and his thugs in period drama Peaky Blinders (2013-current) in March 2016, it was a tale of mixed fortunes. The gang had robbed bookie Sabini (Noah Taylor) at the races but Tommy was kidnapped by Irish thugs on the orders of crooked Inspector Campbell (Sam Neill) and he had a gun to his head in a field. Not that he fears death, hints Cillian. “He realised you’ve only got one go at this life and you might as well take as much as you can. That’s the scary thing about Thomas – he’s unafraid of death.”

So where does that leave us as season 3 starts tonight? Tommy isn’t dead and he’s getting married to former spy Grace (Annabelle Wallis) who revealed in season 2’s finale (set two years earlier in the show’s world) that she was pregnant. Impending nuptials and fatherhood haven’t changed Tommy though – he’s still always in control all of the time, even going so far as to haul the Blinder boys into the kitchen at his wedding and remind them “no cocaine” and “be on your best behaviour!”

The family have moved out of the grimy Birmingham suburbs (where the show is mostly filmed) and live in a posh countryside manor. That doesn’t mean the Blinders have given up their crime ways. Quite the opposite! They’re up to their chins in illegal activity and even a spot of legitimate business. And while there’s less to be seen of movie star Tom Hardy (Max in 2015 sci-fi movie Mad Max: Fury Road), who only pops up twice as vile Jewish mob boss Alfie Solomons, he’s mesmerising. “It’s a tribute to the show that it can attract the calibre of actor like Tom,” says Cillian. But make no mistake: Thomas is fighting for his life and his family this time round. And he won’t always win…