What to watch
BBC TWO, 9.00PM
We’re midway through the fourth series and Peaky Blinders seems set on going down the path of self-parody, such is the high tide of blood, violence and criminality that it’s unleashed so far. Gorespattered, finely choreographed excess, however, has always been a large part of its appeal, and this series’ addition of a to-the-death vendetta with Italian-american mafiosi on the mean streets of Birmingham certainly allows such excess to be delivered by the bucketload. If Adrien Brody, channelling the mumbling ghost of Don Corleone in his portrayal of the mafia boss Luca Changretta, teeters on the brink of pantomime, at least the devil’s deal that he brokered with Polly (Helen Mccrory) in last week’s climactic moments captured the spinetingling shiver of betrayal that it needed to convince.
That’s where this week’s action-packed episode picks up, with the Shelby gang breaking out the weaponry again ahead of another suspected ambush, while Tommy’s (Cillian Murphy) efforts to find a regular bedmate focus on May Carleton (Charlotte Riley). And his new sideline as a boxing promoter, prompts the reappearance of old rival Alfie Solomons (Tom Hardy). Gerard O’donovan