GOING OUT ON A BLINDER
Tommy Shelby is battling to make his mark in the States – and find his humanity – in the long-awaited final season of Peaky Blinders
He’s a ruthless gang leader with a seat in Parliament, a gun-toting war hero with skeletons in his cupboard and a mansion in the Midlands. Yes, it’s Tommy Shelby, who’s back for a sixth and final series of Peaky Blinders, the stylish drama that’s been a huge hit around the world.
In the first two of the six episodes Tommy, played by Cillian Murphy, is plotting revenge and resolved to complete an unfinished task. Set in 1933, we see him en route to the US, as the end of Prohibition means the country is awash with business opportunities. Still stinging from the suggestion of his former accountant Michael Gray (Finn Cole) that Americans don’t want to deal with a mob like the Shelbys, he’s determined to fill his boots.
Fascists are a thorn in Tommy’s side in the new series, and a missed chance to kill British Blackshirts leader Oswald Mosley at the end of the last series plays heavily on his mind. Gangsters are also a cause for concern. But could a meeting with Jewish mob boss Alfie Solomons (Tom Hardy), his old ally, put Tommy back on the front foot? ‘A lot will be revealed in the first ten minutes of episode one,’ says Cillian. ‘What happens becomes the engine for the rest of the series.’
Creator Steven Knight says Tommy’s path is one of redemption. ‘From the beginning I’ve wanted to take a character whose humanity was torn out of him by his experiences in the Great War, and slowly turn him back into a human being,’ he explains. ‘At the end of episode six, Tommy is that human being again.’
Tommy’s loyalty to his brother Arthur (Paul Anderson) is undimmed, and Tommy’s sister Ada (Sophie Rundle) and his wife Lizzie (Natasha O’Keeffe) continue to play key roles. Meanwhile Gina Gray (Anya Taylor-Joy) is still dreaming of husband Michael ousting Tommy and becoming the Shelby kingpin.
One character not returning is Aunt Polly, previously the powerhouse of the clan and mother of Michael Gray. The actress who played her, Helen McCrory, died during filming, aged just 52.
Cillian was close friends with Helen and says her death cast a long shadow. ‘It felt very strange being on set without her. It’s difficult to comprehend that if it hadn’t been for Covid, which shut us down at a time when Helen could have filmed, there would be a whole other version of this series with her in it.’
Steven Knight says these final episodes are a tribute to the actress. ‘Her energy, and the energy of Aunt Polly, persist throughout,’ he says. ‘Helen was the matriarch of the Peaky Blinders — both on and off screen.’
–James Peachey ■ Peaky Blinders returns tonight at 9pm on BBC1.