Sales of flat caps boosted by hit TV show Peaky Blinders

THEY might not be the best role models, but the notorious gangsters featured in TV series Peaky Blinders have now emerged as unlikely fashion icons.

John Lewis has reported a surge in flat cap sales as the BBC 2 show continues into its third season.

Sales jumped 27pc after the first episode at the beginning of the month and were up 83pc a fortnight later.

Tourists are particularly keen to get in on the fad, with sales at John Lewis in Heathrow’s Terminal 2 reportedly 136pc higher.

Set in Birmingham in the aftermath of the First World War, Peaky Blinders’ name comes from the slang for a flat cap with a razor blade sewn on to the front to give an extra edge during fights.

The critically acclaimed series stars Irish actor Cillian Murphy as Tommy Shelby ( pictured), the leader of a gang seeking fame and fortune.

But the flat cap craze is not just confined to big department stores. Leeds designer Rhian Kempadoo-Millar said she had an American client who demanded hats in the style of his favourite charac- ters from the show and has so far ordered 32 of them. And in Birmingham itself, hat shop Peter Forson has been selling four or five caps a day worth £90 each.

Although there has been a sudden spike in popularity, the hats never entirely went out of fashion.

Worn by farmers and factory workers up until the post-war years, they have also long been essential attire for a country gent – with Prince Charles a longtime wearer.

John Lewis flat caps start at £18, while a high-end designer version could set you back as much as £200.