and Peaky Blinders: The Immortals Now streaming on Netflix, a new sequel series is already in development and is expected to be released in 2027, Peaky Blinders Back in the spotlight. The film revisits Tommy Shelby in wartime Britain, while the upcoming series takes the story into the 1950s to tell the story of a new generation of the Shelby family. But the new spotlight has once again raised a question that has been with the show since its inception: How much of Peaky Blinders is real, and how much was made for TV? The answer is somewhere in between. The world of The Shelbys takes real people, real places, and real tensions, but reshapes them into something more cohesive and broader than what’s already there.
The world of the series and the setting of the film
The original series follows Cillian Murphy as Tommy Shelby, a World War I veteran who builds a criminal empire in post-war Birmingham. Over the course of the story, the story expands from street gambling to political influence, international dealings, and confrontations with fascism. The 2026 film moves the timeline forward to World War II. Tommy is older and withdrawn, living a life of isolation as the Blitz reshapes Britain. The core conflict is no longer simply about control of territory or commerce, but about heritage. His son Duke’s growing role in the family business draws him in, exposing him to new threats, including forces linked to the Nazis, while forcing him to consider the consequences of past decisions. This shift is important because it highlights the evolution of the series itself. What was originally a story based on local crime has expanded into something much broader and more symbolic, spanning decades and historical moments. The planned sequel series, set in the 1950s and created by Steven Knight, will continue this trajectory and focus on a new generation rather than repeating the rise of Tommy.
What is the real Peaky Blinders like?
The real Peaky Blinders were not a single family, nor a unified or centrally organized criminal group. The name refers to a loose group of street gangs operating in Birmingham in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in working-class areas such as Bodlesley and Little Heath. These are community-based groups, shaped by local conditions rather than any overarching structure or leadership.Most of their members are young, often men in their teens or early twenties, who grew up in areas of overcrowding, poverty and limited opportunity. Their activities reflected the circumstances of the time. They were involved in street violence, fights with rival groups, theft, intimidation and small-scale gambling scams. These actions were not coordinated across cities or regions, but rather localized, often opportunistic and limited in scope.
Photos depicting original Peaky Blinders members | Shortwave Neural Networks
There is no evidence that they operate in anything like the structured, hierarchical organization described in Peaky Blinders. They do not control large gambling networks, nor do they run protection rackets or sustain long-term criminal enterprises that extend beyond their surroundings. By the 1920s they had been overtaken by groups such as the Birmingham Boys, and later the Sabine gang became dominant in organized crime, particularly around racecourses.
Style and identity, what the show gets right
Where the series ties more closely into history is in how these people present themselves. The real Peaky Blinders were famous for their appearance, and this reputation formed an important part of their historical identity. Their dressing style was distinctive – tailored jackets, vests, bell-bottoms, silk scarves and steel-toed boots were all part of their looks. The peaked caps they wore at an angle became their signature feature.It is generally believed that the name itself was derived from the style: “Peaky” refers to a hat, and “Blinder” is local Birmingham slang for a striking or well-dressed person. Their clothing was no accident; it was a deliberate assertion of identity and status in an environment where both were constrained.One of the show’s most enduring elements, the idea that razor blades were sewn into these hats, is historically untenable. Historian Carl Chinn addressed the issue directly, noting in the Birmingham Mail that razor blades only came into circulation in the 1890s and were considered a luxury item. He noted that it would be impractical and unlikely for street gangs to use them in this way, adding that embedding the blades into the soft fabric of the hat would not provide the control or power needed for combat. He believes the image belongs more to later storytelling than to the period itself.
characters, who is real and who is not
Unfortunately, the Shelby family, Tommy Shelby, Arthur, John and Polly, does not exist in the historical record. They are fictional constructs created for Peaky Blinders, although elements of their world are based on true stories. Steven Knight said the idea came in part from stories his parents told about Birmingham, including relatives with ties to the Shelton family who were involved in illegal horse betting at a time when such activities were not allowed.Around this fictional core, the show features a number of real historical figures, many of whom did play central roles in British organized crime or politics in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.Billy Kimber is portrayed as the Shelby family’s arch-rival, but is actually one of England’s most powerful crime bosses. His Birmingham Boys (also known as the Blummagen Boys) were a group that dominated the world of racecourse betting and conservation rackets. Unlike the show, where his story ends in violent conflict, Kimber died after a long illness.Alfred Solomon is the real-life figure behind Alfie Solomons, who plays a volatile Jewish gang leader operating in London. Although the character was stylized, the historical figure was indeed involved in criminal activity related to racetracks and conservation networks.Darby Sabini is portrayed as another rival, a real Italian-born crime boss who leads the Sabini Gang. He clashed with Kimber and his organization over control of racetrack betting, and as the early gangs declined, his organization eventually became one of the dominant forces in the field.The series also features major political figures. Oswald Mosley appeared to be a rising political force in Britain aligned with fascism. He was the founder and leader of the British Union of Fascists and was detained by the British government during World War II for posing a threat to national security. His wife, Diana Mosley, was among them. She was from a noble family, shared her husband’s political views, and was also interned during the war. Historical records show that British authorities considered her to be a greater security risk than her husband.Other real-life figures appear in the series’ timeline, including Winston Churchill, who appears at various stages of his political career. Churchill, of course, was a central figure in British politics and later served as Prime Minister during World War II.These people are based on real history, but the series brings them into direct and ongoing interaction with the fictional Shelby family. In fact, there is no evidence that these characters intersect with the way they are presented in the show. Their timelines, relationships, and conflicts are rearranged and condensed to fit a single narrative thread, bringing together people operating in overlapping but not necessarily connected worlds
Crime and scale, the biggest difference
The most significant departure from history is the scale of operations. In the series, Peaky Blinders is portrayed as a complex and ever-expanding criminal organization involved in illegal gambling networks, protection fees, political influence and even international transactions.There is no historical basis for this level of organization or influence.The real Peaky Blinders remained local and fragmented. Their activities did not extend into national networks or ongoing businesses, nor had impact across industries or political structures. Their presence is associated with specific communities and limited forms of crime. As organized crime in Britain developed into a more structured system – particularly around racecourses and betting – it was other groups, not the Peaky Blinders, that became dominant.
Where history ends and series begins
What the show draws from history is specific and identifiable: the existence of Birmingham street gangs, their distinctive styles, the presence of figures like Billy Kimber, and the social conditions that shaped those environments.Beyond that, the core elements of the story, the Shelby family, their continued rise, the scale of their operation, and their longevity in the later decades, were all built for the screen. The series brings together real names, places and pieces of history, but arranges them into a continuous narrative where none exists.
