'Peaky Blinders' to end with sixth season, with spin-off confirmed

The BBC has announced that filming has begun on the sixth season of Peaky Blinders, which will be the final season of the hit crime show. However, its creator Steven Knight has confirmed the story will continue ‘in another form’.

Knight, the creator and writer of the Birmingham-set show, said: “Peaky is back and with a bang.

“After the enforced production delay due to the Covid pandemic, we find the family in extreme jeopardy and the stakes have never been higher.

“We believe this will be the best series of all and are sure that our amazing fans will love it. While the TV series will be coming to an end, the story will continue in another form.”

Read more: Peaky Blinders inspires record Birmingham tourism even though it's not shot there

Knight has teased a Peaky Blinders movie in the past, telling NME in 2019: “When we get to the end of the seven series, we’ll think about [the movie]. There’s still a lot of energy in it and places it can go. We’ve been thinking about spin-offs, and I’m also interested in doing something with the Second World War.

In 2020 he told Radio Times: "I know how it's going to end, this particular incarnation of the family story, I know that it's going to end at the beginning of the Second World War. But after that I think that the momentum is such that maybe we will continue with other bits of the story."

The sixth series is written by Knight, Anthony Byrne returns as director having directed series five, and Nick Goding will produce. Executive producers are Caryn Mandabach, Steven Knight, Jamie Glazebrook, David Mason, Anthony Byrne and Cillian Murphy.

Mandabach added: “Along with our wonderful, supportive, partners at BBC and Netflix, we have been working diligently to ensure we can get Peaky safely back into production; the safety of our cast and crew is always our priority.

“Thank you to all the Peaky fans who have been so unwaveringly supportive and patient. Steve’s scripts are incredible and mark the end of an epic story that has entranced audiences since it first started in 2013, but the world of Peaky Blinders will most definitely live on.”

Tommy Bulfin, Executive Producer for the BBC, added: “We are very excited that filming for Peaky Blinders has begun and so grateful to everyone for all their hard work to make it happen.

“Steve’s scripts for series six are truly remarkable and provide a fitting send-off which we are sure will delight fans.”

Peaky Blinders first aired on BBC Two in 2013, quickly becoming one of the channel’s most popular dramas. It made the transition to BBC One for the fifth series in 2019. It has been broadcast elsewhere across the world on Netflix.

Throughout its run, the drama has won many awards including NTAs as voted for by the public, BAFTA Craft Awards and a BAFTA for best drama series in 2018.

Watch: Peaky Blinders S6 theories