Entertainment
Peaky Blinders season 6 timeline: Everything we know so far from filming as Stephen Graham joins family and Shelbys return
Peaky Blinders fans have been keeping a beady eye on filming for the show, after production for series six began in January this year.
After a string of delays, the Shelbys are back in business, and photos from the set have already revealed a whole host of what’s set to happen – from returning cast members to potential scenes and a very interesting addition to the clan.
Of course, the stars and creator Steven Knight are keeping tight-lipped on what we can expect – and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
But we can’t help having a sneaky look onto set and seeing what we can figure out in the meantime – after all, it has been a year a half already.
By order of the Peaky Blinders, the beloved BBC show is expected to be back on our screens in late 2021 or early 2022 – but here’s what we know so far.
What’s happened so far with the Peaky Blinders production
Filming for series six began in January this year, with the team announcing it with a snap of Cillian Murphy (Tommy Shelby) looking over his script, and clutching onto the reigns of a horse.
He looked right at home in his costume, and it’s like we were never away!
Michael Gray (Finn Cole) hasn’t always seen completely eye-to-eye with the Shelbys, and it seems there are more arguments to be had.
In some of the first snaps from set, Michael was pictured being restrained as he shouted after Tommy. We dread to think!
Peaky Blinders announced a new leading lady, with Amber cast in a mystery role.
Confirming the news on Instagram, the actress shared a photo of herself in character, a cigarette in her hand, and an ice-cold stare on her face – and she looks like she fits in perfectly.
An announcement confirmed the return of the dreadful, fascist leader Oswald Mosley after Hunger Games star joined the cast in series five.
It was accompanied by chilling shot of Mosley sitting in a dark room, wearing a suit while staring intently at something – or someone – off-camera.
It’s no surprise that Paul Anderson will be returning as hot-headed Arthur, with shots from set showing he’s getting right back into character with his trademark glare.
Elsewhere, Natasha O’Keeffe was also spotted back in character as Lizzie Stark.
Cillian and Paul were also spotted filming scenes near the historic St George’s Hall in Liverpool.
Scenes depicting a tense confrontation between anti-Fascism protesters and police were filmed – and we can be sure Tommy and Arthur will be right in the middle of it.
Peaky Blinders without Tommy Shelby is pretty difficult to imagine, but creator Steven has suggested other forms of the show could continue without him
He acknowledged that the main series relies on Tommy, but ‘as it grows and progresses, who knows?’
‘There may be worlds that are part of the Peaky world that are about someone else but he is the centre around everything orbits,’ he added to BirminghamLive.
No-nonsense Esme, played by Aimee-Ffion Edwards, has become a staple of the Shelby family.
She’s clearly taking no prisoners in series six, as she was seen chasing brother-in-law Tommy out of a graveyard.
Helen McCrory, who played Polly Gray, died in April after a battle with cancer, with cast and fans paying tribute.
Cillian and Steven were just some of those left heartbroken by the news.
A sweet on-set tribute was later shared for the legendary actress, as a clapperboard was decorated to bear Helen’s face and surrounded by the words ‘Rest in Peace, Helen’.
They simply wrote alongside it: ‘Forever part of the Peaky Blinders family.’
Line of Duty star Stephen has long been rumoured for a role in Peaky Blinders, but nothing was certain when coronavirus wreaked havoc on filming.
He was finally spotted in some on set snaps, donning a stripy shirt and waistcoat.
While he’s rumoured to play Al Capone, as he took on the same role in Boardwalk Empire, creator Steven previously ruled out the idea, telling the Obsessed With… Peaky Blinders podcast: ‘Not Al Capone – I didn’t want to go west.
‘Because it’s a minefield once you go into Chicago gangsters. I refer to him last series, but I didn’t want to go into that.’
A few weeks into filming, production was halted after a crew member received a ‘false positive’ coronavirus test result.
According to reports, the member of staff has been told to self-isolate along with those who they came into contact with after taking the NHS test
‘Filming was stood down on Peaky Blinders because of a false positive test result for a member of the crew,’ a spokesperson said.
‘In line with protocol, this person took an NHS test and anyone who came into contact with them self-isolated – the safety of our team on Peaky Blinders is of paramount importance.’
The spokesperson added to MailOnline: ‘The NHS test has come back negative and filming will resume as normal tomorrow.’
Series six is set to pick up right where we left off – with Tommy holding a gun to his own head.
We’re set to find out who betrayed Tommy after his failed assassination attempt on Moseley, and we’ll be finding out more about Gina Gray’s (Anya Taylor-Joy) family.
Director Anthony Byrne told Obsessed With Peaky Blinders: ‘Gina and whoever her family are, will make themselves known, Oswald Mosley and some people around him and his world.
‘Well Gina is obviously American and she comes from quite an influential American family, who are not overtly a crime family, but there’s a lot of grey there and that’s sort of teed up to be delved into in the next season.’
We can’t wait!
Peaky Blinders is available on BBC iPlayer and Netflix.
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