Peaky Blinders documentary revealing tales of the real-life Birmingham gang to join final season as release date is finally confirmed

Fans of the BBC One period drama will gain an insight into the tales of the real-life gang that inspired the show (Picture: BBC/Mandabach/Tiger Aspect/Robert Viglasky)

A double dose of Peaky Blinders is set for screens later this month as a special documentary will accompany the forthcoming final series.

The BBC One period drama’s sixth series will be joined by The Real Peaky Blinders, which will dive into the real-life gang of 1800s Victorian Britain that inspired the popular show.

The documentary will reveal ‘fascinating’ and ‘quite shocking’ tales of the real gang, who were actually called the Peaky Blinders – a moniker gained from stitching razor blades into the peak of their caps.

A source told The Sun newspaper’s TV Biz column: ‘This will be a treat for devotees of the drama, some of whom may not have been aware that it was based on a true story.

‘Though the gangs which inspired the Shelby clan are different in many ways, the similarities are fascinating and in many cases quite shocking.

‘The documentary is a fitting way to help mark the end of the ‘Peaky Blinders’ TV phenomenon which has hooked viewers for the past nine years.’

An impressive announcement of the release date was confirmed by a huge mural created by street artist Akse and displayed over the Old Crown in Digbeth, Birmingham, where the show is set.

As fans count down the two weeks remaining until the final season airs, star Cillian Murphy recently revealed that the emotional season will be a tribute to the late Helen McCrory, who died in April at the age of 52.

Cillian Murphy admitted he hopes the new season will ‘live up to the memory’ of his co-star Helen McCrory (Picture: BBC/Caryn Mandabach Productions Ltd 2019/Ben Blackall)

Helen played the Shelby family’s matriarch, Aunt Polly, and Cillian, who plays gang leader Tommy Shelby, admitted he hopes the new season will ‘live up to the memory’ of his co-star.

Helen died last April in a private battle with cancer, and was unable to film any upcoming scenes as Aunt Polly in the sixth series.

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Speaking to Variety, Cillian revealed: ‘I think this is the culmination of the series that hopefully improves upon the last season and makes the most recent one the richest and deepest one that we possibly can, partially because of all of the pandemic s*** happening in the world and, of course, the really sad loss of [Helen] McCrory.

‘I think we are determined to make this a special series and we have been extra committed to working hard. I think the fans will be pleased.’

Peaky Blinders returns on Sunday February 27 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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