Peaky Blinders Red Carpet Premiere at Broad Street Cineworld, Birmingham
By Michelle Strozykowski
Prior to the final season of Peaky Blinders hitting TV
screens (on February 27th 2022) the show received its own star-studded
red carpet premiere, not in London but of course in the show’s hometown of
Birmingham.
Over 50,000 Applications for Tickets!
Owing to the predicted phenomenal demand, the BBC held a ballot allowing fans to enter for the chance of landing a pair of golden tickets to the 24 Feb premiere. This meant 300 lucky fans were able to rub shoulders with cast, crew and various celebs, and enjoy the experience of watching episode 1 of the new series in style on the big screen. Afterwards Birmingham born writer and show creator Steven Knight, director Anthony Byrne and various members of the cast also took part in a Q&A.
In anticipation of the event Steven Knight said:
“I’m thrilled to be part of this long-awaited announcement that the Peaky Blinders premiere is coming to Birmingham. I’m proud to launch the latest chapter in this Birmingham story in my home town, and I’m sure that as ever, it will be a fantastic evening.”
(BBC Media Centre, published 11 February 2022)
Fans Clamour for a Glimpse of Tommy Shelby
There was a flurry of Facebook live activity as the stars came out on Thursday night (24 February 2022). Using iPads and phones fans captured moments with Peaky Blinders regulars such as as Sophie Rundle (who plays Ada Shelby), Natasha O’Keeffe (who plays Lizzie Shelby), Kate Phillips (who plays Linda Shelby) and Finn Cole (who plays Michael Gray).
But one face sadly missing from the event was that of the main man himself Cillian Murphy (Thomas Shelby). Murphy was in America where he is currently filming Christopher Nolan’s new movie Oppenheimer. Murphy is a regular face with Nolan, having featured in films such as The Dark Knight, Inception and Dunkirk, but this is his first time as lead for the director.
Other familiar faces on the red carpet included Birmingham’s own poet extraordinaire Benjamin Zephaniah (who plays Jeremiah Jesus in the show), Uncle Charlie himself Ned Dennehy, Harry Kirton (who plays Finn Shelby) and Peaky Blinders newcomer Conrad Khan (character name not known at the time of writing). Various other screen stars managed to find their way onto the guest list too; UB40 were there, Emma Willis, Dex Lee from Doctors Jay Blades from The Repair shop, Olympic queen Denise Lewis and Masterchef: The Professionals winner Dan Lee.
No Joy on the Red Carpet
There was no Anya Taylor-Joy on the red carpet either, though like Cillian Murphy she may also be caught up filming. (Taylor-Joy is currently slated to appear alongside Nicholas Hoult in The Menu).
And, of course there was a gaping hole of sadness where we should have seen Helen McCrory. Her tragic death from breast cancer (April 16 2021), which she had kept secret from public knowledge, was shockingly premature and unexpected. Her stamp on the Peaky Blinders world as Aunt Pol was undeniable; oftentimes a dramatic high and fierce counterpoint to Tommy Shelby. It will be beyond sad not to have her strutting her stuff and calling the shots in this final season of the show.
This is Not the End, Just a Change of Tempo
Fans disappointed that the TV programme is drawing to a close can take some comfort in the announcement that plans are afoot for a big screen adaptation of Peaky Blinders. It is not yet clear who might be starring in it, but what we do know is the goings on of the Shelby clan are nothing if not far reaching. There’s already a modern dance in production, based on the show, and Steven Knight has spoken openly about turning the most operatic of television shows into, what else, an actual opera. So one thing we can be sure of, there is much Peaky business still to come.