Peaky Blinders

Plot Summary

Peaky Blinders is a British period crime drama television series created by Steven Knight. Set in Birmingham, England, the series follows the exploits of the Shelby crime family in the direct aftermath of the First World War. The fictional family is loosely based on a real 19th-century urban youth gang of the same name, who were active in the city from the 1890s to the early twentieth century. Peaky Blinders features an ensemble cast, led by Cillian Murphy, Helen McCrory, Joe Cole and Paul Anderson starring as Tommy Shelby, Elizabeth "Polly" Gray, John Shelby and Arthur Shelby respectively, the gang's senior members. Sam Neill, Tom Hardy, Paddy Considine, Adrien Brody, Aidan Gillen, Charlotte Riley, Sam Claflin and Anya Taylor-Joy also have recurring roles at various junctures of the series. The series premiered on 12 September 2013, telecast on BBC Two until the fourth season, and then shifted to BBC One for the fifth season.

Peaky Blinders is a gangster family of Irish Traveller origin epic set in Birmingham, England, in 1919, several months after the end of the First World War in November 1918. The story centres on the Peaky Blinders gang and their ambitious and highly cunning boss Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy). The gang comes to the attention of Major Chester Campbell (Sam Neill), a Detective Chief Inspector in the Royal Irish Constabulary (R.I.C.) sent over by Winston Churchill from Belfast, where he had been sent to clean up the city of the Irish Republican Army (I.R.A.), Communists, gangs and common criminals. Winston Churchill (played by Andy Nyman in Series 1 and Richard McCabe in Series 2) charged him with suppressing disorder and uprising in Birmingham and recovering a stolen cache of arms meant to be shipped to Libya. The first series concludes on 3 December 1919 – "Black Star Day", the event where the Peaky Blinders plan to take over Billy Kimber's betting pitches at the Worcester Races.

The second series sees the Shelby family expand their criminal organisation in the "South and North while maintaining a stronghold in their Birmingham heartland."It begins in 1921 and ends with a climax at Epsom racecourse on 31 May 1922 – Derby Day.

The third series starts and ends in 1924 as it follows Tommy and his family entering an even more dangerous world as they once again expand, this time internationally. The third series also features Father John Hughes (Paddy Considine), who is involved in an anti-communist organisation; Ruben Oliver (Alexander Siddig), a painter whom Polly enlists to paint her portrait; Russian Duchess Tatiana Petrovna (Gaite Jansen); and Linda Shelby (Kate Phillips), new wife of Arthur.

The fourth series begins on Christmas Eve 1925 and ends following the general strike of May 1926 with Tommy being elected as a Member of Parliament in 1927.

The fifth series begins two years later on 29 October 1929 (Black Tuesday) and ends on 7 December 1929, the morning after a rally led by fascist leader Oswald Mosley.

Characters

Thomas Shelby	Thomas Michael Shelby OBE DCM MM MP is the leader of the Birmingham criminal gang, the Peaky Blinders and the patriarch of the Shelby Family. Tommy served in World War I with the rank of Sergeant Major and was decorated for bravery. His experiences in World War I left him disillusioned and beset with ongoing nightmares, and he becomes determined to move his family up in the world.
Arthur Shelby	Arthur is the eldest of the Shelby siblings and a tough member of the Peaky Blinders. He is also Deputy Vice President of Shelby Company Limited and member of the ICA, acting as his brother Tommy Shelby's right-hand man. During the war in France, Arthur was a Sapper with his brother Thomas, digging very treacherous tunnels in order to place enormous amount of explosives under the enemy positions.
John Shelby	John Michael Shelby, also known as Johnny or John Boy, was the third of Shelby siblings and a high ranking member of the Peaky Blinders. He was also a 1/3 shareholder in the Shelby Family business, Shelby Company Limited. John was a soldier of the Warwickshire Yeomanry, which served as cavalry and machine gunners in the First World War.
Polly Gray	Elizabeth "Polly" Gray (Shelby) is the matriarch of the Shelby Family, aunt of the Shelby siblings, the treasurer of the Birmingham criminal gang, the Peaky Blinders, a certified accountant and company treasurer of Shelby Company Limited. She managed the Peaky Blinders when the Shelby boys were absent during the Great War. She is the unofficial head of the Shelby Family and often advises Thomas Shelby on the gang's business.
Ada Thorne	Ada Thorne (Shelby) is the fourth and only female of the Shelby siblings and the only sibling initially not involved with the Peaky Blinders. By the end of 1924, however, Ada assumes a leading position at the United States branch of Shelby Company Limited, dealing only with legal acquisitions; unlike her brothers back home in Birmingham, England.
Michael Gray	Michael Gray, introduced in the second season, is the son of Polly Shelby, the cousin of the Shelby siblings, and a powerful and high ranking member of the Peaky Blinders. He is the Chief Accountant of Shelby Company Limited, a position that causes tensions with John Shelby.
Grace Shelby	Grace Helen Shelby (Burgess) was an Irish barmaid who took up employment at The Garrison Pub, and secretly operated as an undercover agent for the Birmingham Police. Her mission involved getting close to Thomas Shelby whom she fell in love with. He too returned the sentiment but was heartbroken when he discovered her treachery.
Finn Shelby	Finn Shelby is the youngest of the Shelby siblings and a member of the Peaky Blinders. Finn was born in 1908, making him the only Shelby brother to have not fought in the First World War due to his age. As he is the youngest of the Shelby's, Finn's involvement within the Peaky Blinders is kept to a minimum, with his brothers Tommy, Arthur, and his Aunt Polly shielding him from the worst of their actions.
Esme Shelby	Esme Martha Shelby (Lee) is a member of the Lee Family and, by marriage to John Shelby, a member of the Shelby Family.
Linda Shelby	Linda used to be a Quaker (a member of a religious Christian movement). She then helped Arthur with his sobriety in his life, among other things. Linda Shelby is the ex-wife of Arthur Shelby Jr. and a former close ally of the Peaky Blinders.
Jeremiah Jesus	Jeremiah "Jimmy" Jesus is an Afro-Caribbean local street preacher and a long time member of the Peaky Blinders. He fought in the war alongside Thomas Shelby, and has been a close ally ever since. He is the father of Isaiah.
Isaiah Jesus	Isaiah Jesus is the son of the Caribbean street preacher Jeremiah Jesus and a Peaky Blinder. He is a close friend and companion of Finn Shelby and Michael Gray.
Danny Wizz-Bang	Daniel Owen, known as Danny Whizz-Bang, was a former comrade of Tommy and a loyal member of the Peaky Blinders. Danny fought alongside Tommy in the war, but departed Birmingham shortly after their return, relocating to London while allowing everyone in Birmingham believing him dead.
Freddie Thorne	Was a Sergeant in the Great War and during their military service, saved Tommy's life and was his best friend when they were young. After the war, Freddie Thorne became a Communist. He moved to Birmingham and met Ada Shelby who becomes his wife.
Barney Thomason	Barney Thomason was a WWI comrade and old friend of Thomas Shelby's. He was admitted to a mental asylum shortly after the war after committing an unknown crime, presumably due to his severe shell-shock and was certified insane. He served as a sniper in WWI, trained by the Royal Marines. He gained a reputation of being a very skilled marksman, and according to Thomas, never missed a target. Prone to manic episodes and hearing voices, Barney was only able to be calmed down by Thomas, for whom Barney had deep respect as Thomas was his superior in the War. Barney was key in the assassination attempt on Oswald Mosley.
Johnny Dogs	Johnny Dogs is a friend of Thomas Shelby. He has close ties with both the Lee Family and the Shelby Family.
Charlie Strong	Charles "Charlie" Strong is the uncle of the Shelby siblings. He works for Thomas alongside members of the Peaky Blinders and Curly at his yard, regularly helping with stock and preparing shipments, as well as take care of horses for the Shelby Company Limited.
Curly	Curly is a stable boy and ferryman who often works in Charlie Strong's Yard. Thomas Shelby tells May Carleton that Curly's the best horseman in England.
May Carleton	May Fitz Carleton is a wealthy widow who owns racehorses. and enlisted by Thomas Shelby to train his horse for Epsom. She is the proprietor of Carleton stud.
Aberama Gold	Aberama Gold was a Romany Gypsy hitman-for-hire, a man with a reputation for being a dangerous savage with little regard for the rules. He was hired by Thomas Shelby when Luca Changretta, set on revenge against the entire Shelby family, arrives in England. Aberama tells Tommy that he does not want just money in return for his help. He also wants Tommy to help his son, Bonnie Gold, become a boxing champion.
Bonnie Gold	Bonnie Gold was a young Gyspy man and the son of Aberama Gold. He was a fierce fighter and had ambitions of joining the exclusive world of professional boxing. He becomes a Peaky Blinder in 1926.
Alfie Solomons	Alfred "Alfie" Solomons Jr. is a Jewish gang leader who resided in Camden Town, London. Violent and unpredictable, but intelligent and calculating, he is a master negotiator who used violent outbursts and confusing language to intimidate and dominate everyone around him. Although he appears to take a liking to Tommy over time and is certainly willing to do business with him, it does not mean he won't do business with Tommy's rivals on the sly.
Lizze Stark	Elizabeth 'Lizzie' Shelby (née Stark) is a former prostitute living in the city of Small Heath, Birmingham. After Thomas Shelby returned from the war in France, she served him regularly as a prostitute for two years and was known to have served many men like him. For a short time, she was engaged to Thomas's brother, John Shelby, however the marriage was called off. She currently works as a secretary and assistant for Thomas Shelby.
Inspector Campbell	Chester Campbell (originally Chief Inspector Campbell in Series 1, then promoted to Major in Series 2) was an Inspector in the Royal Irish Constabulary hired by Winston Churchill, to locate and recover the missing consignment of guns from the Birmingham Small Arms Company factory. While in Small Heath, Birmingham, however, despite locating the guns, he developed a vendetta against the Peaky Blinders and the Shelby family in particular. Campbell served as the main antagonist of the first and second series.
Billy Kimber	William "Billy" Kimber was an English gangster and head of the Birmingham Boys and thus, the main enemy of Thomas Shelby and the Peaky Blinders. He ran most of the legal tracks outside of London, leading to tensions between Kimber and the Peaky Blinders, who looked to expand their control into inner city London. Due to his wealth and influence, Kimber had policemen on his payroll and an assistant, Roberts. Kimber served as the secondary antagonist of the first series.
Darby Sabini	Charles "Darby" Sabini born Ottavio Handley Sabini (11 July 1888 – 4 October 1950) is a British Italian gang leader from London, England. He was at war with Alfie Solomons and Thomas Shelby in Series 2. Darby Sabini serves as the secondary antagonist of the second series.
Father Hughes	Father John Hughes was a major character and the main antagonist of Series 3 of Peaky Blinders. He was a member and representative of The Economic League.
Tatiana Petrovna	She is the niece of Grand Duke Leon Petrovich Romanov and Grand Duchess Izabella Petrovna. Princess Tatiana Petrovna is the Russian royalty who deals business with the Peaky Blinders.
Luca Changretta	Luca Changretta was an Italian American mobster, son of Vicente Changretta and Audrey Changretta and a leader of the Changretta mob. His mob does work in the liquor business stationed in New York. The mob has a heavy rivalry with Chicago's Al Capone, as New York is an important trading port for transporting alcohol from Europe. Changretta is also a soldier for the Spinietta family. After his father and brother, Angel Changretta, are killed by the Peaky Blinders he obtains enough information from his surviving mother, Audrey, to launch a vendetta in Birmingham against Thomas and the rest of the of the surviving Shelby family.
Jimmy McCavern	Jimmy McCavern is the leader of the Billy Boys and a member of the Glasgow razor gang. He is first introduced following the Wall St. Crash. He serves as the secondary antagonist of Series 5 of Peaky Blinders.
Oswald Mosely	Sir Oswald Mosley is the Minister of the Duchy of Lancaster, the deputy to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Cabinet adviser to the Prime Minister of Great Britain. He is also the MP for Smethwick, the constituency bordering South Birmingham, Thomas Shelby's constituency. Serving as the main antagonist of Season 5, he is described as the devil and is closely under the supervision of the Peaky Blinders.
Gina Gray	Gina Gray is the scheming wife of Michael Gray. The two met when Michael was in the United States and fell in love. When Michael is recalled to Birmingham, England, Gina expresses her wish to return with him.
Winston Churchill	Winston Churchill was the Secretary of State for the Colonies between 1921 and 1922. He hires Inspector Campbell to retrieve his stolen machine guns, a man who he finds amusing but a good candidate for the job. The relationship between Churchill and Thomas is a complicated and ominous one. He is a recurring character throughout the series.
Jessie Eden	Jessie Eden is an enigmatic union convener. She leads all-female factory workers in Birmingham out on strike protesting on the Bull Ring. She was based on the real life person of the same name.

Peaky Blinders

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