Peaky Blinders
Episode 1
TV Flash files “Episode 1” as a desk essential hour — Peaky Blinders (2013–2022) on BBC/Netflix, season 1, episode 1, aired 2013-09-12, 60 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S01E01: listed hour 1 of 36 in the Peaky Blinders guide, first listed hour of season 1. It aired 2013-09-12 (60 min). No earlier hour is listed in this guide. Next is “Episode 2” (S01E02).
Essential hour: “Episode 1”. The first hour is post-WWI Birmingham, razors in caps: Knight's saga, Murphy's Tommy, style as weapon on first smoke.
Catalog log
Broadcast listing — not a TV Flash recap.
Birmingham, 1919. Thomas Shelby controls the Peaky Blinders, one of the city's most feared criminal organisations, but his ambitions go beyond running the streets. When a crate of guns goes missing, Thomas recognises an opportunity to move up in the world.
Viewer FAQ
Where does Episode 1 sit in the Peaky Blinders guide?
S01E01 is listed hour 1 of 36 — first listed hour of season 1, season 1 episode 1.
When did Peaky Blinders S01E01 air?
Episode 1 aired 2013-09-12 and is listed at 60 minutes.
Is it historically accurate?
Loosely inspired by a real Birmingham gang, largely fictionalized drama. Watch for Knight's opera, not a documentary on the actual Peaky Blinders.
In the series
Why this series still plays
Post-WWI Birmingham gangsters with razors in their caps: family is the firm, style is the weapon. Steven Knight's BBC saga, globalized by Netflix, made Cillian Murphy's Tommy a slow-burn emperor of smoke — McCrory's Polly, Nick Cave needle drops, tailored coats. Six seasons of British export swagger. Fashion walked off the screen into streetwear.
September 12, 2013, BBC Two: razors in the cap, a coat that would walk off the screen into streetwear. Steven Knight's *Peaky Blinders* is post-WWI Birmingham gangsters climbing toward power — family as the firm, style as the weapon. Cillian Murphy's Tommy Shelby is a slow-burn emperor of smoke and strategy; Helen McCrory's Aunt Polly is the spine of steel; Paul Anderson, Sophie Rundle, Tom Hardy's Alfie, the Shelby bench keeping the opera feral. Nick Cave needle drops against period dirt. Netflix made it a…
Filed against
- Cillian Murphy as Tommy Shelby
Cillian Murphy played Tommy Shelby on Peaky Blinders — post-WWI Birmingham gangsters with razors in their caps, family as the firm, style as the weapon. Steven Knight's BBC saga, globalized by Netflix, McCrory's Polly, needle drops,…
- Paul Anderson as Arthur Shelby
Paul Anderson plays Arthur Shelby on Peaky Blinders, Steven Knight’s 2010s post-WWI Birmingham saga — razors in the caps, family as the firm, style as the weapon. Cillian Murphy’s Tommy as slow-burn emperor of smoke, Polly in the books,…
- Helen McCrory as Aunt Polly
Helen McCrory's Aunt Polly ran the Peaky Blinders firm from the parlor — post-WWI Birmingham, razors in the caps, family as the business, Steven Knight's BBC saga globalized by Netflix. Cillian Murphy's Tommy as slow-burn emperor of…
- Sophie Rundle as Ada Shelby
Sophie Rundle holds Peaky Blinders as Ada Shelby — the sister inside a post-WWI Birmingham firm where family is the business and style is a weapon. Steven Knight's BBC saga, globalized by Netflix, smoke and tailored coats. TV Flash files…
- Ned Dennehy as Charlie Strong
Ned Dennehy’s Charlie Strong smoked around Peaky Blinders’ Birmingham firm like family was the racket — post-WWI gangsters with razors in their caps, Steven Knight’s BBC saga globalized by Netflix, Cillian Murphy’s Tommy, McCrory’s Polly,…
- Tom Hardy as Alfie Solomons
Tom Hardy’s Alfie Solomons cuts through Peaky Blinders like a side-empire with better chaos — post-WWI Birmingham gangsters, razors in the caps, family as the firm. Steven Knight’s BBC saga, globalized by Netflix, dressed Cillian Murphy’s…