And after a run in select UK cinemas, it’s now hit the streaming platform.
For the Birmingham-born writer, 66, it’s been an ‘incremental’ process he’s been able to track through various friends and family members’ holidays over the years to Spain, Buenos Aires and China, all of which featured a Peaky Blinders-themed bar.
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‘The idea that it’s gone really around the world, to places you wouldn’t expect – a few months ago in Afghanistan, some young men were arrested for being dressed as Peaky Blinders – for me, it’s felt very personal, because it was about Birmingham, and was about my family and stuff like that,’ Knight explains.
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‘What it does do for me, ultimately, is it gives me confidence that you can do something that is just what you think is good – and if you’re lucky, the world will agree.’
Murphy’s Tommy Shelby is back in new Netflix film The Immortal Man (Picture: Robert Viglasky/Netflix)
The Immortal Man also reunites Knight, Murphy and other original cast members like Sophie Rundle with director Tom Harper, who helmed some of Peaky’s very first episodes in 2013 and is delighted to finally return.
Have you seen Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man yet?
Yes, and it played a blinder!
Yes, but I preferred the series
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‘It meant that when I came back, we already had this sort of springboard from which to catapult us into the movie,’ Harper shares, who directed the likes of The Woman in Black: Angel of Death (starring late Peaky alumna Helen McCrory) and 2019’s The Aeronauts.
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‘Peaky Blinders has exploded since what it was then, and so to get the opportunity to come full circle and tell this chapter in the life of Tommy Shelby as a film, and fulfil some of the ambition and the cinematic quality that we always had in the series, but as part of this, at this at this point, is wonderful.’
Director Tom Harper (R) has enjoyed the unusual experience of returning after helming episodes in series one, and the show’s ‘explosion’ (Picture: Getty)
A proud son of Brum, Knight is delighted to have both re-invented Birmingham’s reputation among the British and promoted its profile worldwide with Peaky Blinders.
‘People from Birmingham tell me that when they go abroad and they start speaking, people say ‘Peaky Blinders’ as the first thing, which is great! I remember saying to one of my brothers, “I’m going to try and make the Birmingham accent sexy,” and he said, “Good luck with that!” But, you know, I think Cillian manages it.’
It’s felt very personal because it was about Birmingham and my family
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The Irish Oscar winner ably manages the notoriously tricky accent, when the same can’t always be said for his co-stars, and told Metro he was also determined to make it ‘cool’ rather than the butt of jokes – which is something Knight has also managed for the city as a whole.
‘That’s one of the things about the whole process that I’m very proud of,’ he adds.
Knight reckons Murphy managed to realise his ambition of making the dulcet tones of Birmingham ‘sexy’ (Picture: Netflix/Robert Viglasky)
Why do audiences idolise Tommy Shelby?
Tommy is, to all intents and purposes, a villain – he intimidates, beats and even kills many people while leading a gang that hides razor blades in the peaks of their trademark flat-caps (historians classify this as urban myth, but Knight disputes this, citing family testimony).
But audiences nevertheless adore him.
‘I always think of him as a good man doing bad things for a good reason, or at least a reason that he believes he’s good. So I think as an audience, you can empathise with him,’ muses Knight. ‘But I find it astonishing; I remember watching a scene where Arthur [Tommy’s troubled brother, played by Pau Anderson] attacks a completely innocent Quaker with a razor blade, and it’s completely unprovoked. And the person I was watching with said, “Oh, poor Arthur!”’
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Peaky Blinders sits in the grey area, where two things can be true at once, agrees Knight.
‘I always think of him as a good man doing bad things for a good reason’ (Picture: Netflix/Everett/Shutterstock)
‘For example, in the first series we had Campbell [played by Sam Neill], who was just judgement – judging everything that everybody did – but he was a baddie. He was right though, all the things he was saying were right, but he was the baddie.’
‘It’s important if the drama can explore how people have broken, the trauma that they go through, the violence that they’re subjugated to, and they then pass on to other people. That’s interesting, you know?’ Harper adds.
From the intensive research Knight has done for Peaky Blinders across the years, which has spanned 1919 and the aftermath of World War One to the dark days of the Blitz in the 1940s now with The Immortal Man, he classifies what his father and uncles told him as the most important aspects for shaping the Peaky universe as a whole.
In The Immortal Man, set in 1940, the Peaky Blinders are now being run by Tommy’s estranged son Duke (Barry Keoghan, C) (Picture: Robert Viglasky/Netflix)
Knight, Murphy and Harper with new Peaky cast members Tim Roth, Rebecca Ferguson and Keoghan at the film’s New York premiere (Picture: Dia Dipasupil/WireImage)
‘My dad telling me about running barefoot when he was about eight years old with a message for the Peaky Blinders – knocks on the door, door opens, smell of cigarette smoke and whisky, and there’s a round table covered in money and seven men dressed immaculately with razor blades and guns, drinking whisky out of jam jars. And it’s just that thing that here are men who will do everything for their appearance, but they won’t buy any glasses or cups! That, for me, is research.’
Knight knew ‘from the beginning’ that he wanted to tie up the Peaky Blinders – or at least, this generation – during World War Two, given Tommy’s ongoing struggles with the previous war, even if specifics changed over the years.
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‘When you get into the Peaky spirit, lots of stuff comes. But I think in the end, when the cast started coming together, and when we knew we’d got Tom – every series since series one the first question was, can we get Tom back? And he was always busy – that’s when you start to think more we can be quite expansive.’
Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man is now streaming exclusively on Netflix.
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Ralf Little will be taking part in a cook-off when he enters the famous Great British Bake-Off tent.
The actor is the latest famous face to enter the tent to raise money for research into cancer.
He will be joined by Mark Wright, Emmett J Scanlan, Nella Rose, Mutya Buena.
Ralf, who attended Bolton School said earlier this year: “Looking forward to joining British Bake off for The Great Stand Up To Cancer Bake Off in the spring on Channel 4.
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“Here’s hoping for a Paul Hollywood handshake.”
Ralf Little who portrays DI Neville Parker, in Death In Paradise
The 2026 series of the celebrity edition of The Great British Bake Off has been airing weekly since March 22, and has seen stars including Molly-Mae Hague, JoJo Siwa and Vicky Pattison compete inside its tent.
The Death in Paradise star will be back in the North West this summer when he the lead role of secret service agent Alec Leamas in the stage adaptation of John le Carre’s The Spy Who Came In From The Cold.
The 45-year-old, known for The Royle Family, has recently appeared in Will And Ralf Should Know Better, which follows him and his Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps co-star Will Mellor navigating life as middle-aged men.
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Ralf will front the cast in the production’s UK tour which kicks off in March this year, with shows at The Lowry Theatre.
Set at the height of the Cold War, the novel follows a disillusioned British intelligence officer, who is forced to carry out one last operation in Berlin.
It is the first novel by Le Carre to have been adapted for the stage, having premiered with a sold-out production at Chichester Festival Theatre in 2024 before taking to London’s West End.
Ralf started studying medicine before leaving to concentrate on his acting career.
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He’s big break came when he was offered was offered the role of Antony Royle in the BBC sitcom The Royle Family.
The Great Celebrity Bake-off for Stand Up to Cancer airs on Channel 4 at 7.40pm today.
The former Tory peer – who defected to Reform UK last year – accused migrants of “jumping the queues” of public services “to the detriment of local people in our own communities”.
During a heated discussion over immigration, Greens co-leader Ross Greer hit out at the leader of Reform UK in Scotland after he accused migrants of “jumping the queues” of public services “to the detriment of local people in our own communities”.
Offord, a former Conservative peer, made millions as a merchant banker before defecting from the Tories to join Nigel Farage’s right-wing populists last year.
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Greer told a BBC audience in Paisley: “He is an absolute chancer. This is a failed Tory minister who gave the Tory Party £200,000 and then they gave him a seat in the House of Lords and ministerial office – I’m sure that was totally coincidental.
“He was part of that failed Tory government, the former leader of Reform in Wales is currently doing a 10-year jail sentence for taking Russian bribes, they are not the answer to any of the challenges in Scotland.”
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar also blasted Offord and told the audience he had spent tens of thousands of pounds “questioning my loyalty to my country”.
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Sarwar said: “Let’s not fall for the trap that Malcolm Offord wants you to fall into. He wants to use migration not to make our country better, but to play a dog whistle and divide our country.”
He continued: “And let him also own the fact that he spent tens of thousands of pounds questioning my loyalty to my country, Scotland. And when he did that, yes, he attacked me, but he attacked anyone from a migrant background in this country.
“My family came to this country in the 1940s. Scotland has seen his type before and rejected them, and I’ve got no doubt they’ll do the same again.”
Offord previously told the audience in Paisley his party will “challenge the cosy consensus” and pledged tax cuts.
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He added: “Reform UK is a new party, it’s a challenger party. We’re here to challenge the cosy consensus, frankly, which is going on in Holyrood, and we want to see real change.
“What do we stand for? Most? We stand for people who work. We stand for people go to work, do the right thing in their community, and feel that they get punished.”
He continued: “The first thing we’re going to do is give you a tax cut so you’re allowed to keep more money in your own pocket, which you’ll invest in your families, in your communities, that will grow the economy and raise a lot more welfare for all the things we’re going to talk about this evening.”
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I love a full English breakfast, but I was intrigued to try an Indian-inspired breakfast
A visit to Chaat and Chill in Peterborough
A full English breakfast is a classic for a reason, with the perfect mix of carbs and fatty food to feel like an indulgence. But at a new Peterborough restaurant I’ve been wanting to try for a while, they go beyond the traditional eggs and bacon of a typical full English.
Chaat and Chill opened recently in Peterborough city centre, offering a “vibrant soul of Indian street food”, according to their website. I’m a sucker for Indian food, and I love a curry, so I was intrigued by the Indian-inspired breakfast options on the menu.
With an English breakfast, you know what to expect. You get all the best trimmings, such as hash browns, sausages, eggs, toast, and more. Chaat and Chill’s breakfast menu, which is served all day, serves a range of different dishes, all with a bit of spice added.
The options were very different compared to a full English, but there were delicious-sounding options. Out of all the dishes I chose Aloo Paratha, costing £6.25.
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This is north Indian style wholemeal flat bread, stuffed with spiced mashed potatoes and crisped on a hot griddle. For a drink, I chose a Fanta orange, as for once it was a nice warm day.
While I waited for my food, I admired the eye-catching décor. There was a beautiful painted picture on the wall of a woman, with striking eyes.
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My food came after a few minutes. The flat bread looked like naan bread, one of my favourite parts of getting Indian food, and there were a few accompaniments on the side.
I tucked into the flatbread first. Expecting it to be really spicy, I was pleasantly surprised to find it was lightly spiced, and tasted very nice. Although they appeared flat, the flatbreads were packed with potatoes with a fluffy texture. I tried some of the flatbread with pickle, curd, and onion. I tried the onion first, which had a spicy kick.
Out of the three sides, the curd was my least favourite. It looked like yoghurt, so I wasn’t initially drawn to it. It was tangy, but I felt like it didn’t complement the flatbreads well.
The pickle was interesting, with a bit of spice to it, but the texture wasn’t to my taste. In the end, I finished the spicy onion and the flatbread on its own.
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Ultimately, I prefer a full English breakfast, but I was glad to try the Indian-inspired breakfast and expand my palate. I definitely wouldn’t complain about the price, as for £6.25, I thought this was reasonable.
I would definitely visit Chaat and Chilli again for its trendy and chill vibe. I’m not sure I’d go for a breakfast again, but there are plenty of other options on the menu that I’m keen to try.
All of our food reviews are paid for by the writer. The establishments do not know we will be reviewing their food, allowing us to make fair judgements on each place.
Theatre producer Eliza Lumley also acknowledged Bond’s daughter Karen Jankel, and said: “Karen, your father wrote a character who not only reminds us to be kind, but also reminds us to have empathy for stories that are other than our own – which, after all, is the superpower of theatre itself.”
Tesco has issued a recall on a dessert product after it was declared “unsafe to eat”
Tesco has announced a recall of a dessert product after it was deemed “unsafe to eat”. A Food Standards Agency (FSA) recall notice disclosed that Tesco Finest Summer Edition Chocolate Affogato Dessert may contain plastic fragments.
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The product in question comes in a 538g pack size and has best-before dates of up to and including April 2027.
The FSA said: “This product may contain pieces of plastic, which makes the product unsafe to eat. Tesco is recalling the above product and has issued a recall notice to alert customers. These notices explain to customers why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product.
“If you have bought the above product do not eat it. Instead, return it to any Tesco store for a full refund. For further information, please visit Tesco’s contact Tesco page at: tesco.com/help/contact”
The FSA explained: “If there is a problem with a food product that means it should not be sold, then it might be ‘withdrawn’ (taken off the shelves) or ‘recalled’ (when customers are asked to return the product).
“The FSA issues Product Recall Information Notices to let consumers and local authorities know about problems associated with food. In some cases, a ‘Food Alert for Action’ is issued.
“This provides local authorities with details of specific action to be taken on behalf of consumers.”
“An investigation is underway to understand the full circumstances”
A 23‑year‑old driver has died and seven others are in hospital after he failed to stop for police and smashed his BMW into multiple vehicles during a chase.
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The man was pronounced dead at the scene, on the A21 in East Sussex. as emergency crews rushed the seven other casualties to hospital where were later treated. Two are being treated for serious injuries, with the remaining casualties described as having minor wounds.
Emergency crews were scrambled to the incident while the A21 was closed between Battle and Hurst Green, and is expected to remain so until Monday, according to Sussex Police.
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The fatal collision is under investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) as it unfolded following a police pursuit. “This was a tragic incident, and our thoughts are with the family of this young man and all those affected,” said Det Supt Andy Wolstenholme, of Sussex Police.
“An investigation is underway to understand the full circumstances and there will be increased police activity in the area while this is ongoing. I would like to thank the public for their patience during the emergency response and for their understanding as our enquiries continue.
“Anyone who has any information that could help the investigation, or relevant dashcam or CCTV footage, is asked to contact police online or via 101, quoting Operation Drummer.”
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‘Tragic incident’
“We are independently investigating Sussex Police involvement prior to a road traffic collision on the A21, Robertsbridge, in which a member of the public has sadly died,” The IOPC confirmed, adding “The incident took place just after 8.15pm on Saturday. We understand a police patrol car came across a BMW in the Hastings area, which made off from police when requested to stop.
“Following a pursuit, the BMW collided with several other vehicles at Robertsbridge, around six miles north of Hastings. The driver of the BMW, a man in his 20s, died at the scene.
“Other members of the public involved in the incident were taken to hospital for treatment. Our investigation will look at police actions prior to the fatal collision. After being notified by the force, we sent investigators to the police post incident procedures to begin gathering evidence and declared an independent investigation. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this incident.”
The full statement from the force read: “The A21 in Robertsbridge remains closed today (12 April) following a serious collision that has now sadly been confirmed as fatal. Emergency services were called to the A21 at around 8.20pm on Saturday (11 April) after a BMW car heading northbound was involved in a collision with three other vehicles.
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“The driver of the BMW – a 23-year-old man from Hailsham – was sadly declared deceased at the scene. His next of kin have been informed. Two passengers in another vehicle were taken to hospital with serious injuries, while five other people involved suffered minor injuries requiring hospital treatment.
“The BMW had been involved in a police pursuit shortly before the collision, and a referral was made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct who have declared that they will conduct an independent investigation.”
During his acceptance speech at the Royal Albert Hall on Sunday, Essiedu said: “I remember being in that room, and even though I didn’t have the language, I didn’t have the vocabulary, hadn’t been to the theatres, my creativity was still celebrated, nurtured, and valued. And that gave me access to being in this room with people like you today.
There are no mountains, let alone hills, on the route for Pogačar to exploit. However, finishing second on debut in 2025 showed he can be a contender.
Mads Pedersen, Filippo Ganna and Wout van Aert are credible outsiders, but barring accident (highly possible in this risky crash-fest) or bad form, it is likely to be a duel between the two superstars.
For the first time, the women’s edition will be held on the same day, finishing a couple of hours after the men. Defending champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot and her Visma-Lease a Bike team-mate Marianne Vos are prime contenders, as is 2024 winner Lotte Kopecky. Briton Zoe Backstedt could challenge for the win too.
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It should be a dry edition with a slight tailwind. The men’s race starts in Paris Compiègne at 10.05 BST and is set to finish around 3.45pm.
Four Ukrainian prisoners ‘executed’ by Russian soldiers with automatic rifles (Picture: EAST2WEST)
Four unarmed Ukrainian prisoners were allegedly executed by Russian troops despite a ceasefire coinciding with Orthodox Easter celebrations.
According to a statement from the 14th army corps, Russian troops launched an attack on Ukrainian positions near the village of Vetarynarne in the Kharkiv region in the north west the country.
The assault led to the capture of four soldiers, who Russian forces executed on when they were unarmed, said the statement.
The 14th army corps, a unit in the Ukrainian army, wrote: ‘Russia proves once again that its army is a terrorist group for which no rules or laws exist.
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‘The execution of prisoners has become a systemic practice for the enemy, indicating conscious approval of such crimes by the Russian high command.’
Russia and Ukraine had announced a short ceasefire on Saturday for Orthodox Easter, but both sides have accused the other of thousands of violations.
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A drone caught the moment the unarmed prisoners were shot (Picture: EAST2WEST)
Ukrainian forces said Russia had committed 2,299 violations since the temporary truce began, including shooting the four unarmed soldiers. Russia said Ukraine had committed 1,971 violations, including three counter-attacks.
At least two people were killed and one was injured in an overnight attack in Odesa (Picture: via REUTERS)
Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s president, had earlier written: ‘We all understand who we are dealing with. Ukraine will adhere to the ceasefire and respond strictly in kind.
‘The absence of Russian strikes in the air, on land, and at sea will mean no response from our side.
‘The Ukrainian army is ready for any developments on the frontline. Ukraine has repeatedly proposed various ceasefire formats to Russia, and we believe that Easter should be a time of silence and safety.
‘A ceasefire on Easter could also become the beginning of real movement toward peace – our side has made the corresponding proposal.’
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Father Roman, a Ukrainian army chaplain who led the blessing ceremonies, described Easter as a moment of faith shared by Ukrainians in their identity and future.
‘We are defending our borders. We are defending our identity,” he said. “We are a free people who live on this territory. We have faith, deep traditions and historical heritage. It’s all about the identity of Ukrainians.’
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