Thousands attend Birmingham's 'Legitimate Peaky Blinders Festival'

It's happening for the first time

Published 12th Sep 2019

Thousands of people are putting on their flat caps and heading to Digbeth for the first Legitimate Peaky Blinders festival this weekend.

For two days, the streets of Digbeth will be transformed.

There'll be more than 200 actors and musicians in the crowds recreating famous scenes.

Some of the stars of the TV series will also be there - including Paul Anderson (Arthur Shelby) and Finn Cole (Michael Gray).

The series creator Steven Knight will also be in a Q&A.

More than 40,000 people are expected to attend the event on 14 and 15 September.

We caught up with one of the organisers John Empson before the event:

"It's got to be where it started"

"The show has its heart and roots in Birmingham and to do it anywhere else just wouldn't be right.

"I think there's a massive renewed interest in the city and a lot of that is down to Peaky Blinders and what Steven Knight is doing.

"The streets of Digbeth, where the show will be, is where the Peaky Blinders committed their first crimes.

"There was talk of doing it in London or elsewhere, but me and Steven Knight felt this has got to be in Birmingham, it's got to be in Digbeth, it's got to be where it started.

"There are two more seasons of Peaky Blinders to come, we definitely want it to go for the next two or three years."

Liam Gallagher's also confirmed he'll be there:

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