Peaky Blinders star Cillian Murphy is finally pictured back on set

Peaky Blinders star Cillian Murphy was pictured back on the set of series six for the first time on Monday after production was delayed amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Cillian, 44, who plays the lead character, who plays Thomas Shelby in the BBC drama was photographed at Portsoy harbour in Aberdeenshire.

The show has been running for eight years and has enjoyed huge popularity but the sixth season has been confirmed as the final one. 

Cillian was no doubt feeling the cold as he commenced filming in Scotland wearing his trademark flat cap, suit and overcoat. 

Crew were mostly all wearing masks and the BBC has said that the production complies with the latest restrictions.’

Peaky Blinders tell the story of a family set in 1900s England, centering on a gang who sew razor blades in the peaks of their caps, and their fierce boss Shelby. 

The show is expected to return ‘in another form’ after filming draws to a close on its sixth and final series. 

Show writer and creator Stephen Knight believes it can be extended, possibly as a feature length spin-off. 

Speaking to LADbible at the Peaky Blinders Festival in Birmingham in 2019, he said: ‘I would [consider doing a film].

‘The end scene is the end of this as a television series the way it is now, but it’s certainly not ruling out spin offs or a movie.

‘So I think there’s something about Peaky where it’s a world, lots of people have different interpretations of that world, so I’m all for keeping the spirit going.’

Director Anthony Byrne, who previously worked on series five and will contribute to the sixth, also insisted the show could work as a big-screen theatrical production.

He said: ‘I think a film 100 percent could work, but I’d rather watch six hours than two. Simple as that. You can go deeper into characters and spend more time in their world I think.’

In a statement, Knight said: ‘Peaky is back and with a bang. After the enforced production delay due to the Covid pandemic, we find the family in extreme jeopardy and the stakes have never been higher.

‘We believe this will be the best series of all and are sure that our amazing fans will love it. While the TV series will be coming to an end, the story will continue in another form.’

Meanwhile, Executive Producer for the BBC Tommy Bulfin said of the show: ‘We are very excited that filming for Peaky Blinders has begun and so grateful to everyone for all their hard work to make it happen.

‘Steve’s scripts for series six are truly remarkable and provide a fitting send-off which we are sure will delight fans.’ 

Steven also wrote the scripts for the sixth series, while Anthony Byrne is set to return as director after doing so in the last season.