Peaky Blinders star Cillian Murphy transforms into feared criminal Tommy Shelby for series 6

Peaky Blinders star Cillian Murphy transforms into feared criminal Tommy Shelby to film smoke-filled scenes in Manchester for the sixth and final series

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Peaky Blinders’ leading man Cillian Murphy was spotted on set in Manchester’s Castlefield on Wednesday morning. 

The actor, 44, transformed into Tommy Shelby, the ruthless leader of the Peaky Blinders, to film scenes for the sixth and final series of the hit BBC period crime drama.   

It comes after producers confirmed Sam Claflin will make his return as moustached politician Oswald Mosley. 

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Don’t mess with the Peaky Blinders! Leading man Cillian Murphy was spotted on set in Manchester’s Castlefield on Wednesday morning

Cillian prowled around the streets which have been created to resemble the lawless slum neighbourhoods of post war Birmingham. 

Sporting Tommy’s signature flat cap, a long black coat and an immaculate navy suit with gold pocket watch, the actor walked through the cobbled streets which were strewn with heavy machinery and filled with smoke to create an atmospheric affect. 

Given series five ended with Tommy placing a gun to his head, Cillian’s presence on the set appeared to confirm he’d be back for the show’s finale series. 

Gang boss: The actor, 44, transformed into Tommy Shelby, the ruthless leader of the Peaky Blinders, to film scenes for the sixth and final series of the hit BBC period crime drama

Gang boss: The actor, 44, transformed into Tommy Shelby, the ruthless leader of the Peaky Blinders, to film scenes for the sixth and final series of the hit BBC period crime drama

Return: Given series five ended with Tommy placing a gun to his head, Cillian's presence on the set appeared to confirm he'd be back for the show's finale series

Sixth series: The cast and crew have been busy filming scenes for the final series in Manchester over the past few weeks

Return: Given series five ended with Tommy placing a gun to his head, Cillian’s presence on the set appeared to confirm he’d be back for the show’s finale series

The cast and crew have been busy filming scenes for the final series in Manchester over the past few weeks. 

Last week, Peaky Blinders confirmed Sam would return as Oswald Mosley in a Tweet. They wrote: ‘Sam Claflin returns as Oswald Mosley in #PeakyBlinders series 6’.

Sam played the politician, who rose to fame in the 1920s as a Member of Parliament and later in the 1930s, having become disillusioned with mainstream politics, became the leader of the British Union of Fascists. 

The sixth series will pick up where the fifth series left off on 7 December 1929, the morning after a rally led by Oswald. 

Last minute preparations: Cillian chatted to crew members ahead of filming the scenes

Last minute preparations: Cillian chatted to crew members ahead of filming the scenes 

Interesting: Last week, Peaky Blinders confirmed Sam would return as Oswald Mosley in a Tweet. They wrote: 'Sam Claflin returns as Oswald Mosley in #PeakyBlinders series 6'

Interesting: Last week, Peaky Blinders confirmed Sam would return as Oswald Mosley in a Tweet. They wrote: ‘Sam Claflin returns as Oswald Mosley in #PeakyBlinders series 6’

The final tweaks were made to the Manchester-based sets in February after the cast had been filming in Scotland.

The sets, however, are portraying Birmingham, the actual setting of the hit gangster drama.

Peaky Blinders centres around its eponymous gang which is run by the ruthless Tommy Shelby [Cillian] and his family, and sees them build their power and influence over Birmingham and beyond. 

The fifth season ended on a cliffhanger, with Tommy seeing visions of his late wife Grace and turning a gun on himself following his botched assassination attempt of British Union of Fascists leader Oswald Mosely (Sam Claflin) at a rally.

Production on the show was delayed last year by the Covid-19 crisis, but shooting was able to begin last month with cast and crew adhering to strict coronavirus restrictions.

The BBC drama has been running for eight years and has enjoyed huge popularity but the sixth season has been confirmed as the final one, with creator Steven Knight confirming the story will return ‘in another form’.

Ruthless leader: Smoke filled the air as Cillian walked around down the streets which were strewn with heavy machinery

Drama in store: Cillian looked a man on a mission in the scenes

Ruthless leader: Smoke filled the air as Cillian walked around down the streets which were strewn with heavy machinery 

Steven believes the programme can be extended, possibly as a feature length spin-off, as he said in a statement: ‘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.’

Period crime drama: Peaky Blinders centres around its eponymous gang which is run by the ruthless Tommy Shelby [Cillian] and his family, and sees them build their power and influence over Birmingham and beyond

Period crime drama: Peaky Blinders centres around its eponymous gang which is run by the ruthless Tommy Shelby [Cillian] and his family, and sees them build their power and influence over Birmingham and beyond