Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The Real Peaky Blinders: What Do We Actually Know?
Join historians Luke Tomes and Carl Chinn MBE as they explore the real history behind the infamous gang at the Black Country Living Museum, the filming location for the hit TV series (a Caryn Mandabach and Tiger Aspect Production – created and written by Steven Knight)
With decades of research into the thugs, gangs and violence in Birmingham through the late 19th and early 20th century, Carl helps to sort the fact from the fiction, identifying the real-life figures behind some of the iconic characters, including Tommy Shelby, Alfie Solomons and Billy Kimber.
Carl also makes a shocking revelation about his own personal connection to the gang, his great-grandfather having once been a member of the outfit.
‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’ is out in select cinemas from 6th March 2026, and will be streaming globally on Netflix from 20th March 2026.
Want to find out more about the real Peaky Blinders? Check out Carl’s book series on the subject and make sure to visit the Black Country Living Museum: bclm.com
Photo credits: The West Midlands Police Museum / BirminghamLives
You can now become a History Hit member right here on YouTube! Join for access to a new exclusive documentary every week, and access to over 160+ of our documentaries presented by world-renowned historians like Dan Snow, Eleanor Janega, Tristan Hughes, Mary Beard, Matt Lewis and more.
Get an exclusive release every week by signing up here: youtube.com/channel/UCZwU2G-KVl-P-O-B35chZOQ/join
#peakyblinders #netflix #realhistory
00:00 Intro
01:03 Did the Peaky Blinders Exist?
03:08 Where Did the Name Come From?
04:30 Peaky Blinders Fashion (Flat Cap Razor Blades)
06:03 Photographs of First Peaky Blinders
07:49 Slums of 19th Century Birmingham
09:14 Back-to-Back Housing
13:15 Inside a Victorian Back-to-Back House
16:05 Birmingham's Industrial Rise
17:25 Emergence of First Gangs
19:53 Violence in the Streets
24:16 Carl's Great-Grandfather (Peaky Blinder)
25:48 Real Life Characters (Billy Kimber, Alfie Solomons)
29:10 The Real 'Tommy Shelby'
32:20 Police Crackdown
37:16 Fall and Legacy of the Peaky Blinders
39:55 'Peaky Blinders' TV Show
The Real Peaky Blinders: What Do We Actually Know?
Join historians Luke Tomes and Carl Chinn MBE as they explore the real history behind the infamous gang at the Black Country Living Museum, the filming location for the hit TV series (a Caryn Mandabach and Tiger Aspect Production – created and written by Steven Knight)
With decades of research into the thugs, gangs and violence in Birmingham through the late 19th and early 20th century, Carl helps to sort the fact from the fiction, identifying the real-life figures behind some of the iconic characters, including Tommy Shelby, Alfie Solomons and Billy Kimber.
Carl also makes a shocking revelation about his own personal connection to the gang, his great-grandfather having once been a member of the outfit.
‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’ is out in select cinemas from 6th March 2026, and will be streaming globally on Netflix from 20th March 2026.
Want to find out more about the real Peaky Blinders? Check out Carl’s book series on the subject and make sure to visit the Black Country Living Museum: bclm.com
Photo credits: The West Midlands Police Museum / BirminghamLives
You can now become a History Hit member right here on YouTube! Join for access to a new exclusive documentary every week, and access to over 160+ of our documentaries presented by world-renowned historians like Dan Snow, Eleanor Janega, Tristan Hughes, Mary Beard, Matt Lewis and more.
Get an exclusive release every week by signing up here: youtube.com/channel/UCZwU2G-KVl-P-O-B35chZOQ/join
#peakyblinders #netflix #realhistory
00:00 Intro
01:03 Did the Peaky Blinders Exist?
03:08 Where Did the Name Come From?
04:30 Peaky Blinders Fashion (Flat Cap Razor Blades)
06:03 Photographs of First Peaky Blinders
07:49 Slums of 19th Century Birmingham
09:14 Back-to-Back Housing
13:15 Inside a Victorian Back-to-Back House
16:05 Birmingham's Industrial Rise
17:25 Emergence of First Gangs
19:53 Violence in the Streets
24:16 Carl's Great-Grandfather (Peaky Blinder)
25:48 Real Life Characters (Billy Kimber, Alfie Solomons)
29:10 The Real 'Tommy Shelby'
32:20 Police Crackdown
37:16 Fall and Legacy of the Peaky Blinders
39:55 'Peaky Blinders' TV Show
