Peaky Blinders season 6: Brand new sets are completed in Manchester - Culture

The final tweaks are being made to the Manchester-based sets for the sixth season of Peaky Blinders.

While the cast have been filming in Scotland, crew have been erecting and finalising the sound stages in the historic Castlefield district of the city.

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

On set: The final tweaks are being made to the Manchester-based sets for the sixth season of Peaky Blinders [pictured: lead actor Cillian Murphy]

Wooden scaffolds have been built underneath a Victorian railway bridge, seemingly to mimic a work station for builders during the period, while a variety of vintage signs have been spotted around the district.

One sign is emblazoned with the lettering ‘P. Carlisle: Coal Merchants’, while another is for chain and rope makers, and another for an ironmonger.

The new set depicts the workhouses rife during Britain’s industrial revolution.

Piles of coal have been set out as part of the coal merchants set, stuck all about with shovels.

Finishing touches: The final tweaks are being made to the Manchester-based sets for the sixth season of Peaky Blinders

Ready to go: While the cast have been filming in Scotland, crew have been erecting and finalising the sound stages in the historic Castlefield district of the city

Location: The sets, however, are portraying Birmingham, the actual setting on the hit gangster drama

All in the details: Giant wheels and cogs decorate parts of the set

Rustic: The set is also home to carts and barrels

Giant wheels and cogs decorate parts of the set, which is also home to carts and barrels, sacks, bottles and crates.

There is a cigar merchants as part of the set, as well as a grocers.

Some of the set remains covered up with tarp still, protected until the cast and crew arrive to shoot their scenes.

Previous set photos featured a sign for Bingley Hall, a purpose-built exhibition hall that was later used by a railway company to help build tunnels for the Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Stour Valley Railway.

Secrets: Some of the set remains covered up with tarp still, protected until the cast and crew arrive to shoot their scenes

Food for thought: There is a cigar merchants as part of the set, as well as a grocers

Vintage accents: Barrels, sacks, urns, bottles and crates have been added here and there

Signage: One sign is emblazoned with the lettering ‘P. Carlisle: Coal Merchants’

Realistic: The new set depicts the workhouses rife during Britain’s industrial revolution

Industrial: Another sign is for chain and rope makers, and another for an ironmonger

Dirty: Piles of coal have been set out as part of the coal merchants set, stuck all about with shovels

A plaque for the Birmingham Snow Hill railway station was also seen leaning against a building, while signs asking for scrap metals and advertising a heavy weight boxing match were also visible.

In one area, three wooden platforms stood with parts of the set covered in plastic sheets to ensure they were not seen, and don’t get damaged before the cast and crew arrive.

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

Building works: Wooden scaffolds have been built underneath a Victorian railway bridge, seemingly to mimic a work station for builders in the period, while a variety of signs were also seen on set

Roll out the barrel: The set features intricate details aplenty

Plot: The show follows a family rising through society, calling themselves the Peaky Blinders

Piled up: The gang build a reputation through corruption, violence, and crime

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’.

Waiting: Filming on these sets is scheduled to take place this week

Intriguing: In one area, three wooden platforms stood with parts of the set covered in plastic sheets to ensure they were not seen, and don’t get damaged before the cast and crew arrive

Almost ready to go: Store fronts have also started to be set up in the district with one painted in black, and while the building currently stands empty it is evident a number of shops are going to be built for the shoot

Essential viewing: Peaky Blinders centres around its eponymous gang run by the ruthless Tommy Shelby [Murphy] and his family, and sees them build their power and influence over Birmingham and beyond

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.’

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.’

It was confirmed last month that Tommy Shelby and his gang would return by sharing an image of lead actor Murphy getting the character’s signature skin fade from a production stylist.

Dramatic: 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

By order of the Peaky Blinders! It was confirmed last month that Tommy Shelby and his gang would return by sharing an image of lead actor Murphy getting the character’s signature skin fade from a production stylist [left]

Not the end: Show creator Knight believes the programme can be extended, possibly as a feature length spin-off, as he said in a statement: ‘While the TV series will be coming to an end, the story will continue in another form’ [cast pictured]

Speaking to LADbible at the Peaky Blinders Festival in Birmingham in 2019, Steven said of his hopes for the show: ‘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 recently 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.’