University News Last updated 29 April 2016
Peaky Blinders’ style flat caps are appearing on some of the city’s most iconic landmarks today, including the Bull at Birmingham's Bullring shopping centre, to celebrate one of Birmingham’s most famous exports returning to our TV screens next week.
The bespoke bull’s cap was designed and created by four Fashion Design students at Birmingham City University.
Claudia Huxtable, senior lecturer at Birmingham City University's School of Fashion and Textiles, said: "It’s been great to get involved in creating the ‘Peaky Blinders’ cap for the Bull at Bullring. The students have been excited to be working with the BBC prior to the launch of the new series.
The 1920s style caps also appeared on the statue of ‘A Real Birmingham Family’ outside the Library of Birmingham and people across the city have been showing their support by donning the statement cap.
Staff at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, train guards at Birmingham Moor Street and even a diver at Sea Life Centre Birmingham went under water with sharks in his peaky cap.
Dubbed as #PeakyFriday on social media, the city takeover comes ahead of an exclusive screening of the first episode of the new series of the BBC Two drama in the show’s homeland, Birmingham.
At the red carpet event next week, the attending cast will include ‘Peaky Blinders’ actors Cillian Murphy (Tommy Shelby), Paul Anderson (Arthur Shelby) and Packy Lee (Johnny Dogs), as well as the show’s producers and writer/creator Steven Knight.
Joe Godwin, Director of BBC Birmingham, says: “Peaky Blinders is a Birmingham story. We’ve all taken it to our hearts and these photos show just how much. It’s great to see so many people sharing their enthusiasm for this wonderful series about our city.’’
‘Peaky Blinders’ returns to BBC Two next Thursday 5 May at 9pm.
A special Birmingham screening for local fans and cast will take place on Wednesday 4 May at The Everyman Cinema, Mailbox Birmingham.
‘Peaky Blinders’ is a Caryn Mandabach Productions and Tiger Aspect Drama production for BBC Two, executive produced by writer/creator Steven Knight, Caryn Mandabach, Will Gould, Jamie Glazebrook, Frith Tiplady, Cillian Murphy and, for the BBC, Matthew Read.