‘Peaky Blinders’ was BBC Two’s biggest drama series of 2017
The BBC has announced that the final episode of Peaky Blinders‘ fourth season achieved record viewing figures for the show.
Set in Birmingham, England in the aftermath of World War I, the gritty period drama series is based upon the exploits of the Peaky Blinders gang and launched in September 2013.
Season 4 began on BBC Two in the UK last November and averaged 3.3 million viewers, making it the biggest BBC Two drama series of last year.
A peak of 3.6 million watched the finale in December; the biggest ever audience for an episode of Peaky Blinders.
Season 1 averaged 2.4 million, Season 2 averaged 2.2 million and Season 3 averaged 2.4 million.
Creator Steven Knight commented: “Peaky Blinders continues to grow not just as a TV show but also as a cultural phenomenon. As makers we watch the creativity and invention of our fan base as closely as they watch the show. There is a great engine of support behind the show all around the world even in countries where it is not officially available. The BBC gave us a free and open platform to create something other broadcasters may not have understood. The story will continue.”
Executive producer Caryn Mandabach added: “It is wildly gratifying to realise how connected our audience is to Tommy Shelby, his family, and everyone in his orbit. Though the action takes place nearly a hundred years ago, Steve has an unparalleled ability to make every character resonate as though they were alive today.”
Patrick Holland, Controller of BBC Two, said: “Peaky Blinders just gets better and better. It is such a distinctive, brilliantly crafted, beautifully acted series that Steven Knight, the production team and the exceptional cast have taken to another level. It is brilliant that such a broad, younger audience loves the series as much as we do at BBC Two. We can’t wait for the next series!”
Peaky Blinders is available to buy on DVD now.
A fifth – and possibly final – season of Peaky Blinders will air on BBC Two in 2019.