Peaky Blinders hits streets for filming

Only the toughest survive and even they face a daily struggle against the law and life and death morals.

Millions glued to their television sets each week are captivated by these evocative streets, homes and smoky pubs ruled by friendships and bonds forged over generations.

The critically-acclaimed BBC drama Peaky Blinders is returning for a second series soon to return to the nation's gaze to 1920s Birmingham.

It tells the story of the Peaky Blinders – a gang known to deal with anyone who stands in their way with a deft swipe of razor blades protruding from their flat caps.

The Black Country Living Museum welcomed film crews this week for the second series running to use its atmospheric canal side locations to shoot scenes.

It is seen as a coup for the Black Country as producers say there are not enough suitable period locations in Birmingham to film there.

And those people lucky enough to be visiting the museum on Wednesday were able to catch a glimpse of the stars on set.

Many got close enough to capture the stars on their camera phones including leading man Cillian Murphy who plays the gang's chief Tommy Shelby.

Cameras were brought into the museum, off Tipton Road, Dudley, ready to set the scene for the production – although part of the site was closed off for the filming to take place.

Set designers worked to recreate the scenes of the Birmingham heartland which was such a big draw for fans of the previous series.

Legend has it that the gang was formed from the tough families in the slum areas of Bordesley and Small Heath at the turn of the 19th and 20th century.

In those days the areas were very deprived and gangs overran the area from the 1870s, with one of those known as the Peaky Blinders.

The television series aimed to use stylish cinematography to transport viewers back to that time and has been careful to recreate the feel of the time.

Peaky Blinders were known for their sartorial style and were often associated with glamorously dressed women.

And while the show's stars are often seen sporting sharp suits and fine frocks, the streets in which they lived were far from glamorous.

Producers wanted to use the museum for outdoor shots using the well known canal side area near the period village.

Already the terrace of shops over the canal bridge, complete with cobbled streets and ornate lamp posts, have been the setting for other shows.

They featured in the award-winning Stephen Poliakoff drama Dancing on the Edge with recent Oscar nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor.

Just this month the BBC's daytime police drama WPC56 was screened featuring many of the shops and sights from the 1930s Birmingham Street attraction at the museum.

But this time producers decided to focus their locations more on the canals to the rear of the village surrounding the cold harsher-looking foundry buildings.

The action for the coming BBC2 series has fast-forwarded three years to 1922 for this series which sees Tommy and his family expand their business empire, while maintaining a stronghold in their Birmingham heartland.