Cillian Murphy joins stars at Peaky Blinders film premiere

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Chloe Hughes, Vanessa Pearce and Richard PriceWest Midlands

PA Media Cillian Murphy, wearing a dark-coloured suit and coat, is posing for a selfie with a woman wearing a fluffy coat. she is leaning over a barrier, and there are a large number of people alongside and behind her.

Cillian Murphy was among a star-studded line up in Birmingham as the red carpet was rolled out for the premiere of Peaky Blinders film, The Immortal Man.

Hundreds of fans, many donning flat caps and tweed, turned out to catch a glimpse of the cast - which includes Rebecca Ferguson and Tim Roth - as they arrived at the city's Symphony Hall.

The film picks up from Steven Knight's acclaimed TV series with Oscar winner Murphy reprising his role as gang leader Tommy Shelby, who returns to Birmingham during World War Two.

Murphy said it was "amazing to be in Birmingham, and to bring [Peaky Blinders] back after all these years".

He said it was only right the premiere was hosted in Birmingham.

"It's important for the fans, it's important for [Steven Knight], I think it was very important.

"Steve has written it from stories he was told by his parents growing up here... it's huge, you can't separate the two."

Earlier, Knight spoke about how Peaky Blinders' fans had been a driving force behind the drama's success.

"The fans have been like the energy for the show from the very beginning," he said.

"It was never really pushed or promoted, or advertised much. It was the fans who discovered it and then talked to each other about it."

PA Media Cillian Murphy is pictured side-on, he is wearing a dark-coloured jacket and a dark-coloured shirt. Only his head and shoulders are seen. There are other people in the background, out of focus.

The film is released at cinemas for two weeks on Friday, two weeks ahead of its streaming release on Netflix on 20 March.

"The thing with Peaky is that people do tend to watch it on their own or in their house but this is a chance for people to watch it together," Knight added.

Celebrities turning out for the event included Duran Duran's John Taylor, Birmingham City and Strictly Come Dancing's Karen Carney and Aston Villa players Jadon Sancho, Ezri Konsa, Tammy Abraham and Morgan Rogers.

Fans Claire White and Albert Laszlo travelled from Derby to meet the stars.

They said they were hoping to open a Peaky Blinders-themed cafe and cake bar, decorated with signed memorabilia.

Clair McManus, Susan McManus, Lisa Turner and Elisha Guiney also dressed up for the occasion.

"We've come for a good night out and we're just pleased to be here," McManus said.

"It's our first premiere as well," added Turner.

"I love it because it's about Birmingham and I love Birmingham, and of course Cillian Murphy helps as well."

Clair McManus, Susan McManus, Lisa Turner, and Elisha Guiney are each wearing costumes inspired by the early 1900s. They include accessories such as feathered headbands and pearl necklaces. The four women are smiling for the camera and are standing among a large group of people.

Arthur Cocker was another of those turning out for the event, wearing a two-piece suit, a watch and traditional chain.

The 55-year-old fan from Birmingham said the series helped put the city on the map.

"The new series is getting filmed here now, and from this evening, people who pass us by are going to want to watch Peaky Blinders," he said.

"Everybody's making an effort to get dressed for the occasion. People just want to be part of the culture of the Peaky Blinders and the history."

Arthur Cocker, a man dressed in a dark-coloured waistcoast and jacket with a white shirt and a dark-coloured flat cap with a patterned scarf. He is standing by railings in a city centre.

Ahead of the premiere, Transport for West Midlands unveiled a specially-designed Metro tram with the message Home of the Peaky Blinders emblazoned on the side.

It was shown off for the first time at the Central Library tram stop in Centenary Square - with the tram given a new name, Steven Knight, in recognition of his work promoting the city and the wider region through the franchise.

PA Media Steven Knight, wearing black suit and grey coat, is crouching by the side of a blue section of tram bearing his name. There is cobbled street beneath the tram and a drainage grid running alongside.

Mechanical bull Ozzy, named after late rock star Ozzy Osbourne and which stands inside the city's main train station, was also given a Peaky Blinders makeover - with a massive flat cap nestled in between his horns.

Alongside the bronze bovine, there was also an interactive experience for fans where they could step inside a themed photo booth.

PA Media The head of a mechanical bull, wearing a large grey flat cap. There is a light-coloured wall behind the bull. Its horns and the rest of its body extend out of the shot.

The film is set in Birmingham in 1940 amid the destruction caused by World War Two, when a greying and older-looking Shelby is said to have "driven back from a self-imposed exile to face his most destructive reckoning yet".

Another award winner, Adolescence's Stephen Graham also returns, as well as Sophie Rundle as Tommy's sister, Ada.

Netflix A film set featuring a group of actors and film crew standing in front of a double decker bus, as an explosion engulfs much of the image. Many of the actors appear to be holding their hands up or shielding themselves from the blast.

Written by Knight and directed by Tom Harper, the film features a cast alongside Murphy that includes Ned Dennehy (Culprits), Packy Lee (Blue Lights) and Ian Peck (His Dark Materials), as well as Jay Lycurgo (Steve).

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