Peaky Blinders

Question 1

Where is Peaky Blinders set?

Answer 1

Birmingham

Question 2

How long did it run for?

Answer 2

2013-2022

Question 3

How many seasons and episodes

Answer 3

6x6

Question 4

Where did it first air on?

Answer 4

BBC 2

Question 5

When did it move to BBC 1?

Answer 5

In the 5th series

Question 6

What season the best performing drama of 2017?

Answer 6

Season 4

Question 7

How many viewers did season 5 attract

Answer 7

3.3 million

Question 8

When was it the most watched show on Netflix?

Answer 8

2019

Question 9

What was the audience increase for season 4

Answer 9

Increased its 16-34 audience by 65%

Question 10

Who distributed it?

Answer 10

Endemol Shine international

Question 11

How many countries was it distributed to?

Answer 11

183

Question 12

What is the target audience for peaky blinders?

Answer 12

Male dominated
16-34
Fans of historical dramas and gangster films
Fans of the celebrity cast

Question 13

Who were the peaky blinders?

Answer 13

1880-1920s
Young criminals for lower-working class backgrounds
Engaged in robbery, violence, illegal bookmaking and gambling

Question 14

What does the term peaky blinders mean?

Answer 14

Refers to a sartorial elegance
Peaky refers to the flat cap that they wear
Slang term in Birmingham

Question 15

What was the impact of WW1 on the working classes in Northern England?

Answer 15

Massive unemployment
Economic hardship as industries struggled to transition from wartime to peacetime production
Difficulties finding work and settling into civilian life
Rise in labour movements
Demand for better conditions, better wages and better housing

Question 16

What was the political situation in the 1920s in the UK?

Answer 16

Labour Party replaced the Liberal Party as the progressive party in British politics
General strike of 1926
Trade unions and working-class movements influenced politics
Economic challenges after WWI led to social unrest and political changes

Question 17

What was Birmingham like economically?

Answer 17

Manufacturing and metalworking
Small workshops
Family ran businesses
Jewellery and gun-making

Question 18

What was Birmingham like socially?

Answer 18

Immigrant communties
Unemployment
Criminal gangs in response to poverty
Limited opportunities

Question 19

What is the peaky Blinders genre?

Answer 19

Genre-hybrid
Crime drama

Question 20

What are the appeals of a gangster genre?

Answer 20

Complex characters
Moral ambiguity
Power and status
Drama and conflict
Social commentary on society, inequality and corruption
Escapism
Teamwork and community
Exploration of loyalty and betrayal
Action and Tension

Question 21

What are the appeals of a Western genre?

Answer 21

Idea of freedom
Devoid of a modern political and social issues
Historical
Character development
Plot twists
Rugged individualism
Frontier exploration
Struggle between good and evil, justice, revenge, freedom, survival
Drinking culture

Question 22

What are the appeals of a drama genre?

Answer 22

Allows connections to characters
Character development
Conflict: internal and external
Narrative complexity

Question 23

What are the appeals of a crime drama genre?

Answer 23

Compelling and intriguing storyline
Unexpected outcomes
Mirror human experience
Emotionally stimulating
Explores human psychology
Questions morality

Question 24

Characteristics of Tommy Shelby

Answer 24

Thinker
Reliable
Likes being in control
Methodical
Maintains gangster tropes but is not simply a “bad guy”
Makes viewers question the legitimacy of those binaries but also whether they exist or ever have

Question 25

Characteristics of Ada

Answer 25

Rebellious Confident Goes own way Resilient

Question 26

Ada challenging stereotypes

Answer 26

Has her own sexual agenda Sex-positive feminist Lives away from her family Chooses to be a communist despite who her family is

Question 27

Characteristics of Aunt Polly

Answer 27

Loyal Caring Takes no prisoners Resilient

Question 28

Aunt Polly challenging stereotypes

Answer 28

Points a gun at John Shelby Seen as dominating and takes the role of a leader He respects her and is potentially scared of her "This whole bloody enterprise was a woman's business while you boys were away at war"

Question 29

Characteristics of Arthur Shelby

Answer 29

Does things for the thrill of it Can be impulsive Acts first, thinks later

Question 30

Characteristics of Grace

Answer 30

Intelligent Focused Resilient Underestimated by others

Question 31

Grace challenging stereotypes

Answer 31

Ruthless Dedicated to her role as an undercover agent

Question 32

Characteristics of John Shelby

Answer 32

Loyal Loves family Can be careless Wants to please others

Question 33

Characteristics of Jesus Jeremiah

Answer 33

Strong belief A loyal friend

Question 34

Characteristics of Freddie Thorne

Answer 34

Strong in fighting for a cause Sense of social justice Doesn't care what others think A lone wolf Holds no allegiance

Question 35

Characteristics of Campbell

Answer 35

Embodies the hard-boiled detective but is not really a "good guy"

Question 36

How did the BBC respond to the 2018 OFCOM report?

Answer 36

Audiences felt that the BBC didn't have enough representations of working class people in regional areas Introduction of PB response positively to this

Question 37

Historical appeal

Answer 37

Old fashion setting Costume ideas Form of escapism Educational Historical facts/inferences Visual spectacle of the period Hair and makeup Semi-biographical

Question 38

What was the fan response to peaky blinders?

Answer 38

Festival of 20,000 in Digbeth Wearing of the hats and hairstyles Immersive dance and theatrical shows based on the show Podcast created from BBC sounds “obsessed with peaky blinders” by the bearded fellows 2018 name Arthur surged into the top 10 boys names for the first time since 1920s Ada was in the top 100 for the first time in a century too

Question 39

BBC artwork competition

Answer 39

BBC held a competition for the best fan artwork to use in a marketing campaign 6/1000 were selected and earnt £1000 commission

Question 40

What is the setting of Peaky Blinders?

Answer 40

Gritty Industrial Post WW1 Bars, alleyways and factories Working class Criminal underworlds

Question 41

What is the atmosphere of Peaky Blinders?

Answer 41

Dim lighting Smoke-filled rooms Raw, gritty tone Violence Dangerous world Criminal underworld

Question 42

What is the soundtrack of Peaky Blinders?

Answer 42

Modern, rock-inspired music Spare, tense soundtracks in key movements Stark and slow pace

Question 43

What are the shots like in Peaky Blinders?

Answer 43

Wide shots in open expansive spaces Opening scenes with Tommy walking through the streets of Birmingham Vast landscapes Frames characters in expansive, lonely environments