'It is very exciting' - West Midlands Mayor 'delighted' over Peaky Blinders return to Birmingham

He said he wanted to create the conditions to enable the show to be made in the region, with support being provided from the West Midlands Combined Authority’s annual £5 million fund to the creative industries sector.

With production taking place in Digbeth Loc. Studios, it marks the first time the series set in Birmingham will be filmed in the city.

Over the course of around five to six months, Mr Parker held meetings with Peaky Blinders’ creator and writer Steven Knight and leaders of West Midlands councils.

He said he was keen to come to an agreement to make it economically viable to film in Birmingham and stop it going elsewhere.

There was also a need for secrecy and it is understood James Bond-style code names were used and official board discussions held in private to avoid the news leaking.

But, following the official confirmation on Thursday (October 2), Mr Parker said the region will benefit to the tune of hundreds of millions as a result of the production.

He said: “I was speaking to Steven Knight about his plans and he was desperate, given he is from Birmingham and this is about Birmingham, that it’s filmed here.

“But he outlined some of the financial and economic issues that looked like it was making it difficult.

“Nothing to do with cost of production here itself but, in other regions, there are more creatives and other people in that industry meaning it’s more cost effective to do it in situ.

“There are other folks doing work on the ground making it easy for directors to find locations, get road closures and everything else.

“Creative industries was key to the Growth Plan we were developing. I was speaking to Steven and my team saying we are going on the front foot.

“He couldn’t do it here and I insisted that couldn’t happen. I said to Steven I would do everything I can to make sure that small amount of support needed would be available.

“I put a proposition to Steven which he liked and then I had to get the buy in of the council leaders here.

“I was really pleased our intervention made the difference and really pleased what we did was a really positive step and really pleased it got the support of all members of the board.

“The BBC is delighted with it too, They’re doubling their production output here and Kudos Knight are very impressed too.

“Their own view is that small contribution we have made could make an overall difference to this region from these productions could be £250-£300 million.

“Steven is a great person. He comes from this place, writes about this place and it’s great for the first time Peaky Blinders is going to be filmed in this place.

“I want to thank the BBC for their work on this too. They’ve been a fantastic partner for the West Midlands, making a very significant investment into our region.”

A number of jobs will be created as a result of the production, including opportunities for young people in the West Midlands.

Mr Parker said: “I really am trying to focus my efforts on stuff which truly turns the dial.

“This was something I was really keen to do, creating the conditions where it can be filmed here, recognising the way we can play our part.

“We’re just trying to ensure it’s competitive to do filming and directing stuff in the West Midlands.

“We’ve had some of that infrastructure missing in the past. It would have been really awful if Steven had said he still can’t film Peaky Blinders here.

“I’ve always said my approach to this job is to be fearless, not reckless. As soon as I had that conversation with Steven, my view was that it would be damaging it we didn’t do that.

“Ultimately, the justification for doing it is that hundreds of millions of pounds Kudos Knight referred to and the fact we’re going to be creating lots of new jobs here.

“Those jobs aren’t just for the creatives, scriptwriters, the people who work on the filming, but you need electricians, carpenters, make-up artists, caterers – a complete ecosystem of skills and expertise.

“Steven has got the same passion I have for skills and using these productions allows us to open up opportunities to work in Digbeth on these productions to young people across the West Midlands.

“The real case for doing this isn’t just the next two series but what we are trying to build in Digbeth and around creative industries, working with the BBC and other partners. It’s very very exciting.

“We’re working hard, collaborating with people who can make a difference and finding ways of giving things support which is making a difference between big stuff happening here or it happening in another place.”

Given the high profile of Peaky Blinders and excitement around it, the Mayor said he was pleased the news didn’t come out early.

He said: “I was really clear to the council leaders what we were seeking to do to get their support. There was so much sensitivity around it that any leaking could have caused it to unravel.

“I really value the discipline and the responsibility everyone took. I insisted on it simply because so much was at stake and I didn’t want this to fall through our grasp.”