FILMING of acclaimed gangster thriller Peaky Blinders is returning to Liverpool for a third series.
Producers of the BBC 2 drama say they were lured back by a combination of the city's period architecture and its close proximity to London.
A number of key Liverpool locations will be used to double as mid-1920s Birmingham when filming begins this autum.
The multu-award winning show follows the ganngster Shelby family of Birmingham as they continue to expand their empire across the country during 1920s.
Cillian Murphy returns as Tommy Shelby, gang boss and businessman, while Paul Anderson plays his unpredictable older brother Arthur. Meanwhile Helen McCrory reprises her role as the family matriarch, Polly.
Wendy Simon, assistant mayor and cabinet member responsible for the Liverpool Film Office, said: “We’re delighted this quality drama is returning to the city and it could not come at a better time with the recent decision to approve plans for a major new studio development at the former Littlewoods Building.
“The production was filmed here last year over a three month period, and saw around 120 cast and crew make the region their temporary home, giving a great boost to the local economy.
'Exciting'
“The feedback we received from the Peaky Blinders team was overwhelmingly positive, and clearly their experience not only of the city but of our dedicated Film Office made it a simple decision for them to film on location here again.
“These really are exciting times, and we look forward to welcoming more top-class productions later on in the year.”
Peaky Blinders Producer Simon Maloney said: “Liverpool is a terrific place to shoot because it has a range of period architecture, great countryside on its doorstep and London is just a two hour train journey away. We’re delighted to be coming back for a third series.”
Liverpool city council says film and TV production levels are up 22 per cent so far this year with projects currently filming in Liverpool including Jimmy McGovern’s latest drama, Reg, a major international drama for ITV, Houdini & Doyle and The Five, Sky1’s flagship drama for 2016 by Harlen Coben.
Other recent productions include BBC’s Close to the Enemy by Stephen Poliakoff and Florence Foster Jenkins starring Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant.
