Tram named in honour of Steven Knight

Peaky Blinders creator, Steven Knight has unveiled a West Midlands Metro tram named in his honour as part of the build up to the feature film based on his blockbuster TV show.

The tram features an iconic image of Cillian Murphy as Tommy Shelby alongside the message ‘Home of the Peaky Blinders’, celebrating the show’s deep connection to the region.

Crowds gathered in Birmingham’s Centenary Square as Knight revealed his name on the newly-branded tram, recognising his commitment to championing Birmingham and the West Midlands on screen and his support for the region’s film industry through his Digbeth Loc Studios.

The acclaimed filmmaker and native Brummie said he was ‘deeply proud’ to receive the honour in the city that inspired his show – especially on the day that stars and die-hard fans were coming together for the premiere.

Stephen said: “This is a great honour for me, on a day when the world's gaze is on my home city, Birmingham, for the world premiere of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man.

"I am immensely proud of where I am from, and everything that goes on in this great city and look forward to help develop the cultural growth of the West Midlands as a whole.”

The unveiling took place outside the city’s Symphony Hall, which hosted the world premiere of the new movie – Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man.

Mayor Richard Parker has identified the creative industries as a key sector in his West Midlands Growth Plan and has sought advice from the filmmaker on the region’s new film production agency, Production Central WM which opened last year.

The Mayor said: “Through his vision, energy and amazing storytelling, Steven has put Birmingham and the West Midlands back on the world stage – the film premiere and celebrations here today prove that. 

“We have a shared ambition to make this the best place in the UK for film and TV production. And we’re working together to open more doors for the next generation of filmmakers right here in our region, creating exciting new careers for thousands more local people.

“I am proud to call him my friend, and this tram is a fitting tribute to his contribution to our region’s success.”

Steven Knight joins other well-known West Midlands natives including Ozzy Osbourne, Jasper Carrott and Cyrille Regis in having a tram named in his honour.

The striking Peaky Blinders images will be seen on tram 58 as it travels the West Midlands Metro network highlighting the region as the spiritual home of the franchise. Steven Knight’s name will remain on the front permanently.

The expansion of the Metro network means that from later this year the tram will start passing the Black Country Living Museum, a key outdoor location for Peaky Blinders, while the Eastside extension, currently under construction, will bring the Metro close to Steven Knight’s Digbeth Loc Studios.