The real story of Billy Kimber vs the Peaky Blinders

The Real Story of Billy Kimber vs the Peaky Blinders

How did the actual rivalry between the Peaky Blinders and the Birmingham Boys develop? Sky HISTORY explores this in a new series.

Fans of crime dramas have enjoyed the hit TV series Peaky Blinders since its debut in 2013. A major part of its appeal lies in the ongoing clashes between Thomas Shelby (played by Cillian Murphy), leader of the Peaky Blinders, and rival gangsters.

Billy Kimber and the Birmingham Boys

In the first season, Shelby seeks to confront Billy Kimber (played by Charlie Creed-Miles). Kimber was a real crime boss who led the Birmingham Boys, much like his fictional version in the show.

Was the Rivalry True to History?

Did the real Peaky Blinders and Birmingham Boys have such a fierce rivalry? The show’s timeline begins in 1919, just after World War I, but the actual Peaky Blinders gang had mostly dissolved by then.

"The first printed reference to the Peaky Blinders comes in a March 1890 edition of the Birmingham Mail."

Historical Accuracy and Differences

The real Peaky Blinders peaked earlier than shown in the series.
By 1919, when the show starts, the original Peaky Blinders had largely disbanded.

Sky HISTORY’s series Original Gangsters With Sean Bean offers a more detailed account of this history, available on Sky HISTORY and HISTORY Play.

"Was there such a strong rivalry between the actual Peaky Blinders and Birmingham Boys? What does the show get right and wrong about the relations between the two gangs?"

Overall, while the show captures the spirit of gang conflicts, it takes creative liberties with the timeline and intensity of the rivalry.

Author’s summary: The Peaky Blinders' real influence peaked before 1919, with their rivalry against the Birmingham Boys being less dramatic than portrayed in TV adaptations.

Sky HISTORY TV channel — 2025-11-03