City should be the 'hub for making film and television'

THE man behind the hit TV show Peaky Blinders says he wants Birmingham to be the 'hub for making film and television' and he plans to 'make it happen!

- By JAYNE THOMSON

One of the 'Made of Brum' screens in the city

Steven Knight's hit drama was partly inspired by stories he heard when he was growing up in Small Heath and its international success has made him one of the best-known Brummies at home and globally.

The sentiment of what Birmingham is made of is currently splashed across the city on 100-plus 'Made of Brum' billboards and posters as part of a new BBC campaign.

Guz Khan of BAFTA-nominated comedy Man Like Mobeen, Cillian Murphy, who plays Tommy Shelby in Peaky Blinders and the late Ozzy Osbourne, are also featured.

Steven says it's a combination of both the strong Brummie personality as well as what we can make that tells us what Brum's made of.

"It's the people really and it's the tradition and it's a city that has always made things," he said.

"I think they're very down to earth, in other words, not getting too big for their boots, the humour is fantastic and self-deprecating.

"But I do think sometimes that means that we don't bang the drum enough and we don't shout about our virtues the way that other cities do and maybe it's time we started to do that a bit more."