The BBC has finally confirmed the release date for the long-awaited sixth and final series of Peaky Blinders.
It was revealed by the show’s creator, Steven Knight, towards the end of last year that after filming had wrapped up, he was hoping for a Spring-time release for the final season of the critically-acclaimed BBC drama – which follows the exploits of the Shelby crime family, lead by celebrated Irish actor Cillian Murphy as Tommy Shelby, in the direct aftermath of the First World War – citing an expected air date of sometime between March and May 2022.
But now, the BBC has confirmed that we’re getting it much earlier than initially thought.
The broadcaster has this morning revealed the previously-secret air date to be Sunday 27 February 2022 at 9pm via a video shared to social media.
In a bid to get fans excited for the much-anticipated series, the air date and timeslot allocation was revealed by way of a large mural – commissioned by the BBC and created by Manchester’s mural king and legendary street artist, Akse P19.
Production for the sixth and final series of the much-loved show first began all the way back in 2019, but had to be put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, before filming resumed back in early 2021.
Most-notably back in February, the viaduct and arches around Castlefield took a pretty impressive step back in time and had undergone quite the transformation to pay resemblance to the show’s setting of early-1900s Birmingham.
With several wooden scaffolds, market-style props, trader signs, sacks, barrels and the Shelby’s famous ‘The Garrison’ all spotted by eagle-eyed fans, the area looked almost unrecognisable to those who know our city centre, but extremely familiar for viewers of the cult-favourite BBC drama series.
Cast members from show had also been spotted outside The Plaza in Stockport and on Formby Beach earlier in the same month.
With several wooden scaffolds, market-style props, trader signs, sacks, barrels and the Shelby’s famous ‘The Garrison’ all spotted by eagle-eyed fans, the area looked almost unrecognisable to those who know our city centre, but extremely familiar for viewers of the cult-favourite BBC drama series.
Cast members from show had also been spotted outside The Plaza in Stockport and on Formby Beach earlier in the same month.
The sixth and final series of the acclaimed BBC drama airs at the end of this month / Credit: BBC
Boasting one of the most star-studded casts on British television, the new series will see the Shelby family return to continue their war against fascist politician Oswald Mosley (Sam Claflin), as well as crossing paths with a mysterious new character played by acclaimed BAFTA-nominated actor, Stephen Graham.
The Queen’s Gambit breakout star Anya Taylor-Joy will also reprise her role, and legendary British actor Tom Hardy is once again set to reappear as Alfie Solomons.
A notable absence will be Helen McCrory, who played matriarch Polly Gray, but tragically died of cancer last year at aged 52.
Cillian Murphy recently said it was “really hard” making the show without her in an interview with The Guardian, adding: “We were just five days away from shooting in March 2020 when the lockdown was announced. Helen was the heart of that show and it was hard to make it without her [as] she died while we were filming.”
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He admitted: “There was this huge absence on the set – we all felt it.”
A red carpet screening of the first episode of Peaky Blinders’ final series will be held on 24 February at Cineworld on Broad Street in Birmingham, and a recently-announced ballot will allow about 300 fans to attend the premier.
Peaky Blinders S6 begins on Sunday 27 February at 9pm on BBC One.
Oldham mansion that starred in an iconic pop music video is up for sale
Thomas Melia
A Greater Manchester mansion that’s featured in one of the most famous music videos of the past decade is now up for sale.
Situated in the picturesque village of Uppermill, Oldham, Ashcroft House is currently listed at £2,350,000 accepting offers in the region of this figure.
The property has six bedrooms, six baths and five reception rooms – this mansion is a party host’s dream.
Ashcroft House has four storeys with the lower ground floor currently set up as a gym space and the ground floor boasting an eye-catching grand entrance hall.
This isn’t everything the lower ground floor has to offer. There are a number of breakout rooms such as a wine store, cinema room and your own personal steam room.
When going up another flight of stairs, the first floor’s main selling point besides the very large balcony is the matched walk in wardrobes paired with each of the six sleeping quarters, yes please!
The girls styling themselves in one of the many walk in wardrobes at Ashcroft House.The bold statement front door in the Oldham mansion.Credit: Youtube (@littlemix)
Finally, if that wasn’t enough to draw you in, there is another flight of stairs leading to the second floor which is currently acting as the house’s ever-impressive storage area.
With the rolling hills of Saddleworth nearby and a local pub a ten minute walk away, how could life possibly get any better?
Oh wait it does! In 2016 one of the UK’s best selling girl groups of all time shot a music video for their worldwide hit right here in these very four walls.
X Factor prodigies and three time BRIT award winning girl group Little Mix perched up with their film crew to spend 21 hours recording the video for their groundbreaking single ‘Hair’.
The video itself has amassed nearly 500 million views on social media platform Youtube since being released eight years ago.
The grand staircase that greets you as you enter this Greater Manchester property.The Little Mix girls having a bite to eat in Ashcroft House.Credit: Youtube (@littlemix)
The previous owner of the house even revealed that once the music video shoot wrapped up, the girls stayed with the family to share a slice of pizza or two.
If you’re interested in owning a piece of pop culture history or just as nosey as we are you can take a virtual tour of this mansion in Oldham here.
People are finally discovering this super easy money-saving food hack
Danny Jones
These days, pinching the pennies and protecting the pounds wherever you can is more important than ever, so we have no intention of gatekeeping this game-changing itsu food hack.
For the longest time, we’ll admit that we thought itsu was just another good place to grab some fresh sushi, Asian-inspired meals and groceries, but after learning of this clever little loophole, it’s probably up there with one of our very favourite chains.
Starting out in London back in the late 90s, itsu has gone on to become a huge franchise with nearly 80 locations nationwide and, naturally, the risk that comes with a food brand getting this big is the almost unavoidable problem of waste.
However, what was once just a conveyor belt in Chelsea has turned into a super-efficient restaurant and fully established food brand that has also come up with a great way to not only help stop food from going to waste but save you money in the process too.
itsu Manchester on 1 Hardman Blvd, Spinningfields.itsu prices aren’t pretty decent to start with given the quality.We’re all about food hacks and cutting back the budget wherever we can. (Credit: The Manc Group)
Put quite simply, because itsu would quite rightly rather see food go in your gob than in the bin, they have a discount policy on their products that are about to go out of date.
Think Too Good To Go only more specific and with even more money off guaranteed.
Once the clock hits a certain time towards the end of trading hours, sushi, salad boxes and other cold food items can be purchased at 50% off their usual price to help save money and on food spoiling.
No, we’re not having you on: each and EVERY single day you can get highly-quality itsu sushi selection platters, rice and salad boxes, poke bowls and more at literally half-price. You can see the full details in their FAQs.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a random work night or a peckish walk home from the pub on the weekend, provided you go after 8:30pm and get there before they shut, you can grab some of your favourites at essentially a two-for-one rate. Sensational stuff.
You don’t even have to download an app, go up to the counter and have any kind of awkward conversation or anything like that: the digital pay screens will automatically update once the click strikes cha-ching and you can saunter out of the gaff with your scran.
Half price itsu? Don’t mind if we do.50% off itsu every night.Always leave looking this happy.Get your hands on half-price itsu whenever you can with this simple hack. (Credit: The Manc Group)
We’ll be honest, we often end up getting double the amount we came for but who can blame us with a value-for-money offer like that? There’s also a 15% discount for students and NHS workers, by the way.
We know that might sound counter-intuitive when we’ve pitched this as a money-saving life hack, but it’s actually come in handy when grabbing not just a last-minute tea for ourselves but hungry flatmates too; plus we go home knowing we’ve done our little bit to help reduce waste.
Eating out can get super expensive, especially in Manchester city centre during a cost of living crisis, but let’s face it, we all fancy a treat sometimes and the thought of cooking is too tiring to even think about – that’s what makes stumbling upon little happy discoveries like these makes so great.
Now, we’re not going to pretend you’re the first people to know about this: the ‘secret’ is out and is gradually getting more and more popular, so you’ll almost certainly find a fair few people queuing up with the same idea come 8:30pm, but that’s kind of the idea. The more we spread the news, the less waste.
itsu Spinningfields is currently the only branch in Manchester (the first-ever Northern site to be opened by the brand back in 2016) but if you need some discounted food whilst you’re travelling around, you can find your nearest location HERE. Enjoy!
Emily Sergeant -
15th February 2022 
