A secret link has been revealed by the boss of PEAKY blinders to the drama in his BBC series SAS Rogue Heroes.
Peaky Blinders ended last month after six series. Steven Knight is its mastermind.
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Steven’s new project SAS Rogue Heroes will premiere on BBC One. It charts the formation and evolution of the Special Air Service during World War II.
Steven revealed that there is a clear connection between gangsters from Birmingham and military characters.
Speaking at a Q&A about his new show, he said the two dramas had similar “themes”.
He explained that there was a certain theme to Peaky and this. It is a group if men who may not be the easiest to integrate into society.
“I believe that all the heroes of this war would have been in prison if it hadn’t been for the war. They wouldn’t be able to function in normal society.
“There’s a great quote from Rudyard Kipling. He says, ‘For it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an chuck him out, the brute! But it’s “When the guns start to fire, Saviour of “is country”.
“In other words, the people who are getting thrown out of clubs and restaurants and getting into terrible trouble in peace, when war comes along, they’re needed. I think that’s really interesting.”
SAS Rogue Heroes features Sex Education’s Connor Swindells and Game of Thrones’ Alfie Alley. Former Skins star Jack O’Connell is also featured.
Steven also disclosed how he screened SAS personnel for accuracy.
He stated that he had shown it to SAS members and other former SAS members and to the SAS hierarchy.
“So we did this screening, and we sit there and look at their reactions as the thing goes on, and they loved it. It was a great experience for them.
“And the result is that they’re very much on board, but the first thing they said was the humour was authentic.
“In other words, in those situations, when people are… When your friend has just been blown to pieces and there is this bleakness and there is this horror, which perhaps will come and hit you a year later, but in the moment, there is this funniness, this humour, this madness.”
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Tonight’s SAS Rogue Heroes airs at 9 p.m. on BBC One.