Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight say he is “thrilled” after the West Midlands was recognised as an official production hub by The British Film Commission (BFC).
The region, with a focus on Birmingham, was announced as the UK’s eighth official hub on Monday, for its ability to deliver high-end film and TV projects, as Knight has proved with the ongoing saga of the Shelbys.
Having served as a production base for the franchise, including the recent Peaky Blinders film, the region has met key criteria for official hub status, the BFC said.
The network of production hubs generated £5.8bn inward investment spend for the UK in 2025, the BFC said.
West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker, said the recognition was a “real gamechanger” for giving the film and TV industry a sense of “confidence” in the region.
“With our dedicated production office, it’s never been easier to get a production rolling here,” he added.
The region was recognised after meeting three of the BFC’s key criteria:
Peaky Blinders, which launched in 2013, ran for six series until 2022 and starred Cillian Murphy as notorious gang leader, Tommy Shelby, who sets out to carve out an empire for himself and his family in Birmingham in 1919.
It was followed by the feature-length film, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man earlier this year with a spin-off series of the show currently in the works.
‘Beginning of a journey’
Knight, 66, who also founded the Birmingham-based TV and film studio, Digbeth Loc Studios, said: “I’m thrilled that the West Midlands has been recognised as a fantastic place to make film and TV.
“The opening of Digbeth Loc Studios is an important part of that ambition, providing a home for world-class film and television production in the heart of Birmingham.
“We are at the beginning of a journey, and we’ve got off to a great start.”
Thomas Shelby played by Cillian Murphy in the popular Peaky Blinders
Cillian Murphy played Thomas Shelby in the popular series, set in Birmingham
The region joins the other official production hubs across the UK, including in South West England (Bristol), North West England (Manchester and Liverpool), Yorkshire (Leeds) and London.
Adrian Wootton OBE, BFC chief executive, said the recognition was a “major win” for the region’s creative community and said it had grown in strength, building skills, infrastructure and reputation over nearly 15 years.
“With the West Midlands becoming an official regional production hub, our offer to the global film and TV industry now spans the length and breadth of the UK,” he said.
“Wherever you base your production, you’re within a stone’s throw of world-class facilities, crew and talent, with access to one-of-a-kind locations and some of the world’s most stable, transparent and generous tax incentives.”
Credit: BBC
