Harry Kirton (Finn Shelby)

We left off series three with Tommy breaking the family up. How is Finn mixed up in all of this?

When we first meet the family, it’s quite scary. We think the brothers, Michael and Polly are going to die. Finn’s none the wiser and is quite lost but ready to solve any problems he comes up against despite always being out of the loop. It’s understandable because Tommy can’t always be relaying information to Finn. He barely tells his brothers anything. When we first meet him, the audience definitely knows more than Finn.

Finn takes on more responsibility this year. What sorts of things is he challenged with?

The main challenge for Finn is that he has to break out of his own shell. Arthur tries to help him with that and even Tommy has to sit Finn down and make him realise that he no longer has that safety barrier around him. I think for the first time Finn is actually scared. He starts to realise what it is to be a true Peaky Blinder. Finn has to grow up quickly this year, find his feet and become a man. Everything is a lot more real for him and he has to walk the walk and talk the talk of a true Peaky Blinder.

What is it like to walk back onto the set of Peaky Blinders for another series?

Every time you step on set, especially the Peaky parlour or betting shop, it’s like putting an imaginary cloak on and entering an imaginary world. It amazes me each year. Everything is in the same position. It shocks me how they do it every year. It’s all so real and it really helps you get into the character and the story. I also love the smaller details, the posters and betting slips and bookkeeping props. Having studied art, I can appreciate the time and effort that goes into it all. It’s amazing how they make it all look in keeping with the period.

You’ve been on the show since you were 15 years old; have the other cast members given you any advice on crafting your character?

When filming the series I’m always at a new stage of my life. When I first started this, I was in year 10, around 15 years old. I left senior school and then went into college and now, I’m a year on since college. I’m finally able to slow down and focus on acting because I’ve finished my education now. You’re at that stage of life where everything is all over the place and the other cast have really helped ground me. They really are like brothers and I’ve never experienced that before.

Coming from Birmingham yourself, how does the fact that this show is set in the city make you feel?

I’m proud that the audience have been introduced to Birmingham through the show. It’s crazy to think that the Peaky Blinders really existed in the city and that we are sharing a little bit of that history with the world. I love coming back to Birmingham. It always reminds me that I’m a proper Brummie and it will be forever a reminder of growing up and working on Peaky Blinders.