Former Hollyoaks actor Emmett J. Scanlan makes his Peaky Blinders debut

He played Brendan Brady on the soap

Tommy and Arthur Shelby

by Emma Dodds |
Updated on

Peaky Blinders fans have been over the moon during the weekend - not only did the season five premiere air on Sunday 25th August, but there were only 24 hours to wait until the second episode aired on Monday 26th August.

Whilst the rest will continue being aired on Sundays on BBC One, the almost-double episode was a very welcome treat for viewers, who have waited nearly two years for this series of the show.

The first two episodes seriously delivered with a complete mixture of comedy, heartbreak and violence - just what Peaky fans like, although many were left utterly disturbed over one death in particular which took place in a wooded area... We won't spoil it just in case!

But the second episode also saw the Peaky debut of Emmett J. Scanlan as Billy Grade, a footballer turned singer who was performing in the Blinders-owned Garrison pub before being approached by the brothers with a proposition.

Of course, soap fans will recognise Emmett from his Hollyoaks days as Brendan Brady. The Irish actor played the villain everyone loved to hate in the soap for three years, before he bowed out of the soap and his character was sent to prison.

Emmett J. Scanlan as Billy Grade
©Emmett J. Scanlan as Billy Grade © BBC Pictures

Fans of both were thrilled by his introduction, and many took to Twitter to share their happiness. One wrote, 'Seeing @EmmettScanlan on #PeakyBlinders is giving me so many feels and flashbacks to watching Hollyoaks and I really forgot how much I missed watching him on my screen 😭.'

Another added, 'So happy to see @EmmettScanlan in #PeakyBlinders playing a gangster again!! The Fall, In the Flesh, Atlantis, Constantine, even Safe and GOTG, now PB. Followed what I could all because of his portrayal of Brendan in Hollyoaks.'

Swipe through to find out where Peaky Blinders is filmed...

Gallery

RADIO Peaky Blinders filming locations stacked

The Black Country Living Museum1 of 15
CREDIT: u00a9 The Black Country Living Museum

The Black Country Living Museum

The Black Country museum is home to many of the filming locations for Peaky Blinders, and if you take a trip around the museum for a day you'll be sure to recognise some past scenes of the show.Pictured here is Uncle Charlie's dockyard, home to many dodgy dealings between the Shelby brothers as well as allowing safe passage for who or whatever they need to get out of the Midlands. Read up on the museum here.

Powis Street, Liverpool2 of 15
CREDIT: u00a9 Google Maps

Powis Street, Liverpool

Much of the filming for Peaky Blinders is done in and around Liverpool, and different companies host many tours in the city so that fans of the show can see where the magic happens. This particular street is used for the Shelby families homes in the first season, named Watery Lane on the show.

Formby Beach, Liverpool3 of 15
CREDIT: u00a9 Getty Images

Formby Beach, Liverpool

Many heartbroken viewers will spot that Formby Beach in Liverpool was the spot where Alfie Solomons (played by Tom Hardy) admitted his betrayal to Tommy, and basically forced Tommy into shooting him dead after confessing that he had cancer. It was very emotional.

Port Sunlight, Wirral4 of 15
CREDIT: u00a9 Getty Images

Port Sunlight, Wirral

Port Sunlight is a model village in the Wirral, Merseyside. Although the village and the homes within it were originally built for workers at the Lever Brothers Factory, it's now a tourist attraction. Eagle-eyed Peaky fans will recognise the timbered housing as Aunt Polly's home, which is 'in' Sutton Coldfield in the show.

Arley Hall, Cheshire5 of 15
CREDIT: u00a9 BBC

Arley Hall, Cheshire

Once Tommy became as 'legit' as he could in season three, he and Grace moved themselves into an incredible country house. Sadly, Grace was shot dead at a party they hosted there, but Tommy continued to live there with their son Charlie as well as their staff.Arley Hall is situated in Northwich, Cheshire, and is often used as a wedding venue. Other shows to be filmed there include Coronation Street, Antiques Roadshow and Cold Feet.General Manager Steve Hamilton said, "It's been incredible to see the effort and attention to detail that goes into a production such as Peaky Blinders. There was a real buzz around Arley during the filming and it was great to work with the BBC on such a popular and critically acclaimed drama. The great thing now is that people will be able to visit us this summer and walk in the rooms where these amazing stars have filmed their scenes."

Manchester Town Hall6 of 15
CREDIT: u00a9 Getty Images

Manchester Town Hall

The town hall in Manchester was apparently used as a building front in a scene in one of the first two seasons where Sam Neill's character, Major Campbell, visits Winston Churchill, but Peaky Blinders' Production Designer Grant Montgomery told i News that "the interiors were done in another location." So cryptic!

Victoria Baths, Manchester7 of 15
CREDIT: u00a9 Getty Images

Victoria Baths, Manchester

The Victoria Baths in Manchester were used for scenes in season two. After Polly's son Michael returned, having been raised in the countryside by adoptive parents, the Shelby brothers took him along to a horse fair where Tommy bought a filly and also met May Carleton. Of course, in true Peaky style, the day ends in a fight, but the filming for the fair took place at the baths. Montgomery told i, "I remember thinking Victoria Baths could give it a really good look. One of the baths had timber over it, so we put sawdust down on top."

Bolton8 of 15
CREDIT: u00a9 BBC Pictures

Bolton

The centre of Bolton was used for various scenes in the show, but Le Mans crescent in Bolton was used for shots to capture the Shelby brothers' trip to London, and specifically the exterior of the Eden Club - the jazz den owned by Sabini, who becomes a nemesis to the family.Montgomery told i, "We were thinking how to do London in the 1920s, and Bolton has that wonderful crescent. So I said, 'Well, this is our London.' And the exterior to the Eden Club was all done in Bolton."

Brookeu2019s Mill, Huddersfield9 of 15
CREDIT: u00a9 BBC Pictures

Brooke’s Mill, Huddersfield

Producers used Brooke's Mill in Huddersfield as the location for the gypsy campsite, using traditional caravans and carts, as well as horses.

Leeds Town Hall10 of 15
CREDIT: u00a9 Getty Images

Leeds Town Hall

Many fans of the show were convinced that the scenes in which Campbell and Grace share information about the Shelby family in the art gallery were filmed at the Town Hall in Birmingham. However, the front was actually shot at the Town Hall in Leeds.

Newby Hall & Gardens, Ripon11 of 15
CREDIT: u00a9 Getty Images

Newby Hall & Gardens, Ripon

However, the scenes on the inside of the art gallery where Campbell and Grace surreptitiously pass notes to each other were filmed at the Newby Hall & Gardens in Ripon, North Yorkshire.

Keighley and Worth Valley Steam Railway12 of 15
CREDIT: u00a9 Getty Images

Keighley and Worth Valley Steam Railway

Most of the Peaky moments that take place on a train or at a station happen on the Keighley and Worth Valley railway line. It's a 5-mile long rail line that runs through a small part of West Yorkshire, and many will recognise Keighley as the station where Grace shot Major Campbell in season one.

Undercliffe Cemetery, Bradford13 of 15
CREDIT: u00a9 BBC Pictures

Undercliffe Cemetery, Bradford

The shots in season one where Polly pays her respects at the cemetery and meets Freddie Thorne laying flowers for his mum is thought to have been shot in Bradford at the Undercliffe Cemetery.

Peaky Blinders filming location14 of 15
CREDIT: u00a9 Getty

Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, Yorkshire

If it's a scene involving a train station, this historic Yorkshire station is likely to be the filming location, boasting gorgeous old platforms and carriages, picturesque walking paths and eye-catching backdrops.

Peaky Blinders filming location Chatsworth House, Derbyshire15 of 15
CREDIT: u00a9 Getty

Chatsworth House, Derbyshire

If you're looking for May Carleton's mansion, featured in season two of Peaky Blinders, then Chatsworth House, in Bakewell, Derbyshire, is the place! The stunning historic building is perfect for aristocratic horse-trainer May Carleton.Episodes shot at Chatsworth include huge stars of the show, including Cillian Murphy (as Thomas Shelby), Charlotte Riley (as May Carleton) and Annabelle Wallis (as Grace Burgess).

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