Peaky Blinders’ leading ladies Sophie Rundle, Kate Phillips and Natasha O’Keeffe take to the red carpet for series six premiere in Birmingham without their beloved Shelby matriarch Helen McCrory after her tragic death

• The actress’ pulled out all the stops as they took to the red carpet for the final season of the period crime drama at Cineworld in Birmingham
• One person sadly missing was Helen McCrory, who played family matriarch Polly Shelby, who sadly passed away last year aged 52 following a secret battle with cancer
• Cillian Murphy, who portrays Tommy Shelby, was unable to make the premiere due to filming commitments for Christopher Nolan’s upcoming biopic Oppenheim in America
• The sixth and final series of Peaky Blinders will launch on BBC One on February 27 at 9pm

Peaky Blinders’ leading ladies Sophie Rundle, Kate Phillips and Natasha O’Keeffe were out in force on Thursday night as they dazzled at the premiere of the show’s sixth season at Cineworld, in Birmingham.

The actresses pulled out all the stops as they donned stylish ensembles while posing on the red carpet to celebrate the final season of the period crime drama. 

And while the great and good of television and showbiz came out for the event, one person sadly missing was helm of the Shelby family Helen McCrory, who sadly passed away last year aged 52 following a secret battle with cancer.

What a trio: Peaky Blinders’ leading ladies Sophie Rundle, Kate Phillips and Natasha O’Keeffe were out in force on Thursday night as they dazzled at the premiere of the show’s sixth season at Cineworld, in Birmingham (L-R)

Helen portrayed Polly Gray in the franchise and did not film any scenes for the final series before her tragic death. 

Sophie, 33, looked ravishing in a bold red midi dress which featured ruched sleeves, with the actress adding a simple pair of pointed black heels to her look.

The Ada Shelby star added a chunky gold bracelet and further delicate pieces of jewellery to her overall look, finishing things off with a black shoulder bag. 

Leading ladies: The actresses pulled out all the stops as they donned stylish ensembles while posing on the red carpet to celebrate the final season of the period crime drama

Sorely missed: While the great and good of television and showbiz came out for the event, one person sadly missing was show star Helen McCrory, who sadly passed away last year aged 52 following a secret battle with cancer (pictured as Polly Gray)

Kate, 32, meanwhile showed off her quirky sense of style in a black off-the-shoulder ruffled top =, which she teamed with smart black trousers.

The actress, who portrays Linda Shelby in the franchise, boosted her height with black heels, while she swept her blonde locks into a chic bun.

Finally, Lizzie Stark actress Natasha, 35, wowed in a dramatic one-shoulders black gown as she turned heads on the red carpet.

The beauty teamed her figure-swamping gown with statement eye earrings and a stylish up do.

Strike a pose: The ladies were on fine form as they posed together on the red carpet

Gorgeous: Sophie, 33, looked ravishing in a bold red midi dress which featured ruched sleeves, with the actress adding a simple pair of pointed black heels to her look

Style: The Ada Shelby star added a chunky gold bracelet and further delicate pieces of jewellery to her overall look, finishing things off with a black shoulder bag

The ladies were all in great spirits as they posed together for snaps at the glitzy screening, before joining the rest of the cast and crew in front of the camera.

Leading actor Cillian Murphy, who portrays Tommy Shelby, was unable to make the premiere due to filming commitments for Christopher Nolan’s upcoming biopic Oppenheim in America.  

Also putting on a stylish display was Charlene McKenna, who caught the eye in a bold mustard, hanky hem shirt dress teamed with matching platforms.

While Amber Anderson was simply radiant in a satin leaf print dress teamed with nude pointed heels.  

And while Peaky Blinders were out in force on the night, so were a whole host of other TV, reality and sports stars.

Broody: Leading actor Cillian Murphy, who portrays Tommy Shelby, was unable to make the premiere due to filming commitments for Christopher Nolan’s upcoming biopic Oppenheim in America (pictured in character as Tommy) 

Love Island’s Kady McDermott put on a stylish display in a black top, matching cropped blazer and Alexander Wang trousers. 

While TV personalities Jay Blades, Emma Willis and Denise Lewis cut smart figures as they walked the red carpet.

Meanwhile footballers John McGinn and Matty Cash were in great spirits as they posed together for a snap.

With cricketer Ian Bell looking dapper in a grey blazer as he attended with glam wife Chantal Louise Bastock.

Good sport: Sophie delighted fans as she posed for a number of selfies

 Show-stopping: Lizzie Stark actress Natasha, 35, wowed in a dramatic one-shoulders black gown as she turned heads on the red carpet

Looking good: Kate, 32, meanwhile showed off her quirky sense of style in a black off-the-shoulder ruffled top =, which she teamed with smart black trousers

Fabulous: The actresses were joined by executive producer Caryn Mandabach

Beauty: Sophie in character as Ada in the hit drama set in Birmingham 

Fans of the acclaimed drama have waited more than two years for a new series, with explosive scenes teased in a recent trailer showing Tommy Shelby open fire with a machine gun. 

The fifth season ended on a cliffhanger, with Tommy seeing visions of his late wife Grace (Annabelle Wallis) and turning a gun on himself following his botched assassination attempt of the British Union of Fascists leader.

Peaky Blinders began airing in 2013 and tells the tale of the notorious Shelby family’s rise to prominence and power, against the backdrop of working class, post-First World War Birmingham.      

The premiere comes following the news that the late Helen did not film any scenes as her iconic character Aunt Polly in the sixth and final series of Peaky Blinders following her cancer diagnosis.

The actress, who died last year aged 52, did not get the chance to appear in any scenes and creators of the BBC drama had to rewrite ‘vast sections’ of the show.

Ladies’ night: Natasha, Sophie, Executive Producer Caryn Mandabach, Kate, Amber Anderson and Charlene McKenna posed together on the red carpet

Group shot: The cast and crew for Peaky Blinders gathered as they celebrated the final season

Golden girl: Also putting on a stylish display was Charlene McKenna, who caught the eye in a bold mustard, hanky hem shirt dress teamed with matching platforms

Bright and beautiful: The Irish actress looked amazing in her quirky belted shirt dress

Gorgeous: Amber Anderson was simply radiant in a satin leaf print dress teamed with nude pointed heels

So elegant: The actress was flawless as she graced the red carpet on Thursday night

Lovely: The beauty swept her brunette locks into a sleek bun for the evening

Here come the boys: Harry Kirton and Finn Cole put on dapper displays as they arrived at the event

Fans of the show will be heartbroken to learn that Helen will not feature in the final installment of the gangster family epic.

Filming for the last series was brought to a standstill in March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic and resumed in January 2021.

Helen swore friends to secrecy as she faced gruelling breast cancer treatment and was unable to take part in filming for Peaky Blinders.

She passed away in April last year. The Harry Potter star appeared on TV to promote the Prince’s Trust only six weeks before her death, and shared her secret struggle with ‘very, very few people’. 

Nice to see you: Natasha received a warm hug from series creator Steven Knight

Centre of attention: Benjamin Zephaniah leapt in front of the cast as they posed for a group photo

A spokeswoman told the Sun: ‘Helen did not film with us in series six but Polly is an ever-present part of the show.

‘She is forever the matriarch of the Shelby family and her presence is always felt by Tommy and the rest of the family. Her influence is an integral part of the season.’ 

Helen played Polly Gray since series one which aired in 2013 and became a household name thanks to the part and her role in Harry Potter.  

Elsewhere, leading man Cillian recently admitted he was ‘reeling’ while filming Peaky Blinders’ upcoming sixth series without his late co-star and friend Helen.

Pose: Love Island’s Kady McDermott put on a stylish display in a black top, matching cropped blazer and Alexander Wang trousers 

Stunner: The star looked elegant in her all black ensemble at the event

Scrubbing up nicely: TV personalities Jay Blades, Emma Willis and Denise Lewis cut smart figures as they walked the red carpet (L-R)

There she is: The former Big Brother host put in an appearance at the event

So good: Sports star Denise added a casual element to her green suit with box fresh white trainers

All smiles: The Repair Shop host Jay looked delighted to be at the premiere

Speaking to Esquire UK, the actor, 45, who plays Tommy Shelby in the BBC crime drama, spoke about his close relationship with the actress who had played his on-screen Aunt Polly since the show’s conception in 2013, confessing he had a ‘very unpleasant shooting experience, for loads of different reasons’.

He told the publication: ‘I’ve never lost anyone like that — who was young and a friend. It was very confusing. But she was magnificent. She was an absolutely magnificent person.’ 

‘We were just reeling throughout the whole thing. She was a dear, dear pal and she was the beating heart of that show, so it felt very strange being on set without her.

Lads night out: Meanwhile footballers John McGinn and Matty Cash were in great spirits as they posed together for a snap

Date night: Cricketer Ian Bell looked dapper in a grey blazer as he attended with glam wife Chantal Louise Bastock

In attendance: Ned Dennehy stopped to pose for a snap on the red carpet

Nice look: Conrad Khan dressed to impress in a smart black suit

‘The difficult thing to comprehend is that, if it wasn’t for Covid, there would be a whole other version of this show with Helen in it. But she was so private and so f*****g brave and courageous.’

Cillian continued: ‘She was inspirational. People throw that word around, but she genuinely was. Her values, the way she dealt with her kids and Damian [Lewis, her husband of 14 years]… She cares about everybody. 

‘She’s really funny and really cool, and she had this real warmth. She really cared. It’s just… I still can’t believe she’s not here. It doesn’t make sense.’ 

The sixth and final series of Peaky Blinders will launch on BBC One on February 27 at 9pm. 

So sad: The premiere comes following the news that the late Helen McCrory did not film any scenes as her iconic character Aunt Polly in the sixth and final series of Peaky Blinders following her cancer diagnosis

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