Peaky Blinders is a popular British crime drama television series that premiered in 2013 on BBC Two. The show is set in Birmingham, England in the aftermath of World War I and follows the exploits of the Shelby crime family. A distinguishing feature of the Peaky Blinders gang is that its members wear caps with razor blades sewn in, which they use as weapons. The show has garnered critical acclaim for its writing, acting, visuals, and stylish aesthetics. One aspect that viewers are curious about is how many cigarettes the characters smoke per episode. Cigarette smoking is ubiquitous on the show and chainsmoking is a common habit of many characters. This article will provide an estimate of the average number of cigarettes smoked per episode of Peaky Blinders.
Cigarette Smoking in the 1920s
To understand the prevalence of smoking on Peaky Blinders, it is helpful to consider the historical context. The show is set in the 1920s, a time when cigarette smoking had become an engrained part of mainstream culture, especially among men. Soldiers in World War I were provided cigarettes as part of their rations and many developed habitual smoking behaviors. After the war, cigarette companies capitalized on this by heavy marketing of their brands like Lucky Strike and Camel. Smoking rates rose dramatically in the early 20th century. By the 1920s, cigarette smoking had become a widely accepted and glamourized social activity, though knowledge of its health risks were not yet widely known. With smoking so commonplace, it is not surprising that it features prominently on a show like Peaky Blinders set in this era. The amount of smoking seen on the show can be considered an accurate reflection of the time period.
Estimating Cigarettes Smoked Per Episode
Peaky Blinders episodes vary in length but average around 60 minutes without commercials. To estimate the number of cigarettes smoked, we can break it down by major characters who smoke frequently on the show:
Tommy Shelby
As the leader of the Peaky Blinders gang, Tommy Shelby (played by Cillian Murphy) is almost always shown with a lit cigarette in hand. He smokes at home, at work, while meeting with associates, and everywhere in between. Tommy easily goes through at least 1 cigarette every 5 minutes when on screen. Assuming he is shown for around 20 minutes per episode, this equates to around 24 cigarettes over the course of each episode.
Arthur Shelby
Tommy’s older brother Arthur Shelby (Paul Anderson) also smokes heavily. Like Tommy, he is rarely seen without a lit cigarette. Assuming similar screen time and smoking frequency as Tommy, Arthur likely smokes around 24 cigarettes per episode as well.
Polly Gray
The Shelby brothers’ aunt Polly Gray (Helen McCrory) is a frequent smoker, often seen with a cigarette dangling from her mouth. Polly’s screen time per episode is less than that of Tommy and Arthur, so assuming she is shown for around 15 minutes per episode, she probably goes through around 18 cigarettes.
John Shelby
Younger Shelby sibling John (Joe Cole) also chainsmokes cigarettes when shown on screen. His character is featured less than Tommy or Arthur, so accounting for approximately 10 minutes of screen time per episode in which he likely smokes 1 cigarette every 5 minutes, John probably smokes 12 cigarettes per episode.
Michael Gray
Younger cousin Michael Gray (Finn Cole), who was taken under the wing of the Shelby family, is often trying to emulate Tommy’s smoking habits as he attempts to gain more responsibility in the business. Michael’s screen time is limited to maybe 5 minutes per episode during which he may smoke 6 cigarettes.
Other Characters
There are numerous supporting characters who get limited screen time but are shown smoking when featured, such as Aunt Ada (Sophie Rundle), union leader Jessie Eden (Charlie Murphy), Alfie Solomons (Tom Hardy), and more. Assuming we account for these other smokers getting 2-3 minutes of screen time each and smoking 2 cigarettes during their limited appearances, that adds up to around another 10-15 cigarettes per episode.
Cigarette Count Per Episode
Adding up the estimates for the main characters and supporting cast:
| Tommy Shelby | 24 cigarettes |
| Arthur Shelby | 24 cigarettes |
| Polly Gray | 18 cigarettes |
| John Shelby | 12 cigarettes |
| Michael Gray | 6 cigarettes |
| Other Characters | 10-15 cigarettes |
This gives us an estimate of 94-99 cigarettes smoked per hour-long episode of Peaky Blinders among the ensemble cast of characters.
It is possible this estimate could be on the conservative side. During intense dramatic scenes or moments of stress, characters may chain smoke even more frequently than estimated. So the number could potentially exceed 100 cigarettes per episode for the entire cast. Regardless, it is clear that cigarette smoking is rampant among the characters as they discusses business, plot schemes, and engage in personal drama. The frequent smoking contributes to the moody and broody atmosphere of the show.
Impacts on Public Health
While pervasive cigarette smoking depicts the historical era accurately, there are some public health concerns about glamorizing smoking in modern media. Studies show that exposure to smoking in TV shows and movies can influence smoking behaviors, particularly in young viewers. Impressionable viewers may emulate the smoking behaviors seen on screen.
However, Peaky Blinders likely appeals predominantly to mature adult audiences who can discern that the show authentically portrays a past era. Most recognize that frequent smoking, though common then, is not something to emulate today given knowledge about the health risks of cigarette smoking.
Conclusion
Through estimating the smoking habits of the central characters based on average screen time per episode, we can estimate that around 94-99 cigarettes are smoked over the course of each 60-minute episode of Peaky Blinders. This frequent smoking reflects the widespread cultural acceptance of smoking in the 1920s era in which the show is set. While the level of smoking on the show is concerning from a public health perspective, it provides an authentic portrayal of the historical period. Audiences should appreciate the accuracy while understanding the dangers of emulating such smoking behaviors in the modern day.