Irish Film and Television Academy award-winner Aidan Gillen (Game Of Thrones, King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword, Love/Hate) has joined the cast of Steven Knight’s multi-award winning BBC Two gangster epic, along with Charlie Murphy (Happy Valley, The Last Kingdom, Love/Hate). Charlotte Riley is also set to return. 

This follows the news earlier this month that Academy Award-winner Adrien Brody (The Pianist), will also appear in series four of the critically acclaimed show.

Filming has already begun in Liverpool with Cillian Murphy (Inception, Free Fire) reprising his role as Thomas Shelby, head of the Peaky Blinders. Also returning are Helen McCrory (Skyfall), Paul Anderson (The Revenant), Joe Cole (Green Room), Sophie Rundle (Jamestown), Finn Cole (Animal Kingdom), Aimee-Ffion Edwards (Detectorists) and Kate Phillips (The Crown).

Tom Hardy (Taboo, The Revenant) returns as Jewish gang leader Alfie Solomons as well as Charlotte Riley (King Charles III, Close To The Enemy) who plays champion horse trainer and Shelby’s former lover, May Carleton. Series regulars, Natasha O’Keefe (Sherlock: The Abominable Bride) and Packy Lee (The Frankenstein Chronicles) also return.

When he receives a mysterious letter on Christmas Eve, Thomas Shelby realises that the Peaky Blinders are in danger of annihilation. As the enemy closes in, Shelby flees his country house and returns to the streets of Small Heath, Birmingham, where a desperate fight for survival begins.

Creator, Steven Knight says: “We have a dream team gathered for series four of Peaky Blinders, coming to us for love of the series which is great. Adrien Brody, Aidan Gillen and Charlie Murphy give us a wealth of talent to work with, and with Tom Hardy and Charlotte Riley returning we couldn’t have hoped for more.”

Piers Wenger, Controller BBC Drama, says: "The stellar cast Peaky Blinders continues to attract is testament to Steven Knight's incredible storytelling and the world-class production values of this original series. To welcome these actors to this BBC Two series alongside the rest of the show’s outstanding cast is incredibly exciting."

The fourth series will be directed by David Caffrey (Line Of Duty, Love/Hate) and will be produced by Joe Donaldson (Ripper Street).

Peaky Blinders is a Caryn Mandabach and Tiger Aspect Drama production for BBC Two, executive produced by Steven Knight, Caryn Mandabach, Will Gould, Jamie Glazebrook, Frith Tiplady, Cillian Murphy and for the BBC, Stephen Wright.

The show is represented internationally by Endemol Shine International, has sold in 163 countries and airs on Netflix in the US. Gillen is represented by Michael Greene, Greene & Associates Talent Agency, Coronel Group in the US and Independent Talent Group in the UK.