Photos perfectly match Peaky Blinders scenes with real life Liverpool and Wirral locations

Thomas Duke has gained a huge following on social media for his Stepping Through Film account.

The photographer, who specialises in perfectly matching film and TV scenes with their real-life locations, has recreated some fantastic shots of Peaky Blinders in Liverpool and Wirral.

It features images taken by him around the UK and worldwide which line up to the millimetre the exact spot in which a scene was filmed.

With Cillian Murphy picking up so many awards for Best Actor for his role in Oppenheimer, including the Oscar biggie, Tom decided it was time to pay homage to the Irish actor’s most famous TV character.

Tom, who’s from Essex, visited Liverpool armed with his camera and headed to one of Peaky Blinders’ most recognisable backdrops.

Powis Street, which is one of the Welsh Streets in Toxteth, was used in the iconic opening scene of the series and it doubled for Watery Lane in Birmingham where the Shelby home, headquarters and illegal betting office were based.

Although since the homes were all refurbished it’s no longer got the 1920s soot-blackened look made famous in the show, it’s still a magnet for fans wanting to retrace the steps of the notorious Shelbys. 

In honour of Cillian Murphy’s Oscar win, photographer Tom shared images overlapping original scenes with the regenerated red brick terraces on either side of the street.

He explained: “It’s been a joy following in his Tommy Shelby boots for years, an incredible talent who always chooses the most fascinating projects.   

“The first set of photos are in Powis Street in Liverpool 8 where they digitally added in the Birmingham steel backdrop.

“I also went to Port Sunlight village where Tommy strolls on a fairytale-esque bridge.

“Those shots were actually taken over two days because I had to go once then go back the next day because the sun was in the wrong spot which made the shadow bad, so they took a bit longer than usual.”

What began as a passion project for former film student Tom has become a full-time job and an adventure that’s taken him all over the world.

A post lining up the dream house that Ryan Gosling’s character built in The Notebook was shot in South Carolina, and he’s captured countless scenes in New York including instantly recognisable ones from Christmas classics Home Alone 2 and Elf. 

The technique, which he’s got off to a fine art, is known as rephotography, and for Tom it’s been a great way to combine his interest in film and travel.

“I’ve always liked travel and going to film locations and I love photography, so I thought, why not put them together?

“I’m always excited to see what might have changed from when it was filmed. Is the building the same, is anything different?

“And I love trying to get it as perfect as possible. Each one usually takes about 10 minutes of standing there unless it’s a hard shot and then I might take longer because I always try way too hard!

“But it’s all worth it for a fun final shot.”

Cillian Murphy will reprise his role as gangster Tommy Shelby for the upcoming Peaky Blinders film, creator Steven Knight has confirmed.

The Oppenheimer star won legions of fans for his performance as a member of the notorious Shelby family in the BBC drama, which ran for six series from 2013 to 2022.

The Peaky Blinders movie, which will continue the story of the family, is due to start filming in Birmingham later this year, and we’re hoping that they will return to the Liverpool City Region to shoot at the iconic locations we know and love so much.

Are you excited for Peaky Blinders to return? Get the latest news in Liverpool here.