Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight said continuing the story after the death of actress Helen McCrory was a “challenge” – but believes she would have wanted them to keep going with the crime drama.
McCrory, who played Shelby family matriarch Polly Gray in the hit BBC One show, died from cancer aged 52 last April.
Knight reflected on the show’s future following the death of the “incredible actor”, as well as his upcoming projects – including the upcoming stage adaptation, Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby.
He told the PA news agency: “It was a terrible, tragic loss that happened while we were shooting.
“And the loss of such an incredible human being is the main thing. The loss of such an incredible actor is awful.
“She was right at the heart (of the series). There are three central characters – she was one of them.
“And it’s a challenge, and was a challenge, to keep going with the story without her. But we knew that she would have wanted that to continue. So that’s what we did.”
The actress, the wife of Homeland star Damian Lewis, had starred in every series of the show since it began in 2013.
