Peaky Blinders’ Cillian Murphy catches up with Winston Churchill actor Neil Maskell on set

Peaky Blinders’ Cillian Murphy catches up with Winston Churchill actor Neil Maskell during a filming break on the set of series six in Liverpool

Cillian Murphy was seen catching up with actor Neil Maskell during a filming break on the set of Peaky Blinders series six in Liverpool on Thursday.

Cillian – who plays lead character Tommy Shelby – and Neil – who portrays Prime Minister Winston Churchill – were seen in their 1930s costumes, chatting between takes.

The leading actor, 44, sported his character’s signature flat cap before removing it for his chat with Neil, 45.

On a break: Cillian Murphy was seen catching up with actor Neil Maskell during a filming break on the set of Peaky Blinders series six in Liverpool on Thursday

Cillian looked smart in a petrol blue suit, white shirt and a maroon tie. Neil was in typical Churchill garb – a black suit and a bow tie.

They spoke to one another outside one of the trailers, before returning to work. 

Neil is the third actor to portray Churchill on the series, having been played by Andy Nyman in season one, and Richard McCabe in season two.

Neil joined the cast in season five, and is reprising the role for the sixth and final run of the show. 

Smart: Cillian looked smart in a petrol blue suit, white shirt and a maroon tie

Smart: Cillian looked smart in a petrol blue suit, white shirt and a maroon tie

Chat: Cillian - who plays lead character Tommy Shelby - and Neil - who portrays Prime Minister Winston Churchill - were seen in their 1930s costumes, chatting between takes

Chat: Cillian – who plays lead character Tommy Shelby – and Neil – who portrays Prime Minister Winston Churchill – were seen in their 1930s costumes, chatting between takes

TV star Sam Clafin, 34, was also seen on set for the first time since producers confirmed he’ll be making his return as politician Oswald Mosley.

Last month, Peaky Blinders revealed Oswald’s fate in a tweet: ‘Sam Claflin returns as Oswald Mosley in #PeakyBlinders series 6’

The Hunger Games star played the fascist leader, who rose to fame in the 1920s as a Member of Parliament and later in the 1930s, having become disillusioned with mainstream politics.

Talking it out: The leading actor, 44, sported his character's signature flat cap before removing it for his chat with Neil, 45

Talking it out: The leading actor, 44, sported his character’s signature flat cap before removing it for his chat with Neil, 45

The sixth series will pick up where the fifth series left off on 7 December 1929, the morning after a rally led by Oswald. 

The final tweaks were made to the Manchester-based sets in February after the cast had been filming in Scotland.

The locations, however, are portraying Birmingham – the actual setting of the hit gangster drama.

Rare smile: The leading actor laughed with crew members in between takes

Rare smile: The leading actor laughed with crew members in between takes

Comeback: TV star Sam Clafin, 34, was seen on set for the first time since producers confirmed he'll be making his return as politician Oswald Mosley

 Comeback: TV star Sam Clafin, 34, was seen on set for the first time since producers confirmed he’ll be making his return as politician Oswald Mosley

Peaky Blinders centres around its eponymous gang which is run by the ruthless Tommy and his family, and sees them build their power and influence over Birmingham and beyond. 

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.

Production on the show was delayed last year by the Covid-19 crisis, but shooting was able to begin last month with cast and crew adhering to strict coronavirus restrictions.

The BBC drama has been running for eight years and has enjoyed huge popularity but the sixth season has been confirmed as the final one, with creator Steven Knight confirming the story will return ‘in another form’.