In Birmingham just after the Great War trenches veteran Thomas Shelby leads his gang, the Peaky Blinders, so named as they carry lethal razors in their peaked caps, who make money from illegal betting and the black market. Thomas, by mistake, appropriates a consignment of guns which have been stolen from the local arms factory and hard-nosed Inspector Campbell arrives from Ireland, charged by war minister Winston Churchill to recover it. Thomas's aunt Polly urges him to return it but he sees the opportunity to use it to his advantage. Thomas also quarrels with his elder brother Arthur as Thomas has devised the 'powder trick', a means of fixing horse races and Arthur is nervous as Thomas has not involved Billy Kimber, who runs the race-courses and their rackets. Thomas's sister Ada is in love with Freddie Thorne, who saved her brother's life in the war, and is now a Marxist, encouraging workers to strike over a pay cut. As far as Campbell is concerned Freddie is as much the enemy - in ... Written by don @ minifie-1

Thomas continues dating Grace, barmaid at the Garrison pub, unaware that she has been planted by Campbell to spy on his activities. At a country fair outside the city Thomas gets into a fight with the Lees, a violent family of travellers, who later send him a bullet with his name on, giving him another adversary to rank alongside Billy Kimber. Campbell sends a message to Thomas via Aunt Polly and they meet on neutral ground at a hotel. Thomas proposes to Campbell that if he leaves him alone he will return the guns. If he is arrested the guns will be sent to the IRA in Ireland. If not the weapons will be given to Campbell to make him appear a hero. Campbell is unhappy but reluctantly agrees. Ada falls pregnant by Freddie Thorne and Thomas sends a message to Freddie demanding he leaves Birmingham. Freddie, however, decides to stay and face him. Written by don @ minifie-1

Thomas is approached by two IRA members anxious to buy the guns, though he is careful not to commit himself. Grace, who has overheard, follows the Irishmen and ends up shooting one in self-defence though the IRA suspect the Peaky Blinders. Next day Thomas takes Grace to Cheltenham races, where he warns Kimber that the Lees are out to rob him. Arthur brings a gang who relieve the Lees of the money stolen as a result of which Kimber hires the Blinders as his security. He also tries to have his way with Grace but Thomas saves her by ungallantly claiming that she has syphilis. Ada and Freddie are married and Polly gives them money to escape Thomas's anger and leave the country but Freddie stays, bringing the arms workers out on strike and returning Thomas's money. That night Thomas dreams about how Freddie saved him during the war. Written by don @ minifie-1

Thomas now has a legitimate betting licence and, although he is suspicious that she is not what she seems to be, employs Grace as his secretary. Younger brother John announces that, to give his children a mother, he is to marry again but Thomas disapproves of his choice of bride, prostitute Lizzie. Although the Lees attack and rob the Shelby house Thomas proposes a truce so that they can ally against Kimber. As part of the deal John marries the Lees' daughter Esme and Thomas sends word to Ada to attend the wedding. She is heavily pregnant and goes into labour at the Shelbys' house. Freddie is summoned but he is arrested by Campbell. Written by don @ minifie-1

Polly visits Ada with food for the baby but Ada, wrongly believing Thomas betrayed Freddie, will not see her. The reappearance of Arthur Senior, the Shelbys' father who deserted the family a decade earlier, also splits the family. Thomas rejects him but Arthur Junior is impressed by his tales of life in America and gives him money for a passage to the New World. Predictably the old man robs him. Another visitor is IRA leader Byrne, seeking to find out more about the fate of his cousin Ryan, the man killed by Grace. He demands the guns but Thomas sets a trap for Byrne and his henchman Maguire, whom he and Grace kill. Now having fallen for Thomas Grace gets Campbell to leave him alone if she can locate the stolen guns, which she does - buried in the false grave of family associate Danny Whizz-Bang. Grace resigns from Campbell's service but rejects his marriage proposal to go with Thomas. The Peaky Blinders now seem to be in the ascendancy again. Written by don @ minifie-1

Polly welcomes Ada and her baby back into the family as Peaky Blinders, led by Danny Whizz-Bang, also spring Freddie from jail. With the guns recovered Winston Churchill believes Grace should receive a commendation but Campbell has discovered that she has been with Thomas whilst Polly realizes her true identity and threatens her to leave Birmingham. Thomas gathers the Shelbys and Lees to take on Kimber's men but Kimber has got wind of the plan and leads his gangs into the Blinders' territory. A gun battle takes place and Kimber is killed. Thomas is now king of the race tracks but he has lost Grace, who leaves him to go to London. Written by don @ minifie-1