What happened at Birmingham's Peaky Blinders lookalike contest where winner won £500

As smartly dressed men jostled for position in razor-lined flat caps, visitors to the Bullring might have thought they had been transported to 1930s Birmingham. In fact, Peaky Blinders’ super-fans were taking part in a Tommy Shelby look-alike competition.

Inspired by similar contests featuring those with a striking resemblance to the likes of actor Timothée Chalamet, Brum braved the rain with its very own display on Saturday, November 23. “This establishment here is taken over by order of the Peaky Blinders,” screamed one competitor as he swaggered up to huge cheers.

Many shoppers would have seen a flurry of iPhones in the air and wondered what on earth was going on. The event was put on by the Bullring and saw a £500 voucher on offer - as well as the opportunity to be crowned as the ultimate Tommy Shelby doppelganger.

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With Peaky Blinders filming in full swing across the region, bosses invited fans to show off their best Tommy Shelby impression. Organisers were looking for the person who truly embodied Cillian Murphy's character, be that was his steely gaze, prominent cheekbones or 'don't mess with me' attitude.

The eventual winner was Tommy 2, who took home a charity-sized cheque. All of those who took part were awarded a free pair of shades - perfect for the weekend's stormy conditions.

“I don’t believe this you know,” said Tommy 2 in his thick Irish accent. “I love you all.”

Then, things got more bizarre still. To round off the event, some of the would-be Shelbys burst into a impromptu rendition of Dirty Old Town by The Pogues.

When asked why he had won, Tommy 2 suggested his good looks and personality had bagged him the prize. “I can’t help being the best,” he explained.

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