'Peaky Blinders' fans thrilled by Tom Hardy's return

·Contributor

7 March 2022 at 7:53 am·2-min read

Programme Name: Peaky Blinders VI - TX: n/a - Episode: Ep 2 (No. 2) - Picture Shows: Alfie Solomons (TOM HARDY) - (C) Caryn Mandabach Productions Ltd. - Photographer: Matt Squire — Tom Hardy returned to 'Peaky Blinders' as Alfie Solomons. (Caryn Mandabach Productions Ltd./Matt Squire)

Peaky Blinders fans were delighted to see Tom Hardy make a return to his popular character Alfie Solomons in Sunday night's episode.

It's the sixth and final season of the BBC One hit period drama about the Shelby family's gangland dealings in Birmingham and fans felt the show's farewell wouldn't have been the same without an appearance from Hardy.

He plays Alfie Solomons who at one point in series four was thought to have been killed off by Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) after betraying him multiple times, but returned in series five bearing a large scar on his face where he had been shot.

Fans of the show knew to expect him back after he appeared in scenes from the series six trailer, but his entrance during Sunday night's episode prompted cheers from viewers.

As Tommy was seen walking through a distillery with Nessun Dorma playing in the background, Alfie stepped out from behind a barrel and announced himself by saying: "I always thought that opera was just fat people f***ing shouting."

One fan tweeted: "Tom Hardy’s first line in the new season. What an entrance. Alfie’s back."

Someone else added: "ALFIE HOW I HAVE MISSED YOU."

Another fan wrote: "Even by his exceptionally high standards, that's Tom Hardy's finest 5 minutes of Alfie Solomons yet."

Someone else tweeted: "Watching this week’s ep of Peaky Blinders. Tom Hardy’s back and I’m SO happy. The NOISE that came out of my face when I saw Alfie Solomons again."

Tommy (Cillian Murphy) and the rest of the Shelbys mourned the loss of Aunt Polly. (BBC)

He might have made a popular return to the cast for series six, but the show's creator Steven Knight has admitted that the plan was not always to bring Hardy back as Alfie.

Knight hinted to Metro that Hardy had talked him into it by saying: "The plan changed, let me put it that way – because Tom does love this character."

Series six began a week ago with emotional scenes as character Aunt Polly was written out and the Shelbys were seen mourning her death - mirroring their real-life grief at losing co-star Helen McCrory, who played her, to breast cancer last year.

Watch: What to expect from Peaky Blinders season six