Former Peaky Blinders star Joe Cole reveals exit from drama was 'a no-brainer'

James Bond after his recent appearance in an ITV drama.He’s about to take the lead role in ITV’s remake of The Ipcress File, playing the part of Harry Palmer.Palmer is a bespectacled British sergeant who is offered a position as a spy to avoid prison for smuggling, a role made famous by Michael Caine in the 1965 movie based on the book by Len Deighton.Cole’s portrayal of the sergeant - which has already been seen by critics and reviewers - has led to him being touted as a successor to Daniel Craig as the next James Bond.The man himself has played mobsters in shows such as Peaky Blinders and Gangs Of London and spoke about the potential 007 role: "I think every young actor in the UK has been linked to James Bond"."I’d like to play James Bond. I’ve played enough villains" he joked.During his interview on This Morning with Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, the presenters touched upon the poignancy of his new series The Ipcress Files and how closely it reflects current affairs.Joe joined the presenters on the early morning show, looking smart in a burgundy V-neck jumper with a white collar underneath.Phillip, wearing a green shirt, and Holly, wearing a white jumper, sat opposite him and asked the star about his portrayal of Harry Palmer.“Set in the 1960s, the height of the Cold War, this massive battle between the East and the West.

cricket legend Shane Warne "wanted to be" one of the Peaky Blinders and begged for a role on the hit BBC show.Sports fans were left in shock on Friday, following news Warne had sadly passed away at the age of 52 following a suspected heart attack.Prior to his death, Warne had spoken of his love for the Peaky Blinders and the Shelby family, even wearing a flat cap when working as a commentator in 2021.During one television appearance during India's tour of Australia in January last year, Warne admitted he wanted to be a Peaky Blinder himself.Fans had speculated that Warne was eyeing up a cameo appearance on the show, after he was seen sporting a flat cap similar to those worn by the gangsters on the show.Warne confirmed his love for the show and that he wanted to join the programme when he appeared as an analyst for Fox Cricket during Australia and India's test series.“I wanna be one of the Shelby’s long lost… (in Cockney accent) Tommy Shelby, Arthur," he admitted.Would Shane Warne have made a good Peaky Blinder? Let us know in the comments section below.The legendary then looked down the camera and added: “I want to be inPeaky Blinders.

Peaky Blinders star Joe Cole has opened up about leaving the hit BBC show, which returned to screens last weekend (February 27).The actor played John Shelby in the show, brother of Tommy Shelby played by Cillian Murphy. He held the role for three seasons before leaving in 2017.Speaking to Radio Times about leaving the show, Cole said he had no regrets.“In society we’re told to play by the rules and live your life in a certain way,” he began.

Former Peaky Blinders actor Joe Cole has opened up about his late co-star, Helen McCrory, describing her as a “rare gem.” The 33 year old star, who played John Shelby until series four of the show, appeared on This Morning alongside hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield to discuss his new spy thriller series, The Ipcress File. As he reflected on the impressive cast list for the ITV show, which includes Tom Hollander and Lucy Boynton, he admitted he had always had the pleasure of working with “phenomenal actors and actresses” - especially Cillian Murphy and Helen McCrory on the BBC crime drama, Peaky Blinders.

This Morning to chat about his upcoming show but also shared his thoughts on the late actress Helen McCrory.Joe and Helen both worked on the iconic series of Peaky Blinders together and looking back at his time on the show, he says she was a "rare gem".Harry Potter actress Helen died from cancer, age 52, in April 2021, which left a great hole in the acting community.Joe shared what it has been like working with big stars across his career, from past roles and current, in his new series The Ipcress File during a chat with This Morning hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield.He said: "When you're working with great actors they bring something else out of you. It's a real job as you might have preconceptions about how you're going to do a scene, but when you get into a room with heavyweights like Tom Hollander, you're like that anyway but it brings different things out of your performance."He continued: "It happens a lot, up and down, small arts and big parts.

Peaky Blinders star Annabelle Wallis has reportedly split from boyfriend Chris Pine, according to reports.The couple were first linked in 2018, but have reportedly called time on their relationship “months” ago after keeping their relationship largely secret. A source has claimed that the pair "have broken up and haven't been together for a few months,” according to Entertainment Tonight.

PEAKY Blinders' Oswald Mosley actor Sam Claflin looks VERY different to his alter-ego in real life. The actor, 35, took on the role of Minister of the Duchy of Lancaster in 2019.

PEAKY Blinders' Arthur Shelby actor Paul Anderson is a far cry from his moustache-clad hardman role in real life. Tommy Shelby's (Cillian Murphy) older brother Arthur has been a mainstay in the gritty BBC series and has again returned for the final instalment.

GAME of Thrones' Jaime Lannister star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau looks unrecognisable in new Netflix survival thriller Against The Ice. The 51-year-old Danish actor played the knight of the Kingsguard in the hit HBO series until it came to an end in May 2019.

Peaky Blinders is back, with the sixth and final season of the series hitting your TV screens on Sunday 27 February. And with news that the menacing Thomas Shelby and his gang will be prowling the cobbled streets of Birmingham once more, there’s been a sharp rise in all things related to the series’ distinctive style.

Peaky Blinders viewers were left in floods of tears as the acclaimed BBC One drama paid a touching tribute to the show’s late star Helen McCrory, who played Aunt Polly. In the opening episode of the sixth and final series, which aired on Sunday 27 February, the show tackled Helen’s absence, following her sad passing last April. And it was an emotional watch for fans when the instalment, which was titled Black Day, saw Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) discover the devastating news that his Aunt Polly had been killed.

The highly-anticipated Season 6 premiere of period gangster epic Peaky Blinders was watched by 3.8 million viewers in the UK on Sunday, according to overnight figures. That makes it the biggest launch for the Shelby clan ever, coming in above the Season 5 debut’s 3.7 million overnight average. It also ties the series record previously set by the Season 5 finale in September 2019. The market share was 21.8% on Sunday with a peak of 4.1 million viewers. The episode faced strong competition from the season finale of ITV drama Trigger Point which ended up winning the 9pm slot.

PEAKY Blinders bosses have kept alive Helen McCrory's Aunt Polly character in the sixth series - but were you able to spot the clues? The sixth and final season of the hit BBC series has finally returned, more than two years after that epic cliffhanger aired. But one person whose absence will be felt by viewers this time around, though, is Aunt Polly, the head of the Shelby family in the previous five seasons. Actress Helen McCrory, who played the formidable matriarch in the series, died last year after a private illness with cancer.

PEAKY Blinders fans were in tears as the BBC gangster drama paid tribute to its late star, Helen McCrory. Helen 52, starred as Tommy Shelby’s aunt, Polly Gray, but sadly passed away after a battle with cancer in April 2021.

It is a moment fans have been waiting for - the return of Peaky Blinders.

Peaky Blinders season 6 spoilers follow. Peaky Blinders is back, but there was a massive piece of the Shelby family missing upon its return – the late, great, Helen McCrory, who played matriarch Aunt Polly. Following the star's death from cancer in April 2021, it was known that somehow Aunt Polly would be written out of the story, with a marked commemoration of the legendary actress' death.

Helen McCrory’s untimely passing had a big impact on the direction of “Peaky Blinders”.

SPOILER ALERT: This post contains details about the Season 6 premiere of Peaky Blinders.. After a long wait, Peaky Blinders is back, just having premiered the first episode of the final season on BBC One this evening in the UK, and after the tragic loss of one of the show’s most important players, Helen McCrory (Aunt Polly), who passed away in April last year. Show creator Steven Knight and executive producer Caryn Mandabach sat down with Deadline this weekend to discuss the Season 6 premiere, the impact of losing McCrory on a personal and storyline level, and what’s ahead for the Shelby family (yes, there is a movie being plotted).

CILLIAN Murphy once went full frontal nude in a movie and has insisted he's "completely comfortable" stripping off on camera. The 45-year-old returns tonight as Tommy Shelby in the final season of Peaky Blinders - but his career in front of the camera started long before the hit series debuted in 2013.

SPOILER ALERT: This post contains details about the Season 6 premiere of Peaky Blinders. Surprising as it sounds, it has been 889 days since BBC One aired the Season 5 finale of period gangster saga Peaky Blinders. With anticipation at a fever pitch, the first episode of the sixth and final season debuted tonight local time in the UK, providing a first glimpse of how things may tie up for the Shelby family — and importantly paying tribute to star Helen McCrory who passed away last year following a battle with cancer. The premiere episode is dedicated to her.

Fans of BBC's drama Peaky Blinders were certainly left touched by the latest scenes, as the show paid tribute to actress Helen McCrory.The season finale kicked off with a bang on Sunday night, leaving viewers around the country excited to witness what was in store.But as the drama began to unfold in the opening scenes, Thomas "Tommy" Shelby was reminded that the death of his family members was entirely his fault.As he broke down in tears, he appeared to unwrap material from a corpse.Shortly after an elegant picture of Polly Gray who was played by actress Helen appeared in the background.Watching intensely, fans were evidently moved by the scene.Rushing to Twitter, one fan penned: "Such a touching tribute. Beautifully done.