Character Relationship Map: Peaky Blinders

Characters

• Arthur Shelby (played by Paul Anderson) — protagonist

  Brother of Tommy Shelby and a core member of the Shelby family and Peaky Blinders gang. He is the husband of Linda Shelby.

• John Shelby (played by Joe Cole) — supporting
• Polly Gray (played by Helen McCrory) — supporting

  Enlists painter Ruben Oliver to paint her portrait. Appears as a significant family member involved in personal and gang affairs during the third series.

• Lizzie Stark (played by Natasha O'Keeffe) — supporting
• Aberama Gold (played by Aidan Gillen) — supporting
• Alfie Solomons (played by Tom Hardy) — supporting
• Linda Shelby (played by Kate Phillips) — cameo

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Polly Gray → John Shelby (Siblings)

  "S1E1: Polly urges Tommy. S1E4: John wants to marry Lizzie. Family unit."

• John Shelby → Lizzie Stark (Husband and Wife)

  "S1E4: John calls the gang together to tell them he wants to marry Lizzie Stark. S4E2: John is killed, leaving Lizzie a widow."

• Polly Gray → Aberama Gold (Intimate Allies)

  "S4E5: Polly shares an intimate moment with Aberama. S4E3: Polly and Changretta have... bond forms."

• Alfie Solomons → Polly Gray (Business Rivals)

  "S2E2: Tommy meets Alfie. Polly buys houses to launder money. Business rivals."

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Linda Shelby → Arthur Shelby (Marital Breakdown)

  "S5E5: Linda abandons Arthur after his addiction and violence spiral."

• Arthur Shelby → John Shelby (Gang Brothers)

  "S1E1: Tommy, Arthur and their brother John Shelby meet with a rival Romanichal gang. Brothers operate together."

• Arthur Shelby → Alfie Solomons (Massacre and Imprisonment)

  "S2E5: Alfie hosts a Passover Seder, slaughters Arthur and sends him to prison."

• Lizzie Stark → John Shelby (Widow and Late Husband)

  "S4E2: John is killed. Lizzie becomes a widow, later S6E6 leaves Tommy."

• Aberama Gold → Polly Gray (Strategic Partners)

  "S4E5: Polly shares an intimate moment with Aberama. They coordinate against Changretta."

• John Shelby → Polly Gray (Family Coordinators)

  "S2E3: John threatens Vicente Changretta. S2E5: John is part of the gang's London operations."

• Arthur Shelby → Polly Gray (Siblings Under Pressure)

  "S4E1: Arthur stifled by Linda, Polly in mania. S4E2: Polly asks Michael to flee. Tension in family dynamics."

• Aberama Gold → Alfie Solomons (Territorial Rivals)

  "S2E2: Tommy meets with the vicious Jewish gang-leader Alfie Solomons. S3E6: Alfie divulges the plans to Father Hughes."

• Polly Gray → Alfie Solomons (Underworld Rivals)

  "S3E6: Alfie divulges the plans to Father Hughes. Polly and Alfie are rivals in the criminal underworld."

• Arthur Shelby → Aberama Gold (Gang Allies)

  "S4E2: Tommy suggests contacting Aberama Gold, a killer-for-hire. S4E5: Tommy leads Changretta's gang to Artillery Square, prepared thanks to Polly's...

• John Shelby → Aberama Gold (Tactical Partners)

  "S4E2: John and Tommy agree to use Aberama against Italians. S4E3: John threatens Vicente."

Story Analysis

Complete narrative architecture tracking gang evolution, family dynamics, and criminal strategy across six seasons.

Plot Progression

1. Season 1: Birmingham Rise
2. Season 2: London Expansion
3. Season 3: Political Undercurrents
4. Season 4: Mafia War
5. Season 5: Fractured Loyalties
6. Season 6: Aftermath & Legacy