Cillian Murphy gave David Bowie his flat caps from 'Peaky Blinders'.

Cillian Murphy

Cillian Murphy

The 41-year-old actor has starred in the hit BBC TV series as Tommy Shelby since the show started in 2013, and has revealed the 'Life of Mars' hitmaker - who passed away in early 2016 at the age of 69 - was a huge fan of the show and loved it when he was given some of the iconic flat caps from the series.

Speaking to Esquire magazine at the launch of The Esquire Towerhouse in London on Wednesday (11.10.17), Cillian said: "David Bowie was a massive figure for me growing up and I had the privilege of meeting him because he was a fan of the show. I gave him my caps from series one and he loved them."

'Peaky Blinders' is based off a real-life criminal gang based in Birmingham during the early 20th century, and the title phrase comes from the act of stitching razor blades into the peak of flat cap hats so they could be used as weapons.

Currently the show - which also stars Helen McCrory and Tom Hardy - is gearing up to air its fourth series, and Cillian said he feels like the "luckiest man in the world" to be a part of it.

He said: "I feel like the luckiest man in the world.

"We're four series in and it still gets better and better. Helen is one of my favourite people in the whole world, I love working with her.

"The thing about acting is that no matter who the actor is, it's all about doing the scene, when you're in that, nothing else matters."

Meanwhile, the show's screenwriter, Steven Knight, revealed Bowie and fellow music icon Leonard Cohen - who also passed away last year - both offered their music to 'Peaky Blinders', and admitted series four could be the last.

Steven said: "Leonard Cohen and David Bowie came to us to offer their music for the show.

"Peaky is to get rid of the embarrassment the UK has of Birmingham. There is the thought that this may be the last series of 'Peaky Blinders'."