Who Will Die at the End of 'Peaky Blinders'? The Best Fan Theories

Aunt Polly (played by the late Helen McCrory) predicted there would be a war between Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) and Michael Gray (Finn Cole)—and warned that it would lead to one of their deaths.

Now that war is set to come to a head in the last ever episode of Peaky Blinders. Who will die in the Season 6 finale has been the subject of debate among fans for almost two years—and that was before Tommy was given a terminal tuberculoma diagnosis by Dr. Holford (Aneurin Barnard).

With a Peaky Blinders film on the way, the ending of the TV series has been thrown up in the air. Just like Aunt Polly warned, though, war is coming. Newsweek lists some of the best fan theories below.

Who Will Die at the End of 'Peaky Blinders'?

Tommy Shelby

The most likely person to die at the end of Peaky Blinders would be the show's protagonist, Thomas Shelby. Over the past six seasons, Tommy has avoided death on more than one occasion. Not only did he serve in World War I, he is no stranger to brutal fights, gunshots or car bombs.

Fans will also remember that Season 5 ended on a huge cliffhanger, with Tommy having visions of his deceased wife Grace (Annabelle Wallis) and holding a gun to his own head.

At the start of Season 6, it was revealed that Tommy had pulled the trigger—but his brother Arthur (Paul Anderson) had taken the bullets out first.

In Episode 4 of the final season, Tommy learned that he had terminal tuberculoma and had at most 18 months to live. And that's only if Michael and Gina (Anya Taylor-Joy) don't get to him first.

According to Reddit user _best_name_ever_, Tommy has to die to bring the show to a fitting end. They wrote: "I'm really interested in what other people think... He's a soldier and it's shown multiple times that he can't live in peace. So he fights until he finds the enemy he can't defeat. Also, I'd say looking at other big drama series, as kind of a cinematic rule no main character is allowed to wreak that much havoc without getting killed in the end"

That said, with all this foreshadowing, perhaps killing Tommy Shelby off is a little too obvious? Plus, what would a Peaky Blinders film be without Tommy Shelby?

Another Peaky Blinders fan on Reddit, CoreliaUnderwood, believes Tommy will live and the spin-off movie will show him dealing with the outbreak of World War II.

They wrote: "Personally I don't think he will die... but there are other ways to 'feel dead' without actually being it. I feel like him being alive and continuing to struggle with his mental health is more realistic. I also hope the movie shows his reaction to Finn, Michael, and his own son going to war like he, Arthur, and John did (granted these characters are alive after the next season)."

Michael Gray

Tommy's cousin Michael Gray is also likely to die, despite Michael's numerous threats that he will kill Tommy.

In the penultimate episode of Season 6, it was revealed that Boston gangster Jack Nelson (James Frecheville) has plans for Tommy to be killed in Canada when he visits to close a deal that is set to make his family $5 million richer. Nelson wants Michael to execute Tommy.

Over the course of the show, Michael has never been smart enough to take down his cousin. Perhaps in the finale, Michael will finally make a successful or unsuccessful attempt, but Tommy is much more likely to get to him first.

Additionally, in a deleted scene from Season 5 where Aunt Polly spoke about the war between Tommy and Michael, she predicted Michael would be the one to die.

During her ritual, Polly warned Gina that she would become a widow.

She said: "I am very happy that my son has found a woman with ambition, a woman who understands an opportunity when she sees it.

"But you're not a woman who understands the hardship of being a widow. It's an outcome you have to consider. My son's life, the loss of his life. His body's no longer in the bed beside you. You have to consider the possibility of war, the march of men, the cut of the blade.

"So, if you do this thing, Michael will surely die."

However, the fact this scene was shared by the official Peaky Blinders social media accounts may be a red herring. Perhaps Michael's plan to take down Tommy will be thwarted by the outbreak of World War II.

Some Peaky Blinders fans have posted tweets mocking Michael's claim that he will kill Tommy. One wrote alongside a meme of a man sleeping soundly: "How I sleep knowing Michael is dying in the next episode #PeakyBlinders."

Other fans think Michael will save Tommy. Reddit user MrBlueberry wrote: "I have a feeling they're going to make Michael potentially save Thomas. Regardless of how Michael feels, Tommy and Michael are still families. He'll redeem himself in season 6, here's hoping."

Others have suggested that Tommy and Michael's war is all part of a big plan, to take down the real enemy once and for all.

Arthur Shelby

If the opium addiction or the brutal fights do not kill Arthur, there is a big risk he could die at the hands of Jack Nelson.

In Episode 5, the Boston gangster blackmailed Peaky Blinders' associate and IRA informant Billy Grade (Emmett J. Scanlan) into killing Arthur in a brutal shower scene.

However, Arthur Shelby has survived death before (in Season 4) and he could again.

On the other hand, Arthur's own demons could get the better of him and Billy could get away without having to lay a figure on Arthur.

One fan tweeted: "OK so here's my hot take on #PeakyBlinders. Everything is set up for Tommy to die. But it's gonna be Arthur."

A second fan added: "So in Finale, I think. Alfie is going to kill the American to take his revenge, and Michael is going to double-cross and be on Tommy's side. Arthur will die probably. Mosley is going to be given up by Diana and he will be killed. #PeakyBlinders."

Oswald Mosley and Diana Mitford

As Tommy's biggest enemies, there is a big chance Mosley (Sam Claflin) and his mistress Diana Mitford (Amber Anderson) will die in the Season 6 finale. After all, this has been Tommy's plan all along.

One fan hopes Tommy will kill Mosley before his own death, so he can be reunited with Tom Hardy's Alfie Solomon. "Two chapters more and Peaky Blinders ends and so far Alfie only appeared ONE time, the last episode had better be Tommy and Alfie killing Mosley, so by the time, in the end, they both die of their terminal illnesses cuddling in front of a fireplace because otherwise, I'll collapse."

Another fan thinks Churchill has paid Dr. Howard to give Tommy fake bad news so Tommy will go through with his plan to kill Mosley.

They wrote: "Churchill has paid the doc off to say this in the hope Tommy will finish Mosley off good and proper, also faster. #PeakyBlinders Michael will be the one that dies. Gina will kill him."

However, if Peaky Blinders sticks to the history books, Mosley and Diana will live. They were both imprisoned in May 1940 and his party, the British Union of Fascists, was banned by the British government. Mosley died in 1980 and Diana in 2003.

Other characters at slight risk of death in the Peaky Blinders finale are:

Billy Grade

Billy was the one who stopped Oswald Mosley's assassination. If any members of the Peaky Blinders find out, his death is certain.

Gina Gray

Gina could be caught in the crossfire when Tommy takes down his enemies. Alternatively, Gina could be killed by Michael if she turns against her husband or, worse for her, if he sides with Tommy in the end.

Ada Shelby

The death of Ada (Sophie Rundle) would be a huge twist in the Peaky Blinders finale, but maybe it should not be completely unexpected.

Ada is Romani, was once married to a communist and later had a daughter with a Black officer, Colonel Ben Younger (Kingsley Ben-Adir). She has already been attacked by fascists in England, including having bricks thrown through her window, and Mosley is gaining more support. Ada could also be targeted as a way to hurt Tommy.

Lizzie Shelby

Tommy has already put his wife Lizzie (Natasha O'Keeffe) through so much. If she were to die in the finale, it would be heartbreaking. However, at the end of Episode 5, Lizzie found out about Tommy's affair with Diana. This may have prompted her to leave him once and for all, taking herself out of harm's way.

The finale of Peaky Blinders is on Sunday, April 3, at 9 p.m. BST on BBC 1 and the BBC iPlayer. Peaky Blinders Season 6 will premiere on Netflix on Friday, June 10.