Cassie Clarke is the Trust’s filming and campaigns manager. Her role involves working with film and TV crews, making sure they have everything they need to film safely, with consideration for other canal visitors. She shares what it was like to film on location for ‘The Immortal Man’.
Filming with the Peaky Blinders – The Immortal Man
We’re excited to spot some well-loved canal locations in the new Peaky Blinders film, ‘The Immortal Man’. Find out what’s involved in filming major productions from the towpath.
Peaky Blinders
The Trust has been involved with ‘The Immortal Man’ since 2023, when we received an initial list of location requirements. Cassie contacted our heritage team in the West Midlands to compile an answering list of historic sites which would slot nicely into the story.
In June 2024, Cassie and colleagues met with Steven Knight MBE (the creator of Peaky Blinders) plus the director, designer and location manager at the Roundhouse in Birmingham. From there, they took a trip along the Birmingham New Mainline Canal to Galton Bridge, stopping off at Iron Bridge Aqueduct and other historic locations along the way.
Behind the scenes
“One of the key differences in filming from the towpath is the limited space. It’s very narrow. And often the towpath remains open to the public throughout filming, so it can quickly become busy. It’s always a priority to ensure that no one falls in the canal!”
No matter how organised you are beforehand, filming can throw up unanticipated challenges, as Cassie explains:
“The filming at Pontcysyllte Aqueduct involved a helicopter for the cameraperson to get the perfect aerial shot. I’ve never had a request to film with a helicopter above one of our canals before, never mind an UNESCO World Heritage site, so I contacted our heritage colleagues for advice.”
Benefits of filming for the Trust
As a charity, we welcome the income generated through filming on our towpaths, all of which is invested back into canals.
Additionally, documentaries featuring our colleagues and volunteers, such as Narrow Escapes can help raise awareness of our charity and encourage people to visit their local canal. Feature films such as Paddington 2 and TV series like Peaky Blinders have led to canal locations being included in tours, which is known as screen tourism.
The more people know about us, the more likely it is that canals will receive the support they need to not only survive, but thrive.
Spot the canal
Our historic canals have featured in numerous films and TV series over the years.
Cassie lists her favourite films and TV series to work on, “S.P.E.C.T.R.E (James Bond), Paddington 2, Slow Horses (Apple TV), His Dark Materials (BBC), House of Guinness (Netflix), Narrow Escapes and Canal Boat Diaries.”
It's always important for me to feature canals in my productions, canals are part of my palette."
Why are canals such popular filming locations?
Steven Knight, screenwriter and creator of Peaky Blinders, is a passionate advocate of canals and loves to feature them in his work. He says, "It's always important for me to feature canals in my productions, canals are part of my palette."
Cassie is equally enthusiastic about filming on the canals.
“I love the variety. No two filming applications are ever the same. I’ve been to some unusual places like an aqueduct above the M6 in Birmingham, a boat graveyard on the River Severn and inside the Impounding station in Docklands. I also really love seeing films and TV shows we’ve been involved with and thinking I recommended that location and now it’s on Netflix!”
For more than two centuries, canals have played a vital role in our history. With your support, canals will remain a key part of the nation’s fabric in the years still to come.
Peaky Blinders images are courtesy of Netflix.
Last Edited: 18 March 2026
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