What happened to Finn Shelby in the Peaky Blinders finale?
The final episode of Peaky Blinders, "Lock and Key," wraps up nearly every storyline — but it's Finn Shelby's ending that leaves the sharpest sting.
If you haven't watched series 6 yet, this is your last warning.
How Finn got expelled
Throughout series 6, Finn (Harry Kirton) is barely seen. That's not an accident. Tommy already suspected the youngest Shelby brother had become a liability — too close to the wrong people and too far from the family 's inner circle.
The key figure here is Billy Grade, a former professional footballer whom Arthur had originally coerced into fixing matches for the Peaky Blinders. Over time, Billy became an informant, feeding intelligence to the gang's enemies. And Finn, who worked alongside Billy at the betting shop, had no idea.
In the finale, Duke (Tommy's newly discovered illegitimate son) and Isaiah lure both Finn and Billy into the kitchen at Arrow House. They hand Finn a gun and tell him to execute Billy for being a traitor. It 's a loyalty test — and Finn fails it. He refuses to shoot, then turns the gun on Duke and pulls the trigger. The chamber clicks empty. Then clicks empty again. Duke calmly takes the weapon back and explains that Charlie Strong had anticipated exactly this and left the first two chambers unloaded. Duke then shoots Billy Grade in the head and delivers the verdict: Finn is no longer a Shelby, by order of the Peaky Blinders.
What happens after
Finn leaves, swearing revenge on Duke. That threat was widely expected to fuel the plot of the follow-up film. However, when Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man premiered on Netflix in March 2026, Finn was nowhere to be seen — not even mentioned. Actor Harry Kirton later explained that he chose not to return, telling Metro he wanted to move on from the role to avoid being typecast. Creator Steven Knight has confirmed Finn is still alive in the show's universe.
Why it matters
Finn's exile is the final proof that Tommy's world has no room for sentimentality. The youngest brother grew up sheltered by the family, never quite earning his place through blood and fire the way Arthur, John, or Tommy did. When the test came, he chose his friend over the family code — and the family code won. It's one of the most quietly brutal moments in a series full of loud ones.