Peaky Blinders creator re-teams with Tom Hardy for new BBC series Taboo

Hardy stars as James Delaney in the 1814-set period drama based on the actor's own story

Taboo has Tom Hardy's mitts all over it; not only is he executive producing alongside creators Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders) and Ridley Scott, he's starring in the lead role - and if that wasn't enough, the entire project is based on a story he devised with his father, Chips.

Set in 1814, the drama will see the Mad Max: Fury Road actor play James Delaney, an adventurer who uncovers a dark family conspiracy upon returning home from Africa with the aim of avenging his father's death.

Perhaps most excitingly, Taboo will mark another venture into a British period setting for Steven Knight, the man behind popular BBC series Peaky Blinders - the third series of which is set to arrive in April.

Hardy has collaborated with Knight before; he appeared in the show's second series as gangster baker Alfie Solomons, as well as in the lead role of Knight's film Locke.

Taboo will also star Oona Chaplin, Jonathan Pryce and Michael Kelly - currently known to most as House of Cards' Doug Stamper.

The eight-episode British-American series is expected to air on the BBC in 2017, with US network FX attached to broadcast in the States.

Hardy and Scott are currently both nominated for Oscars, the former for Best Supporting Actor (The Revenant) while the latter finds himself in contention for Best Director (The Martian). The ceremony takes place this Sunday.

And yes, in case you're still wondering, Tom Hardy's father is really called Chips.