Did Peaky Blinders season 4 just kill off two main characters?

John appeared to be gun down with Michael soon to follow

Peaky Blinders series 4 got off to a dramatic start last night, with episode 1 seeing *SPOILERS AHEAD* John Shelby hit with a hail of gunfire and Michael Gray next in the crosshairs.

John's wife, Esme, was also present in the closing scene, which didn't provide any closure but did show John being struck, perhaps fatally, by several bullets.

The attackers appeared to be Italian Mafia, ordered to wipe out key Shelby gang members by new villain and don Luca Changretta (played with real presence by Adrien Brody).

Tommy and his cohorts all received a 'Black Hand' letter in the post from the mob earlier in the episode, forcing them to give up their provincial lives and return to their old ways.

In fairness, the Peaky Blinders have gotten away with very few casualties thus far, in comparison to a Sopranos or a Game of Thrones.

Episode 1 also presented a pretty bleak outlook for Polly, who we saw fast going off the rails as she deals with having been centimetres from a noose.

Peaky Blinders continues Wednesday nights and you can read our interview with lead actor Cillian Murphy here.