Jeremiah "Jimmy" Jesus is a Jamaican born street preacher, who is friends with Thomas Shelby and the Peaky Blinders. He fought in the war alongside Thomas, and has been a close ally ever since. He is also the father of Isiah Jesus.
Character History[]
Background[]
Jeremiah Jesus was born in Jamaica, and his family later emigrated to Birmingham, England in search of better work opportunities and living conditions. Jesus settled in the working-class Small Heath neighborhood, where he started a family and had a son, Isiah Jesus.
Before his involvement with the Peaky Blinders, he fought in the war alongside Thomas Shelby, but vowed never to pick up a weapon again after the end of the war. It is unknown if he turned to God after the war or was religious beforehand.
Series 1 · 1919[]
Jeremiah does not take much of an active involvement within the Peaky Blinders during their younger years. He provides mostly advice and religious support to the members. He also acts as Thomas' eyes and ears on the streets of Birmingham. However, when the Peaky Blinders take on Billy Kimber and the Birmingham Boys directly, Jeremiah is involved in the fight. While he promised never to pick up a gun again after the war, Thomas asks Jeremiah to pick up a weapon and defend Small Heath once again, to which he agrees.
Series 2 · 1922[]
TBA
Series 3 · 1924[]
Jeremiah performs the marriage ceremony between Thomas and Grace Shelby.
Series 4 · 1925-1926[]
Jeremiah attends John Shelby's funeral, where it's mentioned that the two men served together in France.
Series 5 · 1929[]
Jeremiah and Isiah are present at the family meeting where Michael and Gina Gray attempt to stage their coup.
Series 6 · 1934[]
Jeremiah attends Polly Gray's funeral.
Trivia[]
- According to Benjamin Zephaniah, the character of Jeremiah Jesus is partially based on a real person who was known to the locals of 1920's Birmingham as Jimmy Jesus. He was a Jamaican soldier who fought with men from Birmingham in World War I, and moved there after the war. He took to roaming the streets of Birmingham preaching the Bible. However, there is no known evidence of him being a member of a gang.
Quotes[]
- Jeremiah: “God says he don’t mess with Small Heath.”
- Jeremiah: "Do you, Thomas Michael Shelby, take Grace Helen Burgess to be your lawful wedded wife?"
- Thomas Shelby: "I do."
- Jeremiah: "Do you, Grace Burgess, solemnly swear to love, honour and obey till death do you part?"
- Grace Burgess: "I do"
- Jeremiah: "I now pronounce you, husband and hoe"
Appearances[]
| Series 1 Appearances | |||||
| Episode 1.1 | Episode 1.4 | Episode 1.6 | |||
| Series 2 Appearances | |||||
| Episode 2.2 | Episode 2.4 | Episode 2.6 | |||
| Series 3 Appearances | |||||
| Episode 3.1 | |||||
| Series 4 Appearances | |||||
| Heathens | The Company | ||||
| Series 4 Appearances | |||||
| Blackbird | The Company | ||||
