Peaky Blinders fans in tears as cast pay tribute to Helen McCrory's Aunt Polly

Peaky Blinders fans were feeling emotional on Sunday night as the much-loved BBC series finally returned with its sixth season.

Tommy Shelby and co did not disappoint as the first episode of the final series got off to a dramatic start.

Tommy (Cillian Murphy) seemed hellbent on starting a war in Boston as he put plans in place for a huge drug deal - and got Michael Gray banged up in the process.

Viewers will be aware that Michael (Finn Cole) is the son of Aunt Polly (Helen McCrory) and she was adamant he would not be involved in the family business.

Peaky Blinders fans were feeling emotional on Sunday night as season six remembered late actress Helen McCrory (Caryn Mandabach Productions Ltd)

However, he went against his mother's wishes and fell out with Tommy and is now working for the opposite side.

At the beginning of the episode, viewers saw Michael grieving for his mother after her body appeared to have been delivered to Tommy's estate.

As Tommy inspected three body bags left outside his house, he broke down as he looked inside the final one and realised the consequences of his actions.

Helen starred in seasons one to five of Peaky Blinders as Aunt Polly (BBC)

The following scene showed Michael setting fire to Polly's caravan as he body lay inside it and the rest of the family watched on.

Michael was then heard saying: "Mum, it was the ambitions and strategies of one man that caused this.

"And I swear in the name of almighty God, no matter what it takes, no matter how many lies I have to tell, I will take revenge on Tommy Shelby."

Tommy Shelby was devastated when he realised Aunt Polly had been murdered (BBC)

As the caravan went up in flames, Aunt Polly's face could be seen within the smoke as it drifted up into the sky in a rather poignant scene.

Viewers were in tears and immediately took to Twitter to comment.

One person tweeted: "I’m Sobbing btw. #PeakyBlinders," while another said: "oh Pol I am sobbing. #PeakyBlinders."

Another viewer wrote: "that tribute to Helen, my heart #PeakyBlinders."

Michael Gray was seen grieving his mother Polly as he vowed to get revenge on Tommy Shelby (BBC)

A fourth person posted: "Already crying at the Aunt Pol scenes #PeakyBlinders."

Actress Helen sadly passed away in April 2021 at the age of 52 after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Announcing the death on Twitter, Helen's husband Damian Lewis stated that she had died "peacefully at home, surrounded by a wave of love from friends and family".

She had kept her diagnosis secret, and very few people knew of her illness before her death.

Peaky Blinders continues Sundays at 9pm on BBC One.