Why Freddie Thorne Left Peaky Blinders: The Real Story Behind Iddo Goldberg’s Exit

The sudden death of Freddie Thorne at the start of Peaky Blinders Season 2 left many fans surprised. His funeral, set in 1922, reveals he died from “pestilence,” a reference to the Spanish Flu pandemic. The real reason for his departure from the show, however, was not part of the story. Actor Iddo Goldberg left the series for a role in the television show Salem, which premiered around the same time as the second season. His exit forced the writers to explain his character’s absence quickly between seasons.

Who Was Freddie Thorne in the Story?

Freddie Thorne was a foundational character in the first season. A communist agitator and World War I veteran, he shared a deep history with Tommy Shelby. They were childhood friends who fought together in the trenches, with Freddie even saving Tommy’s life.

His most significant storyline was his secret relationship with Tommy’s sister, Ada Shelby, played by Sophie Rundle. Their romance was a direct challenge to the Shelby family’s control. After Ada became pregnant, Freddie chose to stay in Birmingham despite the danger, and the couple married in secret. They had a son named Karl.

Freddie’s political activism constantly put him at odds with the authorities, particularly Inspector Campbell. His beliefs also created a clear ideological conflict with Tommy. While Freddie fought for a workers’ revolution, Tommy pursued personal power and control. This dynamic made Freddie one of the few characters who could intellectually challenge Tommy Shelby.

Freddie told Ada that one day he and Thomas will be on the same side again.

How the Show Explained His Sudden Death

The series used a significant time jump between the first and second seasons. Season 2 begins two years after the events of Season 1, opening at Freddie’s graveside.

The cause of death was given as the “pestilence,” which is the Spanish Influenza. This pandemic was historically widespread in the years following World War I, making it a plausible explanation within the show’s world. At the funeral, Tommy Shelby keeps a promise he made to Freddie during the war, speaking at his friend’s grave.

This off-screen death allowed the narrative to move forward without the actor but was seen by some fans as an abrupt end for a key character. The event profoundly affected Ada, pushing her character to become more independent and involved in the Shelby family business.

The Real-World Reason: A Clash of Schedules

The driving factor behind Freddie Thorne’s exit was not creative but practical. Actor Iddo Goldberg accepted a main role as Isaac Walton in the supernatural drama series Salem.

The production timelines for Salem and Peaky Blinders Season 2 overlapped. With both shows filming and premiering in 2014, Goldberg was unable to commit to both projects. This left the Peaky Blinders production team with little choice but to write the character out of the story.

Neither Goldberg nor the show’s producers have given detailed official statements about the departure. However, the timing strongly points to the scheduling conflict as the cause. In a 2013 interview about Peaky Blinders, Goldberg spoke highly of the production but did not hint at any long-term plans for his character.

Iddo Goldberg’s Career After Leaving the Shelbys

Since leaving Peaky Blinders, Iddo Goldberg has maintained a steady career in television and film. His role in Salem lasted for three seasons.

He later joined the cast of the sci-fi series Snowpiercer as Bennett Knox, one of his most notable roles post-Peaky Blinders. He has also appeared in other major series, including:

• Westworld as Sebastian
• Supergirl as the Red Tornado
• Fear as Michael

He also acted in films like The Zookeeper’s Wife. His continued work shows the departure was a career choice rather than a setback.

What Freddie Thorne’s Exit Meant for Ada Shelby

Freddie’s death had a lasting impact on the show through the evolution of Ada Shelby. Initially a young woman constrained by her powerful brothers, Ada was transformed by her marriage and widowhood.

As a single mother, she grew into a more formidable and independent figure. She eventually took an active role in the Shelby Company Limited, becoming a key member of the family business. Her political views, influenced by Freddie, also continued to provide a counterpoint to Tommy’s ambitions throughout the series.

The relationship between Tommy and Ada was also forever changed by Freddie’s death. It added a layer of complexity and sometimes tension, as Tommy had to care for his sister and nephew while dealing with his own guilt over his friend’s fate.

Fan Reactions to the Abrupt Goodbye

Many viewers felt Freddie Thorne’s departure was too sudden. As a character with strong principles and a direct connection to Tommy’s past, fans believed he had more potential for future storylines.

Some have expressed that the ideological battles between Freddie’s communism and Tommy’s capitalism could have provided rich material for later seasons. His role as one of the few people not intimidated by the Shelby brothers also made him a unique presence.

The use of the Spanish Flu as an explanation, while historically accurate, felt to some like a convenient way to resolve a real-world casting issue. This left a narrative gap, as the death of a major character happened entirely off-screen between seasons.

The Legacy of a Season 1 Character

Although his time was short, Freddie Thorne’s influence echoes through the series. He represents Tommy’s past, a life of shared trauma and simpler loyalties before the pursuit of power took over. His marriage to Ada and the birth of their son, Karl, created a lasting branch of the Shelby family tree.

His death is a clear example of how practical production issues shape television storytelling. While the writers incorporated his exit into the show’s historical setting, the choice to kill the character rather than have him leave alive was final.

For audiences rewatching the series, Freddie Thorne remains a poignant “what if” character. His exit opened the door for Ada’s growth and removed a significant moral challenger to Tommy Shelby, allowing the show to focus on different conflicts in its long run.

Also Read: Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2: Why Tyson’s Cyclops Identity Is No Secret This Time

---