Peaky Blinders star Jack Rowan has explained why he left the gangster show as aspiring boxer Bonnie Gold in the middle of season five.
The 23-year-old actor was offered the lead role in the BBC One adaption of the novel series Noughts and Crosses, meaning filming schedules were bound to clash.
Deciding to accept the role on the BBC One drama, his character was written out of Peaky Blinders to facilitate the acting gig.
Speaking to Radio Times, the former Casualty star opened up about the decision to leave, praising the Peaky Blinders team for his graceful exit storyline.
Jack played aspiring boxer Bonnie Gold on the hit BBC show
He said: “In the timeframe between series four and series five, I landed Noughts and Crosses, so it was a case of what do you do? Do you take this?
“And in a way, I’m a young guy and it’s a lead role. It was horrible to have to do something like that, but there was no question really what I would do, and it was this.”
Jack continued: “I thank that team from the bottom of my heart for not recasting the character or not just leaving him out, they actually said let’s give him an ending. So, I actually filmed that in-between.”
Jack revealed he left Peaky Blinders for another BBC acting role (Image: Getty Images)
The young actor left the show in a dramatic scene, as Bonnie – the son of assassin Aberama Gold – was killed by Jimmy McCavern (Brian Gleeson) in a tense forest ambush.
Jack added: “I did block one of Noughts and Crosses, then in the Christmas period I was only on it [Peaky Blinders] for a day, and then I came back to South Africa. I’m just grateful I had an ending.”
Written by Malorie Blackman in 2001, Noughts and Crosses tells the story of a poor “nought” boy named Callum McGregor, who falls in love with a wealthy “cross” girl named Persephone Hadley.
Jack was murdered by Jimmy McCavern in a brutal exit storyline
Playing Callum, Jack will star alongside up-and-coming actress Masali Baduza in the TV adaption.
Noughts and Crosses is due to air on BBC One at 9pm on Thursday 5th March.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
