Joe Cole thinks he left 'Peaky Blinders' "at a good time".
Joe Cole
The 31-year-old actor - who played gangster John Shelby in the BBC period drama from 2013 to 2017 - insisted he has "nothing but positive feeling and gratitude for that show", but he felt it was time to move on.
He told Digital Spy: "I actually think I got out at a good time because I think it gives a good opportunity for other actors to come in, and some of the younger guys to have more to do."
Joe admitted he "can't complain" about the success he had during the series.
He added: "I made the decision [to leave]. I've got a lot of love for those guys, and I think it's an incredible show.
"That's what I want to be part of. I want to be part of an incredible show and great television. So you can't complain about that, can you?"
The star - who leads the cast of Sky's current drama 'Gangs of London' - also admitted he is glad fans remember him fondly for being in 'Peaky Blinders'.
He explained: "The response I get on the street for that show is just unreal. I can't tell you. It's unreal.
"And the comment I get most of the time is, 'I can't believe you died. You shouldn't have died. Why did you have to die? We loved your character.'
"And that is all you can ask for as an actor. That is all you can ask for. They're not coming up to me and going, 'Are you still in Peaky Blinders?' They're not saying that to me."
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