Irish actor Daryl McCormack, who has joined the upcoming fifth season of Peaky Blinders, has recalled being star-struck by co-star Cillian Murphy and his "piercing blue eyes".

The 26-year-old Tipperary actor, who has also starred on the small screen in Fair City and Vikings, spoke about his joy at joining the highly-anticipated fifth run of the BBC crime drama along with fellow Irish stars Charlene McKenna, Brian Gleeson and Emmet J Scanlan.

Alongside Murphy in the leading role as Tommy Shelby, the cast of Peaky Blinders also includes Aidan Gillen, Charlie Murphy, Ned Dennehy and Belfast actor Packy Lee.

Cillian Murphy as Tommy Shelby in Peaky Blinders

Speaking at the series five premiere at Birmingham Town Hall, McCormack told Getty: "It's fantastic, as an Irish actor, a young Irish actor, those are actors that I've been looking up to since I've started training.

"I don't think I even get star-struck but I remember meeting Cillian for the first time and his piercing blue eyes looked into my soul and I was like 'Oh my God I'm working with [him].

"It's nothing but a pleasure, I've grown up watching these actors on screen for years so it's a joy to be working with them on set."

With Dublin director Anthony Byrne behind the lens, the latest season of Peaky Blinders will return to BBC One later this year.

The plot sees crime boss-turned-politician Tommy Shelby (Murphy) dealing with the financial crash of 1929 and - according to series creator Steven Knight - "the darkest force he has ever faced".

For more television news click here.