‘Remarkable true story’: Stephen Graham to star in East End boxing TV series

Stephen Graham will star in a new series made by Peaky Blinders’ creator Steven Knight about illegal boxing in London during the Victorian era.

In A Thousand Blows, Graham will play Sugar Goodson, a London boxer, as well as executive produce the 12-part series that will broadcast on Disney+, alongside Knight as co-creator and writer.

Revolving around real-life characters and stories, the show follows Hezekiah and Alec, two best friends from Jamaica who are thrust into the East End.

As they are lured into the criminal underworld of the capital’s boxing scene, Hezekiah meets Mary Carr, chief of The Forty Elephants - the infamous all-female gang - as they compete for survival.

Hezekiah comes up against Sugar Goodson, a brutal and powerful boxer, and the pair then become embroiled in a fierce rivalry that has consequences far beyond the ring.

Knight said: “I’m really thrilled to be working on this project with Stephen as well as the very talented production team and group of writers.

“I always love to delve into untold history, and this is a story that really deserves to be told.

“We are recreating an amazing world and telling a remarkable true story.”

Graham said: “To be able to work with Steve again and the talented team of writers we have for this project is truly wonderful, and to tell the story of these incredible characters during this period of time in London is a joy.”

Knight’s screenwriting credits include Spencer and Taboo, while Graham recently featured in Help, and Time, both of which earned him Bafta nominations.

A Thousand Blows is being produced by The Story Collective in a co-production with Matriarch Productions and Water & Power Productions.