Stephen Graham cuts a smart figure in navy outfit as he attends photocall for new series A Thousand Blows after bulking up for his role as a boxer
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Stephen Graham cut a smart figure as he attended a photocall for his new series A Thousand Blows at the Hotel Cafe Royal in London on Thursday.
The upcoming six-episode drama delves into the treacherous underbelly of illicit boxing in the smog-filled streets of 1880's Victorian London, and will be available for streaming on Disney+ from February 21.
The actor, 51, portrays Sugar Goodson in the show, a dangerous, veteran boxer who comes up against best friends Hezekiah (Malachai Kirby) and Alec (Francis Lovehall).
Stephen sported a navy long-sleeved polo shirt which he paired with a matching T-shirt and trousers.
The star was joined at the photocall by actress and co-star Erin Doherty who opted for a burgundy oversized blazer and black leather trousers.
Styling her locks into a ponytail, she completed her look with a white shirt and hoop earrings.
Stephen Graham cut a smart figure as he attended a photocall for his new series A Thousand Blows at the Hotel Cafe Royal in London on Thursday
The drama delves into the treacherous underbelly of illicit boxing in the smog-filled streets of 1880's Victorian London, and will be available for streaming on Disney+ from February 21
Stephen delighted fans in August when he unveiled his incredible transformation, after overhauling his physique for a hard-hitting new role in the upcoming Disney+ drama
Malachi Kirby opted for an off-white jacket and matching trousers while Francis Lovehall sported a white polo shirt and brown trousers.
The trailer sees Malachi Kirby's Hezekiah Moscow arrive with his friend Alec Munroe (Francis Lovehall) in 1880s London from Jamaica, and meet Erin Doherty's Mary Carr, the queen of all-female gang the Forty Elephants.
Mary sets about exploiting Hezekiah's talent for boxing in the underground criminal fighting scene, but the menacing self-declared emperor of that world, Stephen's Sugar Goodson, vows to destroy him.
The trailer release comes after Stephen's glamorous wife Hannah Walters, 50, who has been married to the Liverpudlian actor since 2008, revealed she can’t get enough of her husband’s bulging new physique.
'I've known this man since he was 19,’ she told British Airways ’ High Life magazine. ‘And, let me tell you. I'm very happy with the results.'
The TV hardman will debut his bulked-up and tattooed physique seasoned fighter Sugar Goodson in the drama, which has been penned by Peaky Blinders creator Stephen Knight, when it is released on Disney+ on February 21.
In the new interview - his first since being reprimanded foul-mouthed rant at referee last month - Stephen reflected on his physical transformation while filming for the highly-anticipated new drama.
The Peaky Blinders star said: ‘I turned 50 during filming, but it's the fittest I've ever been. And probably the best I've ever looked.’
Stephen's wife Hannah Walters attended the photocall where she donned a black top and trousers along with an orange blazer
Stephen was joined at the photocall by actress and co-star Erin Doherty (centre) who opted for a burgundy oversized blazer and black leather trousers (pictured with Malachi Kirby)
Malachi Kirby opted for an off-white jacket and matching trousers
Actress Darci Shaw opted for a dark brown jacket and a matching skirt
Francis Lovehall sported a white polo shirt and brown trousers
The performer also revealed the secrets to his muscular new physique, which he showed off at a photoshoot at The Halyard Liverpool, Vignette Collection, after spending hours enduring gruelling training at the Premier Gym in Leicester.
Despite the hours of physical endurance in the gym lifting heavy weights, it was the change in his diet that he found ‘hard’.
The Line Of Duty actor said: ‘It was a four month process to reach peak condition. We did it all properly. I had blood tests. My diet was laid out.'
'I followed my workout plan to the letter. I'd smash the gym four times a week doing heavy weightlifting, with boxing training on the other three days.
‘It was a lot but extremely enjoyable. The hard part was the food. I was constantly eating to bulk up. Loads of whey, carbs and protein. Three thousand calories per day. It's difficult to cram that much down you.’
The actor revealed that he channelled two well-known boxers who inspired his performance.
Stephen worked with bodybuilder Rob Thurston to bulk up his physique, enduring exercises including press-ups with heavy weights chained to him a bid to boost his muscles
He said: ‘I tried to emulate Mike Tyson and Lenny McLean the 'Guv'nor of unlicensed boxing]. I wanted Tyson's stature and sheer brutality, combined with Lenny's snarling, explosive anger.'
'Win by any means necessary. Elbows. head-butts, anything goes. It's not a tickling competition, it's a bare-knuckle fight.’
Despite being a fictionalised series, the drama is based on people who actually lived.
‘The beauty of this show is that it's rooted in truth. It's fictionalised but based on real people and events,’ Stephen said.
Stephen's wife Hannah, is an executive producer on the series, and also stars as Eliza Moody in the boxing drama. She has previously acted alongside he husband in This Is England and Boiling Point.
