Fans of Stephen Graham will be able to watch him starring in Steven Knight's new Disney Plus show A Thousand Blows later this month, on which he is also an executive producer.
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But this isn't the first time the actor and writer have collaborated - far from it, as they previously teamed up on shows including Taboo, A Christmas Carol and Peaky Blinders.
In the latter show, Graham played union convener Hayden Stagg, appearing in just two episodes of the show's sixth and final season. However, that isn't all we will see of the character, as he is set to return in the upcoming Peaky Blinders movie.
Graham's Stagg is one of only a handful of characters from the original show currently confirmed to return, in a list that also includes Cillian Murphy's Tommy Shelby and Sophie Rundle's Ada Thorne.
Now, while speaking with RadioTimes.com about A Thousand Blows, Knight has teased Graham's appearance in the Peaky Blinders movie, saying that he "doesn't disappoint".
Stephen Graham as Hayden Stagg in Peaky Blinders BBC
"It’s always great," Knight said of collaborating with Graham. "You know he’s going to show up and give you the best and more than you expected. And he doesn’t disappoint in the Peaky Blinders movie and certainly doesn’t disappoint in this."
Graham also spoke with RadioTimes.comabout boxing drama A Thousand Blows, revealing that the idea of telling the historical story was sent to him, at which point he and his producing partner and wife, Hannah Walters, approached Knight to write the project - and used Graham's role in the Peaky Blinders movie to sell it.
Graham said that it was Walters's idea to ask Knight to write the show, at which point Graham said: "Don’t be ridiculous, love."
"She was like, 'No, trust me – I’m talking to Julie, she’s his assistant and they want you for Peaky Blinders and I’ve been chatting to her so I’ll make this happen,'" Graham explained.
"Literally four days later, she was like 'Oi'. I was in the kitchen, I’ll never forget it – she went, 'Oi, come here and have a look at that,' and he’d emailed back and said, 'I love it, I really want to get involved.'"
James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
