Malachi Kirby as Hezekiah Moscow (Image: DISNEY)
New images have been unveiled, revealing the growing cast of Steven Knight’s latest series, A Thousand Blows. The Disney Plus series is based on the real-life stories of a group fighting for survival under harsh conditions in London’s East End in the 1880s.
Best friends from Jamaica, Hezekiah Moscow and Alec Munroe, find themselves entangled in the criminal underworld of London’s flourishing bare-knuckle boxing scene. As Hezekiah gains wealth and recognition, he draws the attention of the notorious Queen of the Forty Elephants, Mary Carr.
She intends to use his skills to advance her criminal operations. Meanwhile, the intimidating boss of the East End boxing world, Sugar Goodson, is determined to ruin Hezekiah, whose aspirations to fight in the West End jeopardise everything he has built.
The ensuing conflict is between the old world and the new. A first glimpse at The Forty Elephants gang, led by actress Erin Doherty, has been released.
Here’s everything you need to know about the rest of the cast and what to anticipate from the series.
Stephen Graham stars in A Thousand Blows (Image: DISNEY)
Malachi Kirby portrays Hezekiah Moscow, with Erin Doherty as Mary Carr and Stephen Graham as Sugar Goodson.
Malachi Kirby is a 35-year-old British actor and writer recognised for his roles in Roots, Black Mirror and Small Axe: Mangrove.
Erin Doherty is a 32 year old British actress famous for her portrayal of a young Princess Anne in The Crown.
Stephen Graham is a 51 year old British actor renowned for his roles in This Is England and Boiling Point.
The historic all-female gang, the Forty Elephants, known for their adept shoplifting skills during the 19th to 20th century, hailed from the Elephant and Castle district of London. The forty thieves evaded police so deftly that they became a remarkable facet of London’s criminal underworld.
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Erin Doherty plays Mary in the series (Image: DISNEY)
Set against this backdrop is a cast dotted with talent. Darci Shaw steps into the role of the infamous Alice Diamond, joined by Nadia Albina portraying Verity Ross, Morgan Hilaire as Esme Long, Jemma Carlton taking on Belle Downer, and Caoilfhionn Dunne embodying Anne Glover.
They are flanked by Francis Lovehall playing Alec Munroe, Jason Tobin as Mr Lao, James Nelson-Joyce taking up the part of Edward “Treacle” Goodson, and Hannah Walters who assumes the character Eliza Moody.
Adding to the roster, guest appearances anchor the series further with Susan Lynch gracing the screen as Jane Carr, Daniel Mays featuring as William ‘Punch’ Lewis, Adam Nagaitis as the Earl of Lonsdale, Gary Lewis embodying Jack Mac, Tom Davis portraying Charlie Mitchell, and Robert Glenister making an appearance as Indigo Jeremy.
A Thousand Blows airs on Disney+ on February 21