‘I’ve seen a lot of great pissheads’: Stephen Graham on booze, Baftas and the return of his bone-crunching boxing thriller

January 2, 2026

TL;DR

Stephen Graham and Steven Knight discuss the success of their drama "Adolescence" and its impact on global conversations about online misogyny and incel culture.
They are also promoting the return of their period thriller "A Thousand Blows," which explores the illegal bare-knuckle boxing scene and an all-female crime syndicate.
Graham describes his character's low point in the new season of "A Thousand Blows" and his commitment to physical training.
Knight emphasizes the authenticity of the boxing sequences and the importance of truth in historical dramas, citing the Forty Elephants as an example of a successful female-led criminal organization.
The duo expresses mutual admiration for each other's work and discusses their shared interest in telling working-class stories.
They confirm their involvement in the "Peaky Blinders" movie, "The Immortal Man," and Knight's role in writing the screenplay for the next James Bond film, with Graham expressing interest in playing a villain.
Knight advocates for recognizing historical figures like Paddy Mayne and discusses his approach to period drama, focusing on stories from the "bottom up."
Both Graham and Knight acknowledge their prolific output and discuss overcoming imposter syndrome from their working-class backgrounds.
They express hope for a third season of "A Thousand Blows," with Knight having further ideas for the series.

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