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A Thousand Blows
2025 British TV series or programme From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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A Thousand Blows is a British historical drama series created by Steven Knight about the Forty Elephants, an all-female crime syndicate, clashing with the world of illegal bare-knuckle boxing in 1880s London. The first season premiered on 21 February 2025 on Disney+ internationally and on Hulu in the United States.
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Premise
Set in the East End of London in the 1880s, the series follows the Forty Elephants, an all-female crime syndicate led by Mary Carr that specializes in shoplifting and confidence tricks. They clash with Henry "Sugar" Goodson, the self-declared emperor of the East End's illegal bare-knuckle boxing world.[1] Additionally, Hezekiah Moscow, a newly immigrated man from Jamaica with ambitions to become a lion tamer, and his best friend Alec Munroe, fight for survival as they come into contact with both groups.[2][3]
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Cast and characters
Main
- Erin Doherty as Mary Carr
- Malachi Kirby as Hezekiah Moscow
- Jair Ellis portrays young Hezekiah
- Francis Lovehall as Alec Munroe
- James Nelson-Joyce as Edward "Treacle" Goodson
- Jason Tobin as Lao Lam
- Hannah Walters as Eliza Moody
- Morgan Hilaire as Esme Long
- Caoilfhionn Dunne as Anne Glover
- Jemma Carlton as Belle Downer
- Nadia Albina as Verity Ross
- Tom Davis as Charlie Mitchell
- Daniel Mays as William "Punch" Lewis
- Stephen Graham as Henry "Sugar" Goodson
- Darci Shaw as Alice Diamond
- Gary Lewis as Jack MacAllen
- Susan Lynch as Jane Carr
- Robert Glenister as Indigo Jeremy
Supporting
- Ashley Walters as Switch
- Elliot Warren as Sharkey Devenish
- Eddie Toll as Saul Woolfe
- Maeve Dermody as Lady Grace
- Aliyah Odoffin as Victoria Davies
- Ziggy Heath as Peggy Bettinson
- Adam Nagaitis as the Earl of Lonsdale
- Ella Lily Hyland as Marianne Goodson
- Elsie Evans as Rose Goodson
- Will Bagnall as Thomas Goodson
- Kwong Loke as Li Hongzhang
- Chike Chan as Lo Feng Lu
- Tom Andrews as the Marquess of Queensberry
- Tim Steed as Vance Murtagh
- Nathan Hubble as Buster Williams
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Production
The concept for the series was the brainchild of actress Hannah Walters, who pitched her idea to Steven Knight. In August 2022, it was revealed that a twelve episode boxing drama was in development, with Knight set as showrunner with Tinge Krishnan as lead director and an executive producer alongside Knight.[4]
The series stars an ensemble cast which includes Erin Doherty,[5] Malachi Kirby[6] and Stephen Graham[4] in lead roles while Francis Lovehall, James Nelson-Joyce, Jason Tobin, Hannah Walters, Morgan Hilaire, Caoilfhionn Dunne, Jemma Carlton, Nadia Albina, Tom Davis, Daniel Mays, Darci Shaw, Gary Lewis, Susan Lynch, and Robert Glenister round out the main cast.[7][3][8]
Principal photography began in March 2023, with filming taking place in London.[5] In February 2025, ahead of the series premiere, it was confirmed that a second season had been filmed.[3][9]
Episodes
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Release
A Thousand Blows was first shown at BFI London Film Festival on 11 October 2024. It premiered on 21 February 2025 on Disney+ internationally and on Hulu in the United States.[1][2]
Reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 90% of 40 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.7/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Punching up an intriguing era of British history with creator Steven Knight's flare for genre grit, A Thousand Blows is riveting entertainment that leaves a bruise."[10] Lucy Mangan of The Guardian awarded the first series five stars out of five, praising the depth of storytelling and themes.[11]
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References
External links
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