Steven Knight’s A Thousand Blows returns to Disney+ this week for its long-awaited second season.
Steven Knight’s A Thousand Blows returns to Disney+ this week for its long-awaited second season.
Hayley Anderson TV Reporter
16:09, 08 Jan 2026Updated 16:11, 08 Jan 2026
A Thousand Blows season two arrives this week with fans keen to discover who will be back and which new faces are joining the cast.
Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight has struck gold once more with A Thousand Blows, a late 19th Century period drama drawing inspiration from the true story of boxer and Jamaican immigrant Hezekiah Moscow (portrayed by Malachi Kirby).
The first season on Disney+ followed his journey to London, but his hopes for a new beginning are quickly dashed when he encounters the brutal Henry “Sugar” Goodson (Stephen Graham) and Mary Carr (Erin Doherty), leader of the Forty Elephants gang.
As viewers prepare to dive in, here’s the complete rundown of the A Thousand Blows season two cast.
A Thousand Blows season 2 cast
Henry “Sugar” Goodson – Stephen Graham
READ MORE: ‘Trashy’ sitcom fans ‘can’t help but laugh at’ is now streamingREAD MORE: Netflix fans told to skip Line of Duty stars’ ‘absurd and boring’ period drama
Series one of A Thousand Blows concluded with Sugar at rock bottom, having suffered defeat at the hands of Hezekiah, which drove him towards alcohol.
The trailer has hinted that this season, audiences will witness Sugar’s efforts to rebuild his life.
Stephen Graham is a familiar face across British households, particularly following his Emmy Award-winning performance in the Netflix drama Adolescence.
However, he has been a prominent figure in television for many years, with credits including the This Is England franchise, Line of Duty, Boiling Point and Taboo, among numerous others.
Hezekiah Moscow – Malachi Kirby
Hezekiah may have triumphed over Sugar in the boxing ring, but the onset of season two finds him in a state of depression following the death of his best friend Alec Munroe (Frances Lovehall) during a fight.
Much like Sugar, he will be urged to recover and reclaim his status as the champion boxer that everyone recognises him to be.
Actor Malachi Kirby has appeared in a number of shows, including roles as Kunte Kinte in the 2016 reboot of Roots, Darcus Howe in Small Axe, and Oliver Harris in Devils.
A Thousand Blows isn’t Kirby’s first collaboration with Graham, as he also appeared in the 2021 drama Boiling Point.
Mary Carr – Erin Doherty
Actress Erin Doherty is best known for her role as Princess Anne in the third and fourth series of Netflix’s The Crown, as well as Briony Ariston in Adolescence.
Some of her other notable roles include parts in Reawakening, Intelligent Design, BBC’s Les Miserables, and Chloe.
In season two, she returns as the formidable leader of the notorious all-female Forty Elephants gang, with an even grander plan in mind.
Alice Diamond – Darci Shaw
Alice Diamond was introduced in the first series as the newcomer to the Forty Elephants, eager to impress her idol Mary Carr.
The second series will see Alice’s relationship with Mary deepen, as the gangster now views her as her right-hand woman.
Actress Darci Shaw played the young Judy Garland in the 2019 biopic Judy, alongside Bridget Jones star Renee Zellweger.
She has also appeared as Jessie in The Irregulars, Holly Meredith in the 2019 instalment of The Bay and, more recently, Melissa Phelan in This City Is Ours.
Bull Jeremy – Ned Dennehy
Ned Dennehy has featured in Good Omens, Mr Big Stuff, The Head and The Faceless Lady, though he remains most closely linked with his portrayal of Charlie Strong in Steven Knight’s acclaimed Peaky Blinders.
He now joins A Thousand Blows for its second series, although specifics about Bull Jeremy’s involvement in the period drama remain under wraps.
Edward “Treacle” Goodson – James Nelson-Joyce
Treacle endured a harrowing ordeal in the opening series when his brother Sugar left him severely injured following a brutal attack.
The upcoming series will follow Treacle’s journey as he attempts to heal both physically and emotionally from the assault, whilst grappling with whether he can truly forgive his brother.
James Nelson-Joyce is recognised for his performances as James Yates in Little Blue Boy, Johnno in Time, Spider in The Outlaws and Michael Kavanagh in This City Is Ours.
Sophie Lyons – Catherine McCormack
Catherine McCormack joins the cast for series two, bringing with her an impressive filmography that includes Braveheart, Dangerous Beauty, Spy Game and 28 Weeks Later.
Details surrounding Sophie Lyons’ role in the new series have yet to be revealed.
Additional cast members include:
Mr Lao – Jason Tobin
Esme Long – Morgan Hilaire
Eliza Moody – Hannah Walters
A Thousand Blows season two premieres on Friday, January 9, on Disney+.
