Months before fans got their first glimpse at Stephen’s new role, the star began gruelling preparations by joining forces with Premier Gym.
In the new interview – his first since being reprimanded foul-mouthed rant at referee last month – Stephen reflected on his physical transformation while filming for the highly-anticipated new drama.
He captioned the post: ‘Putting in the graft! @stephengraham has made an incredible physical transformation, adding ton of muscle mass and stripping body fat in preparation for his new role in a new series from the creator of Peaky Blinders, Steven Knight.’
Despite the hours of physical endurance in the gym lifting heavy weights, it was the change in his diet that he found ‘hard’.
The actor revealed the secrets to his muscular physique in a new shoot for British Airways ’ High Life magazine
The Line Of Duty star is said to have hurled nasty insults at non-league referee David Kennedy at Saturday’s game at at Barrow Town in Leicestershire.
Read More Stephen Graham’s incredible body of work! Actor, 51, has bulked up to play a boxer
In the clip, Stephen began his regime with cardio work on the rowing machine, before moving onto weightlifting machines, including tricep rope pulling.
The Peaky Blinders star said: ‘I turned 50 during filming, but it’s the fittest I’ve ever been. And probably the best I’ve ever looked.’
Stephen reflected on his physical transformation while filming for the highly-anticipated new drama A Thousand Blows on Disney+
Stephen Graham, 51, revealed the secrets to his incredible body transformation after bulking up for new boxing drama – as his wife Hannah Walters delivers her verdict
The actor previously starred in The Line Of Duty, Peaky Blinders and Boiling Point
Stephen reportedly apologised to the referee right after the game and then called him two days later to apologise again.
Stephen (pictured in a new muscly photoshoot) will debut his bulked-up and tattooed physique seasoned fighter Sugar Goodson in the upcoming Disney+ drama
He reportedly accused the referee of being on a ‘power trip’ and is also said to have made a crude reference to a sex act.
It’s also claimed Stephen boasted about being famous, saying: ‘Google me, I’m on Netflix.’
‘The beauty of this show is that it’s rooted in truth. It’s fictionalised but based on real people and events,’ Stephen said.
‘It was a lot but extremely enjoyable. The hard part was the food. I was constantly eating to bulk up. Loads of whey, carbs and protein. Three thousand calories per day. It’s difficult to cram that much down you.’
‘I’ve known this man since he was 19,’ she told British Airways’ High Life magazine. ‘And, let me tell you. I’m very happy with the results.’
The actor revealed that he channelled two well-known boxers who inspired his performance
None are more delighted than actress wife Hannah, 50, who has been married to the Liverpudlian actor since 2008. ‘I’ve known this man since he was 19 and, let me tell you. I’m very happy with the results’ (pictured together in April)
Rob himself shared a video of the hard-hitting exercise methods in February 2023, detailing how the star had added muscle mass and stripped back his body fat in preparation to play the boxer.
Stephen worked with bodybuilder Rob Thurston to bulk up his physique, enduring exercises including press-ups with heavy weights chained to him a bid to boost his muscles
He shared a video from his first day in the gym back in September 2022, with the caption: ‘Training starts…’
Witnesses claimed that Stephen – who was there to watch his nephew play for Barrow Town against Heather St John’s Reserves last Saturday – snapped for no reason.
‘Win by any means necessary. Elbows. head-butts, anything goes. It’s not a tickling competition, it’s a bare-knuckle fight.’
A source said: ‘His behaviour was absolutely disgusting. The referee was so horrified, along with everyone else.