Rising crime

Emun Elliott and James McArdle star in a 90s-set backstory to the hit gangster film

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Sexy Beast

NEW Available: Thursday 25January  Genre: Crime drama Season: 1 Episodes: 8 (first three episodes from Thursday 25 January, then weekly)

In the acclaimed 2001 film Sexy Beast, Ray Winstone starred as career criminal Gal Dove, whose peaceful retirement in Spain was interrupted by former associate Don Logan (Sir Ben Kingsley) trying to pressure him into taking part in a heist.

This eight-part prequel follows a younger Gal (James McArdle) and Don (Emun Elliott) in early 90s east London, where they are making a living as small-time criminals. But when the chance to Kingsley (left) a Winstone in the get involved with powerful gangster Teddy Bass (Stephen Moyer) comes along, their lives are irrevocably transformed.

‘I found it really fun playing the tension between how Gal sees himself and who he actually is,’ McArdle, 34, tells