Stephen Graham has proven himself to be one of Britain’s most consistently brilliant actors, but every so often, he delivers a performance that exceeds all our expectations. The latest example is in Little Boy Blue, the harrowing ITV true crime drama, which first arrived on our screens almost a decade ago and is now available to watch tonight. In the heartbreaking series, Stephen plays the real-life Detective Superintendent Dave Kelly,who led the investigation into the 2007 murder of 11-year-old Rhys in Liverpool. And when we say he’s flawless in every episode, we’re not exaggerating.
When Rhys was shot and killed in the suburb of Croxteth while walking home from football practice, it was a tragedy that shocked the nation. The killing was connected to gang-related violence, which Rhys had absolutely nothing to do with, and DS Dave Kelly and his team worked tirelessly to track down those involved to ensure that justice was served. For Stephen, the role was a particularly poignant one, not least because he grew up a 10-minute drive from Rhys’s home.
With the series now available to binge in full, here’s everything you need to know about Little Boy Blue before you tune in, including the full plot, cast and how to watch it.
What is Little Boy Blue about?
The four-part series tells the true story of 11-year-old Rhys Jones, who was shot and killed in Croxteth, Liverpool, while walking home from football practice in 2007. Stephen Graham stars as Detective Superintendent Dave Kelly who led the investigation on behalf of Merseyside Police, while Brían F O’Byrne and Sinead Keenan play Rhys’s parents.
The drama, which aired on ITV over four consecutive nights in 2017 and had the full support of Rhys’s parents, Melanie and Steve, explores the toll Rhys’s death took on the city of Liverpool and on the Jones family itself. It’s a sensitively handled series that tells the story of the long and extensive investigation, led by David Kelly, that eventually brought Rhys’s murderer – and others involved – to justice.
Stephen Graham grew up a 10-minute drive from Rhys’s home, which made working on the series all the more poignant. He told The i Paper: “I’m from those streets, I’m from that area, and for me there was an immense sense of pride in where I’m from. Not every kid from there picks up a gun. These kids need opportunities. It’s about tapping into them when they’re young and teaching them some respect.”
Talking about the tragedy, he added: “I think the fact it was such a young boy who had no connection with any gang, I think that is why it resonated not just in Liverpool, but throughout the entire country.
“I think it was slightly overwhelming in many respects. There’s one line that’s said from one of the gang members that was particularly insensitive and barbaric. He says something like ‘all this over some f***ing kid’ and that’s actually from the manuscript of the court.
“That’s not put in for any effect, that’s what this lad actually said. There are no flowery bits and bobs to enhance the story.”
Who’s in the cast of Little Boy Blue?
The cast of Little Boy Blue includes:
- Stephen Graham (Adolescence, A Thousand Blows) as Detective Superintendent Dave Kelly
- Sinead Keenan (Care) as Melanie Jones
- Brían F O’Byrne (Prime Suspect) as Steve Jones
- Matthew Roberts (Chroniker) as Owen Jones
- Stephen Walters (Shetland) as DCI Mark Guinness
- Sara Powell (The Killing Kind) as Assistant Chief Constable Pat Gallan
- Michael Moran (Jack Southeast) as Kevin Moody
- Nathan Clark Smith (The Fox and the Rabbit) as Jordan Olssen
- James Nelson-Joyce (This City is Ours) as James Yates
- Paddy Rowan (Four Lives) as Sean Mercer
Is there a trailer for Little Boy Blue?
Yes, you can watch the trailer for Little Boy Blue below.
What happened to Rhys Jones in real-life?
In 2007, 11-year-old Rhys was shot three times, just minutes from his doorstep in Croxteth, Liverpool. He was shot by Sean Mercer, a member of Liverpool’s Croxteth Crew gang, an innocent victim caught in the crossfire while walking home from football practice.
Sean Mercer was later jailed for a minimum of 22 years in 2008, and several other gang members were also convicted. The man behind the investigation into Rhys’s murder was Detective Superintendent Dave Kelly, who worked tirelessly to bring all those involved to justice.
Is Little Boy Blue any good?
Yes – it’s a gut-wrenching series that handles a harrowing real-life tragedy with enormous care. Viewers have praised the series, calling it “outstanding”, “an exquisite drama” and “a truly tough watch”. And, needless to say, Stephen Graham is extraordinary in it.
How can I watch Little Boy Blue?
All four episodes of Little Boy Blue are available to watch now on ITVX.
What other Stephen Graham dramas can I watch now?
If you enjoy a good period drama, we’d recommend Stephen’s BBC series The Secret Agent. The star-packed spy drama is set in 1886 London and introduces us to Verloc (Toby Jones) who runs a sex shop. But that’s not all Verloc is doing; unbeknownst to his wife, he’s also being paid by the Russian Embassy to spy on an anarchist cell and they’re demanding that he orchestrates a bomb attack. With Line of Duty’s Vicky McClure playing Verlock’s wife Winnie and Stephen playing Chief Inspector Heat, it’s a throughly enjoyable series. You can watch The Secret Agent on ITVX now. For a slightly creepier watch, try A Patch of Fog. Stephen is faultless as mentally unstable loner Robert Green, who becomes infatuated with university lecturer and TV personality Sandy (played by Conleth Hill). You can watch A Patch of Fog on Disney+. For more great Stephen Graham dramas to watch now, check out our pick of his best roles here.
