10 Best British TV Characters Of The Decade
9. Combo (This Is England)
It seems every film needs to have a TV adaptation these days, but This Is England beat most of them to the punch. In truth, the series has been hit and miss, often hitting some real soap opera beats, but throughout it all, Stephen Graham’s Combo has been an ever present mark of quality.
The villain of the 2006 film, Combo is a walking collection of regret. In each iteration of the series, Graham adds another level to this as the once-confident aggressive racist ruminates on a life misspent. Everyone loves a story of redemption, and while this isn’t your typical upbeat tale of a man overcoming the odds, the character’s growth is something to behold.
You couldn’t quite describe it as heartwarming - This Is England doesn’t do heartwarming - but there’s certainly something beautiful about watching a character rebuild his life, confront his mistakes and his past self, and strive for something better. Stephen Graham’s performance is raw, honest, and searching, and the end result is vibrant and real. You may not like Combo, but you can’t help but find him fascinating.