9 TV Characters Who Randomly Changed Personalities

7. Banjo - This Is England '86

This is England is one of those rare properties that not only survived the jump from the big screen to the small, but arguably benefitted from it. However, despite it being a good fit for the serialised structure of TV, not everything translated smoothly from the original film. Case in point: Banjo.

In the movie, the gruff skinhead is presented as a hardened prisoner, who shared a prison cell with villain Combo. He comes in to upset the order by making friends with Woody's mostly liberal gang of skinheads. However, while Combo's racist, extreme far-right views are depicted as being more of a way for him to feel a sense of belonging after a lifetime of aimless isolation, rather than something he actively believes in, Banjo clearly enjoys the violence that comes with the ideology.

In fact, after Combo senselessly beats the half-Jamaican Milky close to death, Banjo smiles with glee and asks when it's his turn, to which he's gifted with a glass bottle to the head by his former cellmate.

This makes it all the more jarring when This Is England '86 debuted and Banjo was depicted as being best friends with Woody and the rest of the cast. The racism he not only indulged in but met with glee isn't even mentioned, despite him believing in it the most. He's no longer an intimidating thug who wields a machete, but rather a big, friendly teddy bear who loves his friends and is accepting of everyone.

It makes for a better series, but it's weird watching the show immediately after the film.