Peaky Blinders: Each Main Character Ranked From Worst To Best
5. Chester Campbell
Inspector Chester Campbell was a vile and petulant man who grew to have a strong grudge against the Peaky Blinders for various reasons. Sam Neill brought a glorious righteousness to Campbell, who would do some of the most disgusting and despicable acts on the show and then justify them as being for the greater good.
His lust for Grace and subsequent rivalry for both her affections and respect and control of Birmingham with Tommy Shelby served as the central conflict for the first two seasons of the show. Campbell is far and away the greatest villain the show has had, being easy to despise yet entirely compelling throughout the 12 episodes he appeared in.
His absence is felt even now in the later seasons, as different antagonists are offered up to the Peaky Blinders (with varying results) but they all pale in comparison to the original. Sam Neill's commitment to the villainy of character is infinitely watchable and showcases a performer who is still on the top of his game. Watching Polly kill her rapist, who is so delusional even in his final moments, is one of the biggest crowd-pleasing moments in the entirety of the series.