If you thought Netflix's Adolescence was as good as Stephen Graham dramas get, we're here to prove you wrong. There's a reason the actor now has national treasure status and that's because of his slew of incredible TV performances - and if you missed them the first time round, it's not too late to catch up.
From his heartbreaking role as a dementia patient in Channel 4's Help, to that as a deeply caring prison officer in Jimmy McGovern's BAFTA-winning BBC drama, Time, we've rounded up the actor's best ever performances to get stuck into while you still can. So, get comfy and get ready for some serious binge-watching.
A Thousand Blows
Stephen’s transformation into Sugar Carson, the menacing boss of the illegal East End boxing world, is something you need to see for your own eyes. Peaky Blinders’ Stephen Knight is behind this Disney+ drama, which centres around Hezekiah (Malachi Kirby) and Alec (Francis Lovehall), two best friends who have recently arrived in London from Jamaica. Drawn into the criminal underbelly of the capital’s bare-knuckle boxing scene, as Hezekiah sharpens his new skills and rises up the boxing ranks, he comes up against Sugar, who will stop at nothing to ensure he destroys his newest rival. Cue an epic fight for power that gets rather ugly. Available to watch on Disney+.
Line of Duty
Is Line of Duty one of the best crime dramas ever made? Yes. Was it even better when Stephen Graham made an appearance? We can’t help but think so. The actor played rogue undercover police officer, DS John Corbett, in series 5 of the BBC drama and his performance was nothing short of exceptional. Sadly, things didn’t work out particularly well for DS Corbett , which meant Graham was very rudely removed from our screens. Short but sweet as they say. Available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
Help
Before you press play on this one, be warned: it’s emotional and it could be somewhat triggering. The one-off drama is set in a fictional Liverpool care home and features Jodie Comer as one of the carers who works there. She bonds with a patient suffering from early onset dementia (played by Graham) and when COVID-19 hits, they’re faced with horrific circumstances. It’s a harrowing drama that puts into focus the devastation caused by the pandemic. Stephen, of course, is incredible in it. Available to watch on Channel 4.
Peaky Blinders
Cillian Murphy (aka Tommy Shelby) might be Peaky Blinders’ leading man, but Graham’s star performance as Scouse docker and union man Hayden Stagg in series 6 is not to be underestimated. Stagg ended up facing off with the Shelbys as a result of stealing drugs, though Tommy spared his life and formed a sort of alliance with him - and it seems that's not the last we'll be seeing of him. Apparently, Graham is reprising his role in the film version of the show and a brand-new series is on the way, so watch this space for more Peaky/Graham action! Available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
Little Boy Blue
This four-part dramatisation of the death of 11-year-old Rhys Jones, who was fatally shot on his way home from football practice in 2007, is about as powerful as it gets from a TV drama. Graham stars as Detective Superintendent Dave Kelly who led the investigation on behalf of Merseyside Police, while Happy Valley's Brian O'Bryne and Sinead Keenan play his inconsolable parents. It’s sensitively told, with Graham bringing his quiet brilliance as always. Available to watch on ITVX.
Boiling Point
If you want to know what it’s really like to work in a restaurant kitchen, may we introduce you to Boiling Point. The drama, which first aired on BBC One in 2023 and is a continuation of the hit 2021 film, picks up six months after the film ends with Carly (Vinette Robinson) now running her own restaurant with former boss Andy's (Stephen Graham) staff. Our only complaint is that, given Graham’s character had a heart attack at the end of the film, we don’t see quite as much as we’d like of him in the TV series (spoiler: he's not dead though). Available to watch on Channel 4.
The Walk-In
Described by critics as "one of the best TV investments you can make", The Walk-In is based on another true story, this time of how Matthew Collins from activist group Hope not Hate infiltrated British neo-nazi terrorist group National Action and foiled a plot to murder an MP. It’s an unsettling watch to say the least, but we challenge you to find someone who could play Collins better. Available to watch on ITVX.
Time
Sean Bean and Stephen Graham? What a combination. This Jimmy McGovern series sees the pair play Mark Cobden, a newly imprisoned man, and prison officer Eric McNally (Graham), a deeply caring worker doing his best to protect those behind bars. But when one of the inmates identifies his weakness, he’s forced to choose between his job and protecting his son. Genius acting and a genius story. Available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
Save Me
A genuinely unmissable series, Save Me centres around Nelson "Nelly" Rowe, whose 13-year-old daughter, Jody, goes missing. Having had nothing to do with her upbringing, Nelly is the first to be accused of abducting her – but has he been set up? Graham is as convincing as ever in the role of Nelly’s best friend and convicted paedophile, Melon, and will you have questioning whether he’s innocent or not right the way through. Available to watch on NOW.
