Set three years later, it focuses on the mod revival scene rather than the skinhead subculture, with the gang variously adopting an eclectic mix of clothing styles.
Like the film version previously, Thomas Turgoose stars as Shaun, with central roles played by Joe Gilgun as Woody, now a scooter-riding mod, although girlfriend Lol (Vicky McClure) and her friend Trev stay loyal to their roots and still wear the skinhead garb.
His now-estranged friends including Woody, Lol, Smell, Gadget and Meggy, are still around the area, looking for love, entertainment and employment.
On 26 August 2009, Channel 4 promised that it would fund a four-part television drama, This Is England '86, to be written by Shane Meadows and Jack Thorne.
Not only did I want to take the story of the gang broader and deeper, I also saw in the experiences of the young in 1986 many resonances to now – recession, lack of jobs, sense of the world at a turning point.
Pukey's dialogue and story was given to the returning character Harvey (Michael Socha), who had a bit-part in the film as a school-bully;[4] the series does not explain how he joined the gang or got on friendly terms with Shaun.
Many residents are of the opinion Gleadless Valley has not changed much in the 50 years since it was built, and this possibly influenced Meadows choice to film there.
After Shaun sits his final exam in history, he gets hassled by Flip (Perry Fitzpatrick) and his gang of moped-riding casuals.
Meanwhile, Lol finds out that her father, Mick, has returned to the family home; she insinuates that she was sexually abused by him as a young girl.
Gadget, meanwhile, learns of his feelings for Lol's sister, Kelly but after he sees Kelly kissing another boy and is devastated, he starts to go out with Trudy the wedding receptionist, and discovers that she has a son, Winston, with Meggy from a previous affair (something she has callously kept secret from Meggy so that she won't have to share custody of Winston with him).
Insinuating that his mother slept with Mr. Sandhu in order to get him a job and disgusted at her actions, Shaun angrily leaves home.
Shaun, meanwhile, reunites with Smell, and on her advice, returns home to apologise to his mother and give his blessing on her relationship with Mr. Sandhu.
Meanwhile, Trev stops by Lol's parents' house to meet up with Kelly, and she awkwardly watches the football match with Mick.
Meanwhile, as Shaun, his mother and Smell watch the football match, a drunken and bloodied Combo stumbles into the living room and collapses on the floor.
Lol accuses Mick of raping Trev and presents the hammer, indicating that she intends to kill him with it, and he responds by attacking her.
He pulls off her underwear and attempts to rape her, but Lol defends herself by swinging the hammer against Mick's head several times which stuns him.