It was a family affair at the Mobos for Stephen Graham, who was joined by his stepfather and brother to celebrate his win.
For the first time, the Mobos (music of Black origin) took place in Manchester this year, weeks after the Brit Awards also moved up north to the Co-op Live Arena.
The Liverpudlian actor, 52, took home the best performance in a TV show/film trophy, while other big winners of the night included Olivia Dean, who continued her victory streak with three gongs, including album of the year.
During his acceptance speech for his portrayal of Eddie Miller in the hugely successful drama Adolescence, Stephen said the recognition ‘means the world’.
‘I’d like to give love and respect for my fellow nominees. This is just as much theirs as it is mine,’ he said sweetly, having been up against co-star Ashley Walters, plus Wicked’s Cynthia Erivo, Mr Loverman’s Lennie James, and F1’s Damson Idris, among others.
‘Can we give them all a massive round of applause?’
‘On a personal level, my friends and family – you know who you are – thank you for helping me do something I can’t do on my own,’ Stephen also said, as his loved ones watched on with pride.
In a rare public appearance, he was accompanied by stepdad Mike Fazakerley and half-brother Nathan Fazakerley, who were in the audience, as well as his 19-year-old son, Alfie.
Stephen shares the teen with his wife and fellow actress Hannah Walters, whom he calls his ‘rock’. They also have daughter Grace, 21.
Mike started dating Stephen’s mum, Mary, in 1989, and they remained together until she died in 2022, which devastatingly came just days before his OBE was announced. At the time, Stephen said the honour was ‘for both of [them]’.
Stephen’s mum and his biological father, Stephen Kelly, split when he was young. While he still has a good relationship with his dad, Mike has spoken fondly of his stepson’s achievements over the years, having grown close when he moved into the family home.
During an interview with the Daily Mail earlier this year, the former mechanic said he is ‘highly proud of what [Stephen’s] achieved in his career and highly proud of what he’s doing now with Adolescence’.
‘I watch all his work, and I’ve watched Adolescence,’ he said. ‘Stephen is brilliant; he is a true talent. Unquestionably one of this country’s finest.’
Mike added that ‘the only downside’ is that Stephen’s mum ‘isn’t here to wallow in [his] glory’.
The This Is England star has spoken openly over the years about his mixed-race heritage; his mother was Swedish, and his father is Jamaican.
Previously, he admitted that he felt ‘slightly unsure where [he] fitted in’ as a youngster but credited Mike, who is also mixed-race, for teaching him about his cultural heritage.
On the BBC’s Desert Island Discs in 2019, Stephen, who affectionately calls Mike ‘Pops,’ said his stepfather unknowingly ignited his interest in films, as he’d regularly take him to Quarry Green video shop in Kirkby.
‘There were times growing up where I would be slightly unsure of where I fitted in. Sometimes I’d be accepted by my white cousins, and then my Black cousins wouldn’t really, you know what I mean. So it was kind of like, “Where do I belong?”,’ he recalled.
‘[Mike] helped me see who I am and what I am is good enough. He helped me find my own way, and I got that sense of self in many respects from my mother, finding your own way.’
Last year, during Adolescence’s incredible awards season run, Stephen also took the opportunity to shout about his background.
While accepting his Emmy, he described himself as ‘just a mixed-race kid from Kirkby’, adding: ‘This kind of thing doesn’t happen to a kid like me.’
Created by both Jack Thorne and Stephen, Adolescence follows British schoolboy Jamie, 13, who has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a female classmate.
With each episode shot in one continuous take, the psychological crime drama became an overnight phenomenon, clocking up over 96million views on Netflix within the first three weeks and even sparking debates in parliament.
Child actor Owen Cooper has been catapulted to global stardom, too, becoming the youngest male to win a Primetime Emmy. He’s also won an Actor Award and a Golden Globe.
But Adolescence’s victory run doesn’t look to be over just yet, as it’s scooped a staggering 11 TV Bafta nominations.
This includes noms for its leading cast members, with the ceremony due to take place on May 10.
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