Unnamed mother
Jess (sister)
Michael Harvey, more commonly known as just Harvey, is a fictional character in the television series This Is England, and he is portrayed by Michael Socha.
Characterization
Harvey was a young man growing up near Nottingham in the 1980's. Harvey is a quiet, funny member of the gang. He is often seen with Gadget and the two act as a comic relief duo in the show.
Character History
1983
Harvey is first seen at the local school, sitting with his friends by the fountain. He insults Shaun, the protagonist of the film, about his dead father and then gets into a fight with him. It is possible that Harvey bullied Shaun for a long time before the film. The two are sent to the Headmaster's office where Harvey is punished with a cane. Upset by the insults from Harvey, Shaun wanders the town and comes across the gang in the underpass where he is cheered up by Woody who impersonates Harvey and comments on how amusing his name is.
Harvey in his school uniform as he insults Shaun.
If Harvey hadn't insulted Shaun, he may well have not come across the gang, and things would be very different. Harvey is not seen again until 1986.
1986
Taking the place of Pukey, Harvey plays a minor role in the spin off television series, This Is England '86. He becomes good friends with Gadget, the pair even stole some flowers from a graveyard for Lol and Woody's wedding. It is revealed that he is physically abused by his father, who is seen punching him and calling him names. This may be why Harvey bullied Shaun while he was at school, but Shaun and Harvey seem to get along well, both referring each other as 'mate' on several occasions during conversations, so the two probably made amends when Harvey joined the gang.
Harvey looses a tooth during the fight on the green, where Flip headbutts him in the face. He then carries on and helps the gang win the fight. After staying at Trudy's with the gang, after the fight, he sits in the garden with Gadget. After this is then only briefly seen in the other episodes sitting in the pub watching the football.
1988
By 1988 Harvey was going out with a girl called Titch. He was with her when Milky returned after a long absense, and jokingly told him not to go near Titch for fear of another black baby being conceived (in reference to Milky's daughter Lisa). Harvey was later present when Woody and Milky had a fight, pulling Woody away from the confrontation.
Harvey in This is England '86, as part of the gang
Replacement of Pukey
Channel 4's terms for This Is England '86 series was that the original gang had to be slimmed down. This resulted in the removal of a few characters that were in the feature film: Kez, and Pob, were cut, while Pukey, had to be cut as the actor had other commitments. Pukey's dialogue and story was given to the returning character Harvey, who had a bit-part in the film as a bully; the series does not explain how he joined the gang or got on friendly terms with Shaun. A new bully, Flip, takes Harvey's place as Shaun's tormentor and leads a scooterboy gang (Harvey is ironically the first person to hit him for threatening Shaun in episode 3).
Trivia
- The dialogue and story for the character of Harvey was originally written for the character of Pukey, but Jack O'Connell (who played Pukey in This Is England) was unable to work on the project due to other acting commitments.
- Here is a link to Michael Socha's sister's character, in the e4 television drama, Misfits: http://e4-misfits.wikia.com/wiki/Kelly