Winston Ingram

Winston Ingram is the deuteragonist of the Scottish sitcom Still Game.
He is portrayed by Paul Riley.
==History==
Winston Ingram is a widowed pensioner residing in the Glasgow estate Craiglang, who has been the long-term best friend of the main characters Jack Jarvis and Victor McDade. Although the character is often depicted as dishonest during his time as a pensioner, such as trying to claim benefits for made up ailments, he is also depicted in a heroic light and can be seen as a trusted ally to the other characters in the series.
Although having a love-hate relationship with local pensioner Isa, mainly due to her gossiping ways, he is also shown to care for her deep down, especially when it comes to her being taken advantage of. When her cheating estranged husband Harry returns to Craiglang, Winston is shown to be the most antagonistic out of him, and threatens to assault Harry. When Harry later returns to Craiglang again to reunite with Isa, Winston claims that he is in a relationship with her to drive Harry away, even though the prospect of being with her annoys him. This causes Isa to actually fall in love with him, which results in Winston being deceptive as he uses every opportunity to avoid hanging out with her. Their relationship doesn't go into anything serious.
He is also attentive to a wheelchair bound pensioner Joe, who Winston helps to get set up in his new flat. Although annoyed by Joe's constant demands, Winston can't bring himself to say no, which is also due to Joe being in a chair. When a blackout happens in the estate, Winston looks out for Joe, and sees off an intruder trying to get into his home. When two recurring burglars steal from his friends, Winston surprises them in the lift by knocking them out, earning a positive response in the community and seen as a hero.
Despite breaking the law, he sometimes has good intentions for doing so. During the Winter period which will cause some pensioners to possibly die as they can't afford to keep their heating running, Winston devises a scam for them to use electricity but without running up the bill, which he accomplishes by meddling with the meter. He chooses not to keep this breakthrough to himself, but ends up sharing it with a lot of people in the area, ensuring that they will be comfortable due to the rough months ahead.
Later in the series, he also takes down a mugger who stole Isa's handbag.
The character is often tragic, as he struggles to make ends meet. When his pension money is stopped by the government in order to pay back his benefit claims, he tries to make extra money on the side, but refuses any handouts from his friends (although things look up as he wins a £500 prize). He later gets a job at a supermarket, but gets bullied by a younger employer due to him being an old man resorting to getting a job to make money. Winston ends up retaliating by punching the condescending man (who has also given other elderly employers grief), before then resigning.
In the final series, he gets married a second time.
At the end of the series, Winston vanishes during a montage in which other beloved characters are shown to disappear with passing time, signifying that him, along with the other main characters, have passed away.
==Relationship==
===Family===
Winston's family are rarely seen in the series, although have popped up for one-off appearances. He had a wife who passed away before the events of the series, and they have one daughter. Winston also has two teenage grandsons, the latter whom moved in briefly with Winston due to his misbehaviour. Winston later got married for a second time to his new girlfriend Winnie, and they pair remained together up until Winston's death.
Winston also has an estranged brother Walter, who has a striking resemblance to Winston down to the clothes they wear. Although funnier and more popular than Winston, Winston's bad relationship with his brother is due to him only getting in touch when a relative dies and only showing care for what financial benefit they can offer. In series 7, Walter arrives in Craiglang after being gone for decades, but only because their aunt had died and left an inheritance. Winston gave all the inheritance to his brother, and ordered him to leave, presumably cutting off contact for good.
===Friends===
Winston has been friends with several of the characters of the series for many years, with their friendship stretching back several decades. Although he often hangs out with Jack and Victor, his other best friend appears to be Tam Mullen, despite Tam's penny pinching ways. Winston and Tam are often in a conflict as Tam rarely does simple things such as buying a drink. When Tam suffers an injury which changes his personality to become far nicer and generous. Winston takes advantage of the situation to get Tam to buy him gifts, feeling it would be payback for all the times Tam has leeched off him, but Winston later feels guilt and calls off the arrangement. Regardless, Tam returns to normal. Tam later does a generous deed for Winston on his own accord by faking his death to use his life insurance to pay for an operation for Winston.
===Enemies===
Winston's most prominent enemy throughout the series is recurring antagonist Stevie, who runs the local bookies. The pair often clash, mainly due to Stevie always being antagonistic towards Winston and mocking him, despite Winston being a loyal customer. When Winston wins a large sum of money, Stevie flees the estate without paying. Stevie later reopens the bookies after altering his appearance and going under the name "Frankie". Winston sees through the facade, and forces Stevie to pay him what he is due. Winston still continued to frequent the bookies for the remainder of the series.
Winston also has a recurring feud with another resident Peggy.
==Trivia==
*Winston's actor Paul Riley has often collaborated with Still Game creators Ford Kiernan (Jack) and Greg Hemphill (Victor). He appeared in the original Still Game stage show back in the 1990s in which Winston first appeared, and later in various roles (which included Winston) in their first sketch series Chewin' the Fat (1999-2005).
Category:Live Action Heroes
Category:Sitcom Heroes
Category:Comedy Heroes
Category:Comic Relief
Category:Protectors
Category:Big Good
Category:Tragic
Category:True Neutral
Category:Elderly
Category:TV Show Heroes
Category:Spouses
Category:Parents
Category:Siblings
Category:In Love
Category:Honorable
Category:Friend of a Villain
Category:Male
Category:Loyal
Category:Deceased
Category:Sympathetic
Category:Anti-Heroes
Category:Liars
Category:Poor
Category:Jerks