Hodge

Hodge has been friends with Eric since they were at school together but this hasn't stopped there being a fractious element to their relationship. Part of this is due to Hodge's fondness for beautiful but vacuous women which often leaves Eric out in the cold.

Hodge's life is complicated by Kirsty, the daughter who resulted from his youthful dalliance with Jeanetta Scarry. Although Jeanetta refuses to allow Hodge to tell Kirsty that he is her father, she plays an increasingly important role in his life.

Eric

Eric has been living in best friend Hodge's shadow throughout his life but has concocted a plan to change things. His scheme involves finding a job and a girlfriend for the first time and miraculously this comes to fruition. He begins to date the beautiful and intelligent Dawn and works for Mr. Wang as a delivery driver.

One blight on Eric's life however, is his father's mental health as he has had a breakdown and is uncommunicative.

Laura

Laura is a sweet, innocent young woman who sings part-time at Mr. Wang's restaurant and also works in a whole food restaurant. She is a vegetarian and a member of CND.

Laura's innocence means that she is easily led however and her meetings with Jeanetta and Greg Scarry cause her to become more ambitious and materialistic. These factors gradually erode her relationship with Hodge.

Lloydy

Despite being private school educated, Lloydy is not considered to be intelligent by his friends and frequently irritates them with his immature jokes. It is therefore a shock to all when he invents a new board game called Gurkha Tank Battle. Fame and fortune follows.

Spock

Spock is considered to be an intellectual by the other members of the TA and this image is something which he is keen to shed. He cannot help but be frustrated by best friend Lloydy's absurd comments and decisions though and wants to teach him to be more responsible.

Spock is Ally's brother and regularly counsels her on her relationship problems despite being single himself.

Dawn

Dawn is from a very respectable family and her parents have high hopes for her. These hopes do not include her giving up her career as a prospective teacher and getting married to Eric. Eric himself is also worried that he will hold Dawn back but she is adamant that a life away from academia is what she desires.

Diesel

Diesel's parents have recently been killed in a charity bus crash and he is thus left responsible for running a garage and looking after his younger brother. Despite this, he retains a cheerful, upbeat attitude and is a valued member of the gang.

Ally

Ally is Spock's sister and in spite of their good relationship, she is currently ostracised by both of her parents. This is due to the fact that she married one of her father's best friends who is many years her senior.

Life as a housewife has left Ally unfulfilled and she is eager to progress in the TA. She is also wrestling with her feelings for fellow member Carl Rundle.

Kirsty

Kirsty is Hodge and Jeanetta's daughter although she is unaware of who her father really is. She soon forms a strong bond with Hodge however, and also enjoys meeting the rest of the platoon.

Polson

Polson was formerly a member of the regular army and is now a colonel in the TA. He is keen to reach the post of sergeant though and is willing to use whatever means necessary to do so.

Married to classy, well-educated Sara, Polson's home life is a mess as he and his wife have nothing in common which leads to her leaving him.

Rundle

Rundle is a lieutenant who is in charge of Roker Bridge's TA. He is efficient and competent in this role and is well liked by the majority of the platoon. One exception to this is Pete Polson who resents Rundle's authority and is delighted when he becomes his manager at the local leisure club.

Unmarried, Rundle has developed strong feelings for Ally despite the fact that she is married. His feelings for her jeopardise his position in the TA and cause him to consider relocating to a new area.

Mr. Wang

Mr. Wang was formerly considered to have the finest Marvin Gaye act of any of the Chinese soul singers in Ormskirk but now runs his own Chinese restaurant. The restaurant struggles due to local competition and in his desperation, Wang begins to insult his customers, which actually helps to boost trade.

He is married but his wife remains unseen.