Father Figure

Tom Whyte

Tom is a stay-at-home father. He looks after Dylan and Drew whilst his wife is at work. However, despite being enthusiastic to do a good job, Tom rarely gets anything right.

The 40 year-old was born in Dublin but moved over as a child when his Mum and Dad moved to England. Tom used to make a decent living as a portrait photographer but not any more so Elaine went back to work full-time leaving Tom to be a stay-at-home Dad.

Tom puts his heart and soul into it, but chaos often follows closely behind him. With his Mum and Dad living a bit too close for comfort and his best friend Roddy popping up constantly it's a mix of madness that he's the head of.

Elaine Whyte

Elaine is a very patient women... you would have to be married to Tom. She spends a lot of her time going around apologising for the actions of her husband.

38 year-old Elaine is originally from Lancashire. She's the manager of a chain of bookies, so not much phases her.

She was attracted to Tom because he made her laugh - but some sort of disaster never seems too far away, and she tends to brace herself when she arrives home from work.

Sometimes Pat and Mary drive her potty; but since both her parents died when she was in her twenties she's happy that they're such great grandparents.

Roddy, Tom's faithful if slightly dodgy friend has become part of the furniture and given half the chance will always make sure he gets to sit next to her on the sofa. She knows he has a bit of a crush on her and she often has to elbow him out of the way, but she always has the upper hand where Roddy is concerned.

Mary Whyte

Mary is Tom's mother - she is regularly to be found around their house.

65 year-old Mary is never happier than when up to her eyes in household chores - and she never lets her husband Pat in their kitchen unsupervised.

In her late teens she used to be very good at ballroom dancing and there was a time when she could have turned professional. Then she met Pat, who charmed her and asked her to marry him. Within months she fell pregnant with Tom and the dancing stopped - it turned out that Pat didn't like dancing much at all.

Although it took her a while to imagine that another woman could replace her in Tom's life, she has come to accept Elaine and she loves her grandchildren. She initially couldn't understand Tom's decision to become a stay-at-home-dad and she has a dig now and again - still, it's meant she can get more involved in Tom's life than ever before.

Pat Whyte

Pat has been married to Mary for a number of years. Unlike his wife he can't quite keep up with modern life and all the technology it has to offer.

70 year-old Pat used to work in the Guinness factory in Dublin. His life was one of routine: home for tea, watch some telly then out to the pub with the other dads.

His speciality is DIY and telling other people how he would do it better. Mary moans about him being lazy but secretly loves his dependence on her; it's a game they play - even if he did offer to make dinner she wouldn't stand for it.

Pat suffers getting thwacked by Mary and having her order him around but when it comes to ailments he's a black belt - and spends many an evening having a good long moan to Mary. He and Mary are two sides of the same person - he couldn't bear to live without her and she couldn't bear to live without him.

Dylan Whyte

Dylan is one of the cheeky sons of the Whyte family.

The 12 year-old is more sensible than his younger brother but likes to team up with Drew to trick or annoy his Dad.

Dylan likes to play Xbox but isn't keen on getting dirty outside. He's developing a nice line in sarcasm and is slightly older than his years - like his Mum, he tends to have to sort out his Dad's messes.

Drew Whyte

If it is possible to make a mess, Drew will manage to make a mess.

The 8 year-old is the younger son - he's the most mischievous - like his Dad he's happy to throw himself around. If Drew has the opportunity to dress up or cover himself in muck he will do so. He lives in his own little world.

Roddy

Roddy is Tom's best friend. They often try to help each other out, but things normally just get worse rather than better.

46 year-old Roddy runs a pub in Borehamwood called The Bishop's Collar (a gastro pub it isn't!). He was born and raised in Belfast in a large family in a tiny house... which is probably why he doesn't worry much about invading other people's personal space.

He's Tom's best friend and can be the most annoying and loveable person within the space of two minutes. Roddy is a bit of a fantasist - he often talks about his 'army training' but as far as Tom can remember he's only ever been in the Scouts. He's been married, and divorced a few years ago.

Tom's family are like his own and he's always popping up in the kitchen like he lives there - he loves Tom's mum Mary like his own Ma but, for him, the best woman in the world is Elaine - the wife he thinks he could have had - but his best mate married her instead. Mind you, should Tom ever prematurely pop his clogs Roddy thinks he's ideally placed to step in and fill the gap. Elaine would undoubtedly beg to differ!

Tim Curtain

Tim is the family's annoying next door neighbour.