Hi-De-Hi!

Jeffrey Fairbrother (Series 1-4)

Jeffrey is a professor of archaeology at Cambridge University when he decides he is going nowhere and wants to enter a proper working environment and meet real people.

He is installed as the new Entertainments Manager at the start of the Maplin's 1959 season, and immediately finds himself at odds with his surroundings. It is left to Ted and his devoted admirer Gladys to guide him until he begins to gain confidence.

Ted Bovis

Ted holds the position of Camp Host at Maplin's and is responsible for hosting the competitions, acting as compère for the shows and performing his own stand-up routine.

Although highly regarded for his work, he is inclined to be greedy and is not averse to concocting money-making schemes and exploiting the campers.

Gladys Pugh

Gladys's dulcet Welsh tones are often to be heard filtering through the loudspeakers of Radio Maplin, as she makes the campers aware of the fun on offer to them - occasionally bursting into song.

She also works in the Entertainments Manager's office, where she is forever making doe eyes at Jeffrey Fairbrother, and fills the post of Sports Organiser. Her sharp tongue is always ready to chastise the pretty, younger girl Yellowcoats, especially when she is promoted to Chief Yellowcoat.

Spike Dixon

Spike is the new Camp Comic, who Ted has taken under his wing in order to teach him everything he knows about comedy.

Spike is eager to learn, and is always willing to put on the most ridiculous costumes to get a laugh from the campers. However, his intrinsic honesty is at odds with Ted's dodgy dealings, and the two are often at loggerheads.

Peggy Ollerenshaw

A humble chalet maid with a big personality, Peggy's one dream is to become a Yellowcoat. She is constantly trying to have her talent recognised and suffers her fair share of knocks. However, her reliability and kindly nature endear her to the entertainments staff, and she is often called upon to help out.

Sqdn-Ldr Clive Dempster DFC (Series 5-8)

After Fairbrother's abrupt departure, Clive (or to give him his full name, The Honourable Squadron Leader Clive Dempster DFC) arrives at the start of the 1960 season to fill the top job.

Unlike his immediate predecessor, he is bone idle and more interested in the pretty girls than doing his job well. He exasperates many of the staff with his lax attitude, but his charm wins them round in the end, particularly Gladys.

Mr Partridge (Series 1-5)

As children's entertainer Uncle Willie, Partridge's chief responsibility is to perform the regular Punch and Judy shows.

However, his profession belies his true self, as he has a passionate dislike of children of all ages. This - plus his own fall from wartime stardom - causes him great unhappiness and he is forever moaning about the state of the world, invariably turning to drink to drown his sorrows.

Sammy (Series 6-8)

Sammy is a tramp discovered by Spike and Ted entertaining children on the beach.

He is immediately recruited to replace Mr. Partridge and although the appointment is unpopular with the staff at first, Sammy soon settles in and seems to have a curious hold over Joe Maplin.

Fred Quilley

Fred is a former jockey who lives in hope of getting back his licence, which was taken from him following accusations of fixing races.

He is now the Riding Instructor and is in charge of the camp horses, which are far from the racing standard he was once used to.

Yvonne Stuart-Hargreaves

Supercilious ex-ballroom dancing champion, Yvonne is horrified at having been reduced to working in such a squalid place as Maplin's. She considers herself a cut above everyone else on the staff, not to mention the frightfully common campers, and is often reluctant to participate in staff duties.

Her relationship with husband and dance partner Barry is tempestuous and the two often engage in vitriolic exchanges. Eventually, Barry leaves - Yvonne's softer side is then brought out by the arrival of her former dancing partner, Julian.

Barry Stuart-Hargreaves (Series 1-6)

Yvonne's husband and dancing partner is clearly regarded by his wife as being beneath her. His original name was Bert Pratt, until Yvonne took him on and taught him grace and manners.

The pair bicker constantly, with Barry always ready to bring his wife down a peg or two with a pithy put-down. Eventually though, he has enough and deserts the partnership, leaving Yvonne devastated.

April Wingate (Series 5-8)

April is a new Yellowcoat at the start of the 1960 season.

She is innocent and sweet, and she and Spike strike up a romance, but her sensitivity ensures the relationship is not always plain sailing.

Julian Dalrymple-Sykes (Series 4 & 7-8)

Julian arrives to replace Barry, having been a former partner of Yvonne.

He is now a pig farmer and has his own farm, but he is willing to drop everything to dance with her once more, and it soon becomes clear that he is utterly besotted with her.