The Royle Family - Characters

Characters

• Ricky Tomlinson as James Randolph "Jim" Royle

Sardonic, lazy and grumpy, Jim is a slob who spends his days in his armchair watching the television and doing as little as possible. Jim has a short temper, and regularly berates his family, in particular Anthony and his mother-in-law Norma, when not berating celebrities on television. Jim's outbursts are often accompanied by his mocking catchphrase, "my arse!" He is also a miser and enjoys announcing his visits to the lavatory, though on occasions shows a more understanding side, especially in moments when his family is in serious trouble.

• Sue Johnston as Barbara Royle (née Speakman)

Hard-working Barbara lives for her family, though her caring nature is often exploited by her selfish husband and daughter, who let her do almost everything for them. She is often shown to be more outwardly friendly, down to earth, supportive and respectful than her husband. Barbara worked part time at a bakery, and for a time was the only member of the family to have a job. The strain caused her to snap during series 2 and she stormed out. She is often forgetful. She and Denise chain smoke. Johnston and Tomlinson previously played a married couple, Sheila and Bobby Grant, in Liverpool based soap Brookside.

• Caroline Aherne as Denise Best (née Royle)

The only daughter of Jim and Barbara, Denise is extremely lazy and obnoxious. Before she met Dave, Denise was engaged to a man named Stewart although she called off the engagement on their wedding day. She married Dave in the first series, and they have two children, Little David and Norma, though she rarely parents her children, instead passing duties on to everyone else. Jim also used to mock her for only serving her husband rudimentary dinners such as dairylea on toast and spaghetti hoops. Denise is known for pulling right back on a cigarette. She and Barbara love smoking and often fill the ash tray. Denise is usually nasty to her younger brother Antony, usually leaving him to babysit her children regularly and forcing him to making cups of tea for the family.

• Ralf Little as Anthony Royle

Anthony is the son of Jim and Barbara, and generally treated as a dogsbody by the family, ordered to do menial tasks such as answering the door, making cups of tea and babysitting Dave and Denise's children. He is the only member of the family (other than Barbara) who actually does any work in the house or otherwise. He is often mocked by Jim, Denise and Dave and is surprised when in one episode Denise sticks up for him followed by Jim showing him a great deal of warmth. Although originally unemployed with little prospects, it was revealed in the 2006 special that Anthony had gone on to become a successful businessman and no longer lives in Manchester. He gets engaged to girlfriend Emma after she falls pregnant and they have a son named Lewis, but before the 2006 special they have separated and Anthony has recently starting dating a girl named Sarah. In 2009 he is in a relationship with Saskia, who becomes pregnant in early 2010 and goes into labour on Christmas day after he has proposed.

• Craig Cash as David "Dave" Best

Denise's boyfriend and later husband, Dave is generally quite dumb but is quite friendly and easygoing. He is often Jim's sidekick and he takes Jim's side when he is arguing with Barbara or Denise. Denise often takes advantage of Dave, leaving him to change nappies and care to their children when they get upset. Denise and Dave announced that she was pregnant, and she later gave birth to baby David, and later in the series, Denise announced she was pregnant again and she later had a baby girl, whom she called Norma after Barbara's mother. Dave previously dated Denise's enemy, Beverly Macca, and this is often brought up by Jim to annoy Denise.

• Liz Smith as Norma Jean Speakman (Nana) (1998–2006)

Barbara's demanding elderly mother, called "Nana" by most of the family. Jim and Norma don't normally get on, as Jim often calls her names such as a "greedy old cow" when she didn't share her Revels with him. Norma often looks for sympathy from her family, repeating that she is the only living elderly woman in her block of flats, and she often hints to move in with the Royles. When her best friend Elsie dies, Jim and Norma argue because Norma goes from mourning to talking about Elsie's television and clothes. Norma eventually moved in with the Royles when her health rapidly declined, and she died in 2006 at the age of 90. When she died, Jim felt severely depressed because of how he feuded with Norma. Jim decided in a mark of respect to put her ashes on top of the television, a place where she will always be remembered.

• Jessica Hynes as Cheryl Carroll

The daughter of Joe and Mary, and the best friend of Denise. Cheryl lives next door to the Royles and constantly battles with her weight, going from one unsuccessful diet to the next.Jim, Dave and Anthony often tease her about her weight behind her back. She enjoys looking after Denise's children, a situation Denise takes advantage of. Cheryl is portrayed as unlucky in love, though she has a relationship with Twiggy between the 2006 and 2008 episodes. At Christmas 2010, Cheryl revealed she had been dating a homeless person called "Spamhead" who stole her father's savings before leaving her.

• Doreen Keogh as Mary Carroll (1998–2006)

Mary lives next door to the Royles with her husband Joe and daughter Cheryl. She hails from Ireland and is portrayed as a chatty busybody (in direct contrast to her husband). She last appears in the 2006 special, and by Christmas 2009 her health has deteriorated and she suffers from severe incontinence. By Christmas 2010 she has died.

• Peter Martin as Joe Carroll

Joe is the husband of Mary and father of Cheryl. Joe is very shy, a regular source of mocking by Jim and Antony, though after a few drinks he generally becomes more social, and has on a couple of occasions proven to be a talented singer. He also appears to be a lot more talkative and comfortable in Mary's absence. After Mary's death he carries her ashes around with him and talks of her constantly, and decides to move house before Cheryl convinces him to remain.

• Geoffrey Hughes as Twiggy (1998–2008)

Twiggy is a longtime family friend of the Royles, and regularly visits, usually with rip-off materials or stolen goods to sell on. He has been in prison, and fathered at least two sons, and later dated Cheryl, though the relationship didn't last. Twiggy sees prison as a holiday and describes it as 'recharging the old batteries'. Twiggy's criminal tendencies become more serious as the series progresses, at first he sells knock-offs then in The New Sofa, he appears at Denise's house with spirit bottles he has stolen with optics still attached.

• Andrew Whyment as Darren Sinclair-Jones (1999–2000)

Darren is friends with Anthony in series 2 and 3. Darren is portrayed to be dumb, uneducated and of a laid back demeanour. Darren often feigns laughter at Jim's jokes in an attempt to gain his approval. Like Twiggy, Darren is light-fingered and has been sacked from every job he's had for stealing. His brothers are all in prison, his father is an alcoholic who never leaves the pub and his mother (when not in hospital with her failing health) lives with Darren in a house where the bailiffs have taken all the furniture. During Christmas 2000, Anthony and Emma ask Darren to be godfather to their unborn child.

• Sheridan Smith as Emma Kavanagh (1999–2000)

Emma is Anthony's first girlfriend. She first appears in the series 2 finale, after being mentioned several times in earlier episodes. Emma comes from a well-off family, but gets on well with the Royles. In the series 3 finale, Anthony announces his engagement to Emma, which leads Jim and Barbara to assume that Emma is pregnant. In the 2000 Christmas special, Emma's arrogant parents, Roger and Valerie, meet Jim and Barbara for the first time. Emma does not appear in the 2006 special, by which time she has separated from Anthony. Anthony and Emma continue to share custody of their son, Lewis, who appears in the 2006 special.

• Joanne Froggatt as Saskia (2010)

Saskia is the girlfriend of Anthony, who is mentioned in the 2009 Christmas special and first appears at Christmas 2010. She is an A&E nurse and is heavily pregnant when she first appears. The Royles have a high level of interest in Saskia and have no respect for her privacy, for example they read her diary and look through her clothes. In 2009 she did not wish to go to the Royles' household due to Jim's behaviour on a previous visit. Anthony proposed to Saskia on Christmas Day 2010, and later she goes into labour a month early.