Fletch arrives at Slade with several previous sentences behind him; consequently, he knows prison life well and slips into the routine at Slade immediately. He survives prison life by securing "little victories" against the warders and other staff. During his time in Slade, he realises that age and experience have set him up as a father figure to younger prisoners, particularly his cellmate Godber. Despite this, Fletch can be very cynical and self-interested – despite all the advice he offers to others, he's reluctant to participate in a scheme if there's nothing in it for him.

Following a misspent youth which saw him appearing before the juvenile court in his native Birmingham, Godber arrives at Slade determined to make his first adult imprisonment also his last. Although outwardly determined to take full advantage of all the rehabilitative, educational or recreational services Slade has to offer, and also hopeful that his fiancée Denise will wait for him, in private moments Godber admits to finding prison tough, and he relies on the support offered to him by Fletcher.

The former Drill Sergeant in the Argyll and Southern Highlanders continues to exercise military precision and discipline on the landings of Slade Prison. With his distinctive dulcet tones and sideways nod of the head, MacKay firmly believes in treating all prisoners equally – believing that each man is as despicable as the next.

MacKay's polar opposite on Slade's landings, Mr Barrowclough's relaxed approach to prison discipline reflects his belief that Slade's inmates are there to be rehabilitated and eventually sent on their way as useful members of society. Consequently, his easygoing manner is often taken advantage of by prisoners determined to see their latest illicit scheme through to its conclusion. His laid-back approach extends to his marriage, which not even Fletcher's marriage guidance counsel can offer much hope for.

The responsibilities of running a prison weigh heavily on the Governor's shoulders – physically so, it often appears, in Mr Venables' case. Although rarely seen away from the safety of his desk, Mr Venables still manages to keep control over Slade's staff and prisoners, despite a permanently worried demeanour.

'Ere Listen! Ives may not be the brightest of brains, but it doesn't stop him scheming and conniving, and he's not put off when his plans turn sour and land him in trouble, either with the warders or his fellow prisoners. The reprimands or humiliation last only as long as it takes him to become involved in a new scheme, when the whole sequence starts again.

A short fuse and physical strength mean McLaren is regarded as one of Slade's 'hard cases', but having been raised in the tough environment of an orphanage, he's not going to be all happy-go-lucky. However, under Fletcher's guidance, he slowly discovers there's more to life if you can keep calm and consider your options before reacting.

Cheerfully ambling through life inside, 'Bunny' Warren attributes his sentence to his dyslexia, which prevented him from reading a warning sign about a burglar alarm. On the outside, he's married to Elaine, living in Greater Manchester and working in his brother's ironmongery shop in Bolton.

The man who really runs Slade Prison? "Genial" Harry Grout (Grouty) appears to carry more influence than any other prisoner, despite attempts from others to usurp his position by undermining his pill-peddling business, tobacco racket, or gambling empire. Officially in charge of the swimming pool at Slade, although Slade doesn't actually have a swimming pool.

An old-timer who took to crime during the depression of the 1930s and never looked back, Blanco is currently serving a sentence for killing his wife, although he maintains his innocence on the charge. His health has its ups and downs, but he keeps himself busy, remaining devoted to his allotment patch at Slade, and he also made a wooden donkey for his toddler niece (although she had become an air hostess by the time he finished it).

Named in dubious honour of his cooking skills, Lukewarm is Slade's best-known 'iron hoof'. Opting for a quiet life with his knitting, his contributions to illicit schemes are usually limited to his skills in the kitchen. Away from his work, he fusses around cellmate Blanco, ensuring he's looking presentable for his parole appearances.

The judge who sentenced Fletcher to five years soon joins him as a cell-mate when Rawley is sent to Slade on remand for bribery and corruption charges. An old friend of the governor, his presence in Slade provokes controversy and resentment among the majority of the prisoners, but is eventually accepted by his cell-mates.

Fletcher's eldest daughter, named after Ingrid Bergman, is a frequent visitor to Slade. A bright, attractive young woman with a bubbly personality, her father reckons she could win over any man she sets her heart on. Despite this, her love life never runs smoothly – perhaps her father knows of an eligible young bachelor?

A middle-aged Teddy Boy disliked by everyone, Harris is quite happy to put his own interests first and last, with no room in between for anyone else. Consequently, he's given all the worst jobs on the prison farm, and despite a post-work bath, he still smells as bad as his personality.