David Brent
played by Ricky
Gervais |
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At the start of "The Office" David Brent is the
Regional Manager of the Slough branch of the paper company
Wernham-Hogg. Things soon go downhill for him, when his office
merges with the Swindon branch the other manager is made his
boss and then he is eventually fired and has to become a travelling
salesman to make ends meet.
David Brent is an annoying man, who tells bad jokes and fails
to get respect from his staff. He is an inept, egotistical,
hypocritical, lying, two-faced, gauche individual, who constantly
finds disaster and makes enormous faux-pas. If you look deeper,
you see a rather lonely man, who lies to himself about how
popular and talented he is.
Played perfectly by award-winning Ricky Gervais, the character
of David Brent has very quickly become a sitcom favourite
and almost a classic. The truth is there are so many people
just like Brent he probably struck a cord with most of the
audience.
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Gareth Keenan
played by Mackenzie
Crook |
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Army-obssessed Gareth, is a stupid and pedantic
company man loyal to Brent and mainly concerned with his position
in the firm. Before becoming office manager, Gareth was very
proud to be 'Team Leader'. His self-importance knew no bounds
and was inflated further by his active service in the Territorial
Army. He also has an incredibly unsophisticated approach to
wooing women.
His considerable naivety allows others, in particular Tim,
to make him the butt endless put-downs and practical jokes.
His devotion to duty was repaid with a promotion when boss
David Brent was made redundant. Unfortunately for the rest
of the staff he acclimatised to his new position of authority
very easily.
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Tim Canterbury
played by Martin
Freeman |
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Tim is a witty, down-to-earth rep who is exasperated by and
constantly at loggerheads with Gareth - the pair often squabble
like children.
Tim, the classic under-achiever, is a Sales Rep who is crushingly
aware of the pointlessness of his work and the mediocrity
that surrounds him. From the beginning Tim yearned for receptionist
Dawn, the one ray of sunshine in his dreary routine, and even
summoned the courage to ask her out - despite the intimidating
presence of her boyfriend, Lee. Things eventually work out
for him though.
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Dawn Tinsley
played by Lucy
Davis |
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Receptionist Dawn puts up with David’s attempts
at humour beyond the call of duty. She was engaged to warehouse
worker, and professional Neanderthal, Lee. She also harbours
aspirations to be a children's illustrator.
Dawn and fiancé Lee left Slough at the end of series
two to live with family in Florida. Dawn found this life
choice good for her tan but not much good for anything else.
When the BBC documentary crew offered to fly Dawn and Lee
back to Slough for Christmas
they accepted. After leaving the Wernham Hogg Christmas party
Dawn had a moment of clarity. She decided to dump Lee and
finally run into the arms of Tim.
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| THE OTHER
REGULARS |
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Keith Bishop
played by Ewan
Macintosh
Keith works in accounts, well kind of works, he has to be
the most lazy person in the world. He is extraordinarily deficient
in social skills yet apparently is a DJ in his spare time.
He puts no effort into anything except perhaps for his Ali
G outfit, a great comedy moment from episode
2.5.
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Chris Finch (Finchy)
played by Ralph
Ineson
Finchy is a travelling Sales Rep and David’s "partner
in crime". His rare appearances in the office consist
of unprintable language and innuendo. He is also unfathomably
successful with women.
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Neil Godwin (series 2+)
played by Patrick
Baladi
Neil is technically David's Manager. He was formerly David's
counterpart at the Swindon branch but since the merger has
become top dog. Neil is professional, funny, nice and popular
- these assets combined with his promotion makes David despise
him and do everything he can to get one over him.
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Rachel (series 2)
played by Stacey
Roca
Swindon branch employee Rachel has worked for Wernham-Hogg
for two years. She causes a rivalry between Tim and Gareth
who both fancy her. However it is Tim, being relatively normal
and nice, who makes the most headway with her much to Dawn's
obvious discomfort.
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| OTHER CHARACTERS |
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A number of other characters have appeared in the background
of "The Office" and cropped up in the plots from
time to time. These included boss Jennifer Taylor Clarke,
the Swindon team of Oliver, Shelia, Trudy and Slough's Ben,
Emma and Ralph. For a full character list click
here.
A number of one-off guest characters have also featured.
These were played by such actors as Neil Fitzmaurice, Office
co-creator Stephen Merchant, cult Halifax building-society
employee Howard Brown (from the adverts) and Big Brother contestant
Paul 'Bubble' Ferguson. See
more.
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