The Peter Principle (TV Series) - Characters in Depth

Characters in Depth

Peter

Peter has the mind of a child and a greedy, selfish heart. Most probably, he was elevated to the position of Branch Manager as a test of his ability. He is lazy and incompetent (hence the title of the show) but hasn’t been replaced. This may be because whoever gave him the position doesn’t want to admit they made a mistake. Also, there exists the possibility that David, the Area Manager, believes Peter can improve himself. Peter doesn’t seem to take his job too seriously; but at the same time, he is terrified of the idea of Susan having any power at the branch.

In Series 1, we learn that Peter has a wife called Marjory and an eighteen-year-old son called Martin.

In Series 2, we learn that he went to school with Geoffrey and that he was bullied at this school by the Kopas brothers. He started at C&P with Geoffrey in 1965.

Some of his lines from Series 1

The retiring cleaner (unwrapping the present Peter has given her): “An ashtray?”

Peter: “Yes, but no ordinary ashtray—a County & Provincial ashtray for you to remember us by.”

Cleaner: “But I don’t smoke.”

Peter: “Well, you’re retired now; you’ll need a new hobby.”

Some of his lines from Series 2

(To Paulo’s sister, thinking it was Paulo with a sex-change):

“Your voice sounds ridiculous, and as for these, Paul Gascoigne’s got more convincing plastic tits than these. (He reaches out and squeezes her breasts) Barp-barp.”

(In reference to having had to convince the Kopas brothers that a plate of dog food was pâté):

Geoffrey: “No, it’s lucky they came.”

Peter (sarcastically): “Oh, I’m delighted they came—I just love eating horse bollocks on toast.”

Susan

Susan is single, career-minded, and totally dedicated to her job, the branch, and C&P. She is very customer-focussed and appreciates the value of the small account holder as well as large corporate accounts.

In Series 1, she appears to have no love interest. In Series 2, she falls in love with David.

In Series 2, we learn she has a cat named Barnaby.

One of her lines from Series 1

(In reference to Peter’s presentation to the retiring cleaner, which became a fiasco):

Sarcastically, “Oh how classy, Peter. She’s been here for thirty years and what do you get her? A bag of vomit.”

David

David is serious and dedicated to C&P. He knows that Peter doesn’t give the job his all, but David seems to have a soft spot for Peter; in fact, he says this to his wife, Katie, in Series 2.

In Series 1, we learn very little about David.

In Series 2, we see that David’s marriage to Katie is failing, and that David is falling in love with Susan.

Geoffrey

Geoffrey has been with C&P all his working life but most likely didn’t scratch the right backs to advance his career past the position of Chief Cashier. Concerning C&P, Geoffrey has his ear to the ground but seems happy not to have climbed to a position of greater responsibility and higher stress.

One of his lines from Series 1

Iris: “You’re happy today, Peter.”

Peter (boasting): “Aldbridge Festival coming up. And guess who’s been invited to judge the home brew contest?”

Geoffrey (sarcastically): “Nancy Reagan?”

Bradley

Throughout Series 1 and most of Series 2, it remains a mystery how Bradley landed a job at C&P—he has an extraordinarily low IQ. In the fifth episode of Series 2, we learn that Bradley doesn’t know who his real father is. At the end of the show, however, it is revealed (to us only) that his father is none other than the Regional Director of C&P (whose voice we heard in "Un homme et une femme" as 'Mike'). We are left with the impression that the Regional Director is aware that Bradley is his son (he prevents Bradley from being sacked) and so it is possible that, through Bradley’s mother, the Regional Director got Bradley his job.

Some of his lines from Series 2

David: “You’re off early, Bradley.”

Bradley: “Yeah, Bracknell Megabowl. Really romantic; you should take Susan there some time.”

David: “Why Susan?”

Bradley: “Well, because you fancy her, don’t you?”

David: “Is that what you think?”

Bradley: “Well, it’s not just me; I mean, everyone’s talking about it. Geoffrey said you were like two dogs in the park.”

Iris

Iris likely started at C&P at a very young age. She is middle-aged, quite dim, but appears very competent in her position (most probably through years of repetition). She makes one brief reference to her husband, Denis. We also learn that she has a tomcat.

Some of her lines

Susan (heading to Peter’s office): “Iris, no calls in Peter’s office for the next ten minutes.”

Iris: “How do you know?”

Susan: “No—I don’t want any.”

Iris: “Well, how will they know?”

Brenda

Brenda is Irish and appears to regard her job as little more than a pay packet. More than likely, she will stagnate in her current position like Geoffrey or leave C&P when she tires of it.

One of her lines

Peter: “Brenda, do you find powerful men attractive?”

Brenda: “Very. Why? Do you know any?”

Barbara

Barbara’s view of women in the workplace is that they should endeavour to sleep their way to the top. She fails to understand that Susan wishes to climb the ladder on merit alone. Barbara has a warm heart and is proficient at her job (she holds what was Iris’s position), but her small view of the world means she will most likely never advance her career—not even with the power of seduction.

One of her lines

Peter (entering the room): “Happy that-bit-after-Christmas, everyone. Ah, Barbara, I may have had a few too many at the Christmas do. Hope I behaved myself, did I?”

(Barbara slaps him)

Peter (turning to Geoffrey): “Oh my god. Was I really that bad, Geoffrey?”

(Geoffrey slaps him)

Peter (leaving the room): “I see, well, carry on, everyone—I’m going to my office.”

Bradley (to Barbara and Geoffrey): “What did you do that for? He just fell asleep in the corner all night.”

Barbara: “I know but it was such a good opportunity.”

Evelyn

We first see this character in Series 1 "Insecurity" as a charity worker for the St Bernards Day Centre for the elderly. In Series 2, she holds what was Brenda’s position. Evelyn is a bundle of nerves and anything more than breathing stresses her to the point where she visibly shakes and sometimes hyperventilates into a paper bag.

One of her lines

Peter: “Evelyn, phone Head Office and ask the Loans Department if I can lend £6,000 to Paulo Mendez.”

(Evelyn promptly taps at the telephone keypad)

Evelyn (in a mild state of panic): “Hello mummy? Now he’s asking me to phone people.”