Giles Family - Characters and Story

Characters and Story

The family belongs to the better-off British working class and is usually seen living in a semi-detached house. The scenes in which they are depicted usually comment on a topic headlining the news of the day. The Giles family is patriotic but suspicious of authority. The ages of the family members remained the same throughout the 46-year run of the cartoon series, but their home, their hobbies and their dress reflected the changing British fashions and standard of living.

The Giles family consists of the following:

• Grandma, the most distinctive character of the series. Always present but rarely given a direct voice. She is the ultimate head of the family (despite what Father may think). She is seen using such things as skis, a motorbike, a hang glider, a Sinclair C5, and playing the tuba. A proper battle axe of a woman, who is crossed at one's peril.
• Father, Grandma's son. A mild and philosophical character. Still deludedly considers himself to be the head of the family. He works, but it's never revealed where. He is passionate about boats, fishing, betting and hiding from the younger, louder members of the family. Would do anything for a quiet life and is often seen lounging in the garden.
• Mother, the power behind the dynasty; it is she who organises everyone else. Cheerfully tackles endless housework and mountains of cooking for the extended Giles family. People mostly tend to do as she tells them.
• George, Mother's and Father's elder son, is an avid reader and is very rarely seen without a book in his hands. Smokes a Sherlock Holmes style pipe and wears a beret and sandals. Absent in later cartoons. He is married to the skinny bespectacled Vera who is constantly suffering from a cold. They have one baby son, George Jr.
• Ann, the eldest daughter, and her babies, the twins, Lawrence and Ralph. The twins' absent father is a G.I..
• Carol, blond daughter, always seen reading a magazine and lounging about.
• Ernie, the younger son of the family. A smaller version of his Dad in looks and attitude, but with a child's cheekiness.
• Bridget, the youngest daughter of the family. Wears a gymslip and has never been in any trouble because she never gets caught.
• Grandma's Parrot
• Attila the Hun, a 1980 Christmas present from Ernie.
• Butch The dog, a shaggy Airedale Terrier.
• Second dog, a Border collie.
• Natalie, a black cat.
• Larry, (aka "Stinker") the mop-haired kid from next door. When not up to mischief he can be seen with a camera recording the mischief or embarrassing situations involving others. Said to be the alter ego of Giles himself.
• Chalkie the schoolmaster A walking skeleton of a man with no sense of humour. He is modelled on one of Giles's own teachers and is Giles's revenge for what he felt was unfair treatment at school