List of Family Affairs characters

This is a list of characters from the British soap opera Family Affairs listed in alphabetical order by the characters' surnames.

A

Scarlett Anderson

Scarlett Anderson was played by Cat Simmons during 2005. She seduces Les Boulter (Howard Saddler), but he tells her it was a mistake.

Caleb Andrews

Caleb Andrews was played by Steve Toussaint in 2004 and appeared as a series regular. He is Les's best friend and Denise Boulter's (Clare Perkins) love interest. He takes an HIV test, the results of which are negative.

It is revealed that he is Brendan Boulter's (Steven Burrell) biological father. Caleb tries to restart his affair with Denise, but she chooses Les. Caleb shares a kiss with Eileen Callan (Rosie Rowell), whose husband, Pete Callan (David Easter), is sent back to prison for murder. Caleb leaves Charnham because Eileen's daughter, Lucy Day (Julie Smith), witnesses the kiss and threatens to tell Pete.

Gavin Arnold

Gavin Arnold was played by Neil Roberts and made his first appearance in 2001. Roberts was a newcomer to the soap opera genre and was signed to the show's regular cast.

Polly Arnold

Polly Arnold was played by Juliet Cowan from January 2000 to July 2001.

Tanya Ayuba

Tanya Ayuba was played by Laila Rouass between 2000 and 2001; it was Rouass' first role on British television. The character is a doctor, and appears on a recurring basis. Ten years after she left the show, Rouass claimed she was still recognized as Tanya.

Tanya's boyfriend Gavin Arnold (Neil Roberts) asks her to move in. She feels that their relationship is moving too fast, and is curious about his relationship with his estranged wife Imogen. Tanya finds Imogen's address and goes to see her, resulting in a "disastrous visit".

B

Cheryl Barker Cheryl Barker was played by Cathy Murphy between 2003 and 2004. She is in a live-in relationship with Dave Matthews (Richard Hawley), which sometimes causes tensions given his propensity to sometimes operate outside the law, alongside his feud with slimy publican Pete Callan (David Easter).

Madge Bennet Madge Bennet was played by Heather Chasen, and appeared in 5 episodes in 2005.

Brendan Boulter Brendan Boulter was played by Steven Burrell between autumn 2003 and November 2004.

Brendan was a closeted bisexual. He began a relationship with Melanie Costello (Rebecca Hunter) and they became engaged. Mel was unaware that Brendan was having an affair with Sean Steel (Sam Barriscale). At Brendan and Mel's engagement party, Brendan confessed that he was bisexual, devastating Mel who dumped him after outing him. After much coaxing, Mel decided to go to New York City with Brendan, who had originally bought the tickets as an engagement present. Upon their return, Brendan and Mel surprised their families by announcing they had gotten married while in New York. Not long after, Brendan began an affair with a man named Jason, which Melanie found out during Brendan's niece, Suzie's, christening. She decided to end their relationship permanently and Brendan left Charnham in November 2004.

Denise Boulter Denise, along with her husband Les and children Brendan and Kelly move onto Stanley Street in December 2003 shortly after Roy Farmer's (Miles Petit) death in the cybercafé fire. She and Les purchase the corner café and 16 Stanley Street from Nikki Farmer (Rebecca Blake), turning the former into a restaurant and moving the family into the latter. Caleb Andrews (Steve Toussaint) is employed to work in the restaurant as a cook.

Denise initially tries to keep secret about an affair she had with Caleb, and that Brendan is actually Caleb's son. Denise and Caleb resume their affair, but quickly end it when Denise realises she loves Les, though he finds out about the affair afterwards.

During her time on Stanley Street, Denise builds up strong friendships with Cat MacKenzie (Nicola Duffett), Chrissy Costello (Kazia Pelka), Eileen Callan (Rosie Rowell), and Cheryl Barker (Cathy Murphy). The five of them form a pub darts team.

While walking home one night in December 2004, Denise is raped by an unidentified assailant. Les immediately suspects Christian Habgood, Denise's tutor at Charnham College. However, when she enters Graham Harker's (Lee Warburton) cab, Denise suspects him of the crime based only on her recollections of the smell of his aftershave and his usage of the phrase "Scout's honour". The police question Harker, but no forensic evidence is found to link him to the crime, and they are forced to release him due to lack of evidence. Denise persists with her desire to see him arrested, and eventually learns the true identity of her attacker.

Shortly after, Denise discovers that Les had gone to see prostitutes on a number of occasions. Marriage counselling is unsuccessful, and they split. In late 2005, Denise moves away. Her daughter Kelly and granddaughter Suzie later join her.

Denise was portrayed by Claire Perkins.

Kelly Boulter Kelly Boulter, played by Carryl Thomas, made her first appearance in October 2003 and departed in August 2005.

Kelly first appears in Charnham in October 2003 dating Benji McHugh (Mark McClean). She has also been sleeping with Justin MacKenzie (Ryan Davenport). When Kelly becomes pregnant with twins, there is some doubt over the babies' father's identity, who is revealed to be Justin. Despite Benji's warnings to take things easy, Kelly begins drinking and is later hospitalized. In the hospital, doctors reveal Kelly lost one of the twins. Benji leaves Charnham afterwards.

Kelly's family, particularly Les and Brendan, do not care for Justin, as they liked Benji. However, Denise is prepared to give Justin the benefit of the doubt. After the Boulters settle into the area and purchase the corner cafe previously owned by Roy, Kelly becomes friends with local teenage girls Lucy Day (Julie Smith) and Melanie Costello (Rebecca Hunter).

In July 2004, Kelly gives birth to a baby girl, Suzie, named after Justin's mother. Justin and Kelly later became engaged. Throughout the rest of the year, Kelly is involved in several family dramas, including Brendan's divorce to Melanie after learning that Brendan is bisexual, and Denise's rape.

In early 2005, Kelly and Justin are horrified when they are accused of abusing Suzie after she suffers severe head injuries. The Boulters and MacKenzies are under surveillance from social workers for several months until a judge at a hearing is satisfied that nobody was at fault, but orders a review every three months.

In August 2005, after Denise leaves Les, Kelly leaves Charnham after she discovers Justin sleeping with Scarlet Anderson (Cat Simmons), and she joins Denise with Suzie.

Les Boulter Lester "Les" Boulter, played by Howard Saddler, made his first appearance in November 2003. He departed in August 2005.

Les first appeared in Charnham in November 2003, shortly after he and Denise hear the news that their daughter Kelly is pregnant. Just before Christmas, Les and Denise move into the area and began running their own cafe on the site of the previous cybercafé that had been destroyed in a fire, resulting in Roy's death.

Les initially dislikes Kelly's boyfriend, Justin MacKenzie (Ryan Davenport), but eventually warms up to him.

During the first few months of 2004, Denise has been having an affair with Caleb. Les finds out but eventually forgives Denise. He later learns Brendan isn't his son, but Brendan reassures Les that he considered him his dad. Les becomes jealous of Denise spending so much time with her tutor at Charnahm College, Christian Habgood. One night in December, Denise is raped while walking through an alleyway.

When Graham moves into Stanley Street, Denise immediately recognizes his voice. After months of high drama and Graham's arrest for kidnapping Denise and holding her daughter-in-law Melanie (Rebecca Hunter) against her will in his flat, Les and Denise try to get things back to normal but the damage has been done.

Les begins seeing prostitutes on two occasions, despite hesitating. Les is arrested one day and fined. Afterwards, Les and Denise separate.

Les sells the corner café to Marc MacKenzie (Graham Bryan) and moves up to Liverpool, leaving Justin in charge of renting his house.

Conor Byrne Conor Byrne was played by Glenn Mulhern. He is Declan's brother, and is a resident in Charnham for several months in 2000.

Declan Byrne Declan Byrne was played by Quentin Jones between 1999 and 2001.

Declan shared a flat with Clive Starr (Huw Bevan) and Gabby Johnson (Emma Linley). He dated Gabby, but was unaware that Clive had fallen in love with him. Declan was straight and rejected Clive. He became friends with Josh Matthews (Terry Burns) and later dated his estranged wife Yasmin (Ebony Thomas).

C

Eileen Callan

Eileen Callan (née Day) was played by Rosie Rowell from 2002 until the final episode in 2005.

Pete Callan

Peter "Pete" Callan was played by David Easter from September 1997 until the character was killed off in September 2005. As Maria Simons's (Annie Miles) callous former husband he is disliked by most of her friends: the Hart and Gates families, and their associates. Nevertheless, he takes over running local bar restaurant The Lock where they all regularly hang out. In an attempt to force Pete out of The Lock, Maria hires two thugs to threaten him into leaving. They beat him up and leave him in a coma, but he remains in Charnham. Pete develops an enmity with Roy Farmer (Miles Petit) and later develops similar rivalries with his employee Josh Matthews (Terry Burns) and Josh's father Dave (Richard Hawley).

In 1998, Pete starts dating Claire Toomey (Tina Hall) and they soon get married. He bonds with her twin children Ewan and Stella, although he is violent towards Claire. In January 1999, a mentally unbalanced Roy kidnaps and threatens to murder Claire. When Claire defends Roy, Pete beats her and she leaves Charnham. Pete becomes close to Julie-Ann Jones (Chloe Howman) and almost sleeps with her. Julie-Ann's mother realises what could have happened and informs Pete that he is Julie-Ann's father. Easter told Sue Malins from Soaplife that "Pete always regrets that Julie-Ann came into his life a fully grown woman and that he missed out on her childhood years."

Pete begins a brief relationship with Dave's ex-wife Cat Matthews (Nicola Duffett). Pete goes into a de facto marriage to Cat for several months, but it is revealed to have been a con perpetrated by Pete to exact revenge on Dave, and to swindle Cat out of her home; he convinces her to sign over ownership of her home to him as a formality to expedite a business transaction. After this was done he reveals the con to her, ends the relationship, and keeps the house. Soon after this Cat finds out she is pregnant. Tests show the child to be Pete's. She gives birth to a son David (nicknamed Davie). Pete is annoyed when Cat puts Dave as David Jr's father on his birth certificate. Pete decides he will be more successful in a custody battle if he is also married, and he decides on family friend Siobhan Jones (Jemma Walker). Easter explained that "he realises that he has to find a partner so he can present himself as part of a stable relationship equipped to raise a child." Easter believed that Pete targets Siobhan despite being aware that she is vulnerable. But she had always called him "Uncle Pete" and viewed him as a friend. As the storyline progresses he proposes to her. Easter added that "despite being completely calculating in the beginning"; Pete proposes marriage out of genuine love.