An old soak, and the widow of David Hawkley’s much older brother, Alastair.

HEINZ

A colourless assistant conductor at the London Met.

THE REVEREND PERCIVAL HILLARY

A portly parson who confines his pastoral visits to drinks time.

JOY HILLARY

His wife. A bossy boots.

BEATTIE JOHNSON

A seductive, totally unprincipled journalist.

FREDDIE JONES

Electronics supremo and director of Venturer Television.

BORIS LEVITSKY

A glamorous, temperamental composer who defected from Russia in the eighties. Assistant conductor at the London Met and lover of red wine, red meat and red-blooded women.

RACHEL LEVITSKY

His English wife. A concert pianist who has sacrificed her career to bring up two children: Vanya and Masha. Performs under her maiden name, Rachel Grant.

LARRY LOCKTON

Chief Executive of Catchitune Records and a rough diamond.

MARIGOLD LOCKTON

His once-ravishing wife, who is finding to her cost that rough diamonds are not for ever.

ISAAC LOVELL

A brilliant jump jockey.

SHERRY MACARTHY

A ravishing neglected American wife.

GEORGIE MAGUIRE

A sixties singer/songwriter and sex symbol. Slightly long-in-the-capped tooth, but poised for a massive come-back.

DANCER MAITLAND

A rock star.

MARCIA MELLING

A susceptible divorcee, one of Rupert Campbell-Black’s owners.

OSWALDO

A colourful guest conductor of the London Met.

MR PANDOPOULOS

Another of Rupert Campbell-Black’s owners.

MRS PIGGOTT

Georgie Maguire’s daily. Nicknamed Mother Courage because of her fondness for a pint of beer.