The Young Ones (TV series)

* [[Adrian Edmondson]] as Vyvyan "Vyv" Basterd, a medical student and punk-styled heavy metal fan; [[Psychopathy|psychopathic]], [[Borderline personality disorder|sociopathic]], [[Sadistic personality disorder|sadist]]ic, and [[Misanthropy|misanthropic]]. Vyv is mostly violent and unruly, respecting Mike and tending to pick on his fellow students Rick and Neil, primarily focusing on antagonising the former to the point that they are virtually inseparable. Vyvyan owns both a talking [[Glasgow|Glaswegian]] [[hamster]] named [[Special Patrol Group]] ("SPG" for short), who is subjected to Vyvyan's extreme violence, and a yellow [[Ford Anglia]] with red flames painted along the sides and "Vyv" written across the back window. He enjoys violent activity up to and including demolishing parts of the house, attacking housemates with whichever objects are close to hand, and detonating explosives indiscrimately. Despite his persistent cartoon violence and high volume, Vyvyan seems quite comfortable with his own personality and is on rare occasions the most polite housemate, suddenly being scrupulously courteous and reasonable in a specific situation before abruptly switching back to his usual destructive and profane self. He is revealed to be the illegitimate son of a working-class single mother whose behaviour is very similar to his own, and with whom he has a casually combative sibling-type relationship on the rare occasions that she appears.

* [[Adrian Edmondson]] as Vyvyan "Vyv" Basterd, a medical student and punk-styled heavy metal fan; [[Psychopathy|psychopathic]], [[Borderline personality disorder|sociopathic]], [[Sadistic personality disorder|sadist]]ic, and [[Misanthropy|misanthropic]]. Vyv is mostly violent and unruly, respecting Mike and tending to pick on his fellow students Rick and Neil, primarily focusing on antagonising the former to the point that they are virtually inseparable. Vyvyan owns both a talking [[Glasgow|Glaswegian]] [[hamster]] named [[Special Patrol Group]] ("SPG" for short), who is subjected to Vyvyan's extreme violence, and a yellow [[Ford Anglia]] with red flames painted along the sides and "Vyv" written across the back window. He enjoys violent activity up to and including demolishing parts of the house, attacking housemates with whichever objects are close to hand, and detonating explosives indiscrimately. Despite his persistent cartoon violence and high volume, Vyvyan seems quite comfortable with his own personality and is on rare occasions the most polite housemate, suddenly being scrupulously courteous and reasonable in a specific situation before abruptly switching back to his usual destructive and profane self. He is revealed to be the illegitimate son of a working-class single mother whose behaviour is very similar to his own, and with whom he has a casually combative sibling-type relationship on the rare occasions that she appears.

* [[Rik Mayall]] as Rick, studying sociology and/or [[Home economics|domestic sciences]] (depending on the episode); [[Hypocrisy|hypocritical]], faux-[[Political radicalism|radical]], [[Narcissism|attention-seeking]], back-stabbing, exceptionally self-centred and a self-proclaimed [[Anarchy|anarchist]]. Rick is loudly and performatively critical towards the others, often insulting Neil (as an easy target) but also occasionally Vyvyan, despite Vyvyan's violent retaliation to criticism. He constantly proclaims his attachment to assorted political beliefs and moral practices (such as [[vegetarianism]] or anti-fascism) depending on how they will benefit him or his desperately-cultivated image in any particular situation. Despite this, he consistently displays little understanding of them and seems personally ill-suited to committing himself to any of them (according to Ben Elton, Mayall's character was influenced by the "try-hard wanna-be Leftie" typically found on university campuses). Rick is also a self-styled "people's poet", given to reciting his verses to imaginary audiences and generally revealing his lack of talent in this area as well. Despite his radical posturing, he is an avid fan of [[Cliff Richard]] (who, at the time the program was broadcast, was considered a mainstay of outdated [[Middle of the road (music)|MOR]] taste). It is implied that Rick has been spoilt by his (unseen) middle-class parents, while remaining as unappreciative and unloving of them as he is of everyone else.

* [[Rik Mayall]] as Rick, studying sociology and/or [[Home economics|domestic sciences]] (depending on the episode); [[Hypocrisy|hypocritical]], faux-[[Political radicalism|radical]], [[Narcissism|attention-seeking]], back-stabbing, exceptionally self-centred and a self-proclaimed [[Anarchy|anarchist]]. Rick is loudly and performatively critical towards the others, often insulting Neil (as an easy target) but also occasionally Vyvyan, despite Vyvyan's violent retaliation to criticism. He constantly proclaims his attachment to assorted political beliefs and moral practices (such as [[vegetarianism]] or anti-fascism) depending on how they will benefit him or his desperately-cultivated image in any particular situation. Despite this, he consistently displays little understanding of them and seems personally ill-suited to committing himself to any of them (according to Ben Elton, Mayall's character was influenced by the "try-hard wanna-be Leftie" typically found on university campuses). Rick is also a self-styled "people's poet", given to reciting his verses to imaginary audiences and generally revealing his lack of talent in this area as well. Despite his radical posturing, he is an avid fan of [[Cliff Richard]] (who, at the time the program was broadcast, was considered a mainstay of outdated [[Middle of the road (music)|MOR]] taste). It is implied that Rick has been spoilt by his (unseen) middle-class parents, while remaining as unappreciative and unloving of them as he is of everyone else.

* [[Nigel Planer]] as Neil Pye, a [[Peace Studies|peace studies]] student; a lank-haired [[Melancholia|morose]], [[Pessimism|pessimistic]] [[hippie]] with [[Pacifism|pacifist]] leanings, poor personal hygiene and a strong sense of passive-aggressive self-pity. Generally treated as a doormat or necessary burden, Neil often winds up having to do all the chores around the house, while the other three students barely tolerate him, and only acknowledge his presence or concerns when they can blame him for something going wrong. As shown on one occasion when his parents visited, Neil comes from a starchy and old-fashioned upper-middle class background, something which he is clearly uncomfortable with. Despite this, and despite his well-meaning intentions, Neil appears to have little engagement with or understanding of the outside world. His stubborn attachment to late-'60s/early-'70s hippy counterculture - plus the set of alternative prejudices and stances which come with his hippie persona - often make him seem like a young relic of outdated styles and values.

* [[Nigel Planer]] as Neil Pye, a [[Peace Studies|peace studies]] student; a lank-haired, [[Melancholia|morose]], [[Pessimism|pessimistic]] [[hippie]] with [[Pacifism|pacifist]] leanings, poor personal hygiene and a strong sense of passive-aggressive self-pity. Generally treated as a doormat or necessary burden, Neil often winds up having to do all the chores around the house, while the other three students barely tolerate him, and only acknowledge his presence or concerns when they can blame him for something going wrong. As shown on one occasion when his parents visited, Neil comes from a starchy and old-fashioned upper-middle class background, something which he is clearly uncomfortable with. Despite this, and despite his well-meaning intentions, Neil appears to have little engagement with or understanding of the outside world. His stubborn attachment to late-'60s/early-'70s hippy counterculture - plus the set of alternative prejudices and stances which come with his hippie persona - often make him seem like a young relic of outdated styles and values.

* [[Christopher Ryan]] as Mike the Cool Person (or "Thecoolperson", written as a surname), an unscrupulous and somewhat mysterious character. Though nominally a student, it is never made clear which university course Mike is on, nor whether he even attends any classes. Exaggeratedly cool (somewhat echoing the manner of [[the Fonz]] from ''[[Happy Days]]'') despite his physically small stature, well-dressed, and generally respected, Mike is the [[straight man]] and nominal leader of the group (when necessary), as well as appearing and sounding suspiciously older than the rest of them. He often appears to be more like a small-time criminal, fixer or manipulator than a student, conducting or exploiting profitable business or personal connections to benefit himself to the detriment of others; however, he also uses these activities to keep his housemates calm or focussed during unforeseen issues or situations. It is strongly implied that he holds on to his student status through blackmailing the university's senior staff. Mike has a notably close relationship with Vyvyan, who does not treat Mike with the violence he's prepared to mete out to Rick and Neil, and seems happy to learn things from him; Vyvyan also enjoys acting as the lieutenant, sidekick and sometime enforcer to Mike's schemes.

* [[Christopher Ryan]] as Mike the Cool Person (or "Thecoolperson", written as a surname), an unscrupulous and somewhat mysterious character. Though nominally a student, it is never made clear which university course Mike is on, nor whether he even attends any classes. Exaggeratedly cool (somewhat echoing the manner of [[the Fonz]] from ''[[Happy Days]]'') despite his physically small stature, well-dressed, and generally respected, Mike is the [[straight man]] and nominal leader of the group (when necessary), as well as appearing and sounding suspiciously older than the rest of them. He often appears to be more like a small-time criminal, fixer or manipulator than a student, conducting or exploiting profitable business or personal connections to benefit himself to the detriment of others; however, he also uses these activities to keep his housemates calm or focussed during unforeseen issues or situations. It is strongly implied that he holds on to his student status through blackmailing the university's senior staff. Mike has a notably close relationship with Vyvyan, who does not treat Mike with the violence he's prepared to mete out to Rick and Neil, and seems happy to learn things from him; Vyvyan also enjoys acting as the lieutenant, sidekick and sometime enforcer to Mike's schemes.

* [[Alexei Sayle]] as various eccentric supporting characters, mostly the students' landlord Jerzei (Jeremy) Balowski and his family. Jerzei himself was a faux-Russian in that he mainly used a Russian accent to sound "more sophisticated". Other Balowski family members included Brian "Damage" Balowski (a violent armed robber, murderer and convict), Jester Balowski (a family ancestor from mediaeval times who hosted a sadistic game show), Reggie Balowski (who divided his time between international arms dealing and singing in drag in French cabaret), and Alexei Yuri Gagarin Sieges Stalingrad Glorious Five-Year Plan Sputnik Tractor Moscow Dynamo Back-Four Balowski (singer for an experimental electronic pop band). Other Sayle characters include Harry the Bastard (apparent vampire/South African driving instructor/consumer goods salesman), a Benito Mussolini look-alike working for the police, and an overly-theatrical postman. Whichever role he played, Sayle invariably broke character and the fourth wall, addressing the audience in his own accent and delivering out-of-context monologues derived from his stand-up comedy act.

* [[Alexei Sayle]] as various eccentric supporting characters, mostly the students' landlord Jerzei (Jeremy) Balowski and his family. Jerzei himself was a faux-Russian in that he mainly used a Russian accent to sound "more sophisticated". Other Balowski family members included Brian "Damage" Balowski (a violent armed robber, murderer and convict), Jester Balowski (a family ancestor from mediaeval times who hosted a sadistic game show), Reggie Balowski (who divided his time between international arms dealing and singing in drag in French cabaret), and Alexei Yuri Gagarin Sieges Stalingrad Glorious Five-Year Plan Sputnik Tractor Moscow Dynamo Back-Four Balowski (singer for an experimental electronic pop band). Other Sayle characters include Harry the Bastard (apparent vampire/South African driving instructor/consumer goods salesman), a Benito Mussolini look-alike working for the police, and an overly-theatrical postman. Whichever role he played, Sayle invariably broke character and the fourth wall, addressing the audience in his own accent and delivering out-of-context monologues derived from his stand-up comedy act.