Dennis "Dio" Hill
The so-called “hero” of our story. He’s depressed, perpetually unlucky, deeply cynical, and so socially isolated he might as well be on a different planet. If there’s a wrong place and a wrong time, Dennis is probably already there.
At the start of the series, Dennis worked at Clapperboard Cinema. However, after cleaning up after one too many disrespectful customers, he snapped, started drinking on shift and caused a scene in front of his entire team. Naturally, he was fired, kicking off the events of the series.
Dennis is surprisingly hardworking and loyal — traits that, unfortunately, haven’t helped him keep a job for more than five minutes. He used to be in a relationship with a woman named Camila, who broke up with him via a letter in the middle of the night, never to be seen again. This event sent Dennis down a dark path and helped shape the person he is today.
Dennis has a strained relationship with his family: he resents his mother for leaving his father, and his sister Denise constantly gives him a hard time for being an embarrassment. However, he does have his best friend, Lance Ledlie, who always has his back when times are tough.
Dennis is portrayed by Martin Beach.
Lance Ledlie
Dennis’s best and only living friend since school, Lance is the exact opposite of Dennis. He lives a far more glamorous life by comparison. During the COVID pandemic, he made a fortune through various crypto investments using his furlough money, which allowed him to buy a three-bedroom house in North Meadowlane and enjoy a peaceful suburban lifestyle.
Dennis secretly resents Lance for his incredible luck, as things always seem to fall into place for him with minimal effort.
Not much is known about Lance’s current occupation, or even his past, but somewhere beneath that relentlessly positive exterior lies a man who’s seen more horrors than you can possibly imagine.
Lance is portrayed by Lucio Aguilar
Leon Ross
Leon Ross is the manager of Clapperboard Cinema and Dennis’s former boss. Despite his short temper and lack of patience, Leon is a reasonable man who genuinely tries to be the best manager he can be for his employees.
He began his career at the rival cinema, The Movieverse, as a regular employee back in the late '90s. However, a tragedy that occurred during one of his shifts cost him his job. Despite the setback, Leon bounced back years later and was offered a managerial position at Clapperboard. While it’s ranked as one of the worst cinemas in Smokeyburgh, the job helped pull him out of a dark period in his life.
He was left with no choice but to fire Dennis due to his drunken misconduct and disrespect during a shift. As much as it may have seemed otherwise, Leon took no pleasure in how it all went down. Maybe one day, things will work out between them?
Leon is portrayed by Andrew Martin
Supporting Characters
Mrs Beansprout
Mrs Beansprout
Mrs Beansprout
Dennis’s next-door neighbour, who gave him hell every day for being “too noisy.” She ultimately died from shock after Dennis blasted loud music out of spite.
Voiced by Andrew Martin
Alfie
Mrs Beansprout
Mrs Beansprout
Works at the Job Centre as a work coach. Despite his position, he takes pride in his job and actively offers to help Dennis with his career troubles.
Voiced by Mina Radovic
Denise Hill
Mrs Beansprout
Dennis’s younger sister. She has no problem telling him he’s a failure, and understandably, the two share a strained relationship.
Voiced by Claire Ramage
Eva Hill
Dennis and Denise’s mother. She left the family to pursue a luxurious, high-end lifestyle with her new rich boyfriend. She’s extremely self-centred and out of touch with her son's life.
Voiced by Christine Buffle
Shaun Hill
Shaun Hill
Dennis and Denise’s father. A grumpy man and a tough parent, he struggled to take care of himself after his wife left him, eventually leading Dennis to place him in a care home.
Voiced by Jordan W
Camila
Shaun Hill
Dennis’s ex-girlfriend. Dennis was madly in love with her, but she left him one night to pursue her dream of exploring space, leaving behind only a note leading Dennis in a deep depression.
Voiced by Shuna Lovelle
Bobby
John Paul
Bobby
An employee at Clapperboard Cinema. He’s timid and not particularly helpful, spending more time moaning and complaining than actually contributing as a useful member of the team.
Voiced by Andrew Martin
Jimmy
John Paul
Bobby
The village idiot, known for his questionable views and opinions. Honestly, it’s a miracle he’s made it this far in life.
Voiced by Oisin Buckley
John Paul
John Paul
John Paul
The local ned of Smokeyburgh — aggressive and always ready to start a fight. He’s usually seen wandering around the park during the day with his dog, “Chicken.”
Voiced by Boris Bosilkov
