Editing Early Doors (section)

==Characters==
;Ken Dixon
:Ken ([[John Henshaw]]) is the landlord of The Grapes. He lives in the flat upstairs with his mother (Jean) and stepdaughter (Melanie). Ken is sarcastic and not altogether law-abiding, but sensitive and kind-hearted.
;Joe and Duffy
:Best mates Joe ([[Craig Cash]]) and Nigel ([[Phil Mealey]]), who is nicknamed Duffy, are "the lads" of the pub. They are hometown boys who have been friends since childhood. Duffy is a father whose philandering has harmed his marriage.
;Janice
:In series 1, Janice ([[Maxine Peake]]) is the [[single mother]] of a newborn baby, Calvin, whom she brings to the pub. Calvin is rumoured to be the result of a [[one-night stand]] between Janice and Duffy. Duffy admits to the deed, but denies the possibility that he is father.
;Eddie and Joan Bell
:Eddie ([[Mark Benton]]) and Joan ([[Lorraine Cheshire]]) are a boring, simple-minded, but well-meaning couple. Eddie's conversations with Ken are tend to be one-sided, and about topics that interest only Eddie. Joan's elderly mother has numerous pets, including six cats, a dog and a tortoise. Joan and Eddie are intellectually challenged, but they still adore each other after nineteen years of marriage.
;Tommy
:Tommy ([[Rodney Litchfield]]) is a miserable widower who seems to dislike the regulars, and is unreserved in expressing his many complaints. In series 2, he tells the other regulars that he hates his new job because of the "buggers" he works with. (The others soon learn that he is a [[Crossing guard|lollipop man]].) He puts his football into a fund to pay Eddie and Joan's phone bill, after their service is cut off because they can't pay for Joan's calls to her ill mother.
;Tanya
:Tanya ([[Susan Cookson]]) is a part-time barmaid and love interest of Ken. She is best friends with Debbie. She is good-hearted and down to earth and is known for being attractive, which is why it may be surprising that she clearly has feelings for Ken. Halfway through series 2 she informs Ken that she is leaving the pub but in the last episode he asks her to stay and she accepts his offer.
;Jean Dixon
:Jean ([[Rita May (actress)|Rita May]]) is Ken's imposing, manipulative mother. She complains about the greed and laziness of others, yet she seldom leaves her chair, and is usually eating something sweet. (The DVD commentary for series 1 reveals that Jean is the name of writer [[Craig Cash]]'s mother.)
;Winnie Cooper
:Winnie (Joan Kempson) cleans The Grapes and the upstairs flat. She is a friend of Jean, and she is well-liked by the Grapes regulars. She often makes comments that she knows will irritate Jean and shares all sorts of gossip with her. She has a son called Darren who has been in trouble several times with the law usually for theft. On the DVD commentary for series 1 it's stated that Winnie is the first name of [[Phil Mealey]]'s mother.
;Melanie Dixon
:Melanie ([[Christine Bottomley]]) is Ken's stepdaughter and only child. Ken dotes on her, and hopes that she will not abandon him for her biological father, Keith Braithwaite. Melanie sees Ken as her real dad, although she does sometimes exploit his "soft" attitude towards her working hours and free drinks. Her biological father, Keith, starts a fight with Eddie at her 21st birthday. She has had two boyfriends in the series
;Liam
:Liam ([[James McAvoy]]) is Mel's boyfriend in series 1. He is a Scottish student and a smoker.
;Dean
:Dean ([[Lee Ingleby]]) is Mel's boyfriend in series 2. He seems to be liked by Ken, and is a typical jack-the-lad type who generally gets on well with the regulars. Joan may have feelings for Dean.
;Debbie
:Debbie (Lisa Millett) is a regular at The Grapes, and a good friend to Tanya. She often leaves her kids in the car while she goes in for half a cider. She has cheated on her husband and has "gone with" Duffy rather than walk home. Debbie is possibly not the best mother, behaving neglectfully yet strictly towards her children. She seems to take a liking to Melanie's biological father Keith Braithwate (at least after a few drinks).
;Phil and Nige
:Phil (James Quinn) and Nige ([[Peter Wight (actor)|Peter Wight]]) are corrupt, and seemingly inept, officers in the local police force, who drink in The Grapes' kitchen.
;Keith Braithwaite
:Keith ([[Eamon Boland]]) is Melanie's estranged biological father. When he visits the Grapes for Melanie's 21st birthday party, he shows himself to have an abrasive personality and a temper.
;Nicola
:Introduced in series 2, Nicola (Sue McArdle) is Debbie's cousin. She has a sexual encounter in the toilets with Joe.
;Bill Cooper
:Bill ([[Johnny Leeze]]) is Winnie's husband, and a one-time winner of the football card.