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* AbusiveParents: Her parents ignored her for her entire childhood - [[spoiler:they don't bother to attend her wedding because they had to recycle some bottles, and told everyone that she died in a car crash.]] She was raised by her grandmother who, among other things, locked her in a cellar full of rats as a young child.

to:

* AbusiveParents: Her parents ignored her for her entire childhood - [[spoiler:they don't bother to attend her wedding because they had to recycle some bottles, and told everyone that so she died in a car crash.]] She was raised by her grandmother - who, among other things, locked her in a cellar full of rats as a young child.
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* AbusiveParents: Her parents ignored her for her entire childhood - [[spoiler:they don't bother to attend her wedding because they had to recycle some bottles, and told everyone that she died in a car crash.]] She was raised by her grandmother who, among other things, locked her in a cellar full of rats as a young child.
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* DirtyOldMan: Despite being in his early 60s by the end of the series, is constantly trying (and occasionally succeeding) to pull women 40 years younger than him.

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* EstablishingQueerMoment: Gets one in "The New Newsreader" when George asks her out and she refuses, telling him that she already has someone and that it's not a man. George... struggles to comprehend this revelation.


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* QueerEstablishingMoment: Gets one in "The New Newsreader" when George asks her out and she refuses, telling him that she already has someone and that it's not a man. George... struggles to comprehend this revelation.
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* IncompatibleOrientation: Has a crush on Helen in Series 3 and asks her out, but Helen refuses to on the basis that she is a lesbian. George has difficulty with this, thinking that she's faking being a lesbian to spare his feelings.


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* EstablishingQueerMoment: Gets one in "The New Newsreader" when George asks her out and she refuses, telling him that she already has someone and that it's not a man. George... struggles to comprehend this revelation.
Mrph1 MOD

Removed: 172

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* MagnificentBastard: Finally manages to overcome his fear of his father with a successful scheme to [[spoiler:sell Globelink just as stocks have temporarily risen again.]]
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* MagnificentBastard: Finally manages to overcome his fear of his father with a successful scheme to [[spoiler:sell Globelink just as stocks have temporarily risen again.]]
* PunchClockVillain: His actions are all about keeping his inheritance and following his fathers wishes, otherwise he is a perfectly affable individual who is very apologetic at the bad news he is forced to deliver.
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* JerkAss: She is really not kind to her husband, telling him that he was the one who put her off woman and shrugging off his attempts at a RomanticCandlelitDinner.

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* JerkAss: She is really not kind to her husband, telling him that he was the one who put her off woman men and shrugging off his attempts at a RomanticCandlelitDinner.
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* AttentionWhore

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* AttentionWhoreAttentionWhore: Alex speculates that her borderline sociopathic behavior is an attempt to get attention from her father.

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George's often mentioned wife, who proceeds to put him through hell before demanding a divorce and taking most of his possessions.
* TheFaceless:Briefly averted in the finale.
* JerkAss

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George's often mentioned often-mentioned wife, who proceeds to put him through hell before demanding a divorce and taking most of his possessions.
* TheFaceless:Briefly TheFaceless: Briefly averted in the finale.
* JerkAssJerkAss: She is really not kind to her husband, telling him that he was the one who put her off woman and shrugging off his attempts at a RomanticCandlelitDinner.



* ComedicSociopathy: Enough to compete with Joy.

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* BadPeopleAbuseAnimals: One of the indicators that she is a case of TeensAreMonsters is that she's has a history of abusing animals - in "Deborah's Daughter", George is reluctant to leave her at home after ''something'' she did with their hamster, whilst "Henry and Dido" stated that she dissected a live rabbit and did ''something'' involving cat and kerosine.
* ComedicSociopathy: Enough to compete with Joy.Her borderline sociopathic tendencies are PlayedForLaughs for the most part.



* JerkassHasAPoint: TeensAreMonsters she may be, but she does have a point when she accuses her father of simply caving into the demands of others.




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* TeensAreMonsters: Being 13 years old, she's constantly being suspended from school, has a history of arson, and abuses animals.

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Removing YMMV tropes


* JerkassWoobie: A complete prat, but deeply pitiable.



* AlliterativeName
* CelibateHero: Tries to claim this from time to time.
* ComedicSociopath: "Psychotic, but stress free!"

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* AlliterativeName
AlliterativeName: '''D'''amien '''D'''ay.
* CelibateHero: Tries Until Series 4, he was a virgin, claiming to claim this from time to time.
be more interested in disasters than sex.
* ComedicSociopath: "Psychotic, His sometimes cruel way of reporting is largely PlayedForLaughs. He is even described in an episode as "psychotic, but stress free!"stress-free!"



* FreudianExcuse: Made clear in the episode with his mother.
* JerkassWoobie: A lying, sensationalist, arrogant, amoral reporter who had a pretty lonely and depressing childhood and a neglectful and apathetic mother, and suffers one of the worst endings of any character in the series.

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* FreudianExcuse: Made clear in the episode with his mother.
* JerkassWoobie: A lying, sensationalist, arrogant, amoral reporter who had a pretty lonely and depressing childhood and a neglectful and apathetic
mother, where it is revealed that her poor treatment of him led to the psychopath we know and suffers one of the worst endings of any character in the series.love today.
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Ladies man, particularly if the lady is married to another staff member, Dave frequently finds himself in debt to various creditors due to his gambling problems.

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Ladies man, particularly if the lady is married to another staff member, member. Dave frequently finds himself in debt to various creditors due to his gambling problems.



* JerkAss

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* JerkAssJerkWithAHeartOfJerk: In the final episode a distraught Gus breaks into Sir Royston's well-guarded mansion to speak to his boss, who acts like he's willing to hear him out...then drops a steel door in front of Gus's face.

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* NervousWreck: Is suffering from a variety of anxiety issues and hypochondria, no doubt not helped by his poor marriage.



* TheWoobie

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* TheWoobie



George's out of control teenage daughter.

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George's out of control out-of-control teenage daughter.



* BearerofBadNews: Tells Globelink [[spoiler: they are being shut down.]]

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* BearerofBadNews: BearerOfBadNews: Tells Globelink [[spoiler: they are being shut down.]]
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Part of a new wave of attractive but untalented new personnel, Sally is calm and reassuring on camera, but off-camera is vacuous and selfish, disliked by most of her colleagues, particular Henry.

* BrainlessBeauty: Not the smartest by any stretch of the imagination.

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Part of a new wave of attractive but untalented new personnel, Sally is calm and reassuring on camera, but off-camera is vacuous and selfish, disliked by most of her colleagues, particular particularly Henry.

* BrainlessBeauty: Not Pretty enough that she was brought on for her looks, but not quite intelligent enough to be a serious news reporter, much to the smartest by any stretch annoyance of the imagination.her fellow staff members.
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* SecondEpisodeIntroduction: Isn't introduced until "Sally's Arrival", which was the second episode of the series.
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->'''Portrayed by:''' David Troughton

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->'''Portrayed by:''' David TroughtonCreator/DavidTroughton
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Bald Of Awesome is being renamed and redefined per TRS decision


* BaldOfAwesome: Averted, he looks worse without his terrible hairpiece than with it.

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* YesMan: If you look up 'kiss-ass' in the dictionary, his face would likely be there.

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* YesMan: If you look up 'kiss-ass' in the dictionary, his face would likely be there.
A bona fide kiss-ass.



* AmazinglyEmbarrassingParents: Her mother, unseen until the series two finale.

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* AmazinglyEmbarrassingParents: Her mother, mother makes a number of increasingly silly phone calls throughout the second season, unseen until the series season two finale.



* TheCasanova

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* TheCasanovaTheCasanova: With a preference for married women.



* ReallyGetsAround: If he's not gambling, he's usually trying to get with someone, particularly married women.

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* ReallyGetsAround: If he's not gambling, he's usually trying to get with someone, particularly married women.someone.



* PetTheDog: After Sally [[spoiler: has a miscarriage]], he checks that no one is watching before crossing over and making a sincere apology. Averted for laughs another time when he lays into Gus for leading Sally on into believing he was romantically interested in her when he was only using her as practice for another date, though he was more angry at him for making him feel sympathy to her.

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* PetTheDog: After Sally [[spoiler: has a miscarriage]], he checks that no one is watching before crossing over and making a sincere apology. Averted for laughs another time [[spoiler: when he lays into Gus for leading Sally on into believing he was romantically interested in her when he was only using her as practice for another date, though he was more angry at him for making him feel sympathy to her.]]



%%* HiddenHeartOfGold: Must put a façade on to avoid being disinherited.

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* YesMan: It's highly likely he'd get on his hands and knees if Sir Royston needed a seat.

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* YesMan: It's highly If you look up 'kiss-ass' in the dictionary, his face would likely he'd get on his hands and knees if Sir Royston needed a seat.
be there.



Sensationalist reporter, always willing to embellish the truth in his reports.

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Sensationalist field reporter, always willing to embellish the truth in his reports.
reports, often to the detriment and frequent injury of his cameraman.



* PetTheDog: After Sally [[spoiler: has a miscarriage]], he checks that no one is watching before crossing over and making a sincere apology, and even gets mad at Dave for manipulating her feelings into thinking he was romantically interested in her when he was only using her as practice for another date, though more angry at him for making him feel sympathy to her.

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* PetTheDog: After Sally [[spoiler: has a miscarriage]], he checks that no one is watching before crossing over and making a sincere apology, and even gets mad at Dave apology. Averted for manipulating her feelings laughs another time when he lays into thinking Gus for leading Sally on into believing he was romantically interested in her when he was only using her as practice for another date, though he was more angry at him for making him feel sympathy to her.



* JerkassWoobie: Selfish, unpleasant, slightly homophobic and egotistical, but once you find out about her childhood she gets a ''bit'' more sympathetic.

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* GoldDigger: In the last few episodes of the series, she hooks up with a wealthy but extremely controlling businessman, who's a complete ass to her to say the least. [[spoiler:Though, she only goes through with it due to his weak heart and good chance of dropping dead at any moment.]]
* JerkassWoobie: Selfish, unpleasant, slightly homophobic and egotistical, but once you find out about her childhood she gets a ''bit'' more sympathetic.



* WeWantOurJerkBack: When she becomes a Christian.

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* WeWantOurJerkBack: When she becomes During her brief stint as a Christian.



* IronicName: ''Joy Merryweather'', though she's anything but her namesake. Even lampshaded by Dave.

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* IronicName: ''Joy Merryweather'', though she's anything but her namesake. Even lampshaded by Dave.



* EnfanteTerrible: She could impress ComicBook/TheJoker.

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* EnfanteTerrible: She could Some of her actions would impress ComicBook/TheJoker.

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* BeleagueredAssistant: To Royston Merchant.

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* BeleagueredAssistant: To Sir Royston Merchant.



* {{Neologizer}}: Hes poke like this almost to the point of unintelligibility as part of his "management speak". The character was a parody of all the phrase-coining 90s managers who seemed to believe making up new expressions would change the workplace. Sadly for Gus, it never worked.

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* {{Neologizer}}: Hes His poke like this almost to the point of unintelligibility as part of his "management speak". The character was a parody of all the phrase-coining 90s managers who seemed to believe making up new expressions would change the workplace. Sadly for Gus, it never worked.



* YesMan

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* YesMan
YesMan: It's highly likely he'd get on his hands and knees if Sir Royston needed a seat.



The put-upon editor of Globelink, George is constantly beset by problems from his staff, his manipulative wife, his borderline-psychotic daughter Deborah, and his own ever increasing mystery illnesses.

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The put-upon editor of Globelink, George is constantly beset by problems from his staff, his manipulative wife, his borderline-psychotic daughter Deborah, and his own ever increasing mystery illnesses.
illnesses. You wouldn't be mistaken to think there're invertebrates with more backbone than him.



* TheGamblingAddict: Constantly running bets and pools in the office.

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* TheGamblingAddict: Constantly running bets and pools in the office.office and a fair collection of debts throughout the series.



* ReallyGetsAround: If he's not gambling, he's usually trying to get with someone.

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* ReallyGetsAround: If he's not gambling, he's usually trying to get with someone.someone, particularly married women.



* PetTheDog: After Sally [[spoiler: has a miscarriage]], he checks that no one is watching before crossing over and making a sincere apology.

to:

* PetTheDog: After Sally [[spoiler: has a miscarriage]], he checks that no one is watching before crossing over and making a sincere apology.apology, and even gets mad at Dave for manipulating her feelings into thinking he was romantically interested in her when he was only using her as practice for another date, though more angry at him for making him feel sympathy to her.



* JerkassWoobie: Selfish, unpleasant and egotistical, but once you find out about her childhood she gets a lot more sympathetic.
* ReallyGetsAround: Usually with lorry drivers.

to:

* JerkassWoobie: Selfish, unpleasant unpleasant, slightly homophobic and egotistical, but once you find out about her childhood she gets a lot ''bit'' more sympathetic.
* ReallyGetsAround: Usually Particularly with lorry drivers.



* IronicName: ''Joy Merryweather'', though she's anything but her namesake. Even lampshaded by Dave.



* EnfanteTerrible

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* EnfanteTerribleEnfanteTerrible: She could impress ComicBook/TheJoker.



%%* HiddenHeartOfGold: Must put a facade on to avoid being disinherited.

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%%* HiddenHeartOfGold: Must put a facade façade on to avoid being disinherited.



* VerbalTic: When try to mention his f..ff...father. He later refers to him as his [[spoiler: f..ff..fucking Dad!]].

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* VerbalTic: When try to mention his f..ff...father. He later refers to him as his [[spoiler: f..ff..fucking Dad!]].dad!]].
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* JerkassWoobie: A lying, sensationalist, arrogant, amoral reporter who had a pretty lonely and depressing childhood, a neglectful and apathetic mother, and one of the worst endings of any character in the series.

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* JerkassWoobie: A lying, sensationalist, arrogant, amoral reporter who had a pretty lonely and depressing childhood, childhood and a neglectful and apathetic mother, and suffers one of the worst endings of any character in the series.
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* EmpathyDollShot: Uses his own teddy bear for these, credits Dimbles with winning four awards.

to:

* EmpathyDollShot: Uses his own teddy bear for these, and credits Dimbles “Dimbles” with winning four awards.



* JerkassWoobie: A lying, sensationalist, arrogant, amoral reporter who's had a pretty lonely and depressing childhood, a neglectful and apathetic mother and has one of the worst endings of any character in the series.

to:

* JerkassWoobie: A lying, sensationalist, arrogant, amoral reporter who's who had a pretty lonely and depressing childhood, a neglectful and apathetic mother mother, and has one of the worst endings of any character in the series.
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* PetTheDog: After Sally [[spoiler: has a miscarriage]], he checks that no one is watching before crossing over and making a sincere apology.
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->'''Portrayed by:''' Robert Duncan




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->'''Portrayed by:''' Jeff Rawle




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->'''Portrayed by:''' Haydn Gwynne




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->'''Portrayed by:''' Ingrid Lacey




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->'''Portrayed by:''' Stephen Tompkinson




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->'''Portrayed by:''' Neil Pearson




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->'''Portrayed by:''' David Swift




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->'''Portrayed by:''' Victoria Wicks




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->'''Portrayed by:''' Susannah Doyle




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->'''Portrayed by:''' Andy Hamilton




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->'''Portrayed by:''' Roger Hammond




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->'''Portrayed by:'''




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->'''Portrayed by:''' Louisa Milwood-Haigh



! Roy Merchant Jr

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! Roy Merchant Jr
Jr.
->'''Portrayed by:''' David Troughton
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* ComedicSociopath: "Psychotic, but stress free!"

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* JerkassWoobie: A lying, sensationalist, arrogant, amoral reporter who's had a pretty lonely and depressing childhood, a neglectful and apathetic mother and has one of the worst endings of any character in the series.



* ReallyGetsAround

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* ReallyGetsAroundReallyGetsAround: If he's not gambling, he's usually trying to get with someone.



* TheChewToy

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* TheChewToyTheChewToy: In later series, usually gets humiliated OnceAnEpisode.



* CharacterisationMarchesOn: Is merely cynical and surly in her debut in series 2, however from series 3 onward she's much more vindictive and violent.



* JerkassWoobie: Is violent, cynical, vindictive and borderline sociopathic but considering how crappy her childhood and even her adult life is it's hard not to feel sorry for her.



* IronButtMonkey

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* IronButtMonkeyIronButtMonkey: Put through ''extreme'' abuse during Damien's reports.

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* BeleagueredAssistant

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* BeleagueredAssistantBeleagueredAssistant: To Royston Merchant.



* JerkassWoobie: Rather a jerkass, but deeply pitiable.

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* JerkassWoobie: Rather a jerkass, A complete prat, but deeply pitiable.



* ButtMonkey

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* ButtMonkeyButtMonkey: Can ''not'' catch a break.



* HenpeckedHusband: Well, less 'henpecked' and more 'emotionally abused'.



* DeadpanSnarker
* NotSoAboveItAll

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* DeadpanSnarker
DeadpanSnarker: Usually has a cynical barb for any situation.
* NotSoAboveItAllTheCynic: The most cynical member of the team until Joy shows up.
* HyperCompetentSidekick: Is usually this to the somewhat ineffectual George.
* NotSoAboveItAll: While generally the most responsible member of the team, she's occasionally shown to be almost as bad as the rest of them at times.




to:

* PutOnABus: Leaves Globelink for the BBC after series 2.



* OnlySaneMan: Well, Woman.

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* OnlySaneMan: Well, Woman.Takes Alex's place as this.



* SympathyForTheDevil: Sensationalist, arrogant and amoral he may be, but you can't help but feel sorry for him what with his [[FreudianExcuse depressing childhood, horrible mum]] and [[spoiler:especially his depressing fate in the end]].



* WellDoneSonGuy

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* WellDoneSonGuy
WellDoneSonGuy: Has been desperate for his mother's attention and approval since he was a child.



* TheGamblingAddict

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* TheGamblingAddictTheGamblingAddict: Constantly running bets and pools in the office.



* JerkWithAHeartOfGold

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* JerkWithAHeartOfGoldJerkWithAHeartOfGold: One of the nicer members of staff, but is just as much of a cynical DeadpanSnarker as the rest of them.




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* ThoseTwoGuys: Is usually this with Henry.



* FriendlyEnemy: Sometimes with Sally (although he would never admit to the "friendly" part).

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* FriendlyEnemy: Sometimes By the end of the series, he's this with Sally (although he would never admit to the "friendly" part).



* KavorkaMan
* LargeHam
* SophisticatedAsHell

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* KavorkaMan
KavorkaMan: Likely due to him being a famous newsreader.
* LargeHam
LargeHam: Seems to approach life as if he was on stage.
* SophisticatedAsHell
SophisticatedAsHell: Eloquent, posh and swears like a sailor.



* BrainlessBeauty

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* BrainlessBeautyBrainlessBeauty: Not the smartest by any stretch of the imagination.



* JerkassWoobie: Particularly in later seasons.

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* JerkassWoobie: Particularly in later seasons.Selfish, unpleasant and egotistical, but once you find out about her childhood she gets a lot more sympathetic.


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* StepfordSmiler: Is implied to be a deeply sad person underneath.

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* [[OnlySaneMan Only Sane Woman]]

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* [[OnlySaneMan Only Sane Woman]]
OnlySaneMan: Well, Woman.



* [[spoiler: CureYourGays]]: Toyed with , then averted.

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* [[spoiler: CureYourGays]]: CureYourGays: Toyed with , with, then averted.



* [[OnlySaneMan Only Sane Woman]]

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* [[OnlySaneMan Only Sane Woman]]OnlySaneMan: Well, Woman.


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* AlliterativeName
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Per TRS, Jerkass Facade is deprecated, primarily in favor of Hidden Heart Of Gold. Also a Zero Context Example.


* JerkassFacade: Must put one on to avoid being disinherited.

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* JerkassFacade: %%* HiddenHeartOfGold: Must put one a facade on to avoid being disinherited.
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A Man Is Not A Virgin is no longer a trope.


* [[AManIsNotaVirgin A Man is Not a Virgin]]



* AManIsNotAVirgin: he loses his virginity in season 4, in the lion enclosure at the zoo.



* WellDoneSonGuy

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* WellDoneSonGuy

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