History Series / LondonsBurning

** Geoff Pearce evolves in this direction across the later seasons. Although he largely remains strict and uptight on the job, he gradually shows a more compassionate side, when consoling Sandra [[spoiler: after John's death]], supporting Sally Fields after [[spoiler: her rape]], and helping Hi-Ho overcome his doubts about staying a firefighter. See also CharacterisationMarchesOn above.

** Played straight with John Hallam, who never did get promoted beyond Sub Officer despite his best efforts. Justified by a story arc in which he's posted to another station as acting Station Officer, during which his attempts to stamp out the racist bullying of a black fireman by the rest of his watch [[EpicFail backfires so badly]] that the poor bloke is nearly ''murdered''. Unfairly or otherwise, this leaves a rather large black mark on his service record.

* NiceGuy: Bayleaf is by far one of the most sympathetic and good-natured characters. Recall qualifies too.

* TookALevelInJerkass: Nick Georgiadis in series 9, likely compounded by [[spoiler:John Hallam and Ariadne's deaths]] - he gradually becomes less sympathetic and more of a humourless disciplinarian throughout the rest of his tenure, culminating in his feud with Chris Hammond in series 11.

Pearce is one of the most notable characters for [[CharacterDevelopment developing]] over the course of the series. Although he is never an especially likeable character, he at least softens enough from his original {{Jerkass}} persona to [[spoiler: end up HappilyMarried with a baby daughter]].

** Geoff Pearce evolves in this direction across the later seasons. Although he remains strict and gruff on the job, he also shows a compassionate side when consoling Sandra [[spoiler: after John's death]], supporting Sally Fields after [[spoiler: her rape]], and helping Hi-Ho overcome his doubts about staying a firefighter. See CharacterDevelopment above.

** Geoff Pearce gets a fair amount over the course of the series. He starts out as a {{ProfessionalButtKisser}} with {{NoSenseOfHumour}} and almost {{No Social Skills}}; but by the penultimate season, despite still being gruff and humourless at times, he has gained the respect of the Watch and managed to [[spoiler: end up HappilyMarried with a baby daughter]].

* Hypocrite: One one occasion when Pearce rants against his fellow Watch members when they ask about the whereabouts of his wife. It's a bit of an emotional one for Pearce himself [[spoiler:(he and his wife are separated and in the process of getting divorced)]], but still, given the man's own history of unpleasantness to the others, spreading gossip and prying into ''their'' lives...:

* DefrostingIceKing: Pearce is one of the most notable characters for [[CharacterDevelopment developing]] over the course of the series. Although he is never an especially likeable character, he at least softens enough from his original {{Jerkass}} persona to [[spoiler: end up HappilyMarried with a baby daughter]].

* HypocriticalHumour: One one occasion when Pearce rants against his fellow Watch members when they ask about the whereabouts of his wife. It may not be intended as a humorous moment, since it's a bit of an emotional one for Pearce himself [[spoiler:(he and his wife are separated and in the process of getting divorced)]]. But given the man's own history of unpleasantness to the others, spreading gossip and prying into ''their'' lives, it's hard not to laugh at some of this:
--> "There's none of you got anything to be proud about, y'know! Your lives are a shambles! When you're not screwing around, you're rowing and arguing - you've got the morals of a bunch of savages! SO HOW DARE YOU QUESTION ME ABOUT MY PRIVATE LIFE? At least I try to be respectable, mind my own business and do my job!...What have you got against me, eh? Eh? What've I ever done to you? From the moment I walked into this place, I've been made to feel unwelcome here! 'Watch out, here comes Poison' - what's that supposed to mean, eh?"

** Jack Morgan is short-tempered and moody, often to the point of defying orders from senior officers, but he is a very caring and loving father to his 11-year-old son Stephen. He also has a DarkAndTroubledPast that makes his attitude understandable to some extent.
** Even Geoff Pearce shows occasional shades of this - he remains humourless and officious throughout the series, but he does have a few notable PetTheDog moments, such as consoling Sandra [[spoiler: after John's death]] and helping Hi-Ho overcome his doubts about staying a firefighter. See also DefrostingIceKing above.

* {{Retool}}: Happened in series 11 (1998), when a new producer arrived, three new characters were introduced, including [[HotterAndSexier a sexy female firefighter]], and the show got a new theme tune. It happened again in series 14 (2002), when five characters were axed, four new ones introduced and the show got another theme tune. By this point it was [[DarthWiki/RuinedForever virtually unrecognizable from its heyday]].