Belgravia / Characters

Characters that appear in the 2016 novel Belgravia and its 2020 adaptation.

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Trenchard Family

James Trenchard

Played By: Philip Glenister

The head of the Trenchard family, husband of Anne and father of Sophia and Oliver. James Trenchard made his fortune as an army supplier during the The Napoleonic Wars and helped develop Belgravia.

Consummate Liar: James gets caught in a lie when he tells Anne to say nothing of Charles before Charles mentions he and James know each other at Lady Brockenhurst's reception. However, James is able to think up another one by saying that he's advised and financed Charles; all of which is true except for the fact that James has been keeping tabs on him since childhood, which isn't revealed until much later.
Face of a Thug: Susan dismisses the idea that Charles is James' son with Lady Brockenhurst because he has a working-class background and the face of a butcher; he'd have to be the Czar of Russia to get into Lady Brockenhurst's bed.
Good with Numbers: James still runs numbers well into his old age, as shown when he gives his calculations to Charles at the Atheneum and researches the allegations against him.
Honest Corporate Executive: While certainly ambitious and mercenary, he doesn't seem corrupt. When allegations are made against Charles, the two start discussing how to get James' money out so he won't be implicated.
Hypocrite: James tells Anne to say nothing about Charles since their role in his upbringing is done. Then it turns out that James has been helping Charles in business.
I Did What I Had to Do: James is completely unapologetic to Anne about keeping his friendship with their grandson from her, citing it as necessary.
In-Series Nickname: During the Napoleonic Wars, he was called "The Magician" for his ability to rustle up supplies from anywhere.
Locked Out of the Loop: He's the only one of the Trenchard family in the dark about the paternity of Susan's child.
The Mentor: James taught Charles almost everything he knows about business.
Mysterious Benefactor: It turns out that he has been helping Charles Pope in his business and kept tabs on him since his childhood.
Outliving One's Offspring: His daughter Sophia died in childbirth.
Papa Wolf: More like Grandfather Wolf; when John Bellasis attempts to kill Charles Pope by drowning him, James jumps into the water to save him without hesitation.
Self-Made Man: Made his fortune as an army supplier and building project manager in Belgravia.
Social Climber: Appears that his biggest motivation in life is to climb as far as he can.
Why Are You Not My Son?: A rather complicated example. James doesn't exactly hide that he favors Charles over Oliver, but the real kicker is that Charles is James' grandson (not that Oliver knows).
You Remind Me of X: James says that Charles reminds him a lot of himself, which Charles considers high praise.

Anne Trenchard

Played By: Tamsin Greig

James's wife and Sophia and Oliver's mother.

Blackmail: Anne turns Susan's pregnancy to her advantage by agreeing to keep silent on the child's parentage... and having Susan and Oliver relocate to Glanville.
Caring Gardener: Mrs. Trenchard is known for being an avid gardener, and was even consulted on a couple occasions by a conservatory or two.
Give Him a Normal Life: Anne took Charles to be raised by the Popes.
Heroes Love Dogs: The kindhearted Mrs. Trenchard owns a dachshund named Agnes.
Mama Bear: Despite 25 years having passed after Sophia died, she's quick to defend how her daughter acted even though she disapproves in private.
Nice Girl: Everyone likes to be around Anne, even the caustic Susan.
No Good Deed Goes Unpunished: Anne's decision to reveal Charles' existence to Lady Brockenhurst out of guilt winds up putting the whole plot in motion.
Outliving One's Offspring: Anne was present when her daughter Sophia died in childbirth.

Sophia Trenchard

Sophia Trenchard, Lady Bellasis

Played By: Emily Reid

James and Anne's daughter and mother of Charles Pope. Deceased.

Death by Childbirth: Died giving birth to Charles Pope.
False Widow: When Anne and Sophia went up to Derby to bear Charles in secret, the latter pretends to be a Waterloo widow. Turns out she actually was a widow by virtue of the marriage being legitimate.
Generation Xerox: Sophia inherited her father's drive and ambition, which she passed to her son Charles.
Leitmotif: Represented by a melancholy cello line whenever she appears after the prologue.
Missing Mom: To Charles Pope. Even if Sophia survived she would have played no part in his life.
Oh, Crap!: Has an epic one when she sees Richard Bouverie alongside Viscount Bellasis in army uniform, believing she'd been duped into a false marriage.
Parental Favoritism: Sophia is often referred to as the child of Anne's heart.
Posthumous Character: She's been dead for about 25 years by the time the story starts, though there are a couple flashbacks to her death.
Shrine to the Fallen: In the book, James erected a large portrait of Sophia over the mantelpiece in his office at Gray's Inn Road.
The Ugly Guy's Hot Daughter: Sophia was referred to as a great beauty by the Duchess of Richmond; when the Duchess' sister Lady Brockenhurst meets Sophia's father James, she presumes that Sophia got her looks from her mother.

Oliver Trenchard

Played By: Richard Goulding, Tom Megaughin (young)

James and Anne's son, Sophia's younger brother, and Susan's husband.

Abusive Parents: In the sequel series, a lot of Frederick's negative traits and personality issues can be traced back to Oliver's neglect, resenting him as John Bellasis' child.
Country Mouse: Oliver admits he's a lot more at ease at the family estate, but hasn't relocated there because he knows Susan doesn't like it.
Crippling Overspecialization: Oliver's gentlemanly upbringing has unfortunately made him useless in James' business career.
Everyone Has Standards: Oliver wanted to teach Charles Pope a lesson, nothing more. But murder him? That's too far.
Evil Uncle: Oliver doesn't take direct action against Charles Pope (and doesn't even know he's related to Charles), but he tries to drum up Malicious Slander against him to draw his father's interest away from Pope. At the end he winds up being a subversion when he saves Charles from drowning.
Failed a Spot Check:
- Oliver never bothers to verify the slander against Charles by following up with Mrs. Girton. Most likely because he didn't care to.
- Knows that Susan is making eyes at John Bellasis, but never once does he think that the "scented degenerate" sired Susan's child.
Hair-Trigger Temper: According to Susan, Oliver can always find a reason to be angry at something, and it gets worse as the story progresses.
Jerkass Has a Point:
- Oliver is correct in saying that there's clearly something about Charles Pope his parents aren't telling him. Unfortunately he goes about it the wrong way.
- Winds up being proven right that John Bellasis is a scented degenerate when Susan has an affair with John and John later attempts to murder Charles.
Law of Inverse Fertility: He and Susan have tried hard to have a child and have had no success for 11 years.
- In the sequel series, in turns out they eventually had a second son named James, whom Oliver doted on. Assuming Susan didn't manage to fool him with her second pregnancy, it seems Oliver wasn't completely sterile but just had a low sperm count. On the other hand, in the finale it's speculated whether James wasn't Oliver's biological son either although Oliver had thought he was.
Like Father, Unlike Son: James is an ambitious and active businessman, Oliver is disinterested and sullen, wanting nothing more than to be a country squire.
Locked Out of the Loop: His parents told him nothing of his nephew Charles.
Manchild: Oliver doesn't do anything useful and often flies into petulant rages.
O.O.C. Is Serious Business: Everyone in the Trenchard household is curious when the sullen and disinterested Oliver shows interest in a scheme which he won't tell anyone about. Mainly due to the fact that he's finally motivated to do something for himself, even if that something is drudging up Malicious Slander.
Perpetual Frowner: Oliver typically has a sullen sneer or scowl as an expression, even at the end when he attends Charles' wedding.
The Resenter: Towards Charles Pope, believing he's usurped his position as a son.
The Unfavorite: Feels like this towards his parents, even after his sister has been dead for more than 20 years.
What You Are in the Dark: At the end of the story he's briefly tempted to let his father and Charles Pope drown. But he can't bring himself to do it and saves them both.
Wrong Line of Work: It's made pretty clear that Oliver doesn't have the enthusiasm or work ethic to be a good businessman like James (he gallivants to go off riding or shooting and intends to sell off the business once his father dies). So at the end of the story he retires to Glanville to be a country squire.

Susan Trenchard

Susan Trenchard, née Miller

Played By: Alice Eve

Oliver's wife, the daughter of a tradesman of similar background to the Trenchards.

Adaptational Intelligence: Susan has more luck with getting Anne into revealing a bit more about Charles Pope at Glanville in the miniseries.
City Mouse: She much prefers living in London to living in the country (she thinks it's boring) and dislikes traveling.
The Dog Bites Back: After John dumps her, Susan steals the copied papers about Charles Pope and gives them to her in-laws.
In-Series Nickname: The servants call Susan "Mrs. Oliver" to differentiate her from her mother-in-law Mrs. Anne Trenchard.
Law of Inverse Fertility: She and Oliver had been trying to have a child for 11 years without success. Given that Susan becomes pregnant with John Bellasis' child, it's implied Oliver is sterile.
- In the sequel series, in turns out they eventually had a second son named James, whom Oliver doted on. Assuming Susan didn't manage to fool him with her second pregnancy, it seems Oliver wasn't completely sterile but just had a low sperm count. On the other hand, in the finale it's speculated whether James wasn't Oliver's biological son either although Oliver had thought he was.
The Mistress: Becomes one to John Bellasis.
Ms. Fanservice: Gets a Toplessness from the Back scene in the third episode after sleeping with John Bellasis.
Smarter Than You Look: To quote Susan she "isn't a complete dunderhead", and is shown to be a talented liar. Then John Bellasis rejects her and boy does she make him pay for that by stealing his papers about Charles Pope.
Stepford Smiler: Susan admits she wants to fill her days with her children and her position in society, but can't because she has neither and has to appear content with her lot.

Frederick Trenchard

Played By: Ben Wainwright, Jasper Bettles (young)

Oliver and Susan's elder son (conceived through Susan's affair with John Bellasis) and the owner of Glanville in the sequel series.

Bastard Angst: A lot of Frederick's problems can be traced back to Oliver resenting him as another man's child and telling him he's a bad soul and unlovable. Poor Frederick didn't even know he was the result of an affair, and as an adult he still has no idea why his father hated him.
Contrasting Sequel Main Character: With Charles Pope (who is his first cousin legally and his second cousin biologically). While Charles knew he was adopted but not who his birth parents were, the Popes accepted him as their child and were reasonable parents. Frederick on the other hand is filled with self-loathing because Oliver never accepted him as his son, and Frederick had no idea why.

Clara Trenchard

Clara Trenchard, née Dunn

Played By: Harriet Slater

A young woman new to high society and attracts Frederick.

James Trenchard II

The Reverend James Trenchard II

Played By: Toby Regbo, Jax James (young)

Oliver and Susan's younger son, a vicar. He and Frederick are estranged.

Mama's Baby, Papa's Maybe: In the final episode of The Next Chapter, James and Frederick question whether even James was actually Oliver's biological son, since both of them had seen Susan being intimate with one of the groundsmen at different times, but conclude that they'll never know.
Misplaced Retribution: Frederick resented James even though the main rift was Oliver's fault.
"Near and Dear" Baby Naming: Presumably named for his grandfather James Trenchard.
Parental Favoritism: Oliver doted on him while disdaining Frederick, presumably because James was his biological son.
Spare to the Throne: As Oliver and Susan's younger child and not in line to inherit anything unless Frederick dies without issue, he took up a career as a vicar.

The Trenchards' Servants

Turton

Amos Turton

Played By: Paul Ritter

Butler to the Trenchards.

All There in the Manual: His first name is Amos in the novel.
Black Market Produce: Runs a side business where any surplus food grown at the Trenchards' estate goes to the black market.
Get Out!: The Trenchards fire him after they learn he copied the papers for John Bellasis.
Greed: Speer mentions he's money-hungry, and through his dealings in the black market and John Bellasis, it's an accurate description. He even holds letters hostage because he knows John will need them, just to fleece off a few more pounds.
The Mole: John Bellasis persuades him to steal papers from the Trenchards.
Perpetual Frowner: Always has a scowl on, as befitting a professional British butler.
The Scapegoat: Ellis throws him under the bus to prevent herself from receiving a larger share of the blame, saying he made the copies and had Ellis bring them to John Bellasis, while she actually suggested he make the copies.
Spotting the Thread: Outside of the Trenchards and Lady Brockenhurst, Turton is the first to figure out that Charles Pope and the Reverend Pope are not related because the latter writes about Charles not as a father, but as if he were an employee filling out a report.
The Stoic: Has a cold, professional demeanor, even while engaging in illegal work. When Ellis is unable to find the papers Turton copied, he reacts with little more than an apology and that he isn't sorry for John Bellasis' downfall.

Ellis

Mary Ellis

Played By: Saskia Reeves

Personal maid to Anne Trenchard, Ellis is the longest-serving current member of the Trenchards' household.

All There in the Manual: Her given name is Mary in the novel.
Country Mouse: She actually likes staying at Glanville, the Trenchards' country house, because she gets to boast about all the new fashions and gossip.
Get Out!: The Trenchards fire her after learning she assisted Turton's treachery.
The Mole: Reports on her employers to Mr. Bellasis.
Never Learned to Read: Or Never Learned to Write; what she can write is illegible, which is why she has Turton make the copies of Jane Croft's papers.
Oh, Crap!: Has a few moments of this in the second half when she can't get to the original documents held by Jane Croft and when she sees her employers holding the copies made by Turton.
Old Retainer: Ellis has served the Trenchards for more than 30 years and the only member of the household who served them before Waterloo.
Only One Name: Only referred to as Ellis. The book gives her the name Mary but it isn't mentioned in the miniseries.
The Resenter: Ellis admits to Speer that she doesn't like working as a maid, but does it because she'd prefer doing this to other work like being a nurse in a blood-soaked, disease-ridden hospital.

Speer

Played By: Bronagh Gallagher

A maid for the Trenchards who serves as Susan Trenchard's lady's maid.

Adaptation Expansion: The miniseries gives Speer several more scenes of interacting with other characters, such as discussing life choices with Ellis, shadowing Susan to her public meeting with John Bellasis (and good-naturedly calling Susan a card to her face), and creating an alibi to conceal Susan's affair with John.
Adaptational Nationality: The book is vague on Speer's background but the miniseries mentions she hails from Ireland, Belfast specifically.
City Mouse: Susan mentions she hails from Belfast and prefers city life to living in the country.
Hypercompetent Sidekick: Whenever Susan meets with John Bellasis, Speer has a lie cooked up as an alibi. And by the end she's made herself indispensable to Susan.
Never Bareheaded: Speer is always seen wearing either a maid's cap or a bonnet.
Only One Name: Only ever referred to as Speer at any point; unlike Turton and Ellis, she doesn't get a first name.
Secret-Keeper: Speer is the main person who knows about Susan's affair with John Bellasis and his bribing of Turton and Ellis. And she's also aware of Turton's Black Market Produce dealings.
Speer: I'm a servant [Mr. Bellasis]. We don't tell anything they don't need to know.
Social Climber: Downplayed. Speer wants to rise, but is content to do so on Susan's coattails.

Croft

Jane Croft

Played By: Rebecca Callard

Sophia Trenchard's maid in 1815, left the Trenchards for another household after Sophia's death.

Chekhov's Gunman: First appears in the first chapter and is mentioned a couple times during the main story before showing up again when Ellis wrote to her about Charles Pope.
The Confidant: Sophia exchanged letters to Jane until her death. She's also one to Ellis, as her letter about Charles is what summons her to London to give the papers to Anne.
Destroy the Evidence: Subverted. Sophia ordered Jane to burn the papers about her secret marriage to Viscount Bellasis, but Jane couldn't, feeling they weren't hers to destroy.
Mama's Baby, Papa's Maybe: In the book Jane is one of the people John wonders is Charles' mother and thinks that her visit to Eaton Square is to see her son one more time before she leaves England forever.
Put on a Bus: Left for another household after Sophia died because her services were no longer needed. When she returns to the main story it's mentioned that she'll be boarding a ship for America, never to return to Britain.
Rank Up: It's mentioned that Jane rose to become housekeeper of an estate in Kent.
Secret-Keeper: Jane was the only person aside from Mr. and Mrs. Trenchard (and Lady Brockenhurst) who knew of Charles Pope's true parentage, though she, like the Trenchards, believed the marriage to be a lie.
Tragic Keepsake: Jane has a number of letters from Sophia and documents about Sophia's marriage to Edmund. When she hands them over to Anne, Jane mentions she kept one of the letters for herself to remember her by.

Enright

Played By: Gerard Horan, Tom Christian (young)

The butler at Glanville in The Next Chapter.

Mirror Character: To Turton. John has had both Trenchard butlers spy for him at different points of his life; Turton to get information on the Trenchards, Enright to keep up on Frederick's progress.
The Mole: John had him keep tabs on Frederick.

Fletcher

Bellasis Family

Lord Peregrine Bellasis

The Right Honourable Lord Peregrine Bellasis, 5th Earl of Brockenhurst

Played By: Tom Wilkinson

Earl of Brockenhurst. Husband of Caroline and father of Edmund, the deceased Viscount Bellasis.

Blue Blood: The Earl of Brockenhurst can trace his title back to the Restoration of Charles II in the 1660s and according to John can trace his descent as far back as The Crusades.
Bookworm: Spends a lot of time shut up in his library.
Foolish Sibling, Responsible Sibling: He's the responsible one compared to his gambling brother Stephen.
Gentleman Snarker: Certainly not above a subtly biting remark, particularly towards Stephen.
Hates Small Talk: Peregrine isn't one to engage in meaningless chitchat, even moreso after his son died. After the reception at Brockenhurst House, he finds it blissful when all the guests have left, having tired of inquiring after the health of one acquaintance or other or rejoicing in Queen Victoria being pregnant.
I Was Quite a Looker: The TV promo describes him as tall and handsome in his youth.
Locked Out of the Loop: Peregrine is kept in the dark about most of the events throughout the story until the very end. The exceptions are his brother's gambling problems and his wife's investing in Charles Pope's company since she'd have to ask him.
Outliving One's Offspring: His son Edmund was killed at the Battle of Waterloo. Years later he's still bitter about the fact that his irresponsible brother has several grandchildren (and even one or two still on the way) while he has nobody.
The Quiet One: Not really a talker and this increased after the death of his son.
Stepford Snarker: Peregrine can make fun of his irresponsible brother in one scene and muse bitterly on the death of his son the next.
Sugar-and-Ice Personality: A solemn, morose man at the best of times, but a loving husband in private.
Thicker Than Water: The main reason Peregrine sends Stephen money is that he is unwilling to have his brother go to debtors' prison.
Unwitting Pawn: John uses him to find out where his aunt is going in an attempt to find out why she's investing money in Charles' business.

Lady Caroline Bellasis

The Right Honourable Lady Caroline Bellasis, Countess of Brockenhurst

Played By: Harriet Walter

Countess of Brockenhurst, Peregrine's wife and Edmund's mother.

The Chessmaster: Nearly every character is a pawn in her scheme to take control of Edmund's legacy.
Grande Dame: Cold, snobbish, cultured, and quick-witted, though she has a softer side as shown with her interactions with Charles and Maria.
Hidden Depths: Shown to be an avid artist.
Historical Character's Fictional Relative: A fictional younger sister of the Duchess of Richmond, who hosted a famous ball before the Battle of Waterloo.
I Gave My Word: As a lady, she is honor-bound to say nothing of her secret grandson. Besides, she isn't going to say anything about her son's possibly disgraceful conduct. However, she has no problem with other people figuring out the truth by piquing the interest of everyone in London she knows.
I Was Quite a Looker: While meeting with Anne Trenchard, Lady Brockenhurst points out a portrait that was painted when she was 17, just before she married her husband Peregrine. She notes it was a fair likeness back then... not so much now.
Mama's Baby, Papa's Maybe: Defied. John wonders if Charles is Lady Brockenhurst's illegitimate son with James Trenchard, but Susan dismisses this.
Susan: She's the daughter of a duke and the sister of a duchess. 26 years ago, [James Trenchard] was a dumpy man with a working-class background and the face of a butcher. With his looks, to get her into bed he'd have to be the Czar of Russia.
Mama Bear: Willing to accuse Sophia of seducing Edmund to defend his conduct.
My Girl Is Not a Slut: Gender-reversed and applying to parents. When Anne accuses Edmund of seducing Sophia into a false marriage, Caroline slams on the accusation hard, declaring he couldn't have conceived of such behavior. Turns out Caroline was right as the marriage was legitimate.
O.O.C. Is Serious Business: Everyone takes notice when the stoic and snobbish Lady Brockenhurst takes interest in the business ventures of a tradesman. In this case it's because the tradesman is the grandson she never knew existed.
Outliving One's Offspring: Her son Edmund was killed in the Battle of Waterloo.
Shipper on Deck: Winds up becoming this (alongside Anne Trenchard) to Maria Grey and Charles Pope as Maria seeks to escape her impending Arranged Marriage to John Bellasis.
The Stoic: Known for her icy façade, which makes her interest in Charles' business all the more noticeable.
Thicker Than Water: Lady Brockenhurst is determined to find a place for Charles in the family, regardless of his legitimacy.
This Is Gonna Suck: When she hears that the Greys know about the slander against Charles, knowing that Lady Templemore will use the information to force Maria to marry John.
Tragic Keepsake: Keeps a portrait of her son Edmund at her desk.

Edmund Bellasis

Edmund Bellasis, Viscount Bellasis

Played By: Jeremy Neumark Jones

Peregrine and Caroline's only son and heir. Killed in the Battle of Waterloo.

Broken Pedestal: To the Trenchards after he deceived Sophia into a false marriage. Becomes a Rebuilt Pedestal when they learn he and Sophia were actually married.
Disappeared Dad: To Charles Pope.
Historical Character's Fictional Relative: A fictional nephew of the Duchess of Richmond, the hostess of the ball before Waterloo.
I Coulda Been a Contender!: It's stated that Edmund would have been a great Earl of Brockenhurst had he survived the Battle of Waterloo.
Killed Offscreen: Killed at the Battle of Waterloo, but his death is only reported by James Trenchard.
Loved by All: Everyone has something nice to say about him except for the Trenchards (and even Anne is publicly respectful when discussing him). According to his mother, Edmund could have found his way around Lymington (the Brockenhursts' main estate) blindfolded, but didn't have to because everyone was willing to help him find his way back.
Posthumous Character: After the first chapter.
Sheep in Sheep's Clothing: The Trenchards believed he dishonored Sophia by deceiving her into a false marriage. It turns out that he had his clergyman comrade marry them, but neglected to explain the situation to Sophia when she saw the priest who'd married them dressed as a soldier and assumed she'd been tricked. Then both he and his friend died in battle.
Tall, Dark, and Handsome: Edmund is frequently described having a dark, masculine beauty about him.

Stephen Bellasis

The Honorable and Reverend Stephen Bellasis

Played By: James Fleet

Peregrine's younger brother and heir presumptive, a vicar. Husband of Grace and father of John and Emma.

Adaptational Nice Guy: The miniseries leaves out his lecherous tendencies.
Adaptational Villainy: The book version doesn't try to blackmail Lady Brockenhurst directly.
Beard of Evil: The miniseries gives him a goatee beard to go with his odious character.
Berserk Button: Being called "little brother" irks him a lot.
Blackmail: It's Stephen's idea to blackmail Lady Brockenhurst in order to get more money to cover his debts.
Blackmail Backfire: His attempt to leech money off of Lady Brockenhurst blows up in his face in the miniseries because she can out-leverage him (he doesn't try anything like that in the novel).
Dirty Old Man: In the book Stephen likes to feel up younger women and the maids never stay employed at his house for long.
Failed a Spot Check: Of everyone who is investigating Charles to find blackmail fodder, Stephen is the most likely to have figured everything out since Charles resembles Stephen's nephew Viscount Bellasis yet the thought never crosses his mind.
Foolish Sibling, Responsible Sibling: The foolish Upper-Class Twit and gambler compared to his responsible elder brother.
The Gambling Addict: By the time of the story, Stephen has gambled away nearly all his inheritance. According to Peregrine, he can't remember a time where he and Stephen interacted where he didn't ask for money to pay off his debts.
Hand Rubbing: In the novel, Grace can tell when Stephen has a good day gambling because he'd be rubbing his hands together (which wasn't often).
Hypocrite: In the adaptation he gives a sermon on the dangers of money while he deals with a massive gambling problem. Peregrine and Caroline are in the congregation and are fighting the urge to laugh the whole time.
Informed Attribute: Stephen is mentioned to be in poor health, or at least worse shape than his brother, but it doesn't show up directly and the emphasis is more on Peregrine's determination to remain alive so that Stephen can't inherit.
Kick the Dog: Stephen never wastes an opportunity to remind his older brother that his family will inherit Peregrine's estates because he has no living descendants. Unfortunately, Peregrine can hit back with a quip or two about Stephen's gambling problems, as shown when Stephen attempts to ask him for money; when Stephen tells him that John will inherit everything, Peregrine responds that by definition, Stephen will be dead and John won't have to worry about his father's problems.
Laser-Guided Karma: Stephen believed his position was secure and everything his brother had would pass to him and his son, which would alleviate all his debts. By the end of the story, his future is in shambles thanks to said son accidentally putting everything together in a blackmail scheme and Stephen's family is reduced to being a "penniless sideshow".
The Load: Peregrine views him as an embarrassment and everyone else who knows him, such as his son John, is waiting for him to die because of his poor health.
Nasal Trauma: Gets a cut on his nose from getting slammed headfirst into a table and a bottle smashed near his head after a failed gambling round.
The Resenter: Towards Peregrine because he's the elder brother who gets everything just because he's two years older.
Sinister Minister: Not so much in the novel where he's merely foolish, but in the miniseries he attempts to blackmail his sister-in-law about Charles Pope.
Smug Snake: More pronounced in the miniseries. Stephen thinks he and John are secure through inheriting the Earldom of Brockenhurst and tries to use this fact to blackmail Lady Brockenhurst into giving him money, but she's able to out-leverage him and his inheritance was never as secure as he (or anyone else) thought.
Spare to the Throne: Deconstructed. Stephen is heir to Peregrine, but doesn't actually feel any need to do anything useful in his life (he likes to do his actual job as little as possible) and everyone thinks he's going to die before Peregrine.
Spoiled Brat: It's stated in the novel that Stephen was coddled by his and Peregrine's mother, particularly after their younger sister died.
Upper-Class Twit: He never wants to do any work connected to his parish and admits he only took the job as the son of an Earl, as being a minister was a traditional job for members of the upper class who were younger sons.

John Bellasis

John Bellasis, Esquire

Played By: Adam James

Stephen and Grace's son and Peregrine and Caroline's nephew.

Adaptational Intelligence: John fumbles on a couple possibilities in the book on who Charles' mother is in the book. In the miniseries John speculates only once.
Arranged Marriage: To Lady Maria Grey.
Be Careful What You Wish For: John (and Stephen to a lesser extent) wished to find dirt on his aunt Caroline. He found dirt all right, and it led to his ruin.
Big "NO!": In the miniseries when Susan escapes from him with the documents on Charles.
The Dandy: One of his first lines is about how many clothes he has to have to appear fashionable in London. Apparently it's a big expense.
Deadpan Snarker: When Stephen shows up for lunch and tells John to not ask about his face, John replies "Good day to you too, father."
Disappeared Dad: John is the father of Susan's child and given that he rejected Susan and is wanted for attempted murder, it's unlikely that he'll be playing any part in that child's upbringing.
Dragon-in-Chief: While Stephen makes the initial suggestion to blackmail Lady Brockenhurst for more money, it's John who actually does the legwork by bribing the servants and persuading Susan to get information from her mother-in-law. Stephen's more direct approach winds up being much less successful.
Even Evil Can Be Loved: The main person who cares for him is his mother, while Stephen doesn't really give any opinion on him. Grace is heartbroken when John is forced to flee Great Britain.
Evil Nephew: Downplayed. He certainly is evil, as shown by his actions towards Charles Pope, but he never moves against his aunt and uncle directly.
The Exile: After his failed attempt to kill Charles Pope, John flees to the continent and will likely be on the run for the rest of his life. In fact he's being paid to stay out of Great Britain or the money he's being given to live on will stop coming.
Failed a Spot Check: John is in a room with Charles Pope several times, yet he doesn't even think of the possibility that his cousin Edmund could be Charles' father until he gets the papers from Jane Croft.
Greater-Scope Villain: In the sequel miniseries, John's affair with Susan and subsequent abandonment of her child caused no end of issues, particularly in Frederick's personal life.
Hated by All: Nobody really likes him, except for maybe his mother and his fiance's mother; the latter is probably because of his status. Most everyone else considers him worthless and smarmy.
I Have No Son!: He has no interest in raising his illegitimate child with Susan, even when it's in his best interest.
Inheritance Murder: When John realizes that all the secrets lead to him not getting anything, he attempts to murder Charles Pope.
Lack of Empathy: Lady Brockenhurst describes him as being a peacock who has no care for the people of her husband's estate than if they were stones in the road. Susan even lampshades it by saying he isn't tenderhearted, to which John bluntly states an affirmative. He doesn't really care for his parents (he resents them for a lot of things they can't have), never says anything about his sister, and dumps Susan when she reveals she's pregnant, even when she offers him a way out of his financial and societal straits. When John shoves Charles into the Thames and James confronts him, John acts like nothing happened and that he doesn't know what James is talking about.
No Challenge Equals No Satisfaction: John admits to his father that he's unhappy with his Arranged Marriage to Maria because he doesn't get any fun out of doing what he likes with someone.
"When a woman is to be served up on a platter, to do with as one likes, it rather takes the sport out of it. At least it does for me."
The Nondescript: John's physical appearance isn't really described in the book outside of being handsome.
Oh, Crap!: When he throws Susan out of his rooms and realizes she took the papers on Charles Pope, incriminating him.
The One Thing I Don't Hate About You: Peregrine prefers John a little more than his father because he actually seems to have brains.
Parent-Preferred Suitor: The Countess of Templemore would prefer that her daughter Maria marries John over Charles Pope.
Pet the Dog: In Belgravia: The Next Chapter, it turns out that John did in fact regret not being able to raise his son Frederick Trenchard himself. He had Mr Enright insert himself as a servant at Glanville to send John regular reports on Frederick's well being, took great pride in news of his accomplishments and had literal dreams about taking him away from Oliver, and finally calls Frederick to his deathbed to tell him all this and leaves him a generous sum of money. He tells Frederick that he's the only good thing he's ever done.
Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Stephen thinks that John saw the writing on the wall regarding Charles and left for greener pastures, but the audience knows he is in exile.
The Sociopath: Fits most of the criteria. Superficially charming? Check, given he gets the Countess of Templemore to arrange a marriage between him and her daughter Maria and start an affair with Susan on the side. Manipulative Bastard? Check; weasels his way into getting information on the Trenchards through their servants. Lack of Empathy? He only got engaged to Maria just to keep up appearances, dumps Susan when she reveals she's pregnant, and is the only person in the entire novel/miniseries to attempt murder (and act as if nothing happened). The only person he might care for are his parents, and even then he resents them and has no problem stealing from them just to pay his spies.
Spare to the Throne: Like his father, but everyone believes he will inherit the Earldom because it is more likely that Stephen will die before Peregrine.
Villainous Breakdown: Everything falls apart for him in the last two chapters/last episode, starting from when he realizes that Charles is the true heir to Lord Brockenhurst; then he foolishly leaves the proof near Susan who steals them when his back is turned, and it culminates in his attempt to murder Charles for a chance of getting his inheritance back.

Other Characters

Charles Pope

Charles Pope, Viscount Bellasis

Played By: Jack Bardoe

Edmund and Sophia's son, the owner of a cotton mill in Manchester. Adopted by the Reverend Benjamin Pope and his wife.

Adaptational Intelligence: When Charles gets the note from Maria to meet with her and elope, he spends several minutes fumbling about in the library in the book. In the miniseries he finds her fairly quickly after a word to the bookseller.
Child of Forbidden Love: Born from an interclass romance that was cut short when his father was killed at Waterloo and his mother died believing he was illegitimate.
Disappeared Dad: Aside from his birth parents being dead, his foster father died a year ago.
Fatal Flaw: Too nice for his own good. Charles' refusal to deny Oliver's accusations complicates James' efforts to clear him and his naïve attempt to make amends with Oliver nearly gets him killed by John Bellasis.
Generation Xerox: Inherited his father's kind heart and honesty and his mother's ambition (which she inherited from her father). And like his mother, he falls for an aristocrat several degrees above his station.
Happily Adopted: By the Popes, whom he refers to has his real parents.
Heroic Bastard: Subverted. Charles is an Honest Corporate Executive of presumably illegitimate birth, but he wasn't actually illegitimate.
Honest Corporate Executive: Even when Malicious Slander is drummed up against him, he refuses to deny the allegations until they are cleared up.
Honor Before Reason: Doesn't deny false allegations against him because it would drive a wedge between his benefactor and son and would refuse the woman he loves because he fears spoiling her reputation.
Innocent Blue Eyes: An Honest Corporate Executive who inherited his father and grandfather's blue eyes.
Locked Out of the Loop: Charles has no idea of his true history and only learns it after someone tries to kill him. He winds up kicking himself about how he should have suspected something when a businessman and a Grande Dame start taking an interest in a lowly young man.
Nice Guy: Almost to his detriment. Charles drastically complicates things for the Trenchards and Lady Brockenhurst when he refuses to deny allegations against him, allegations he knows are false, because of who made them. He also doesn't realize John Bellasis has a quarrel with him until John tries to murder him.
Parental Abandonment: His father was killed at the Battle of Waterloo and his mother died in childbirth. The Popes told him that his parents are dead and they adopted him.
Phrase Catcher: The book's narration twice refers to him as an "interloper who threatens to overturn the cart", referring to his status as a Spanner in the Works.
Someone to Remember Him By: For Sophia after Edmund was killed at Waterloo.
Spanner in the Works: His very presence upsets the inheritance for Stephen's family and Lady Templemore's efforts to get her daughter Maria to marry John.
Strong Family Resemblance: Greatly resembles his father Edmund; both his grandmothers practically have heart attacks when they meet him for the first time and see how similar he looks to Edmund.
Tall, Dark, and Handsome: Inherited his father Edmund's dark, masculine looks.
Unexpected Inheritance: A young businessman who becomes the heir to a grand estate.
Walking Spoiler: Many of the revelations throughout the story pertain to his identity, parentage and legitimacy.
Workaholic: Despite becoming Viscount Bellasis, Charles intends to continue his business. Mrs. Pope says that telling him not to work would be like telling a fish not to swim or a bird not to fly.

Lady Corinne Grey

Lady Corinne Grey, Dowager Countess of Templemore

Played By: Tara Fitzgerald

Dowager Countess of Templemore, mother of Maria and Reggie.

Adaptational Jerkass: In the miniseries it's implied that Lady Templemore never really warms up to Charles being her son in law, let alone with having the Trenchards as part of her extended family.
Awful Wedded Life: Lady Templemore's life with her husband is consistently described as miserable and didn't end with his death.
Believing Their Own Lies: She actually seems to believe that Maria and John are well suited when it's plain they aren't; Maria lampshades it by saying that her mother "would not say so if she didn't believe it to be true."
Didn't Think This Through: Arranging a marriage to the Bellasis family. Even though John is presumably going to inherit his uncle's title, he's still reliant on his parents for money and Stephen has his own gambling problems that impact John's conditions.
Gold Digger: In a similar vein as Ruth Bukater, Lady Templemore uses her daughter in an arranged marriage for her prospective son-in-law's money. Conversely in the book, she warms up to Charles when it's revealed he's Lord Brockenhurst's heir, while in the miniseries she remains as frosty as ever.
Horrible Judge of Character: John is undeniably a scoundrel, which is pretty plain from Anne's point of view after just looking at him. Unfortunately Lady Templemore either doesn't realize this or care.
Hypocrite: For the Awful Wedded Life she endured, the Countess of Templemore is unwilling to allow her daughter to have a happy marriage.
I Have No Son!: When Maria declares she will marry Charles instead of John, she "sets [Maria] adrift to sail her own barque."
It's All About Me: It's indicated that her pushing the match between Maria and John is so she can spend her remaining years in comfort.
Jerkass Has a Point: Lady Templemore points out that Maria is already engaged to John and could face consequences for breaking it. It winds up being a moot point when John disappears.
Parental Marriage Veto: She forbids Maria from marrying Charles Pope because of his lower standing in society, though she lightens up when it turns out that Charles is an heir.

Lady Maria Grey

Lady Maria Grey, Lady Bellasis

Played By: Ella Purnell

Lady Templemore's daughter and Reggie's sister. Betrothed to John Bellasis.

Adaptation Dye-Job: Described as being blonde in the novel, but is played by the dark-haired Ella Purnell.
Arranged Marriage: To John Bellasis.
Bookworm: Lady Brockenhurst mentions that Maria used to always have her head in a book. She also intends to become a member of the London Library and makes a secret meeting with Charles at a bookshop in Piccadilly.
Dating What Daddy Hates: Maria meets frequently with Charles Pope, a merchant tradesman and illegitimate by birth, neither of which endears him to her mother Lady Templemore.
Establishing Character Moment: Her conversation with Charles Pope. Notably she doesn't immediately refer to herself as a lady.
Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Once it becomes clear that her mother intends to force Maria to marry John, she's prepared to elope with Charles and make her own life with him.
Spirited Young Lady: Maria has dreams of traveling to faraway places like India and wishes to Marry for Love.
Uptown Girl: For Charles Pope. She's the daughter of an Earl, he's a businessman and presumably illegitimate child.

Mrs. Pope

Played By: Serena Evans

Charles Pope's adopted mother, widow of the Reverend Benjamin Pope.

Get Out!: Turfs John Bellasis out of her home when she figures out he's there to question her about Charles.
Only One Name: Her first name isn't mentioned at any point.
Parental Substitute: To Charles Pope, alongside her deceased husband. Charles sees them as his real parents.
Spotting the Thread: Figures out that John came to grill her about Charles because John was unaware that the Reverend Pope was dead.

Brent, Astley, and Riley

William Brent, Jacob Astley, Joseph Riley

Played By: Stephen Chapman (Brent), Paul Bown (Astley), Ian Attard (Riley)

Three men in Manchester with a grudge against Charles Pope.

Beard of Evil: All three of them are cheaters and jerks with full beards.
Big, Thin, Short Trio: Brent (Big), Astley (Thin), and Riley (Short).
Didn't Think This Through: James easily proves their claims false because he's smart enough to actually examine the information. Really he would have exposed them earlier if Charles hadn't stopped him.
Even Evil Has Loved Ones: Riley admits he took the job as a loom because he has a wife and four children to feed.
Fat Bastard: Brent is described as heavyset.
Lean and Mean: Astley is described as lean and near-skeletal.
Malicious Slander: All three slander Charles by claiming he forced Mrs. Girton to sell her mill at a cut price, cheated customs, and forced Riley to settle for a lower paying job.
Named by the Adaptation: Riley's counterpart in the novel has no name.
Oh, Crap!: In the adaptation, Riley stops dead in his tracks when he realizes he's talking to James Trenchard, the father of the man he was speaking to.

Richard Bouverie

The Honorable and Reverend Captain Richard Bouverie, 52nd Light Infantry

Played By: Mark Healy

The younger son of Lord Tidworth, a soldier who was friends with Viscount Edmund Bellasis and conducted the marriage ceremony for Edmund and Sophia Trenchard. Killed at Waterloo alongside Lord Bellasis.

All There in the Manual: Reversed; his name is mentioned in dialogue but is credited in the miniseries as "Officer/Parson".
Badass Preacher: Took holy orders after his retirement and his vows were still active when he was killed at Waterloo.
Hand Wave: In-universe. John asks Wentworth how Bouverie was able to reenlist being a clergyman, to which Wentworth suggests that Lord Tidworth pulled some strings.
Honor Before Reason: He had a cushy position as a clergyman but chose to reenlist out of duty to his country when Napoleon escaped from Elba.
Old Soldier: Bouverie had retired from the army in 1802, over a decade before Waterloo.
Posthumous Character: Almost everything heard about him is second-hand after his death.
Retirony: Originally retired for 13 years, Bouverie rejoined the fighting when Napoleon escaped from Elba. He then died at Waterloo.
Small Role, Big Impact: Only appears in flashback and isn't named in the credits, but he married Edmund and Sophia, making Charles legitimate.
Spare to the Throne: As a younger son of an aristocrat, Bouverie took up a traditional career as first a soldier and then a clergyman.
Walking Spoiler: His actual status as a preacher blows the whole story wide open.

Characters / Belgravia

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