Characters appearing in the 2022 Netflix adaptation of Heartstopper.
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Charlie Spring
Charlie Spring
"It's not a crush. I don't just fall for any guy who's nice to me."
Portrayed by: Joe Locke
A shy, nerdy Year 10 boy who is the only out gay student at Truham.
- Apologizes a Lot: To the point where Nick says he's not allowed to say the "s-word," though even that does not entirely stop him.
- Broken Ace: As Nick points out, Charlie is a talented student, unbeatable at Mario Kart, a skilled drummer, and top sprinter. He's also deeply insecure and anxious thanks to past bullying and his abusive relationship with Ben.
- Bully Magnet: Being outed caused Charlie to become targeted by bullies, which persists to some extent into the following school year.
- Closet Key: For Nick, who had previously thought himself to be completely heterosexual.
- Deadpan Snarker: Sarcastic and quippy, especially around Nick.Charlie: [During a rugby game] Quick question. Why are the other team literal adult men?
- The Determinator: Despite everything he will just keep pushing through it, whether it's rugby tackling or proving Nick is a good guy.
- Dude Magnet: He triggers Nick's bisexual awakening, Ben is obsessed with him long after their break up, and James admits to having a crush on him in the past.
- Everything Sounds Sexier in French: Is a little turned on when he learns Nick can speak French fluently.
- Forced Out of the Closet: Alludes to this having happened in Year 9.
- Grew a Spine: Gains the confidence to put his own needs first and break it off with Ben.
- Guilt Complex/It's All My Fault: He tends to blame himself for everything, including when his friends make their own decisions to fight his bullies.Tao: [Charlie's] always had a tendency to believe that him just existing is annoying for other people.
- Heroic Self-Deprecation: Calls himself weak multiple times, devalues his intellectual talents, and protests when Nick talks about how he's good at everything.
- Lovable Nerd: He's shy, awkward, and a strong student (especially at maths), while also being kind, selfless and adored by his small group of friends.
- Nice Guy: Charlie is sweet and caring to the point of putting others first at his own expense. This creates a problem when Ben harasses him after their breakup, as Charlie refuses to say anything that would out someone else like he was.
- Only Known By His Nickname: Nobody calls him Charles instead of Charlie.
- Rejected Apology: Two cases during season 2, where he does the rejection.
- First, Harry apologizes to Nick and Charlie over his previous homophobia towards Charlie. Given that he is saying this primarily to get into Tara's party and hoping to pressure Charlie in front of everyone into accepting it, Charlie just says no and slams the door in his face, to raucous applause.
- Second, Ben corners Nick and Charlie so he can say that he's trying to change and wants to be friends before he leaves Truham... undercut by still blaming Charlie for not giving him a chance. Charlie points out that Ben's apology is really a plea for validation from his victim, and that "sorry" wouldn't have cut it anyway after all the trauma Ben has put him through. He wishes Ben well on his journey, but doesn't want to be around to see it.
- Trauma Conga Line: Went through one prior to the events of the first season: He got outed at school and was openly bullied over it to the point of self-harm and developing an eating disorder, then Ben pushed him into an abusive relationship that further damaged Charlie's self-worth, culminating in Ben's attempted sexual assault in the first episode when Charlie tried to break things off with him.
- The Twink: He's a young, pretty, and rail-thin gay boy.
- Violently Protective Boyfriend: Despite struggling to stand up for himself, he is fiercely defensive of Nick, including taking the brunt of the teasing about his hickey and defending him from Harry at the bonfire party.
Nick Nelson
Nicholas "Nick" Nelson
"Do you ever feel like you're only doing things because everyone else is? And you're scared to change?"
Portrayed by: Kit Connor
The rugby king of Truham, a friendly and outgoing Year 11 boy.
- Adaptational Dye-Job: Nick is blond in the webcomic but redheaded in the show.
- Animal Motif: Dogs. He's compared to a golden retriever, has the friendly, loyal personality to match, and is always with his dog Nellie.
- Bi-Wildered: Spends most of the first series struggling to understand his own sexuality before coming to terms with being bisexual.
- Bully Hunter: Defends Charlie from Ben even before they get together, and calls Harry out for his homophobia.Nick: You saw the perfect opportunity to make someone feel miserable and humiliated, as usual.
- Calling the Old Man Out: Thanks to David's needling, his efforts to come out to Stéphane calmly devolve into this instead.
- Catchphrase: "I'm bi(sexual), actually," or some permutation of those three words. He says them often enough over the course of the first two seasons that he preemptively writes it as the caption for his public Instagram post declaring his relationship with Charlie.
- Childhood Friend Romance: 'Unlucky' version. Nick and Tara used to have a mutual crush and even kissed once at a party, but they grew apart and he lost interest before the first season. It doesn't stop the rugby team from ribbing him like his crush was still alive, though by that point, he was already developing feelings for Charlie.
- One-sided with Imogen as well, since he sees her as just a friend but she's had a long-time crush on him and even asks him out, which he is too stunned to turn down... despite already dating Charlie in secret.
- Disappeared Dad: His father is never acknowledged in season 1, and is revealed to be divorced and living in Paris in season 2.
- Has a Type: Both his former crush Tara and current love interest Charlie are sweet, musical and introverted.
- Hidden Depths: Speaks French fluently, on account of being French on his father's side.
- Last Het Romance: For Tara, as kissing her at her 13th birthday party made her realize that she’s a lesbian. Subverted from Nick's end as he did have a crush on her, which later helped him realise he was bisexual.
- Like Brother and Sister: Settles into this relationship with Tara and Imogen during the series.
- Lovable Jock: He is the king of Truham rugby and a kind and caring guy.
- Manly Gay: Well, bi actually — Nick is not in the least bit camp and is a star rugby player at Truham.
- Momma's Boy: Close to his mum, including confides his worries about Imogen and his old friends to her. She picks up on his affection for Charlie and is nothing but supportive when he comes out to her at the end of the season.
- Nice Guy: Nick is sensitive and compassionate, which gets him into trouble when he doesn't know how to turn Imogen down when she asks him out.
- Stepford Smiler: He realises that he doesn't actually like most of his friends, and struggles with how much he's been suppressing his genuine self compared to how he feels around Charlie.
Tao Xu
Tao Xu
"I just miss how things used to be. With the four of us."
Portrayed by: William Gao
Charlie's fiercely protective friend who is a cinephile and best friends with Elle.
- Adaptational Attractiveness: Zigzagged. He's much taller than his webcomic counterpart, being a head above Elle instead reaching her chin. On the other hand, webcomic Tao has a relatively normal hairstyle beneath his beanie while the show has him with a less flattering look of ear length hair parted down the middle.
- Adaptational Jerkass: In the webcomic, he could be rude at times, but generally had good intentions. In the TV series, he comes off as borderline narcissistic, refusing to take the blame for problems he caused and expecting to be thanked for making problems worse.
- Asian and Nerdy: While nothing has been indicated about grades (aside from him likely receiving low grades in art), Tao prefers watching movies (scroll down for trope) and going to the arcade, while expressing a disdain towards sports.
- Freudian Excuse: In season two, he opens up that his possessiveness and abandonment issues stem from losing his dad at age 11.
- Hates Being Alone: He's desperate for his friend group's dynamics not to change because he fears being abandoned.
- It's All My Fault: Blames himself for Charlie being bullied since he was overheard talking to Isaac about Charlie being gay, causing Charlie to be outed to the whole school.
- Jerkass Has a Point: While affected by his own insecurity of being left alone, Tao did recognise that hanging around with the rugby lads would lead to Charlie being exposed to the type of homophobia he'd dealt with the previous year.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: He may be moody, blunt,and possessive of his friends but deep down cherishes them all and will go to bat for them against anybody that tries to hurt them, physically or verbally.
- Large Ham: Prone to dramatic flourishes and over-the-top reactions.
- Locked Out of the Loop: Eventually the only friend not to know that Charlie and Nick are dating.
- Master of the Mixed Message: Elle not being able to get a read on how Tao feels for her is one of the reasons why she can't confess her feelings.
- The Movie Buff: Loves forcing his friends to watch artsy films of his choice and only respects the school orchestra once he learns that they sometimes play film music.
- New Friend Envy: Doesn't like Nick, motivated in part by Nick being friends with the Jerk Jocks but also because Tao fears change in his friend group and being abandoned. In season 2, he's also jealous when Elle makes new friends at the Lambert School of Art.
- Non-Action Snarker: Fights Harry's bullying with witty retorts, as he's too unathletic to fight him physically. He eventually reaches his Rage Breaking Point and does scrap with Harry.
- Red Oni, Blue Oni: Tao is short-tempered and impulsive, in contrast to Elle, who's calm and sensitive.
- Terrible Artist: His shoe drawing looks like a potato and his "landscape" isn't one due to having painted his friends into it. He admits that it was a mistake to take Art GCSE.
Elle Argent
Elle Argent
"I was really scared no one would like me, so... I didn't even try talking to people at first."
Portrayed by: Yasmin Finney
A trans girl in Charlie's friend group who transfers from Truham to Higgs and is best friends with Tao.
- Armor-Piercing Question: Delivers one to Imogen. After Imogen ranted to her and Nick about Ben constantly ignoring her, Elle asks if Imogen even likes him. Imogen cannot bring herself to reply, but it was the push she needed to finally break up with Ben.
- Friendless Background: She starts this way at Higgs due to being the new student. Her teacher even offers to help her make friends.
- I Don't Want to Ruin Our Friendship: Her reason for not confessing her feelings to Tao and getting upset that her friends try to set them up.
- New Transfer Student: She transfers to Higgs halfway through Year 11, having come out as a trans girl.
- Red Oni, Blue Oni: Elle is calm and sensitive, in contrast to Tao, who is short-tempered and impulsive.
- Statuesque Stunner: She is taller than everyone except Tao, willowy, and beautiful.
- Twofer Token Minority: Elle is a black trans girl.
Isaac Henderson
Isaac Henderson
Charlie: "That's Isaac. He doesn't say a lot, but he's really nice."
Portrayed by: Tobie Donovan
The quietest member of Charlie's friend group who always has a book in hand.
- Alone Among the Couples: His friend group consists of Charlie/Nick, Tao/Elle, and Tara/Darcy. It doesn't seem to bother him... except when they pair off and leave him on his own. Season 2 has him open up about believing in romance but never experiencing that kind of attraction, feeling broken as a result, being annoyed that his friends don't think he's "interesting" without a messy love story of his own, and ultimately coming to terms with being asexual and aromantic.
- Bookworm: He's always reading or carrying a book. He ends up buying an entire stack of books during the Paris trip, and falls asleep with a book on his face.
- Canon Foreigner: He did not exist in the comic, taking the place of Aled Last in the show.
- Fat Best Friend: Throughout Season 1, Isaac has no love interest of his own and is usually limited to being a sounding board to his friends. He has a bulky build unlike most of the younger cast.
- Incompatible Orientation: With James. He's receptive of the crush and tries to encourage something between them, but Isaac's asexual and doesn't feel any spark when James kisses him, which breaks James' heart and makes Isaac feel like there's something wrong with him.
- The Quiet One: He doesn't talk much but is nonetheless a friendly guy.
- Shipper on Deck: Alongside Darcy and Tara, he's rooting for Charlie and Nick because he wants to "believe in romance."
Tara Jones
Tara Jones
"It's different for me. You came out years ago. I'm not loud and confident about being a lesbian."
Portrayed by: Corinna Brown
Elle's new friend at Higgs, a closeted lesbian who is dating Darcy.
- Childhood Friend Romance: Justified 'Unlucky' version. Nick and Tara used to have a mutual crush... then they kissed once at a party, which is what caused Tara to realize she was a lesbian.
- Closet Gay: Unlike Darcy, Tara (and thus their relationship) is still in the closet. Only a handful of their friends know that they're together until Tara officially comes out on Instagram.
- Gaydar: Senses something going on between Charlie and Nick, which she chalks up to "gay intuition."
- Lipstick Lesbian: She is rather feminine, especially when compared to shorter-haired, hoodie-preferring Darcy. This leads some to react in surprise and derision when she comes out.
- Nice Girl: Goes out of her way to befriend Elle when she notices how lonely she is, and supports Nick through his sexuality crisis.
- The Friends Who Never Hang: Tara and Darcy mention having an inner circle of friends close enough to know that they are dating. The most we see of these friends are obscured extras in Season 1.
- Tomboy and Girly Girl: Girly girl to Darcy's tomboy.
- Twofer Token Minority: Tara is a black lesbian.
Darcy Olsson
Darcy Olsson
"You’ve befriended the school lesbians."
Portrayed by: Kizzy Edgell
Elle's new friend at Higgs, an out lesbian who is dating Tara.
- Abusive Parents: Her mother, who is homophobic. She insults her for deciding to wear a suit to prom, causing her to run away from home.
- Deadpan Snarker: Sarcastically salutes Imogen for being an LGBTQ ally.
- The Matchmaker: Tries to be this to Tao and Elle, suggesting they get invited to the already-planned double date as a third couple.
- Shipper on Deck:
- For Tao and Elle, to her delight when Tao finally asks Elle out, and when they get together in Paris.
- In season 2 she adds Isaac and James, though this only gets as far as some playful teasing before Isaac, in the midst of a crisis of sexuality, puts a stop to it.
- Stepford Smiler: The goofy girl of the bunch who is seemingly immune to embarrassment, but also isn't out to her homophobic parents, often sleeps over at Tara's to avoid going home, and thinks Tara wouldn't love her if she fell off her girlfriend's pedestal.
- The Friends Who Never Hang: Tara and Darcy mention having an inner circle of friends close enough to know that they are dating. The most we see of these friends are obscured extras in Season 1.
- Tomboy and Girly Girl: Tomboy to Tara's girly girl. She even picks out a suit for prom.
Tori Spring
Victoria “Tori” Spring
"Well done. Your crush on him was super embarrassing."
Portrayed by: Jenny Walser
Charlie's snarky older sister.
- Aloof Dark-Haired Girl: Her hair is just as dark as Charlie's, and her default mode is monotone, dry, and snarky.
- Big Sister Instinct:
- As Charlie's older sister, Tori is naturally wary of Nick and his intentions. She always makes sure to support Charlie (though not without some choice, snarky comments) and hugs him after assuring him that Nick and Tao getting into fights with Harry is not his fault.
- As in the comic, she digs her fingers into David's arm when he makes an innuendo about Nick and Charlie at dinner, and kicks his phone out of his hands when he calls Charlie a drama queen.
Tori: Talk about my brother like that again, and I'll end you. - Deadpan Snarker: Always materializes from seemingly out of nowhere to offer snarky commentary about her brother's burgeoning relationship with Nick.Charlie: (messing with his hair in the mirror) Is my hair too short?Tori: It looks the same.Charlie: But is it okay?Tori: It looks. The same.
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business: When Charlie admits to thinking everyone would be better off if he didn't exist, the normally emotionless and sarcastic Tori has visible tears in her eyes and immediately hugs him.
- Stealth Hi/Bye: She repeatedly startles Charlie by silently appearing behind him.Charlie: How do you just appear out of nowhere?Tori: Older sister magic.
Harry Greene
Harry Greene
"And like, it's all just banter, isn't it? I mean, the lads can see it's banter. You can see it's banter."
Portrayed by: Cormac Hyde-Corrin
The biggest bully on Nick’s rugby team.
- The Bully: Both verbally and physically bullies classmates for fun.
- Everyone Has Standards: Even he is shocked when Ben calls Imogen a bitch.
- Hate Sink: He is a homophobic, transphobic bully who makes life hell for Charlie and his friends. He exists to be hated.
- Hazy-Feel Turn: Seems to be undergoing one as of Season 2. He apologizes to Nick and Charlie for his homophobic behavior (though this is at least partially self-serving since he's trying to gain him and his friends access to the party at the same time), defends Nick and Charlie (albeit in laid-back and not-too-serious manner) after the latter is being teased for giving the former a hickey, and refers to Charlie as Nick's boyfriend at prom seemingly without any malice or sarcasm in his voice. How sincere he is in his efforts to change, however, remains to be seen.
- Jerkass: Seemingly has no redeeming qualities as the lead bully of the rugby team. He is homophobic to Charlie, transphobic to Elle, and enjoys throwing things at people during lunch.
- Jerk Jock: He plays rugby and is a bullying homophobe/transphobe.
- "Just Joking" Justification: His favorite line anytime someone calls him out on his homophobic behavior.
Ben Hope
Ben Hope
"As if anyone would ever want to go out with someone as desperate as you."
Portrayed by: Sebastian Croft
Charlie's ex, a deeply closeted and emotionally abusive Year 11 boy.
- All Take and No Give: Arrange meetups with Charlie on his terms, ignoring all of Charlie's wants and needs. He later treats Imogen the same way after they get together.
- Armoured Closet Gay: He has a girlfriend and declares he only liaised with Charlie out of pity. He flip-flops between saying he's figuring things out and insisting that he's not gay.
- Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: In public he presents himself as an upstanding young man, but in private he's quite the asshole as shown with how he treated Charlie. This causes issues in season 2 when Imogen falls for the sheep act and starts dating him. She has enough of it once the bitch side becomes apparent.
- Blackmail: He threatens to out Nick when Charlie begins to stand up to Ben, but Charlie throws right back that they could just as easily out Ben at any time if he tries.
- Crazy Jealous Guy: Towards Charlie, becoming downright cruel first when Charlie tries to leave him, then whenever he sees Charlie being happy with Nick. In Season 2, He oscillates between ignoring his girlfriend Imogen throughout the Paris trip (especially when he sees a chance to get close to Charlie instead), and latching onto her whenever he sees Nick being friendly to her.
- Forced Out of the Closet: Downplayed. Imogen publicly calls out his creepy obsession with Charlie when she breaks up with him, though she wasn't aware of the reasoning behind it at the time. His continued denial later implies that nobody else caught on.
- Hate Sink: He emotionally abuses and sexually assaults Charlie, serving no purpose other than being an antagonist.
- Jerkass: He has no redeeming qualities as a cheating, abusive guy who takes advantage of Charlie and continues to belittle him after their relationship is broken off. He turns his harassment and gaslighting onto Nick when he can't get to Charlie.
- Never My Fault: In season 2, he repeatedly blames Nick for "stealing" Charlie from him and "getting in [Charlie's] head" to make Charlie hate him, and Charlie for not giving him enough time to figure himself out before breaking up with him. All of this ignores that Charlie was trying to break up with Ben over him being a cheater and a negligent asshole before Nick got involved, and that they both hate Ben because he assaulted Charlie (which Ben insists was "just a misunderstanding") and has been repeatedly harassing each of them in private.
- In Paris, he also blamed Nick for Imogen breaking up with him, believing Nick must have told her about Ben's past with Charlie since she called it out at dinner.
- His apology to Charlie at the end of Season 2 includes mentioning that his family would never accept him if he came out as gay. While this is certainly plausible and reflects real life experiences and anxieties of queer youth, the way he presents it is another attempt to excuse his behavior and, as Charlie calls out, guilt his victim into validating him.
- "Not So Different" Remark: Claims that he and Nick are exactly the same, because Nick hasn't told Charlie that he doesn't want to come out. Of course, Nick hasn't said that because it's untrue and he's already in the process of coming out.
- Put on a Bus: At the end of season 2, he reveals he will not be returning to Truham for Sixth Form, meaning he will not appear in season 3 after his apology to Charlie.
- Stalker with a Crush: Repeatedly corners and harasses Charlie after they break up, keeping an eye on him even at group events — but insists he's not even interested and only dated Charlie out of pity, and that Charlie seems obsessed with him instead. In season 2 he admits to Nick he still wants to be with Charlie, and thinks they would be back together already if not for Nick "getting in [Charlie's] head". Charlie finds this delusion laughable when he hears of it.
Imogen Heaney
Imogen Heaney
"Just so you know, me and Nick are together, so I just needed to check."
Portrayed by: Rhea Norwood
A girl who hangs out with the rugby team and has a crush on Nick.
- Ambiguously Bi: So far, she has had a crush on two boys in the series, and is treated as an ally, but also has a Ship Tease with Sahar at the end of season 2.
- Canon Foreigner: She did not exist in the comic.
- Coax Them Out of the Closet: Played with. After an episode of Nick stressing over telling Imogen he's bi, when he finally pulls her aside to come out to her, she can't help interrupting to ask if he's trying to tell her he's with Charlie. She figured it out after the Sports Day incident, noting it was rather obvious in hindsight.
- The Dog Bites Back: During the Paris trip, she publicly calls out Ben for constantly ignoring her and obsessing over Charlie, ultimately breaking up with him over it.
- Hair of Gold, Heart of Gold: Imogen has (dyed) blonde hair and is generally a sweet, lovely girl.
- Hopeless Suitor:
- She likes Nick, who only sees her as a friend and is already secretly going out with Charlie.
- In season 2, she becomes one to Ben, even dating him, but he has no interest in her as he's also into Charlie.
- I Just Want to Have Friends: Admits to Nick in Season 2 that she doesn't actually have many proper friends, which is why she's so desperate to get a boyfriend. Things improve after spending time with The Paris Gang.
- Innocently Insensitive: She asks Tara, a lesbian, to clarify that she and Nick aren’t dating.
- Just Friends: Imogen's explanation to the rugby boys as to why she and Nick aren't dating. To her credit, she takes the rejection well.
- Nice Girl: She's generally a sweet and friendly girl, and is a good friend to Nick.
- One of the Guys: Often seen hanging out with the rugby boys before school. In Season 2, even after befriending the main cast, she still seems more comfortable around Nick, Charlie and the other boys compared to the girls.
Sahar Zahid
Sahar Zahid
Portrayed by: Leila Khan
The prom coordinator at Higgs who befriends Elle, Tara and Darcy.
- Female Rockers Play Bass: She's not the only girl in the band, but she is the bassist for the Truham-Higgs prom.
- Mistaken for Gay: Inverted. Imogen teases that she's no longer the token straight friend of the girls with Sahar around, who dryly replies she's bisexual.
- Remember the New Guy?: She and Imogen used to be friends, but grew apart the year prior.
- Ship Tease: Has some with Imogen at the end of season 2.
- Twofer Token Minority: Sahar is of Arabian descent and bisexual.
Teachers
Nathan Ajayi
Portrayed by: Fisayo Akinade
The art teacher who lets Charlie eat lunch in his room.
- Adaptational Relationship Overhaul: In the comic he's the art teacher at Higgs, so he and Charlie wouldn't interact outside of the Paris trip until he switched to Truham to be closer to Youssef. In the show he's introduced working at Truham and is already Youssef's coworker, and Charlie comes to him for both advice and safe harbor.
- The Gadfly: When Youssef asks if he bought the students elevator tickets for the Eiffel Tower, Mr. Ajayi smirks and says no.
- Mentor in Queerness: As a gay man, Charlie goes to him for advice about teenage relationships. On some level he also acts as one for Youssef, who lacks experience as an older gay man.
- Papa Wolf: He's not Charlie's dad, but he's still protective of his protégé after the bullying he caught the year before. He gives Nick a cold reception on mistaking him for Charlie's abusive ex.
- Twofer Token Minority: Mr. Ajayi is both black and gay.
Coach Singh
Portrayed by: Chetnya Pandya
The athletics coach at Truham Boys.
- Lesbian Jock: Keeps a photo of her wife (who was also one in college) on her desk.
- Passionate Sports Girl: She is the head coach of seemingly all sports at the boys-only school, including the rugby team.
- Shipper on Deck: In season 2, for Nathan and Youssef.
Youssef Farouk
Portrayed by: Nima Taleghani
A stern science teacher supervising the Year 11 GCSE revision at Truham Boys.
- Catchphrase: QUIET!!!
- Compelling Voice: A non-supernatural example, he can silence an entire room of noisy teens and get their attention with one "QUIET."
- I Need a Freaking Drink: ... but since teachers shouldn't drink while chaperoning, he settles for a croissant.
- Stern Teacher: Even slapping a ruler on the desk when Ben and Nick begin bickering during study hours.
- Straight Gay: Has no outward mannerisms that indicate he's gay, owing to not realizing for himself until his late 20s.note None of the students seem to be aware of it, anyway.
- Twofer Token Minority: Mr. Farouk is Arabic and gay.
Family
Sarah Nelson
Portrayed by: Olivia Colman
Nick's caring mother.
- Good Parents: Her only worry when Nick comes out to her is that she didn't make him feel comfortable enough to be open with her, as she loves and accepts him fully.
- Like Parent, Like Child: It's clear where Nick gets his warm and sweet nature from.
- Shipper on Deck: Immediately comments how Nick is much more himself around Charlie, encourages their friendship, and after they get together tells Charlie how lucky Nick is to have him.
Julio and Jane Spring
Portrayed by: Joseph Balderrama and Georgina Rich
Charlie and Tori's parents.
- Gentle Touch vs. Firm Hand: Julio is the more easy-going of the pair, and uncomfortable with Jane's blanket ban on Charlie seeing Nick outside school, suggesting he wanted a more measured approach.
- Jerkass Has a Point: It's perfectly understandable that Jane would be upset at Charlie for neglecting his schoolwork. What's not fair is that she blamed this solely on his relationship with Nick, and tried to force them not to interact, knowing how much it meant to Charlie.
- Parents as People: They have good intentions, but can be overly strict. They seem to think Nick is bad for Charlie after he reveals they are together, and insist they spend time apart when Charlie begins neglecting his schoolwork.
David Nelson
Portrayed by: Jack Barton
Nick's older brother, who comes home from university in season 2.
- Big Brother Bully: Talks down to Nick in every appearance, invades his privacy, makes fun of Charlie, and attempts to out him to their dad.
- Childish Older Sibling: Has no respect for Nick's privacy and enjoys harassing him for his own amusement, expecting his parents to discipline Nick for being dramatic if he has a problem with it.
- Hate Sink: A homophobic and biphobic asshole who has no respect for Nick or his own mom, and has no redeeming qualities.
- "Just Joking" Justification: Constantly claims that Nick is taking his harassment way too seriously. When he repeatedly tries to out Nick to their dad at dinner, he tries to play it off as a joke.
- Sibling Yin-Yang: His domineering cruelty is as far from the sweet and earnest Nick as you can get.
Stéphane Nelson
Portrayed by: Thibault de Montalembert
Nick's father, who lives in Paris.
- Disappeared Dad: He rarely makes time to see his sons, and Nick has to come all the way to Paris to see him. Nick notes that his dad doesn't know anything about him besides that he plays rugby.
- Disappointed in You: Declares that David is not the man he raised after David's attempts to out Nick at dinner cause Nick to snap. Sarah (though she agrees) calls Stéphane on this immediately, pointing out that he was barely involved in raising his sons, so he has no place to speak.
- Hypocrite: Talks about how there are things more important than work and money, despite prioritising both of them over his family. His first English line to Nick is chastising his son — a student — for never coming to visit, when he doesn't come to England outside of business trips.
- Parental Neglect: Hardly visits his sons in the UK, and when Nick makes the effort to meet him when visiting Paris (with about twenty minutes' notice after days of messages) Stéphane bails almost immediately. Nick calls him out on this but there's no indication he'll improve.
Yan Xu
Portrayed by: Momo Yeung
Tao's mother
- Good Parents: She supports Tao through his feelings for Elle, and offers him valuable advice.
- Nice Girl: Very sweet, friendly and warm.
Other characters
James McEwan
Portrayed by: Bradley Riches
The only other out gay boy at Truham Grammar School.
- Adaptation Relationship Overhaul: In the comic, he's implied to be a closeted boy with a crush on Charlie, quietly dejected when Charlie turns him down during Truth or Dare. In the show, he's already out of the closet (meaning Charlie is no longer the only out boy at Truham) and admits he had a crush on Charlie the previous year, but that he's gotten over it because he's pursuing Isaac (the stand-in for Aled from the comic).
- Incompatible Orientation: He has a crush on Isaac, who is aromantic and asexual.
- Satellite Love Interest: While this is an expansion from being a One-Shot Character in the comic, his role throughout season 2 mainly revolves around helping Isaac come to terms with his sexuality.
Naomi Russell and Felix Britten
Portrayed by: Bel Priestley (Naomi), Ash Self (Felix)
Trans students applying for the same art school as Elle, who she befriends.
- Canon Foreigner: Neither one has been introduced to the comic as of season 2's release.
- Satellite Character: The pair are only in scenes revolving around Elle, either giving her support for her Lambert application or acting as a backboard for her struggles with Tao.
- Trans Tribulations: Naomi commiserates with Elle that going to Lambert is an opportunity to have the freedom to be herself.
- Twofer Token Minority: Felixnote uses they/them pronouns and a wheelchair.
