Characters / The Paradise

Main characters

Denise Lovett

Denise Lovett

Played By: Joanna Vanderham

An ambitious and talented young woman who moves from the small town of Peebles to live with her uncle, and finds work as a salesgirl at the Paradise.

• The Ace: Quickly attains this reputation at the store due to her natural talent for sales and seemingly endless supply of clever marketing ideas.
• Country Mouse: Hailing from Peebles, Denise begins the series being seen as a bit of a bumpkin, although she quickly adapts to her job and to city life.
• Hair of Gold, Heart of Gold: Blonde and very sweet and gentle-natured, particularly in comparison to the scheming and dark-haired Katherine.

John Moray

John Moray

Played By: Emun Elliott

The highly driven but reckless owner of the Paradise, who is haunted by the loss of his deceased wife, Hélène.

• Above the Influence: With Clara. The two of them spent one night together prior to the events of the series, while Moray was struggling with the loss of his wife, but he is very firm that there be nothing further between them.
• Self-Made Man: Grew up in poverty and built the Paradise from nothing.

Katherine Glendenning

Katherine Weston (née Glendenning)

Played By: Elaine Cassidy

A spoiled but beautiful socialite who is intent on capturing Moray's affections.

The Paradise

Dudley

Dudley

Played By: Matthew McNulty

Moray's loyal right-hand man and best friend, who helps him manage the Paradise.

Miss Audrey

Miss Audrey

Played By: Sarah Lancashire

The head of Ladies' Wear, Denise's department at the store, and also an old friend of her uncle Edmund Lovett.

Jonas

Jonas

Played By: David Hayman

A mysterious man who mainly seems to just watch over the goings-on at the store. He still holds a deep admiration for Moray's late wife.

• Red Right Hand: Played with. He is missing an arm, and many characters in-universe find him creepy and unsettling, but his true feelings and intentions can be somewhat difficult to parse.

Clara

Clara

Played By: Sonya Cassidy

A salesgirl at the Paradise who makes herself into Denise's professional (and sometimes personal) rival, though the two eventually become friends.

• All Love Is Unrequited: Harbors sincere but hopeless feelings for Moray, and tries several times to get him to show some kind of reciprocation. She recognizes her failure much more easily than Katherine does, however, and seems to harbor no lasting bitterness after she finally accepts that Moray loves Denise.
• Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Clara is abrasive, sometimes spiteful, and often uses underhanded tactics to get her way, but she is not a bad person and can show loyalty to her friends (or her daughter, who is her one soft spot).
• The Vamp: Has a tendency to manipulate others and clearly knows how to seduce a man, which other characters sometimes comment on.

Sam

Sam

Played By: Stephen Wight

Another salesperson at the store who is friends with several of the girls from Ladies' Wear. He has a reputation as a flirt, but is good-hearted and sweet.

Pauline

Pauline

Played By: Ruby Bentall

A salesgirl and Denise's first friend at the Paradise, Pauline is plainspoken, sweet, and a bit awkward, with a crush on Sam. She leaves the Paradise between series 1 and 2.

• Put on a Bus: No clear explanation is given for her absence in season 2, but as the end of season 1 saw her meeting and abruptly falling for a boy who seemed to return her interest, it's implied that she left because she got married.

Susy

Susy

Played By: Katie Moore

A salesgirl who takes Pauline's place in Ladies' Wear starting in season 2.

Arthur

Arthur

Played By: Finn Burridge

A young boy who was born at the Paradise and lives and works there.

Myrtle

Myrtle

Played By: Lisa Millett

The Paradise's blunt and somewhat vulgar cook, first seen in season 2.

Nathaniel

Nathaniel

Played By: Kevin Guthrie

A porter, introduced in season 2, who is romantically involved with Susy. He is dismissed at the revelation that he has been spying on the Paradise on Fenton's orders.

• We Hardly Knew Ye: Vanishes after his dismissal and is not seen again.

Other characters

Edmund Lovett

Edmund Lovett

Played By: Peter Wight

Denise's uncle, a dressmaker who owns a shop across the street from the Paradise. The competition from the Paradise has severely reduced his business, but he remains very proud of his work.

Lord Glendenning

Lord Glendenning

Played By: Patrick Malahide

Katherine Glendenning's father, who indulges her every whim, but is uncertain about her relationship with Moray.

Peter Adler

Peter Adler

Played By: Mark Bonnar

A friend of Moray's who runs an orphanage. He briefly pays court to Katherine.

• Nice Guy: He is a very genuine, sweet, good-natured man, which might be partly why Katherine seems to find him unexciting in comparison to the clearly much less interested Moray.

Tom Weston

Tom Weston

Played By: Ben Daniels

A war veteran, and Katherine's husband as of season 2. He quickly becomes interested in Clara.

Flora

Flora Weston

Played By: Edie Whitehead

Katherine's young stepdaughter as of her marriage in season 2.

Clémence

Clémence Romanis

Played By: Branka Katić

A spirited friend of Moray's from Paris who is first introduced in season 2.

• Lipstick Lesbian: She has a friendly personality and often flirts with men, but is only really interested in women.

Fenton

Fenton

Played By: Adrian Scarborough

A businessman who seeks to gain control of the Paradise through underhanded means.

Bradley Burroughs

Bradley Burroughs

Played By: Arthur Darvill

A barber who briefly threatens the future of the Paradise by blackmailing Moray with slander about his late wife. He winds up being lured away and murdered by Jonas in an effort to protect Moray.