Neddie Seagoon (Harry Secombe) - the main protagonist of each show. A man of vast width - cheerful, patriotic and gullible; many plots involve him being swindled by Grytpype-Thynne and Moriarty...

Hercules Grytpype-Thynne (Peter Sellers) - a smooth con-man, and Count Jim Moriarty (Spike Milligan), his French accomplice. In the early shows these two had an equal relationship, but as the series progressed, Moriarty became more of a hapless underling.

Eccles (SM) - a ragged idiot (based on Disney's Goofy), and Bluebottle (PS) - a simple but enthusiastic boy scout with an unfeasibly squeaky voice and a tendency to read out his stage directions. This clip is the much-loved What time is it Eccles? sketch, from The Mysterious Punch-up-the-Conker (1957).

Henry Crun (PS) and Miss Minnie Bannister (SM) - an elderly couple of indeterminate (though possibly highly sinful) relationship, prone to much mumbling, absent-mindedness and crazed jazz stylings.

Major Dennis Bloodnok (PS) - an ex-army officer rooted in the era of the British Empire - flatulent, suggestive, always on the take and a total coward. Was once romantically linked to Minnie Bannister, and is the only character to have his own theme tune.

Wallace Greenslade (himself) - the BBC announcer / narrator for the majority of the shows.

Willium Cobblers / 'Mate' (PS) - a cockney workman / ticket collector / butler etc. Calls everybody "Mate".

Jim Spriggs (SM) - odd parts. Sometimes repeats his lines in a falsetto screech, for no apparent reason. Calls everybody "Jim".

Little Jim (SM) - a timid child with one catchphrase - "He's fallen in the water".

Throat / Miss Throat / Sergeant Throat (SM) - a monosyllabic, gravel voiced assistant / secretary / sergeant.

Lou (PS) - a fast-talking character, usually a theatrical agent.

Hugh Jampton (SM) - a chinless British officer or other official.

American radio announcer (PS).

McGoonagall (SM/PS) - a terrible poet, based on 19th century Scottish poet William McGonagall.