Character guide

Stanley Featherstonehaugh Ukridge

major

Also known as Ukridge, Mr. Ukridge, S. F. Ukridge, Stanley Ukridge, Good old Ukridge, the demon Ukridge, old Ukridge, the bloke Ukridge

Ukridge drifts through London and the country, perpetually between catastrophes, relying on charm, nerve, and the goodwill of long-suffering acquaintances like Corky. He is estranged from his formidable aunt Julia, pursued by creditors who lurk 'like leopards in the jungle,' and utterly convinced that each new venture is the idea of a thousand years. His schemes drive the book's comic engine, and his refusal to acknowledge failure makes him both infuriating and oddly endearing.

Corky

major

Also known as Mr. Corky, old Corky

Corky observes Ukridge's chaos with a mixture of exasperation, dry humor, and reluctant loyalty, serving as the reader's sane anchor in a world of absurd schemes. He is the one who lends money he will never see again, hosts Ukridge at his country cottage, and endures all-night monologues about Mabel and top hats. His running commentary gives the stories their comic rhythm and their affectionate, rueful edge.

Julia Ukridge

supporting

Also known as Miss Ukridge, Julia, Miss Julia Ukridge, the Miss Ukridge, Aunt Julia

Aunt Julia presides over a Wimbledon household of literature and lapdogs, employing the long-suffering Dora Mason as secretary-companion and sending Ukridge to bed with her dreadful novels. Her wealth and respectability are the respectable pole from which Ukridge has violently revolted, and her occasional willingness to fund or forgive him makes her a recurring force in his calculations. She matters because she is both the source of his former comfort and the standard against which his disreputable freedom is measured.

Battling Billson

supporting

Also known as Mr. Billson, Billson, Good old Billson, old Billson, poor old Billson, James J. Billson, Wilberforce Billson

Billson is the loyal, slightly dim strongman whose physical presence lends Ukridge's ventures a veneer of seriousness they rarely deserve. His boxing past and gentle nature create a comic tension, and his readiness to follow Ukridge into any scrape makes him both an asset and a liability. He represents the human collateral of Ukridge's ambitions, and his appearances often signal that a scheme is about to escalate.

George Tupper

supporting

Also known as Tupper, Sir George Tupper, old George Tupper

Tupper is the prosperous, slightly naive plutocrat whose private means and generous instincts make him a prime target for Ukridge's financial imagination. He moves in racing and society circles, and his willingness to listen, however reluctantly, keeps Ukridge's ventures afloat. His presence highlights the gap between solid respectability and Ukridge's perpetual improvisation, and his entanglements often provide the stories with their complications.

Teddy Weeks

supporting

Also known as Weeks

Weeks belongs to the professional entertainment milieu that Ukridge aspires to enter, and his connections make him useful for schemes involving dog acts, boxing promotions, and similar spectacles. He is part of the loose network of friends and contacts Ukridge draws on when a new idea strikes, and his presence helps ground the stories in the shabby, bustling world of London's lesser stages. He matters as a reminder that Ukridge's schemes, however absurd, are aimed at a real and hungry market.

Joe the Lawyer

supporting

Also known as Joe, Bighearted old Joe, this bloke Joe, The bloke Joe

The long-suffering solicitor friend whose legal brain and apparently bottomless pockets Ukridge treats as a public utility whenever a scheme needs propping up.

Tuppy

supporting

Also known as old Tuppy, Old Tuppy

A genial, put-upon chum of Ukridge's who keeps getting dragooned into schemes he can see through but somehow never quite escapes.

Looney Coote

supporting

Also known as Coote

A wealthy old schoolmate ruled by omens and superstitions, whose harmless eccentricity makes him exactly the sort of mark Ukridge cannot resist.

Dora Mason

supporting

Also known as Dora, Miss Dora Mason, Poor little Dora, a Miss Mason, Miss Mason

Ukridge's aunt's put-upon secretary-companion, a girl with a grey life whose small pleasures Ukridge grandly resolves to supply at someone else's expense.

Bowles

supporting

Also known as Mrs. Bowles

Ukridge's long-suffering manservant, whose patient dignity and unexpected music-hall cousin prove quietly indispensable to the dog-training enterprise.

Alf Todd

minor

Also known as Alf, Alfred Todd, Frederick

A local tradesman who gets drawn into Ukridge's business ventures.

Mr. Thomas

minor

Also known as the redoubtable Mr. Thomas, The man Thomas, a Thomas, The bloke Thomas, Thomas

A formidable man who crosses paths with Ukridge in various schemes.

Lady Lakenheath

minor

A society lady who becomes involved in Ukridge's schemes.

Florence Burns

minor

Also known as Flossie, this Flossie

A young woman who catches the eye of one of Ukridge's friends.

Millie

minor

A young woman connected to Ukridge's social circle.

Mabel Price

minor

Also known as Miss Price, Price, old Price, Miss Mabel Price

A young woman who becomes the object of a romantic subplot.

Izzy Previn

minor

Also known as Mr. Izzy Previn, Mr. Previn, Previn

A businessman who deals with Ukridge in various transactions.

Laddie

minor

A dog that features in one of Ukridge's schemes.

Uncle Percy

minor

Also known as your Uncle Percy from Australia

An uncle from Australia who is mentioned in the story.

Isaac O'Brien

minor

A minor character in Ukridge's orbit.

The Old Stepper

supporting

Also known as the Stepper, the old Stepper, The Stepper

A mysterious, well-heeled figure whose money and connections make him the glittering prize at the centre of one of Ukridge's most audacious plots.

Boko Lawlor

minor

Also known as Boko, young Boko, Lawlor, old Boko, B. V. Lawlor

A friend of Ukridge who participates in his adventures.

Victor Beamish

minor

Also known as Poor Victor Beamish, Beamish

A friend of Ukridge who gets caught up in his schemes.

Cecil

minor

A minor character in Ukridge's social orbit.

Hank Philbrick

minor

Also known as Hank, Poor old Hank

An American friend of Ukridge who gets involved in his schemes.

Leonard the Parrot

minor

Also known as Leonard, poor Leonard

Ukridge's pet parrot, often a source of chaos.

Dawson

minor

Also known as Mr. Dawson

A man who interacts with Ukridge in his business dealings.

Mr. Corcoran

minor

A character involved in Ukridge's financial schemes.

Old Nickerson

minor

Also known as Nickerson, Mr. Nickerson, the recent Mr. Nickerson

A local man who becomes a target of Ukridge's schemes.

Tod Bingham

minor

Also known as Bingham

A friend of Ukridge who participates in his adventures.

Freddie Lunt

minor

A friend of Ukridge who gets drawn into his plans.

Ernie Finch

minor

Also known as Finch, Mr. Finch, young Mr. Finch

A young man who becomes involved in Ukridge's schemes.

The Battler

minor

Also known as Battler

A boxer who crosses paths with Ukridge.

Mr. Todd

minor

A local businessman who deals with Ukridge.

Lloyd Thomas

minor

Also known as a Lloyd Thomas

A man who becomes involved in Ukridge's affairs.

Myrtle

minor

A young woman in Ukridge's social circle.

Liz

minor

Also known as Aunt Elizabeth

An aunt of one of the characters.

Charlton Prout

minor

Also known as Mr. Prout, Mr. Charlton Prout

A man who becomes involved in Ukridge's schemes.

Bulstrode

minor

A minor character in Ukridge's orbit.

Sam

minor

Also known as Stuttering Sam

A man with a stutter who interacts with Ukridge.

Robert Dunhill

minor

Also known as Dunhill

A friend of Ukridge who gets involved in his plans.

Mrs. Price

minor

Mother of Mabel Price, involved in the romantic subplot.

Philip

minor

Also known as Uncle Philip

An uncle of one of the characters.

Mr. Price

minor

Father of Mabel Price.

Mr. Herbert Huxtable

minor

Also known as Mr. Huxtable, Huxtable

A man who becomes involved in Ukridge's schemes.

Mr. Sims

minor

A minor character in Ukridge's world.

Mr. Biggs

minor

A local businessman who deals with Ukridge.

Mrs. Beale

minor

A landlady or housekeeper in the story.

Sir Edward Bayliss

minor

Also known as this Sir Edward, Sir Edward, Edward

A baronet who becomes involved in Ukridge's affairs.

Mario

minor

A minor character, possibly a servant or foreign contact.

Mr. Smallweed

minor

Also known as Smallweed

A minor character who interacts with Ukridge.

Lord Claude Tremaine

minor

Also known as Lord Claude bloke, Claude

A lord who becomes a target of Ukridge's schemes.

The Bart

minor

Also known as this Guardee Bart, Bart

A baronet who is mentioned in the story.

Barolini

minor

A foreign contact of Ukridge.

Mr. Jevons

minor

Also known as Jevons

A minor character who deals with Ukridge.

Spencer

minor

A minor character in the story.

H. K. Hodger

minor

Also known as Mr. H. K. Hodger

A man who proposes a toast at a gathering.

Peppo

minor

A minor character, possibly a servant or foreign contact.

Bertram Fox

minor

A minor character in Ukridge's world.

Miss Watterson

minor

A minor female character.

The Vulture

minor

Also known as the Vulture

A nickname for a predatory character.

Mrs. Billson

minor

Wife of Battling Billson.

Gooch

minor

A minor character mentioned in the story.

The Hyacinth

minor

A boat or establishment mentioned in the story.

Wassick

minor

Also known as Mr. Wassick

A minor character who interacts with Ukridge.

Miss Angelica Vining

minor

Also known as Miss Vining

A minor female character in the story.