The Thrill Electric

Rebecca Bennett is Archie's long suffering sister. A modern thinker and intelligent girl who is determined to prove that women have just as much business acumen as men and in the case of her brother, more so. Diligent and dedicated, she is running the mill single handed whilst her brother falls out of bars all over town. Will she ever get the recognition she so rightly deserves or will she always be lost in Archie's shadow?

Handsome Archie Bennett is Emily's cousin and reluctant heir to the Bennett Cotton Mill. However, yarn is not where Archie sees his future and he does everything within his power to pursue his own destiny. Will he succumb to his father's plans or will his secret nocturnal activities bring him the rewards he so strongly craves.

William Collingwood is the Earl of Ingleton and 109th in line to the throne. He is also Archie's best friend. He is blessed with good looks, a title and ambitious young debutantes throwing themselves at him all the time; so why is he so lonely and will the one woman he in interested in ever return his feelings?

Mr Jenks is the supervisor at the Electric & International Telegraph Company. He runs a tight ship of over a hundred staff and can't abide slackness or laziness when it comes to his shift. He's a total telegraph nerd and passionate about technology as a way to better one's chances in life.

Thomas Shaw is a working class lad with big ambitions and a twinkle in his eye. Growing up with a disability and an alcoholic mother, Tom's been fighting his way through this world for as long as he can remember. With one foot on the slippery first rung of the employment ladder, Thomas strives to climb higher however his responsibilities to his three younger siblings make every day a struggle; but no matter what, he's determined to make a better life for them all.

Aunt Millicent is the chaperone of Archie, Rebecca and Emily. She takes her duties seriously and sometimes despairs of these modern young women with their new fangled ideas and her irresponsible nephew. Things were never like this when she was a girl.

Emily Bagley is a smart and sassy 18 year old. Keen to stand on her own two feet she accepts a job as a telegrapher at the Electric & International Telegraph Company (EITC) but her naivety shines through when she is faced with a quagmire of inter-office politics, cliques and the rather intense interest of her male colleagues. However, Emily is made of sterner stuff and her passion for the wonders of the worldwide network pull her through the daily dramas as she pursues her dream to be a first class operator.

Verity Thompson is the third member of Florence's inner circle. An easily led girl, who admires Florence's style and attitude and doesn't mind being stepped on if she gets to hang out with the cool clique. She isn't ambitious and sees the Telegraph Office as a stepping stone to romance!

Henrietta Fergusson is Florence's friend, or as close to one can be. She's a kind, hard-working girl who gets swept away by Florence's forceful nature but she harbours aspirations of her own and hopes one day they will be fulfilled.

Kitty Cocking is a strong and feisty working class girl. When the Telegraph swept through the business world, she saw an opportunity and retrained from mill worker to telegrapher. She believes women are Great Britain's future and is often infuriated by the inequality shown in the workplace. However, she's not one to sit and complain; instead she's determined to stand up for herself and her female colleagues.

Grayson Standish is a rakish charmer; from the toes of his well polished shoes to the tips of his well groomed moustache he oozes confidence and he seems to do as he pleases both inside and outside the office. His dashing good looks and his eye for the ladies means life is never dull but can he keep getting away with his dastardly actions or is his luck about to run out?

Gorgeous George Bradley is the fastest operator at the Telegraph office; a clever and talented young man whose easy manner and charming smile ensure he makes friends wherever he goes. Life seems pretty sorted for George – promotions and women all come so easily…so why isn't he happy and who is the mysterious M that keeps him chatting online during the long and lonely nightshifts?

Florence Borsberry is Queen Bee at the EITC; beautiful, intelligent and a first class bitch. She wants the best of everything and is manipulative enough to make sure she gets it. Admired and feared in equal degrees by her colleagues, nobody is allowed close enough to realise that her sharp tongue and acerbic wit hide a lifetime of insecurity.

Mr Woodrow is the owner of the Electric & International Telegraph Company Manchester branch. He has made his money through the boom of the telegraph, and hopes his operators will make the company proud.

Charlotte Scott has been employed at the Bennett Mill since she was 6 years old, working her way up from bobbin collecting to spinning. She's been studying telegraphy in what little spare time she has and her dreams came true the day she found out she would be swapping the dirty and dangerous factory floor for a nice quite office somewhere.

Robert Stewart has been a telegrapher for longer than most of his colleagues have been out of short trousers. He's seen the changes that the women have brought to his workplace and he doesn't like it, not one bit. As far as he's concerned women belong at home, having babies and cooking dinner. They've no right to be taking men's jobs and the sooner they realise that, the better.

Joe Shaw is trouble. Elder brother to Thomas and they couldn't be more like chalk and cheese if they tried. Violent, belligerent and commanding, Joe likes to see himself as the big man of Angel Meadow. As far as he's concerned working for a living is for the weak. He believes you take what you want out of this world and you don't let anyone stop you.