Appears in: Series 1, Series 2, The Christmas Special, Live at Drury Lane, Series 3 Played By: Steve Pemberton Quickie Bio: Pauline is the evil restart officer who loves to belittle and berate her "job seekers". Her friends are her pens. As horrible as she is, you cannot help but feel sorry for her whenever she's hurt (probably due to Steve's excellent portrayal). Her dream is to open a pen shop (called "Her Nibs"). In the first series she delights in tormenting her job-seekers, particularly Mickey (who cannot stand up for himself) and Ross (the one guy with the intelligence to fight back verbally). Unfortunately, any time Ross bests her she responds with violence. Eventually, Ross reveals himself as an Internal Investigator for Social Services who has been collecting evidence against Pauline, and gets her fired for "violent conduct". The second series finds Pauline entering her restart class, only to find that this time she is the student, not the teacher. She eventually takes a job at the Burger Me fast food shop with Mickey, only to get fired after she taints a burger she has prepared for Ross. Because she was fired, she is to lose her unemployment benefits, however she takes her aggressions out on Ross again -- this time taking him hostage until she gets reinstated as a restart officer (with a huge box of pens). Her siege is poorly timed, however, as the rest of Royston Vasey is having a bout with nosebleeds and death. After leaving Mickey in charge of her hostage so she can go get them some food, Ross manages to escape. Pauline is just about to eat one of the nosebleed-inducing sandwiches when Inspector Cox arrives with Ross to arrest her. In the Christmas Special, we learn that Pauline (along with most of the female population of Royston Vasey) is a member of "Solutions" (although the Solutions stuff takes place in Charlie's dream, so it probably isn't true). We also discover that, back in 1895, a relative that looks a lot like Pauline worked at "Oriel Workhouse" with "Mickey" and had a run-in with "Mr. Gaines". Series three opens with Pauline adjusting well to prison life at the HM Clitclink Women's Prison. Surprisingly, she is offered an early release if she works for Ross to get inside-information on how Mickey and his family are cheating the system. Although disgusted by him, Pauline eventually falls for Mickey and his good heart, and the two decide to get married. When Pauline confronts Ross with this information, an animal attraction she has for him is unleashed, and the two have an impromptu "encounter" in Ross' apartment. When Ross threatens to tell Mickey what has happened, Pauline makes a mad dash for Mickey's house, and the "big event" of Series 3 unfolds... Ultimately, Mickey and Pauline do indeed get married, and even Ross shows up to applaud the new couple. Useless Trivia: Pauline is based upon an actual restart officer that Reece had the misfortune to encounter while on the dole before becoming successful. Pauline's lips appear somewhat normal in Series 1, Episode 1. They grow to outrageous proportions by Episode 2. The interview for "pushing trolleys around ASDA car park" is also based in reality. Apparently Reece applied for the job, but was told he was too clever for it. They told him that his personality would disgruntle the other workers. Pauline attacking Ross with a pen in Series 2 is an homage to The Omen (except using a pen instead of a fork) The Gents' mothers can be glimpsed during the opening prison scenes in Series 3. Mrs Dyson, Mrs Gatiss, and Mrs Shearsmith are eating food off of the table-tennis table, and Mrs Pemberton is playing pool with Pauline (she gives Pauline a high-five in one shot). "The Exocet" (Pauline's bargaining leverage whilst in jail) was serial killer Rosemary West's nickname for her dildo. Quotes: Hokey cokey pig in a pokey. Good morning job seekers. Worthless dole scum. Everything I know about people I learned from pens. If they don't work, you shake them. And if they still don't work, you chuck them away. Bin 'em. (Re: The Big Issue) It's a bit like Bunty, but written by tramps. Piss off, Ross! back	Series 1 Series 2 The Christmas Special Live at Drury Lane Series 3
	Appears in: Series 1, Series 2, The Christmas Special, Live at Drury Lane, Series 3 Played By: Reece Shearsmith Quickie Bio: Ross is the sole restart-member with the intelligence and wit to battle the oppressively cruel Pauline. He withstands being berated, belittled, and abused by her, only to finally reveal that he has actually had a job all along -- that of a Social Services Internal Investigator who has been gathering evidence against Pauline. Series Two finds Ross attempting to do his job as Pauline exacts some revenge by soiling his food. After Pauline is then fired from her fast-food job, Ross has no choice but to suspend her benefits (and although he is a bit snotty to her, he is just repeating back to her things that she said to him in Series One). As always where Ross is concerned, Pauline responds with violence -- she attacks him and with Mickey's help subdues and tapes him to a chair so she can hold him hostage until she gets her job reinstated. Days later Pauline leaves to get food, and Ross is able trick Mickey into letting him go. Ross reports Pauline to the police, and she is thrown into prison. Series 3 finds a more-bitter-than-ever Ross and a slightly reformed Pauline. Ross gets Pauline's early release, but only if she helps him collect evidence against Mickey and his brothers. When Pauline visits Ross' sparse apartment to tell him that she's going to marry Mickey, some weird kind of animal passion is unleashed between the two. Although Pauline does it because she's attracted to him, Ross apparently only does it for revenge because she's made him hate the job he used to love (and apparently thinks she's only doing it in exchange for Mickey's file). His threat to tell Mickey what they've just done sets in motion the "big event" of Series 3. In 1895 (in The Christmas Special), a gentlemanly-looking "Mr. Gaines" takes issue with an abusive "Pauline" who is berating a crippled "Mickey". "Mr. Gaines" attempts to carry the young man to safety... Useless Trivia: Because Pauline was Reece's idea taken from his own experiences he was originally slated to play her, however Steve jokes that the prospect of playing the woman who made his life miserable whilst on his restart depressed Reece too much, so he took the role of Ross instead. The interview for "pushing trolleys around ASDA car park" is also based in reality. Apparently Reece applied for the job, but was told he was too clever for it. They told him that his personality would disgruntle the other workers. Quotes: Would you say you're a fairly egregious person? The lesbian and the monkey -- that sounds like one of Aesop's fables. back	Series 1 Series 2 The Christmas Special Live at Drury Lane Series 3
	Appears in: Series 1, Series 2, The Christmas Special, Live at Drury Lane, Series 3 Played By: Mark Gatiss Quickie Bio: A "special needs" member of Pauline's restart class who has been on the dole since the age of 12. He desperately wants to be a fireman and drive a fire truck. He even manages to get an interview, but Pauline threatens him so he doesn't go. Despite the fact that she is terrible to him, he is very fond of Pauline. Between Mickey and his brothers they have been on the dole for sixty-three years and have claimed over 133,000 in benefits. Their mother is dead, yet the oldest brother dresses up like her and continues to sign her on. Aside from his nits, spots, and various disgusting habits, Mickey has a good heart and eventually Pauline falls for him. They eventually get married, and even Ross applauds the newlyweds. In 1895 (in The Christmas Special), a Dickens-Tiny-Tim-esque "Mickey" is thrown out of Oriel Workhouse by a quill-loving "Pauline". "Mr. Gaines" protests his ill-treatment and attempts to carry the young crippled man to safety... Useless Trivia: Mickey is partially based on some of the people Mark experienced growing up near a mental hospital Quotes: Stop it, you nutter! back	Series 1 Series 2 The Christmas Special Live at Drury Lane Series 3
	Appears in: Series 2, Live at Drury Lane Played By: Reece Shearsmith Quickie Bio: The woman who takes over the restart class after Pauline loses her job. If anything, she's just as bad as Pauline, if not worse... Quotes: You lot may have nothing to live for but I do. Now get out of my sight and my restart before I shove your pens where the sun don't shine. Who knows what electricity is? Anybody? back	Series 2 Live at Drury Lane
	Colin
	Appears in: Series 1 Played By: Edward McCracken Quickie Bio: One of Pauline's unfortunate job-seekers. We also see Colin at the beginning of Series 1, episode 4 as the man with the dog (who urges his "girl" to do her business). back	Season 1
	Robert
	Appears in: Series 1 Played By: Mike Flanagan Quickie Bio: One of Pauline's unfortunate job-seekers. We also see Mike as the roadie, Maynard, for the band at Mike & Cheryl's wedding back	Season 1
	Bike Boy
	Appears in: Series 2 Played By: ??? Quickie Bio: This young boy happens to ride his chopper past the job centre during Pauline's siege. She yells her demands and asks him to go find Inspector Cox, not noticing that the boy wears a hearing-aid and cannot hear what she's saying. back	Season 2
	Fat Laura
	Appears in: Series 3 Played By: Rosy Clayton Quickie Bio: Pauline's friend and roommate during her stay at the HM Prison Clitclink. back	Season 3

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