List of Steptoe and Son characters

Steptoe and Son is a British sitcom created by comedy writers Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, originally broadcast over four series between 1962 and 1965, and again for a further three series and two Christmas specials between 1970 and 1974. Two films followed the series; "Steptoe and Son" and "Steptoe and Son Ride Again".
The series revolved around father-and-son duo Albert and Harold Steptoe, the titular father and son, who live together in their rag-and-bone yard with their horse Hercules. The comedy was born from their differing views on their situation; Albert was quite content in the house, whilst Harold was desperate to better himself and get away; these plans though, were often thwarted by Albert, who didn't want his son to leave home.
Main characters.
Albert Steptoe.
Albert Edward Ladysmith Steptoe (Wilfrid Brambell) was born on 26 September 1899, though he always claimed to have been born in 1901. He is illegitimate; his father was unknown but believed to have been a local muffin man who died in 1910. The portrait Albert keeps of his father is actually of William Gladstone. Albert appears to have joined the army underage at the beginning of the First World War and is seen wearing the Mons Star medals to prove it. On one occasion he tells a reporter that he joined the Grenadier Guards, somewhat unlikely given his small stature. He claims that he was hit by a grenade in 1917; when it didn't explode he threw it back to the German trenches with devastating effect, especially on the canteen: sausages and sauerkraut went flying into the air. He apparently served with the British Expeditionary Force to Archangel, White Russia in 1919. Albert is lazy, stubborn, narrow-minded and foul-mouthed with revolting personal habits; he is content with his place in the world, utterly unpretentious and downright cynical. He can be extremely vindictive and does everything he can to prevent his son Harold from improving himself--especially if it means him leaving home. He is normally unshaven and wears a very old pair of discoloured false teeth with some teeth missing. His wife--alternately named Gladys and Emily--died on 23 December 1936. He mentions in one episode that he was one of 14 children. "Steptoe a la Cart" reveals that he has a daughter in France and "Cuckoo in the Nest" suggests that he has a son in Australia; "Oh, What a Beautiful Mourning!" suggests that his niece could instead be his daughter.
Harold Steptoe.
Harold Albert Kitchener Steptoe (Harry H. Corbett) was born in 1925 (Corbett's birth date) in the 1960s series, or around 1930 in the 1970s series. In the episode "Loathe Story" he says he was aged 10 just before the outbreak of the Second World War, which would indicate a birth year in 1928 or 1929, and in the episode "A Star is Born" he claims to be the same age as Sean Connery, (born 25 August 1930). Harold was educated at Scrubs Lane Elementary School, and it was revealed in "The Bird" that his father withdrew him from school when he was just 12 years old. He too is obstinate, though prone to moments of enthusiasm about an idea. Harold unlike Albert, has aspirations. He wants to move up in the world — most of all to escape from the family home and his stifling relationship with his father. This is the subject of the first episode, "The Offer". He likes to see his business as antiques rather than junk. He bitterly regrets leaving the army; his army service took him to Malaya and he achieved the rank of corporal. He nearly always wears a workman's belt adorned with army cap badges. In the 1960s series, however, he had served in the final years of the Second World War, though he had tried to avoid being called up into the Royal Artillery on false medical grounds. He is a dreamer and idealist. Politically, Harold is a Labour supporter who is appalled that his father is a Conservative supporter. He aims to improve his mind and his social circle but always fails, often due to Albert's deliberate put-downs or sabotage. Harold's exasperation and disgust at his father's behaviour often results in his repeating the catchphrase "You dirty old man".