Grasshopper Island - A Fansite | Characters in the book and TV series

The bulk of the story centres around 5 main characters on the Island.

Of course, there are some supporting characters at the beginning, and a villain who comes to the Island at the end of the tale. So let's take a look at these characters.

Toughy

Toughy was named "because he said he wanted to be a soldier - though he was the first to feel faint if anyone mentioned such things as blood or bones or, worst of all, snakes"

Smarty

"Smarty because he had answers for all sorts of questions"

Mouse

"And Mouse because he likes cheese"

The Voices of Authority

All characters who represent authority were played by the same actor! The late great Tim Brooke-Taylor

The Man of the House

Granny

The Au Pair

The Barber

The Cleaning Lady

The Taxi Driver

The Elderly Boy

"He wasn't exactly young and he wasn't exactly old. He was more a sort of Elderly Boy".

The Elderly Boy & Cecil (his pet dove)

Played by Charles Hawtrey

Cornelius Button & Lupus

"Grasshopper expert Cornelius Button and his fiesty housekeeper Lupus had lived on Grasshopper Island for twenty years"

Cornelius Button - the eccentric grasshopper collector

Played by Julian Orchard

Lupus has been Cornelius Button's housekeeper for twenty years

Played by Patricia Hayes

Dr. Hopper

"He was even taller than Cornelius Button and his legs were even spindlier"

Dr. Hopper - rival grasshopper expert

Played by Frank Muir

Frank Muir (Dr. Hopper) had a holiday home on the Island of Corsica, and suggested filming the TV series in nearby locations.