Tim
Tim's ambitious and very competitive. He'd like to start up his own business and is always on the lookout for people and ideas that can help him make his dream a reality. Until recently, he was working as an assistant manager in a department store, selling jewellery.
What's new?
Tim's been having a hard time of it lately. Some customers returned watches they had bought at his store. when Tim sent them back to the factory where they were made, the manufacturer said that the watches were fakes. Before long the police became involved and Tim was in serious trouble. Tim realised it was his boss who was behind the fake watches and in a show-down with him, Tim resigned.
He was unemployed for a while and was feeling quite sorry for himself. Then, his rich friend, Janet, helped him find a job. A friend of hers, Henry, was retiring and Janet persuaded him to let Tim take over his cafe. Tim wants to make a success of the cafe but does he really have what it takes to run a business?
Helen
Helen was born in China but has lived in Britain since she was 12. She is at university studying politics and economics. Helen is worried about her exams. She wants to get a good degree but doesn't study as much as she should.
What's new?
Helen's feeling a bit blue just now. She fell quite hard for Michal and, when he had to go back to Poland to look after his dad, she really missed him. He wrote to her recently to say he's fallen in love with someone else in Poland and won't be coming back.
Although she's heart-broken she has also realised she's been neglecting her books lately. She knows she needs to concentrate on her studying but will she be able to or will her day-dreams of Michal get in the way?
Khalid
Khalid was born in Bahrain, but he is studying English at a language school near the flat. He is also a part-time business student at the University. He loves sport, especially football, and is interested in music and fashion too.
What's new?
After Michal went back to Poland, the flatmates advertised for a new flatmate. They found Khalid, who was a friend of Michal's.
He's been settling in and has been getting on with the others well but after a chat with Tim recently, he realised there might be some tension between them. Tim found out that because Khalid is a student he's paying a lot less rent than Tim. Will the guys be able to be friends or will the difference in their rent payments come between them?
Alice
Alice is a nurse from London. She loves her job and gets a lot of satisfaction helping people get better. She wants to get married and have kids but she never seems to meet the right man.
What's new?
Alice has been dating Paul Laver, a doctor from the hospital where she works. Although he's split up from his wife and has two children, Alice is still trying to make the relationship work.
She baby-sat for one of his children, Ellie, recently but it didn't go at all well. Paul and Alice had a huge row after that and the question now is - will their relationship survive?
Michal
Michal is Tim's cousin from Poland. He came to Britain to improve his English. He was a student in an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) school. At first he was shy and he missed Poland a lot.
What's new?
Michal started dating Helen. He thought the relationship was casual but Helen thought that it was much more serious. When Michal's dad had a heart attack, he told Helen that he wasn't ready to settle down with her and that his first priority was his family in Poland.
He wrote to her recently to say he's fallen in love with someone else and won't be coming back to see Helen.
Michal has left but has he gone forever?
