Carole Parkinson

Carole Parkinson is the receptionist at Whitbury New Town Leisure Centre.

She is a loving mother to her three children, whom she keeps in the drawers and cupboards in the reception area, where she also lives. Despite having ambitions to be a writer and pianist, Carole's talents remain unrecognised by the wider world. The beginning of the series saw Carole's husband leave her to live in Spain with her best friend. After Carole loses her job in the third series, a tactful suggestion from Laura leads Brittas to reclassify Carole as Manager of the Staff Creche.