Professor Nick Cutter (35)

A brilliant scientist, specialising in the investigation of gaps in the evolutionary record. His wife, Helen, disappeared eight years earlier in an unexplained incident. Theirs was a stormy relationship and they were estranged at the time, which still makes him feel guilty.

1) Graduated from his year at University College London with First Class Honours. Generally recognised as the outstanding mind in his field.
2) Met Helen Ambrose (later Cutter) at University. They started dating after a late night screening of a Marx Brothers marathon. Shared passion for evolutionary science.
3) Prefers fossils to live animals.
4) Drinks Jack Daniel's bourbon or single malt whiskies, never blended.
5) Loves doing research, hates writing it up. Hates teaching even more and does his best to avoid it.
6) Presents a hard-bitten image to the world but is actually very romantic. Cried at the end of Titanic but claims to have had conjunctivitis.
7) Believes there is intelligent life elsewhere in the universe, but not in the government.
8) Prefers the Stones to the Beatles, but prefers Joy Division to both.
9) Relaxes by cooking elaborate meals but never sticks to recipes. As a result his invitations to dinner are feared throughout the science faculty.
10) Always dreamed that somehow, sometime he would see a real, living dinosaur. Now beginning to regret it.

Stephen Hart (28)

With the ability to track almost any animal, Stephen is Cutter's reliable right-hand man and research assistant. His courage often puts him in highly dangerous situations.

1) Junior fencing champion and also junior shooting Olympic prospect. Gave it all up to study natural history, but grew bored and opted for hands-on experience in the Rain Forest instead.
2) Passionately committed to wild life conservation.
3) Had his heart broken when he fell in love as a student, and has never really got over it.
4) Runs 30 miles a week.
5) Claims to have no interest in fashion but has a suspiciously large collection of GQ magazines in his toilet.
6) Fiercely loyal to friends, always popular, but makes close friends slowly and is sceptical about human nature.
7) Believes humanity is destroying its own environment through unchecked industrialisation.
8) Uninterested in making money; feels sorry for old friends with good jobs in the City.
9) Passionate though depressed supporter of Leeds Utd.
10) Seriously good dancer.

Connor Temple (24)

A super-bright student whose enthusiasm prompts Cutter to investigate the first sightings. His knowledge of dinosaurs is second to none, but his social skills leave a lot to be desired.

1) Favourite food is pizza. Rarely eats anything else.
Has a secret crush on Abby. Except everyone knows, including Abby.
3) Favourite films are the original Star Wars – not the later three – Believes George Lucas is God.
4) Always wanted to join a crime busting gang after watching Scooby Doo as a kid.
5) Ideal woman – apart from Abby - is Buffy (The Vampire Slayer). Or maybe Rose Tyler. He can't decide.
6) Hates exercise, loves TV. Doesn't like going out in case he misses something that's never repeated.
7) Writes software programmes to relax.
8) Believes UFOs are real and governments have hidden the evidence. Secret ambition is to be abducted by aliens.
9) Is brave, loyal and courageous - but only when he has to be.
10) Once did the Vampire ride 12 times in succession at Chessington World of Adventures. Was sick. Didn't mind.

Claudia Brown (28)

Sceptical and sharp-witted, Claudia is an official from the Ministry of Science and Technology delegated to investigate the same mystery creature sightings that interested Cutter. Her cold exterior belies her deep passions. She and Cutter develop a close friendship, but his unresolved feelings towards Helen are a major handicap to romance.

1) Joined the civil service after studying law at university.
2) Was engaged for two years but broke it off a month before the wedding. Has had no major love affairs since.
3) An only child.
4) Hates being patronised, especially by men.
5) Hobbies include riding (well) dancing (not so well) and cooking (badly).
6) Believes that an efficient civil servant should take everything in her stride. Including dinosaurs.
7) Secret ambition before the anomalies was to quit her job and sail around the world.
8) Doesn't think of herself as brave, but hates showing fear - just as well, these days she has a lot to be frightened about.
9) Favourite film used to be Jurassic Park. Not any more though.
10) Isn't sure she likes Cutter, but thinks she might be falling in love with him.

Abby Maitland (23)

A reptile expert from London Zoo, Abby crosses paths with Cutter and his team when she investigates an odd lizard adopted by a boy as a pet. She joins forces with them and quickly forms a strong bond with Stephen.

1) Loves fashion but has no time nor money for it. Happiest in jeans and T-shirts, hates wearing too feminine clothes.
2) Went to the Galapagos Islands as a child and was moved to tears by its beauty. Love affair with lizards ever since.
3) Prefers animals to people (most of the time).
4) Left university after only one term when she got a job as a zoo keeper.
5) Flat sitting for a wealthy friend who now lives in America.
6) Has a chronic fear of spiders.
7) Hobbies include yoga (Ashtanga) karate and kick boxing.
8) Falls in love with the wrong men - likes them moody and a bit dangerous.
9) Is insanely competitive.
10) Rather good at Karaoke.