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Adam Logan (played by Rodger Corser)

Adam is dedicated to his mates and not averse to a good time, he should (by his reckoning) just about be the perfect man for any single lady who may be shopping around. Not that Adam's looking to commit right away. He's had his heart recently broken by a long-term lover, Louisa. Or at least, he thinks he's had his heart broken. Adam's only just starting to realise that for all the times in his young adulthood where he felt he had a handle on the opposite sex (or, for that matter, his own feelings), he might have had it all wrong. Adam's not sure he understands how women think at all.

And, not opposed to a challenge, he's prepared to bloody well find out.

Adam is the protagonist and narrator of Last Man Standing. Single and a food photographer — something he's still slightly defensive about in front of his over-attentive mother who doesn't appreciate that it's a real job. As Adam pleads to her: "It's not easy trying to build up a creative rapport with a mound of celeriac mash." He loves his job but feels someone out there wants him to be making more of his life. Who exactly? He doesn't know. What exactly? He doesn't know either. Adam had no idea so many questions would rise up just before he turned 30.

Adam is a new man with some familiar, old habits. Seemingly confident and secure but racked by creeping self-doubt and insecurities. A true 21st century boy, warts and all. He's a music nut, obsessive about his vast collection of records and CDs, and absolutely awestruck by his rock heroes — Bon, Keef, Gram. He even met Keith Richards once and stole his drink. He's read all the biographies (and maintains the good ones either died before penning a book or were too out of it to write in the first place). He can handle modern-day music but is more interested in the culture of days past, and is constantly arguing with younger brother Anto (Fletcher Humphreys) about influences and the staying power of Nickelback.

He enjoys sarcastically putting down his mates, but underneath all the bolshy and bravado he's a fiercely loyal friend, who'd throw a punch or two if required (though he'd prefer not to — he hasn't punched anyone since Year Seven when Mark Bobolakis gave him a Dirty Sanchez in front of the entire canteen). He's not oblivious to the faults of Cameron and Bruno, just as he's not oblivious to his own shortcomings. Adam paid attention when his last girlfriend Louisa (Nicole Nabout) read him the riot act — and the home truths cut deep. He's prepared to work on himself (and cut himself a bit of slack if need be, too).

Adam has a habit of being glib at inappropriate moments and seems to be learning the hard way when to behave like a grown-up. He doesn't take criticism too well, and occasionally grows defensive when confronted. And there's that word: confrontation — never been keen on that either. If a problem or an issue is staring him in the face, Adam would prefer to sit tight until it explodes rather than tackle it head-on. It's a habit he can't seem to break.

Adam likes being a big kid sometimes. He just has to figure out which parts of boyishness he wants to hold on to in the next stage of his puzzling journey.

Cameron Kennedy (played by Matt Passmore)

With charisma to burn, 30-year-old Cameron is used to getting his own way. Not that he's a spoilt brat, far from it. The laconic Cameron is as easygoing as they come. He's not Hollywood gorgeous, but then he doesn't have to be. Spontaneous, charming, flirtatious without being sleazy — he's even able to pick up 'the ladies' in a fashion that doesn't make Adam and Bruno sick to the stomach (though they'll happily analyse and pick over his technique 'til the cows come home). Which is lucky for Adam and Bruno, seeing as how Cameron loves women. Adores them in fact. He likes thinking about them, lying next to them, talking to them, touching their hair — he even respects that weird shoe-thing they've got going on. ain problem for Cameron is that he's married to one of them. Or was.

And it's not that Cameron didn't enjoy being married. He loved it. But let's face it, he's a guy with a lot of love to give. And wife Zoe couldn't exactly appreciate the 'share' factor when she caught Cameron with that cute girl who made their flat whites at the local café. And the kindergarten teacher who lived around the corner. And that red-head who hired Cameron to trim her box hedges.

Cameron, naturally, was shattered when Zoe threw him out. But he adjusted — he always does. Cameron is an eternal optimist who lives life to the hilt. Bruno points out that of course Cameron enjoys life — he's had regular sex in a variety of positions since he was 17. But Cameron insists he doesn't play women for fools: he's genuinely attentive and responsive to their needs. Women know what they're in for with him: he never pretends to be something that he's not, ie: faithful. That's what they're attracted to. That, and the size of his tackle.

But underneath all the raffish charm and anything-goes attitude, Cameron is awash with doubt. Maybe by losing Zoe he's lost his only chance at stability. Maybe he doesn't want stability. But what if he can't cruise by on his looks forever? But what if he can? There's something terribly appealing about a lifetime as a playboy; no responsibilities and no commitments. Cameron's not lonely now. But he has a vague concern that one day he might be.

Cameron's a landscape gardener who enjoys physical labour — but he's not without ambitions. He has a creative and mischievous streak and excels in human contact. He thinks he's the alpha male of the group. He occasionally needs to assert himself by light-heartedly putting down his mates, but is quietly and determinedly reliant on the stability of his long-lasting friendships. For someone who has had a hand in more than one relationship break-up (he met Adam and Bruno in high school after sleeping with both their girlfriends), he's got a surprisingly strong set of personal beliefs and can occasionally be dogmatic in his views.

Bruno Palmer (played by Travis McMahon)

Curiously charming in a too-much-information kind of way, Bruno doesn't hate himself. He doesn't mind himself, actually. He just can't figure out why no-one else seems to feel the same way.

It could be because 29-year-old Bruno isn't what you'd call traditionally attractive. He's certainly far from ugly, but he's what the ladies might refer to as 'interesting'. He's got 'character'. It's just that the combination of his slightly desperate air, sexual innuendo and inability to think before speaking tend to send women running. Adam and Cameron are constantly on his case about changes Bruno might wish to make should he desire interest from the opposite sex, but it seems no matter what Bruno does he can't get lucky. Or if he does get lucky it's always with some psycho hose beast with psoriasis who speaks in tongues. Not that he's picky.

He had his heart broken a few years back by a woman whom Adam and Cameron snidely refer to as 'Mad Margot'. The emotionally manipulative Margot well and truly did a job on Bruno and occasionally appears in his life to snap her fingers and have him jumping. Poor Bruno does his best to resist the charms of his poisonous ex but when you're having a dry spell and love is being offered on tap it's hard to say no, even though you know you'll end up worse off than before.

Bruno's got an incredible knack of saying the wrong thing at the right time and the right thing at the wrong time. Adam's made him a black belt in the art of foot-in-mouth, and even Bruno concedes tact isn't his strong point. But he's a nurse, he's supposed to call is straight. And don't even start him on the homosexual jibes. Bruno's defensive about his job and the sexual connotations that come with it. He's there to save lives, dammit!...or at least, mop up after. He has a beautiful relationship with his female co-workers who dote on him like a hopeless younger brother. Bruno's used to being teased by them and enjoys giving as good as he gets. And maybe one holds a torch for him, not that he would notice.

You can't help but like him. He's like your embarrassing cousin from Perth, only more frank about his shortcomings and peccadilloes. And even though he'll readily bag out Adam and Cameron to their faces, he won't hear a word against them in mixed company. Bruno's been mates with the other two since high school. He has a strong moral code and doesn't respect or appreciate cruelty. If Bruno's able to tell it like it is, he doesn't see why anyone else has to beat around the bush.

He's not intimidated by Cameron's looks, or Adam's boyish charm — Bruno's confident that he's got his own attributes, including very good personal hygiene that a lady may find attractive and he's prepared to exploit them at any given moment. Part of Bruno's appeal is his defiance to throw in the towel, no matter how hopeless a situation. It is this defiance however that tends to give him a slightly obsessive nature — Bruno's famous for not being able to just let something drop once it bothers him.

He's more than aware of his failings, and happy to be the punching bag in any given verbal stoush. He's got thick skin and has a deep love for the guitar. His favourite band is Dire Straits. He is an only child and very close to his middle-class parents.

Zoe Hesketh (played by Miriama Smith)

The term 'take no crap' was coined with Zoe in mind. At least, these days it is. Back when she was married to Cameron, plagued with insecurities and waiting for the other shoe to drop (which it inevitably did), Zoe put up with everything and hated herself for it.

It certainly wasn't the future she had in mind when she met Cameron back in New Zealand. She was a wild girl who loved to travel, and he was a backpacker doing the rounds of the island. Zoe was looking for someone to move into her shared apartment and fell for Cameron the minute she laid eyes on him. After three months together, he asked her to shut up shop in New Zealand and come back to Australia with him. And without a second's hesitation, Zoe bid farewell to her unconvinced family and moved to Melbourne.

When her marriage fell apart, so did she. She headed straight back home to get herself together and to get over Cameron. Leaving him was the hardest thing she's ever done, since Cameron is the only man Zoe has ever loved — if you don't count Derek Myers, age 16-18, which Zoe doesn't. She's a monogamous girl who was quite ready for all that 'richer/poorer/sickness/health' bizzo. She just didn't expect 'faithful/unfaithful' to come into the equation. Zoe forgave on more than one occasion (yes, no need to bring it up, she hates herself for that too) for the sole reason that she wanted desperately for things to right themselves. They didn't. She walked. And now, after a definite cooling-off period, she's curious to see if she can have a civil relationship with the man she once called 'husband'. And so when work offers her a transfer to the Melbourne office, Zoe doesn't say no.

Zoe hates the term 'one of the guys', but when she's with Adam, Bruno and Cameron it's inevitably the role she plays. Unfazed by dirty talk and unimpressed with their chest beating, she is deeply fond of all three at the same time as being utterly fed up with their constant self-obsessing. Zoe's ready to move, change things, get involved in life. And while she humours the bitching and moaning over womankind our trio indulge in, she has moments of needing a break. The friendship can get a little claustrophobic.

Adam and Zoe enjoy a comfortable rapport and an underlying trust. Zoe's very comfortable with her sexuality (just because she only had one boyfriend before Cameron, doesn't mean she didn't make the most of her single 'patches') and knows now more than ever what she wants and needs in a lover. She's a long way off throwing herself into a relationship again — and, if truth be told, is probably subconsciously waiting for Cameron to change his ways — but she's quite willing to enjoy a succession of suitors in the meantime.