Leah Williams

Leah Carpenter (nee Williams) is the lead character of the Office Workers (1988-). She has been a regular since 1988. She was initially played by Leah Bracknell until 2018, but due to the ongoing character, the decision was made to recast the actress to Gillian Wright.

Storylines
Leah is first offered a job as a receptionist by Peter. She starts and takes to the job well, however Stephanie & Eva make a mess up of the accounts two weeks in, causing Peter to lose it, making Leah the accountant. Initially using traditional techniques, she upgraded to a computer in 1997. She takes leave in 1996 when she has a son, Nicolas. In 2007, Leah starts suffering from anaemia. In 2010, The Office is thrown into turmoil when Chris Danson joins the firm, bringing a shedload of work with him. Over the years, Leah finds herself taking on more and more work, sending her stress levels through the roof. For example, in 2015, after Leah snaps at Ruth, Leah offers to help her with tapes, causing this to be indefinite. In 2018, Leah asks Gary about getting help, and Elizabeth Fenton is taken on. She seems nice to start with, however manipulates Leah into giving her the accountant job. Leah is upset by this, and feels undermined, now seen as a general dogsbody, helping Chris with things she doesn't like doing. In late 2019, Leah makes a private decision to leave the Office after 32 years, with the date being unknown, but the near future. Leah has also had to deal with several difficult situations in her life, such as the loss of her half sister Jessie, her aunt Meg, her father Peter, and mother Rosemary, as well as problems with Nicolas, who is autistic, suffering from anaemia, and Rosemary's battle with Alzheimer's disease.

Personality
For most of her tenure, Leah has been shown to be a caring and conscientious character, who cares about her family and working hard. However, on several occasions, Leah has had personality changes, such as during and after her spell with anaemia, she became somewhat harder and more impatient. She has also shown manipulative traits, especially to Nicolas, who he claims "treats him like her property". After Rosemary went into a care home, Leah became harder in some ways, and somewhat eccentric in others. In recent years, Leah has shown to act in a coy way around Rik & Chris, always ready to please them, despite despising them.

Family
Leah is a member of the Williams family, the lead family on The Office Workers.

Mother: Rosemary Williams (dec'd)

Father: Peter Williams (dec'd)

Brothers: Steve Williams & Gary Williams

Sisters: Jessie Williams (dec'd)

Spouse: Simon Carpenter

Children: Nicolas Williams

Other members include Michael Jury, who appeared in 2015. This is Rosemary's brother in law, Meg Carpenter's husband. Her aunt is Stephanie Williams, and her daughters Eve & Catherine are Leah's cousins.