Clive

Clive Gray is a recurring character in Lead Balloon. He is a bald, middle aged, officious man who spends his days looking after his 83-85 year-old mother, Doris who has lived in the house across the street from Rick and Mel for fifty years. It is never explicitly stated whether or not he actually lives with her, due to conflicting statements he makes such as "I've just looked in on my mother." In a scene transition gag, the joke Rick writes refers to Clive as "The Neighbour from Hull," ostensibly a reference to his place of origin. This also suggests he may in fact live with his mother.

He often appears at Rick's front door to complain about something affecting his mother. He prefaces these complaints with "Oh, Hello Rick, sorry to bother you. Have you got a moment?" After Rick makes an excuse such as claiming to be busy, Clive replies: "Only it is quite important." He frequently reminds Rick of his mother's age when making his complaints. His interactions with Rick occasionally extend into making snide observations about Rick's professional failures, such as his poor score on the grammar quiz show "Watch Your Language." Rick dislikes Clive, and frequently lies about the situations affecting Doris to repel Clive. Clive also emulates the stereotypical 'nosy neighbour' in that he occasionally confronts Rick about matters which do not concern him, such as the matter of Rick having been the best man of deceased Bargain Channel presenter, Darryl Mason, who never married.

In the last episode of the series, "End", Rick refuses to consent to a ramp being built at Clive's mother's house, which, according to Clive, is "petty revenge" against him for objecting to Rick's proposed top-floor window in the past for being "totally out of keeping with the street". This leads to Clive cornering Rick by his dressing room at the Brave Britain Awards. After being locked in Rick's dressing room for several hours, he escapes and brings his mother out in front of the press and attempts to reveal that Rick refused to the ramp. This leads to Rick throwing a punch at Clive. Clive dodges the punch and it hits his mother instead. This was the last scene of the series, and a freeze frame ensues with a newspaper headline reading "Sick Spleen: Vile comic's final punchline."