Ben

Ben is one of the main characters of Lead Balloon who is the boyfriend of Sam. He is depicted as an underachiever and a slacker, with a casual approach to life and to commitments and expectations. He frequently wears a black beanie and a camouflage jacket. He is constantly shown "hanging around" or "chilling" at Rick's house, much to the latter's annoyance.

He goes through numerous jobs and interests during the series, such as a circus skills course, a shelf-stacking position, (which he quits after being expected to turn up before the shop opened), a postman, among other things. He and Sam recount stories and experiences about themselves or about their degenerate friend, Spikey, the expectations of which are out of touch with social norms or common sense. Rick humours them by showing empathy for their predicament. Ben and Sam appear not to realise the lack of common sense these stories convey.

Ben's endeavours require a reccuring amount of forty pounds, which is gained from Rick by Sam's requests. It is implied they may be used to purchase recreational drugs. Through this medium, Rick often loses money, such as when Ben runs for President of the Student Union, and obtains money from Rick to distribute campaign posters. Sam promises to claim it on union expenses to allow Rick to get it back, but when Ben quits after winning the election, the decision on Rick's money is left to the runner-up, Liam, who is in a coma.

Ben and Sam break up briefly in Series Three, but get back together in the episode "Spikey", when Sam asks Rick to post Ben's mobile phone to him, which is left on in the envelope. It rings during a play Rick and Mel attend, and the lead actor stops the play to tell Rick to 'shove it up your arse'. Both Ben and Sam break the ice after mutually finding it hilarious, and resume their relationship.