Nicole (Nic) Julian

Apparently the scion of the well-to-do Julian family, it is eventually revealed that Nicole is actually the adopted offspring of a 16-year-old cheerleader (Shaggy Louise Grout) who ended up working in the school cafeteria, but we'll come to that later.

Despite her wealthy background Nicole seems drawn to money. This is the main reason she champions Mary Cherry at the cheerleading tryouts, and she never misses an opportunity to drum up some ready cash. But when she isn't making money she's spending it and when she isn't spending it she's tormenting anyone of a lower social standing.

Her favourite target is Carmen. The reason being that Carmen reminds her of what she used to be in grade school, fat, friendless, and a target for the popular kids.

At this time, though largely ignored by her cocktail-swilling mother, she enjoyed the love of her Nana and was a good girl. Then Nana died, she transferred to Kennedy High, and the bespectacled freshman fell under the influence of cheerleading co-captain Marley Jacob.

Cruelty is a taught skill and Marley was a good teacher. When Marley unexpectedly died Nicole just stepped into her shoes (She even adopts Marley's catchphrase, "Thank-you".) and became Brooke's co-captain.

Sam calls her 'Satan' and with good reason, as she is a thoroughly unpleasant individual with no apparent redeeming features. But at least Nicole is up front about it. In her turn she hates 'Spam' and isn't afraid to say so.

Her best friend, indeed her only friend, is Brooke McQueen. It would seem that she is content to remain in Brooke's shadow because, in her own words, "I'm not liked. I'm feared." Therefore her popularity is entirely dependant on Brooke. This is why Nicole will do anything to protect her.

It could be argued that Nicole is in love with Brooke, but it could be equally argued that she's incapable of that emotion. Certainly she's prepared to betray Brooke when the opportunity presents itself, by colluding with Adam for example. She also sleeps with Josh, for reasons best known to herself. She also holds Brooke in contempt for her holier-that-thou 'Mary Sunshine' image, though it's that image she has to protect at all costs. But at the end of the day Nicole needs Brooke and will always return to her.

Well, so far, so good, but in the second season things begin to go seriously wrong for Nicole. First she has trouble with her knee and is dropped from the Glamazons. Then her plan to blackmail Principal Krupps backfires and she is banned from the Glamazons. Her popularity plummets.

Josh finds her crying, something she never does "because then they'd win", and realises that perhaps Nicole does have feelings, but it doesn't last.

She runs against Carmen for Homecoming Queen. She does this in association with Mary Cherry in one of her rare go-it-alone moments. She loses, a tremendous humiliation not assuaged by her later dealings with Carmen at the Alateen meetings and elsewhere.

She reluctantly save Harrison's life with a bone marrow donation, but later refuses to relieve him of his troublesome virginity. Fair enough, there are limits.

Shortly after this she discovers her adopted status then finds her mother is working at her school. This happy reunion is cut short by the jealous Judy Julian who bribes Shaggy to leave town, but at least this brings them closer together.

Nicole replaces April Tuna as student body president and the Glamazons with a new pep squad, led by herself of course.

But it's the fallout from the Brooke-Sam squabble over Harrison that proves to be the final straw as Brooke rejects her once and for all. Drunk, angry and desperate she runs Brooke down with her car on Prom night.

Season three would have seen Brooke survive and Nicole blaming Mike's unwanted sexual attentions for being drunk at the wheel. She would then persuade Brooke to lie for her and thus beat the manslaughter rap. Later Sam, Brooke and Nicole would team up to defeat the dangerous new girl Unique Jones and thus Brooke and Nicole become friends once again.

Nicole drives a classic silver Porche 356C convertible and she was driving it even before she got her licence. A glimpse at this Class C licence, B8073881, reveals she lives at 6266 Sparr Drive, Beverly Hills CA90212, and that she is 5'5" tall.

Adam says to Brooke: "Nicole is such a nasty slag, as if she'd be anything without you." Which is true, but Rock Glass opines: "You're a strong girl Miss Julian, the strongest recruit I've ever encountered. It's unfortunate that you have nowhere to channel that energy. You'd make a great leader. It's too bad you're all alone with no one to lead."

I think this is the real truth of the matter, that if only Nicole could deal with the demons of her past she'd be a better person. And then she could have what she's always wanted but never had since Nana died - love.