Roger Huntington is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, played by Rob Spendlove.

Together they set up a home on Brookside Close and maintain careers to ascend the British social class hierarchy system.

Writers created an infidelity story for Roger and he begins an affair with his client, Diane McAllistair (Rosy Clayton).

The show's creator and executive producer Phil Redmond was surprised by Spendlove's decision after he had previously wanted to renew his contract.

[1] Roger is one of Brookside's original characters and all actors playing these roles were cast by Redmond and production team member Janet Goddard.

[10] Spendlove told Geoff Baker from Birmingham Mail that "Brookside is it for Roger, with its trees, cul-de-sac and car.

[12] In an introductory character profile published in TVTimes, Roger was described by writer Alan Kennaugh as being "a solicitor's articled clerk, he's a fussy, particular man, married only for two months.

"[5] Sue Johnston, who plays fellow character Sheila Grant described Roger and Heather as a "upwardly mobile couple" who viewed Brookside Close as a "stepping stone to bigger and better things.

"[15] In the book "Life in the Close", author Geoff Tibballs detailed that Roger "was used to getting his own way" so feels "neglected" when Heather enjoys her own independence.

His ventures of installing burglar alarms, television aerials and attempts at putting up shelving "made him the laughing stock of the Close.

[14] Roger's early stories feature him working as a solicitor's clerk at Derek Hobbs' (Norman Gregory) firm.

[16] Roger was featured in an infidelity storyline when he begins a sexual relationship with his client, Diane McAllistair (Rosy Clayton).

[20] A Brookside publicist told Laura Payne from Daily Mirror that "we are getting all kinds of mail since the Roger affair started.

Roger's neighbour George Jackson (Cliff Howells) smells burning and stops the fire spreading.

Redmond stated that Spendlove received another job offer which required him to leave immediately at the end of his contract.

[3][29] Brookside faced many technical issues during its early months of production that made his experience "dodgy and ropey".

His plan was for Roger to be written out prior to Spendlove's contract expiring in case they needed to film additional content.

[32] Kay Nicholls, author of the book Real Soap: Brookside described Roger as a "cocky but basically crap man-about-the-house".

"[34] Hilary Kingsley, author of Soapbox branded Roger a "sly solicitor" who "seemed a weed but turned out a two timer who slept with a woman client.

"[35] Jo Bayne from Western Daily Press wrote that Roger was "supercilious" and compared him to the fictional character Jeffrey Fourmile from the sitcom George and Mildred.

She added "their combination of career woman feminist and sceptical male ambition have almost exactly replicated the original Heather and Roger.

"[38] Jonathan Bignell and Stephen Lacey, who wrote British Television Drama: Past, Present and Future called Roger and Heather "Young Urban Professionals" or "Yuppies" that became prominent in 1980s Britain.

[39] They assessed "they were in the programme to symbolise the rise of the new professional classes that would help deliver, measure and regulate the newer service industries.

"[40] Baker believed the story deserved more attention and was overshadowed by an affair storyline featured in rival soap opera Coronation Street.

[40] Paddy Shennan from Liverpool Echo disliked the character and stated "Roger (Rob Spendlove) was a right prat, wasn't he?

[41] British author and artist John Coulthart opined that Spendlove's "character in the soap was a weak husband.

"[42] Ken Irwin from Daily Mirror described the character as "an ambitious and rather snobby solicitor's clerk with great social aspirations.

[9] That month, Stuart Gilles (Manchester Evening News) branded him a "philandering solicitor" and "Brookside lothario".

[44] In August 1993, John Millar (Daily Record) opined that Spendlove was "still remembered as womanising solicitor's clerk Roger.

"[45] In November 2002, Dawn Collinson (Liverpool Echo) stated that Roger had "straying ways" and described him as "the unfaithful solicitor who cheated on his wife Heather with one of his clients.