Celebrating the characters we love this World Book Day
26 February 2026
Lydia Ridding and Sam Orciel, English Subject Advisors
World Book Day, on 5 March, is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the characters who leap from the page into our hearts and memories. Whether they’re heroes, villains or that grey area in between, book characters can shape who we are, challenge our perspectives, and stay with us long after we’ve finished reading.
To mark this year’s World Book Day, we asked colleagues and teachers who their all-time favourite book character is, and what makes them so compelling. We’ve also shared ours too!
Do you agree with these? Or do you have a favourite character of your own? We’d love to hear from you – head over to our social media channels and share your thoughts on our World Book Day post!
Jay Gatsby from ‘The Great Gatsby’ by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Chosen by Oliver, Assistant Principal and English Teacher
“For the wide variety of reactions he draws from students, I’d have to say Jay Gatsby. At various turns he is infuriating, romantic, sympathetic, childish, suave... But, however I feel about him, I always find someone that is deeply human and relatable. I’m not always able to articulate this to my students!”
Atticus Finch from ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee
Chosen by Nicola, Sales Enablement Manager
“For me, it has to be Atticus Finch. Kind, fair, steadfast, loyal and, really importantly, a father. That is the thing that really struck me about him. He has time for everybody, and the way he teaches his children isn’t by telling them what to think, but by encouraging them to think for themselves. He’s just such a fabulous role model – not just for his family but the community as well.”
The Inspector from ‘An Inspector Calls’ by J.B. Priestley
Chosen by Rina, English and Media Teacher
“The Inspector is powerful as he serves as the moral authority of the play, challenging each character to confront their actions and their impact on others. His unwavering sense of justice and ethical stance make him a compelling figure who drives the narrative forward.
“Additionally, the mystery and ambiguity surrounding his true identity add a layer of intrigue. This allows him to transcend the role of a mere police officer, becoming a symbolic figure representing social conscience. His presence in the play is both enigmatic and commanding, which keeps the audience engaged.
“The Inspector also acts as a catalyst for change, prompting the characters to undergo self-examination and potential transformation. By revealing the interconnections of their actions and the consequences, he forces them to reconsider their responsibilities towards others. This role is crucial in highlighting the play’s themes of social responsibility and moral accountability.
“Through the Inspector, Priestley critiques the social inequalities and moral failings of the time. His speeches emphasise issues of class, responsibility, and the need for social change, making him a vehicle for the play’s central themes.”
Ford Prefect from ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’ by Douglas Adams
Chosen by Madeleine, Innovation Lead and Head of English
“I have to shout out Ford Prefect in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Alien, passing as human with cool tech. Very cool and froody.”
Sophie Fevvers from ‘Nights at the Circus’ by Angela Carter
Chosen by Lisa, Head of Product Support, Propositions and Strategic Partnerships
“I think my favourite literary character of all time is Angela Carter's Sophie Fevvers. As a post-feminist writer, Carter is playful. She creates Sophie as part-woman, part-swan – an aerialist and circus performer. She’s using that image of a bird (a famous image associated with femininity) to suggest Sophie needs to break free from the patriarchal circumstances that define her.”
Hamlet from ‘Hamlet’ by William Shakespeare
Chosen by Cassie, KS5 English Lead and Director of Courses
“To teach – Hamlet. He is endlessly open to interpretation. There is a wonderful line projected at the end of the recent play ‘The Motive and the Cue’ that states that, since the play was written, there have been over 200,000 productions of ‘Hamlet’ and every one has been different.”
Katniss Everdeen from ‘The Hunger Games’ trilogy by Suzanne Collins
Chosen by Samantha, Product Designer
“The reason I’ve chosen Katniss is because she’s not your traditional heroine. She's defiant, she’s argumentative, people don’t like her... At the same time, she is loyal and compassionate at every level. She’s an excellent role model for students to read because she’s complex, very human and very real. We have a character that doesn’t necessarily conform to gender norms and expectations, showing the diversity and scale you can present in fiction.”
Bathsheba Everdene from ‘Far from the Madding Crowd’ by Thomas Hardy
Chosen by Lydia
“I love Bathsheba because she’s often misunderstood by readers. People often think that she is vain and vacuous, when, actually, she’s a strong female character who, throughout the novel, defies others’ expectations of her.”
Iago from ‘Othello’ by William Shakespeare
Chosen by Sam
“My favourite literary character is actually a villain: Iago from Othello. He embodies all of these terrible human foibles – all these deepest, darkest desires – and he uses them to cause Othello’s tragic downfall. Yet, all the while, as the audience, we’re somehow still rooting for him. He's a hugely compelling character and exquisitely crafted.”
Have your say and shape the future of English
What does the Curriculum and Assessment Review mean for English teachers and students? Our blog has more information, and we’re keen to hear the views and opinions of a wide range of English teachers as part of our planning for the future of English qualifications.
If you’d like to be involved and help shape the future of the subject, please sign up to our insight panel and explore the activities and discussions in our English advisory group.
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About the authors
Prior to joining Cambridge OCR in June 2023, Lydia spent 20 years working in a range of sixth form colleges across the country, teaching A Level and GCSE qualifications in English. She was a coursework moderator with Cambridge OCR for a number of years and has an MA in Victorian Studies from Birkbeck University.
Before joining Cambridge OCR in September 2022, Sam spent ten years teaching a range of English qualifications in secondary schools, including as a head of department. She did this alongside completing a MSt in Advanced Subject Teaching at the University of Cambridge, specialising in A Level English curricula and pedagogy.
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