Margaret Tilling is a widowed nurse living in Chilbury. Her quiet deference and maternal devotion define her daily life as she worries constantly about her son David departing for the front lines. Used to smiling and agreeing with others, she begins keeping a journal to process her fears. The formation of the local ladies' choir prompts her to test her newfound resolve and find her own voice.

At eighteen years old, Venetia is the beautiful and self-absorbed elder daughter of the wealthy Winthrop family. Preoccupied with social victories, she views the village's newest male resident as an irresistible challenge. However, her superficial persona masks a more complex young woman who is beginning to crave authentic connections during the recklessness of the wartime home front.

Thirteen-year-old Kitty is an observant adolescent experiencing the transition to young adulthood. She views the world through a dramatic lens, frequently assigning colors to people's personalities and harboring intense romantic fantasies. The formation of the local ladies' choir provides her with a much-desired stage to escape her older sister's shadow and her father's strict rules.

Miss Paltry is the village midwife, a woman whose difficult past and poverty have shaped her into a cynical opportunist. Harboring deep resentment toward the class system, she views the chaos of the war as a prime chance for financial advancement. She regularly details her calculating schemes in highly candid letters to her sister.

The patriarch of Chilbury Manor, Brigadier Winthrop embodies the oppressive traditional social order. He is a tyrannical figure who rules his household through intimidation and holds little affection for his family members. His overriding obsession is securing a legitimate male heir to inherit the estate, driving him to ruthless and secretive measures.

Alastair is a mysterious, sophisticated artist who recently moved to the village of Chilbury. He maintains an aloof demeanor and often goes out without his art supplies, sparking local curiosity about his true reasons for being in the countryside. His resistance to Venetia's charm makes him an intriguing challenge for the young socialite.

Universally known as Mrs. B., she is a formidable pillar of the traditional upper class. Bossy and highly opinionated, she represents a rigid adherence to social convention and initially opposes the formation of an all-female choir. Despite her strict views, her deep-seated sense of duty compels her to remain heavily involved in village affairs.

Primrose, affectionately called Prim, is an unconventional music tutor who contrasts sharply with the staid conformity of village life. Wearing a sweeping black cloak and bringing stories of her past in India, she acts as a catalyst for change. She believes deeply in the power of music and encourages the village women to unite.

Hattie is a beloved village schoolteacher and an archetypal figure of warmth and goodness. Currently pregnant while her husband is away at war, she represents hope and continuity within the community. Her quiet, domestic life stands in contrast to the wealth and drama of her aristocratic friends.

Flight Lieutenant Henry Brampton-Boyd is the village's archetypal military hero. Handsome, brave, and from an esteemed family, he is viewed as an ideal catch by the local women. As a young man experiencing the adrenaline of the air war, the pressures of his position carry hidden complexities beneath his polished exterior.

Silvie is a ten-year-old Jewish evacuee from Czechoslovakia who has been taken in by the Winthrop family. Quiet and burdened by trauma, she represents the wider European tragedies of the war. She slowly attempts to integrate into the household and the local choir while holding onto hope for her family's safety.

Elsie is a maid working at Chilbury Manor. Having been mistreated by the upper classes, she has developed a pragmatic approach to survival. She seeks ways to improve her station and leverage whatever information she uncovers to escape a life of servitude.

David is Mrs. Tilling's only child, a young local man eager to serve his country. His departure for France brings immense anxiety to his mother. He begins as an innocent youth with a harmless crush, but the realities of military training quickly begin to alter his demeanor.

The son of the local shopkeeper, Ralph is a young man who returns from the front lines changed by the horrors of combat. Prone to unpredictable behavior and self-interest, he seeks to capitalize on the wartime chaos through illicit means and intimidation.

Colonel Anthony Mallard is a senior officer stationed at the nearby Litchfield Park War Center. Initially presenting as a gruff military man, he is a widower carrying his own quiet grief. His steady presence provides a sharp contrast to the unpredictable men in the village.

The mistress of Chilbury Manor, Mrs. Winthrop lives under the constant pressure of her husband's demands. Coping with the recent death of her only son, she anxiously awaits the birth of her next child while managing the volatile dynamics of her aristocratic household.

Proggett is the loyal butler serving the Winthrop family at Chilbury Manor. Beyond his formal duties, he is observed engaging in clandestine meetings in the local woods, raising questions among the villagers about his true wartime activities.

Clara is Miss Edwina Paltry's sister. Though she remains off-screen, she acts as her sister's sole confidante, receiving detailed letters outlining the midwife's most secretive and illicit plans for financial gain.

Angela is Venetia Winthrop's best friend and confidante. As the recipient of Venetia's letters, she serves as a sounding board for Venetia's romantic strategies, social observations, and growing fears about the war.