Forms of address
I've been giving some thought to the way people address other people in Primeval and come to some conclusions I, personally, find a bit surprising. Some things feel wrong but are absolutely right, while others feel right but are, on consideration, a bit odd.
Jenny and Claudia both call Lester "James" almost from the start. Cutter and Co, on the other hand, always use "Lester". Yet, while Lester himself follows prevailing fashion (only Helen addresses Cutter habitually as 'Nick') and responds with "Cutter" or, occasionally, "Professor Cutter", he always calls Connor, Stephen, Abby, Jenny, Claudia and his PA, Lorraine, by their first names.
In fact, this is absolutely right. It is common, throughout the modern Civil Service, for everyone to be addressed by their first names. Though I have known some Permanent Secretaries in the past who have insisted on their titles (Sir X, Dame Y, Chairman etc), this is now almost unheard of. (Indeed, Ministers are often also known by their first names in semi-formal situations.) And that means everyone, folks, whether in person or via e-mail or on an open forum, everyone from the newest temporary AA upwards. In fact, my new head of division popped his head round the door the other day with a, "Hi, I'm Steve." If I hadn't been warned that he was in the building making contact with his staff, I wouldn't have known him from all the other Steves. This type of management style is very common and encouraged, and Lester, who has been a management consultant himself, would certainly know this.
So, it is not surprising that Lester addresses and refers to practically everyone by their first names, or that Jenny and Claudia habitually call him "James". What is surprising is that he calls Leek "Leek" (I believe there is an occasional 'Oliver') and Cutter 'Cutter'. What is even more surprising is that no-one else, particularly Leek and Lorraine, calls him "James". (Actually, Leek might. I haven't checked the early Season 2 episodes.) All the PAs I know in the Service call their bosses by their first name or nickname. Cutter's team are probably following his example, but it's still odd.
Though Cutter plainly likes to be known as "Cutter", I still find it strange that Connor started calling him that in the very first episode. He's probably copying Stephen, but all the same, it is rude for someone in his position.
Jenny and Claudia both call Lester "James" almost from the start. Cutter and Co, on the other hand, always use "Lester". Yet, while Lester himself follows prevailing fashion (only Helen addresses Cutter habitually as 'Nick') and responds with "Cutter" or, occasionally, "Professor Cutter", he always calls Connor, Stephen, Abby, Jenny, Claudia and his PA, Lorraine, by their first names.
In fact, this is absolutely right. It is common, throughout the modern Civil Service, for everyone to be addressed by their first names. Though I have known some Permanent Secretaries in the past who have insisted on their titles (Sir X, Dame Y, Chairman etc), this is now almost unheard of. (Indeed, Ministers are often also known by their first names in semi-formal situations.) And that means everyone, folks, whether in person or via e-mail or on an open forum, everyone from the newest temporary AA upwards. In fact, my new head of division popped his head round the door the other day with a, "Hi, I'm Steve." If I hadn't been warned that he was in the building making contact with his staff, I wouldn't have known him from all the other Steves. This type of management style is very common and encouraged, and Lester, who has been a management consultant himself, would certainly know this.
So, it is not surprising that Lester addresses and refers to practically everyone by their first names, or that Jenny and Claudia habitually call him "James". What is surprising is that he calls Leek "Leek" (I believe there is an occasional 'Oliver') and Cutter 'Cutter'. What is even more surprising is that no-one else, particularly Leek and Lorraine, calls him "James". (Actually, Leek might. I haven't checked the early Season 2 episodes.) All the PAs I know in the Service call their bosses by their first name or nickname. Cutter's team are probably following his example, but it's still odd.
Though Cutter plainly likes to be known as "Cutter", I still find it strange that Connor started calling him that in the very first episode. He's probably copying Stephen, but all the same, it is rude for someone in his position.