Cheers, gents! Certainly more successful this time round...
@AndyM; change of background and lighting angle. As you suggested, I went a bit darker and used pale blue, and it's worked a treat! Moved to the other side of the loft so the figures weren't backlit, and this has definitely helped. Still using the camera phone at the moment (the shame), but it's working so far!
Cheers
Iain