New six-part ITV series The Loch tells the story of the search for a serial killer in a quiet Scottish town after the body of local man Niall Swift is found at the foot of Carn Mohr Mountain. Shortly afterwards, a human heart is found on the beach – and now Jonjo is gone too.
The local community is shattered and the police force must get to the bottom of this chilling incident before the killer strikes again.
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Producers say the Loch itself is a character in this murder mystery. But we couldn’t exactly write a character description for a body of water, so here are all the human characters instead – and where you’ve seen their faces before:
Laura Fraser – DS Annie Redford
Who does she play? Annie Redford is a dedicated – but dissatisfied – Detective Sergeant in rural Lochanfoy. She has a strained relationship with her teenage daughter Evie, and a loving one with husband Alan. But when the town is hit by a brutal serial killer, she is horrified by what is happening to her community – and also excited about the career opportunity a murder case could present.
Where have I seen her before? Scottish actress Laura Fraser starred as Eve Stone in The Missing. She played Juliet in One of Us and was Lydia Rodarte-Quayle in Breaking Bad.
Siobhan Finneran – DCI Lauren Quigley
Who does she play? Glasgow detective and single-minded career officer Lauren Quigley is brought in to lead the investigation. She’s under no illusions about the darker side of human nature, and as an outsider she can see clearly that the killer is probably hiding in plain sight. A no-nonsense policewoman, she wants to catch the culprit and get back to her home city to secure the promotion she has been working towards for her entire career.
Where have I seen her before? Siobhan Finneran recently starred as Clare Cartwright in Happy Valley. She played a very different character, Janice Garvey, in Benidorm – and also took on the role of Mandy in TV series The Syndicate. But many ITV viewers will know her best as lady’s maid O’Brien from Downton Abbey, a scheming servant and one-time friend of Thomas Barrow.
John Sessions – CI Frank Smilie
Who does he play? Frank Smilie is a traditional old-school cop nearing the end of his career. He doesn’t want any drama and will look after his own – even if that means bending the rules. He has worked with Lauren Quigley before, and the two don’t like each other very much. Now Quigley is also a DCI and back in town, it’s a case of “two Chiefs, one territory”.
Where have I seen him before? John Sessions has recently been on the big screen in Florence Foster Jenkins. On TV he has taken on roles in Upstart Crow, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, Outlander and Mr Holmes.
Gray O’Brien – Alan Redford
Who does he play? Alan Redford is Annie’s husband. He works as a local tour boat operator telling tales of the Loch Ness Monster to tourists. He adores his wife, but the murder case drives a wedge between them.
Where have I seen him before? Gray O’Brien had a three-year stint as Tony Gordon in Coronation Street, a role which earned him the Villain of the Year title at the British Soap Awards 2009.
Shona McHugh – Evie Redford
Who does she play? Evie is the only child of Annie and Alan. Aged 18, she’s spirited, rebellious and keen to leave school for a new life in Australia. A (pretty weird) teenage prank involving bones from the local abattoir arranged in the shape of Loch Ness monster lands Evie and her friends in trouble when a human heart turns up in this fake “Nessie”.
Where have I seen her before? This could be a breakout role for Shona McHugh, who was last on TV in Waterloo Road in 2006.
Don Gilet – Blake Albrighton
Who does he play? Blake Albrighton is a flirtatious, intelligent, arrogant forensic psychologist with a bestselling book to his name. Due to the unusual nature of the murder, he has been brought onto the case by DCI Quigley. Not everyone is a fan.
Where have I seen him before? Don Gilet played Lucas Johnson on EastEnders, a Jekyll-and-Hyde character who recently made a comeback after a six-year absence. He has also starred in Brief Encounters and Holby City.
Murray Fraser – PC Jason Denny
Who does he play? PC Jason Denny is a young officer on the force, and certainly not the brightest. Still, he’s eager to learn and his heart is in the right place.
Where have I seen him before? Murray Fraser is a newcomer to TV, so you probably haven’t.
Alastair Mackenzie – Craig Petrie
Who does he play? Craig Petrie is the head of Lochnafoy college and an accomplished academic. However, he can tend towards arrogance.
Where have I seen him before? Alastair Mackenzie recently played Jamie Moore in the Cold Feet revival. In acclaimed BBC series Wolf Hall he was William Brereton, while in Borgen he played Jeremy Welsh. Back in the early noughties he was best known to TV viewers as Archie MacDonald in Monarch of the Glen.
William Ash – Leighton Thomas
Who does he play? Leighton Thomas is the town’s only former offender. He is a frustrated man seeking rehabilitation in a small community, but these tragic events make him a prime suspect.
Where have I seen him before? Recently William Ash has starred in the TV series Paranoid and The Tunnel. He played Christopher Mead in Waterloo Road, and several years ago was in Clocking Off alongside his The Loch co-star Siobhan Finneran.
Jack Bannon – Kieran Whitehead
Who does he play? Kieran is one of Evie’s friends from the local sixth form college. He is quick-witted, good-looking and caring, but has a secret: at home he must help his mother Bea take care of his bedridden brother, who is suffering from locked-in syndrome. Evie has a crush on him.
Where have I seen him before? Jack Bannon recently starred as James Buxton in the successful min-series Clique. He played Sam Thursday in Endeavour, and has also been on the big screen in The Imitation Game (with Benedict Cumberbatch) and Kids in Love (with Will Poulter and Cara Delevingne).
Keiran Gallacher – Jonjo Patterson
Who does he play? Jonjo is Evie and Kieran’s friend. His parents Ken and Nicole run the local abattoir (where he helps out) and he likes to push their buttons. The joker of the group, Jonjo also suffers from bipolar disorder and can behave erratically when he neglects to take his medication.
Where have I seen him before? Keiran Gallacher is a newcomer to TV, but has starred in the short films Skin Deep and Footballers United.
Moray Hunter – Ken Patterson
Who does he play? Ken Patterson runs the local abattoir and struggles to make ends meet. This murder case could finish his business off altogether. But this is the least of his worries…
Where have I seen him before? Moray Hunter starred in the Channel 4 sketch show Absolutely and in the spin-off series Mr Don and Mr George. He played Dr Martin Baxter in Broadchurch and also works as a scriptwriter.
John Heffernan – Dr Simon Marr
Who does he play? Simon Marr is the local doctor. He has been recently widowed and has a young daughter, who was one of murdered man Niall Swift’s piano students. The doctor has truths about his past that he would prefer remain undiscovered.
Where have I seen him before? John Heffernan played Jaggers in the TV series Dickensian, and Steven Rose in Luther. He also popped up in Ripper Street as Ronald Capshaw.
Oliver Greenall – Jordan Whitehead
Who does he play? Kieran’s older brother supposedly has locked-in syndrome after suffering an aneurism years ago. But there are signs he is waking up. Has his mother been keeping him paralysed all these years so she can look after them?
Where have I seen him before? Oliver Greenall is a newcomer to TV.
Euan Stamper – Crawford Baxter
Who does he play? The local bully. Baxter particularly enjoys beating up fellow student Dessie. But he has the typical story of the troublesome teen character: Baxter is unhappy in his private life, with his dad dying and his future looking bleak.
Where have I seen him before? Euan Stamper is also a newcomer to TV. He played Neil in short film Free Period.
Jenny Ryan – Nicole Patterson
Who does she play? Nicole Patterson is the mother of Jonjo. She’s a bit less harsh on the boy than his dad is.
Where have I seen her before? Jenny Ryan played Sally Stewart in Waterloo Road. She also starred as Amanda in the TV series Cracked.
Simone Lahbib – Mhari Toner
Who does she play? Mhari Toner is Annie’s friend and sparring partner. She has a son in Evie’s class at sixth form college.
Where have I seen her before? Simone Lahbib played Laura Cereta in Da Vinci’s Demons. She has also been in Monarch of the Glen, Bad Girls, Wire in the Blood and London Bridge.
Conor McCarry – Dessie Toner
Who does he play? Retiring teen Dessie gets bullied by Baxter and protected by Evie and Kieran. He knew the victim Niall Swift.
Where have I seen him before? Conor McCarry appeared as Jacob Dodridge in The Night Manager alongside Tom Hiddleston. He’s also made brief appearances in Rillington Place, Anna Karenina and Battleship.
Fraser James – Oliver Tench
Who does he play? Tench is a ghost from Leighton Thomas’ past. He was an accessory to the murders Leighton committed all those years go, and when he sees his old friend on TV on the news he decides to pay him a visit. But he is surprised to find himself unwelcome in Leighton’s house as the ex-con tries to protect his new life. Tench is a volatile, vulnerable and dangerous character.
Where have I seen him before? Fraser James popped up in a recent episode of Death in Paradise. He’s also been in Wolfblood, Law & Order and Holby City.
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