Jane Tennison returns to our TV screens as a young woman in Prime Suspect 1973, with a rather retro new look and a whole host of new colleagues.
But who is the girl taking her first tentative steps on the beat? And who are the colleagues and criminals she encounters?
Meet the cast and characters of Prime Suspect 1973…
WPC Jane Tennison – Stefanie Martini
WPC Jane Tennison is the naïve yet determined new recruit on the force. Lacking in experience, but making up for it in enthusiasm, she is keen to get stuck in and prove herself on her first murder enquiry. Unlike her sister Pam, Jane is more interested in her career and solving the case rather than marriage and starting a family, much to her mother’s disapproval.
Fans of Doctor Thorne will recognise Stefanie Martini as the titular doctor’s niece, Mary Thorne, from Julian Fellowes’ cheerful Downton Abbey follow-up. She starred opposite Tom Hollander, Rebecca Front and Ian McShane in the ITV drama in 2016. She also took one of the leading roles in NBC fantasy series Emerald City, based on Frank L Baum’s Wizard of Oz.
DI Len Bradfield – Sam Reid
DI Len Bradfield is Jane’s superior and a hard taskmaster. He takes the lead on the murder case of Julie Ann Collins and is soon impressed with Jane’s enthusiasm and passion for the job. Dedicated to his work, Bradfield holds a grudge against criminal Clifford Bentley, who he believes is responsible for a former colleague’s death.
You may have spotted Australian actor Reid playing young Harry in Spooks, or Brian Lomax in Morse prequel Endeavour. He’s also popped up in Whitechaperl, Agatha Christie’s Marple on the small screen, while his movie roles include turns in The Railway Man, Belle, Serena and The Riot Club. He also played Jon Glenn in The Astronaut Wives Club, a US period drama based on Lily Koppel’s book of the same name.
DS Spencer Gibbs – Blake Harrison
DS Spencer Gibbs is another of Jane’s superiors and Bradfield’s right hand man, becoming fully immersed in the investigation into Julie Ann’s murder. He’s a good detective and takes his job seriously, but has been prone to have a hot head and a short fuse, particularly when interrogating suspects.
You’ll know Blake Harrison best as Neil from The Inbetweeners but he’s also popped up in E4 sci-fi series Tripped, BBC Three comedy Him & Her, and various other comedy series including Edge of Heaven, White Van Man and Way To Go. Most recently you might have heard him voicing Bob The Builder’s Scoop or taking on the role of Pike in the Dad’s Army movie.
Clifford Bentley – Alun Armstrong
Clifford Bentley is a renowned criminal around Hackney and in prison at the start of the series for a bank heist. He has two sons, John and David, with whom he’s planning his next job, set to take place as soon as he’s released from prison.
British stars of stage and screen don’t come more versatile than Alun Armstrong, and actor who’s been in just about everything there is to be in, from Dickens adaptations to Les Miserables and even Downton Abbey. Oh, and he certainly did excel as Brian Lane in New Tricks.
Renee Bentley – Ruth Sheen
Fans of Mike Leigh’s cinematic back catalogue will recognise Sheen thanks to her roles in High Hopes, Secrets & Lies, All or Nothing, Vera Drake, Another Year and Mr Turner. The veteran actress starred in the first series of ITV’s Unforgotten and also popped up in Inside No. 9, Misfits, Bramwell and Holding On, to name but a few.
John Bentley – Lex Shrapnel
Shrapnel played John Tracy in the 2004 live-action Thunderbirds movie and also nabbed a role in Captain America: The First Avenger in 2011. On TV you might have spotted him in Hunter, Minder or Medici: Masters of Flornence. Oh, and he popped up in an episode of Endeavour too.
David Bentley – Jay Taylor
Taylor played The Bill’s Dan Cox, and also popped up in an episode of Casualty as Simon Roper, and in Misfits as Mark. You might have noticed him in Holby City, Sirens and Silk too.
WPC Kath Morgan – Jessica Gunning
Gunning popped up in brilliant British film Pride playing formidable Welsh villager turned politician Sian James, but long before she was on the big screen the actress was familiar face on TV. In 2008 she popped up in Doctor Who’s Partners in Crime playing Stacey Harris, before taking on the role of Orla in White Heat in 2012. Law & Order: UK fans will know her as Angela while to Fortitude fans she’s Shirley Allerdyce. She most recently appeared in ITV’s wild west drama Jericho.
Sergeant Harris – Andrew Brooke
Roles in Pulling (as Oleg), PhoneShop (as Ashley) and Babylon (Banjo) have kept Brooke on our TV screens over the past few years. He starred as Jerry ‘Jezza’ Collins in Ricky Gervais’ David Brent: Live on the Road, and also has roles in W1A, Cuffs and Ripper Street under his belt.
DS Paul Lawrence – Jordan Long
You’d be hard pushed to find a British drama Long hasn’t been in of late, with roles in Unforgotten, Taboo and SS-GB this year alone. He’ll soon pop up in the TV adaptation of Guy Ritchie’s Snatch, and has previously starred in Fleabag, New Blood, The Wrong Mans, Downton Abbey and Parade’s End, to name but a few.
DC Edwards – Joshua Hill
Relative newcomer Hill played PC Mike Randall in Vera and also popped up in Pride as Ray. He starred as a cyclist in the first series of Channel 4 drama Humans, and played Constable Scott in Tom Hardy’s Kray Twins biopic, Legend.
DC Ashton – Daniel Ezra
You might have spotted Ezra in BBC3’s Murdered by my Boyfriend, The Village, Vera or No Offence btu chances are you’ll know him best for playing Daniel Reed in series 2 of BBC drama The Missing. He also appeared in Undercover alongside Sophie Okonedo and Adrian Lester, and had a role in ITV drama Prey.
DC Hudson – Tommy McDonnell
McDonnell played Dagger in ITV’s Jericho and also starred as young Fred in Cradle to Grave. He played Dominic in E4’s Glue and also popped up in Murder, The Enfield Haunting, The Crimson Field and Cilla, to name but a few.
Suzy – Katie Griffiths
Fans of Waterloo Road will recognize Griffiths as Chlo Grainger, a role she played for three years from 2006 to 209. You might also have spotted her in Doctors or Only Fools and Horses prequel Rock & Chips, and more recently in Casualty and Father Brown.
Andrew Tennison – Nick Sidi
DCI Banks star Sidi is a familiar face on British screens, with roles in Silent Witness, Waterloo Road, Pulling, The Thick of It and Clocking Off to his name. He also starred in Jed Mercurio’s Bodies, and had smaller roles in EastEnders, Holby City and Wire in the Blood.
Joyce Tennison – Geraldine Somerville
Cracker’s DS Jane Penhaligon is known to a generation as Harry Potter’s mum, thanks to her starring turn as Lily Potter in the big screen adaptation of JK Rowling’s novels. You might also have spotted her in films like Gosford Park, My Week With Marilyn and Grace of Monaco, or more recently in episodes of Silent Witness and New Tricks.
Pam Tennison – Rosie Day
Day has been on screen from a young age, first popping up in Hope and Glory in the late 1990s before landing roles in Black Books, Family Affairs, Bernard’s Watch and Harley Street. She appeared in Homefromt, DCI Banks and Misfits, as well as Cuffs, Grantchester and Scottish time travel drama Outlander. Oh, and you’ll hear her voice in the upcoming Watership Down reboot because she’s lending her dulcet tones to Thethutinnang.
George Collins – Geoffrey Streatfeild
If you were watching BBC’s The Hollow Crown then you probably spotted Streatfeild playing Benedict Cumberbatch’s brother, Edward IV. He played Fergus Williams in The Thick of It back in 2012, and has also appeared in The Lady in the Van, Rush, MI-5 and Kinky Boots
from Radio Times https://ift.tt/2H61FC3
