Nicola Walker and Sanjeev Bhaskar are back as cold case cops DCI Cassie Stewart and DI Sunny Khan – but series three of ITV’s Unforgotten has plenty of new faces in the cast as four childhood friends come under suspicion of murdering a teenage girl at the turn of the millennium.
With actors you’ll recognise from The Crown, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Vicar of Dibley and Men Behaving Badly, here’s who stars in the ITV drama.
Nicola Walker plays DCI Cassie Stewart
Who is DCI Cassie Stewart? Forget maverick cops – Cassie Stewart is a professional, level-headed murder detective devoted to solving cold cases and bringing the killers to justice for the victims’ families. A widow, she lives with her father (Peter Egan) and has two grown-up sons. She has an excellent working relationship with her sidekick Sunny.
Where have I seen Nicola Walker before? You may have recently watched Nicola Walker play Jane Oliver in Collateral, or Hannah Sterne in The Split, or Gillian in Last Tango in Halifax, or perhaps you remember her as Ruth Evershed in Spooks? Other credits have included River, Babylon, Inside Men, and Torn.
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Sanjeev Bhaskar plays DI Sunny Khan
Who is DI Sunny Khan? Sunny is Cassie’s second-in-command. He is also dedicated to his job, working hard to solve long-ago murders with empathy and intelligence – despite being an overworked single father of two exasperating teenage girls.
Where have I seen Sanjeev Bhaskar before? Sanjeev Bhaskar is best known for his comedy work, starring in sitcom The Kumars at No 42 and appearing in the BBC sketch comedy series Goodness Gracious Me. You may have spotted him in Paddington 2 (as Dr Jafri) and The Indian Doctor (as Dr Prem Sharma). The actor has led the cast of Unforgotten alongside Nicola Walker since day one.
Alex Jennings plays Dr Tim Finch
Who is Dr Tim Finch? One of four old schoolfriends who come under suspicion of the murder of a teenage girl found buried under the motorway. He’s a successful GP in a country town, happily married to his second wife, and has two daughters (Emma and Claire) from his first marriage who he’s brought up himself.
Where have I seen Alex Jennings before? If you’re a fan of British drama, you’ve probably seen Alex Jennings all over the place in recent years. He is the Duke of Windsor in the first two seasons of The Crown and King Leopold in Victoria. Those aren’t the only royal roles on his CV either, as back in 2006 he played Prince Charles in The Queen. Jennings also starred alongside Hugh Grant in A Very English Scandal as MP Peter Bessell, and played Alan Bennett in The Lady in the Van.
James Fleet plays Chris Lowe
Who is Chris Lowe? Initially one of the most successful of the four friends, with his own advertising company, a house in Notting Hill and a wife and a daughter, he has since suffered a change in fortunes and is now practically homeless – living in a camper van. He has battled severe mental health issues over the years.
Where have I seen James Fleet before? James Fleet is most famous for his roles as the bumbling Tom in romantic comedy Four Weddings and a Funeral, and as Hugh Horton in The Vicar of Dibley. More recently he’s appeared as Reverend Wakefield in Outlander.
Neil Morrissey plays Pete Carr
Who is Pete Carr? A failed businessman. He’s never made much of himself, despite his ambitions and his years in Hong Kong trying to get his career off the ground. Having moved back to Norfolk and started a family, he’s struggling to make a living as a salesman. He talks big, but he’s just not up to the job.
Where have I seen Neil Morrissey before? The actor shot to national attention as Tony in Men Behaving Badly. Since then, notable roles have included Nigel Morton in Line of Duty, Eddie Lawson in Waterloo Road, Greg in The Good Karma Hospital, and Vincent Pike in Striking Out. He is also the voice of Bob the Builder.
Kevin McNally plays James Hollis
Who is James Hollis? Like Alex Jennings’ character Dr Finch, James Hollis has managed to make something of himself. He is a journalist and TV presenter, with his own quiz show for sixth formers called Common Sense. James Hollis is a public figure who is very much in the limelight. He is a divorced man with a troubled son.
Where have I seen Kevin McNally before? You’re most likely to know Kevin McNally from Pirates of the Caribbean, where he plays Mr Gibbs. His other credits include The Outpost (as The Smith), Designated Survivor (as Harris Cochrane) and Downton Abbey (as Horace Bryant).
Bronagh Waugh plays Jessica Reid
Who is Jessica Reid? The victim’s identical twin sister. The girl’s disappearance destroyed her parents and has left her with deep emotional scars and grief.
Where have I seen Bronagh Waugh before? You may remember her as Sally Ann Spector from The Fall. She’s also been Cheryl Brady in Hollyoaks.
Sasha Behar plays Jamila Faruk
Who is Jamila Faruk? Chris’s love interest in the series, a Syrian refugee and a widow. The two of them met at a refugee centre and have known each other for about two years. Jamila is from a middle-class Christian Syrian family and is an interesting and intelligent woman. She has a son (Asif) but lost her husband in a bomb attack.
Where have I seen Sasha Behar before? The actress first appeared as Maya Sharma in Coronation Street in 2003. Since leaving the show, she’s appeared in Strike Back, Luther (as Dani Lane) and both Casualty and Holby City (as Alex Broadhurst). She recently played the Seer in Da Vinci’s Demons.
Peter Egan plays Martin Hughes
Who is Martin Hughes? Cassie’s dad, who she lives with. He is a widower but is now in a long-term relationship with a new woman, a point of tension between him and Cassie.
Where have I seen Peter Egan before? A veteran actor, his credits include Hold the Sunset, Downton Abbey (as Hugh “Shrimpie” MacClare), Home Again, Big Breadwinner Hog, Prince Regent, and Ever Decreasing Circles.
Alastair MacKenzie plays DCI John Bentley
Who is DCI John Bentley? An officer on the original case, who thought the investigation was flawed from the start. He helps with the new investigation and develops an interest in Cassie.
Where have I seen Alastair MacKenzie before? The actor recently played Jamie in the Cold Feet reboot, and Craig Petrie in ITV’s The Loch. He appeared as William Brereton in Tudor drama Wolf Hall, and played Lord Rothcroft in Dracula, but is perhaps best known for starring as young laird Archie MacDonald in Monarch of the Glen.
Lewis Reeves plays DC Jake Collier
Who is DC Jake Collier? A member of Cassie and Sunny’s team.
Where have I seen Lewis Reeves before? The actor has appeared in Unforgotten since series one. He played Jake in the Netflix drama Crazyhead, and is the voice of Gareth Walker in FIFA 17 and FIFA 18.
Indra Ové plays Maria Carr
Who is Maria Carr? Pete Carr’s wife, and the mother of their two children. She’s getting pretty frustrated at his inability to make a proper living and provide for his family.
Where have I seen Indra Ové before? She’s appeared in Interview with the Vampire, The New Worst Witch, Midsomer Murders and The Dumping Ground.
Siobhan Redmond plays Derran Finch
Who is Derran Finch? The ex-wife of Dr Alex Finch. Over the years she has suffered mental health problems and has lost contact with her two daughters, but Derran insists there is more to her ex-husband than meets the eye.
Where have I seen Siobhan Redmond before? Recent roles have included Beth in The Replacement and Bumalig Hightopp in Alice Through the Looking Glass.
Sara Stewart plays Mel Hollis
Who is Mel Hollis? The first wife of James Hollis, and a successful novelist. She was also in the holiday home on the night Hayley disappeared.
Where have I seen Sara Stewart before? You may recognise her as Susie from Doctor Foster. Sara Stewart has also played a QC in EastEnders, Jean Shales in Fresh Meat, and was in a 2005 episode of Doctor Who as the voice of Computer.
Tom Rhys Harries plays Elliot Hollis
Who is Elliot Hollis? The troubled son of James Hollis and his first wife, Mel. He leads an unstable life and frequently disappears on drug binges. At the moment he’s experimenting with cross-dressing but seems deeply unhappy in himself.
Where have I seen Tom Rhys Harries before? The Welsh actor was selected as a Screen International Star of Tomorrow in 2012. Since then he’s appeared in Jekyll & Hyde, Chewing Gum and Midsomer Murders, and starred alongside Ben Whishaw and Rupert Grint in a theatre production of MOJO.
Brid Brennan plays Suzanne Reid
Who is Suzanne Reid? Hayley and Jessica’s mother. She has been unable to move forward since her daughter disappeared, paralysed by grief – and now she seeks closure and justice for her killer.
Where have I seen Brid Brennan before? Three-time Olivier nominee Brid Brennan starred in 1998 movie Dancing at Lughnasa alongside Meryl Streep. On TV she’s been in Peaky Blinders, Come Home, Cracker and The Escape Artist.
Gerald Kyd plays Adrian Mullery
Who is Adrian Mullery? The victim’s boyfriend, who was named as a suspect in the initial flawed investigation.
Where have I seen Gerald Kyd before? You may have spotted him in Cold Feet, Silent Witness, Humans, Sherlock or The Coroner.
This article was originally published in July 2018
Unforgotten season three starts at 10/9c, Sunday 7 April, PBS Masterpiece
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