Based on Jane Austen’s incomplete novel about a developing seaside resort, Sanditon tells the story of Charlotte Heywood (Rose Williams), a young woman from a quiet village, who falls unexpectedly into the dramas, romances, and secrets of Sanditon.
- When is Sanditon on TV? Who’s in the cast and what’s it about?
- Anne Reid and Kris Marshall join cast of Andrew Davies’ adaptation of Jane Austen’s Sanditon
Here are the cast and characters you need to meet…
Rose Williams plays Charlotte Heywood
Who is Charlotte Heywood? Charlotte, who always craved adventure, is unexpectedly given the chance to leave her hometown to accompany Tom Parker to Sanditon. She soon finds out that her initial confidence is unfounded, as she discovers that she doesn’t understand the less-than-straightforward world of high society as much as she first thought.
What else has Rose Williams been in? The actress recently starred as Faith Palladino in Sky’s dystopian drama, Curfew. She also recently played Emma in Changeland, Caterina Sforza Riario in Medici, and Claude de Valois in Reign.
Theo James plays Sidney Parker
Who is Sidney Parker? Sidney, one of the brothers of Tom Parker, is unpredictable, cold, and relatively unlikeable. Yet, upon meeting Charlotte, his luck could be changed as she gives him the chance to try to break out of his cold exterior. Whilst he surrounds himself with high-status people, he may be lacking the key to his happiness.
What else has Theo James been in? Theo James is best-known as Four in the Divergent trilogy. You may also have seen him as Will Younger in How It Ends, James in The Inbetweeners Movie, and David in Underworld: Blood Wars. The actor also briefly appeared in Downton Abbey.
Anne Reid plays Lady Denham
Who is Lady Denham? No-nonsense Lady Denham holds the power in Sanditon, and does not let anyone forget it. This twice-widowed lady has a huge fortune, and is aware that people are fighting to win her favour to ensure their chunk of the inheritance. She is extremely money-conscious and miserly.
What else has Anne Reid been in? Bafta-winning actress Anne Reid is no stranger to television. Anne is best known for her role as Valerie in British soap opera Coronation Street. She has also starred as Jean in dinnerladies, Muriel Deacon in Years and Years, and May in The Mother.
Kris Marshall plays Tom Parker
Who is Tom Parker? The driving force behind the plan to develop Sanditon into a resort, Tom Parker is relentlessly enthusiastic about his dream. A kind, family man, Tom Parker is definitely likeable; but his optimistic outlook could cause trouble in high society.
What else has Kris Marshall been in? Kris is best known as DI Humphrey Goodman in the ever-popular crime show Death in Paradise, which he left in 2017. He is also known for playing Colin Frissell in Love Actually and Nick Harper in My Family.
Crystal Clarke plays Miss Lambe
Who is Miss Lambe? The hugely-wealthy friend of Sidney Parker, Georgiana Lambe creates quite a stir in Sanditon. A mixed-race woman, whose wealth is traced back to her family in Antigua, Miss Lambe makes a real impression on the money-hungry characters in the town.
What else has Crystal Clarke been in? Crystal, who is relatively new to the world of acting, landed a major role in BBC’s Ordeal by Innocence as Tina Argyll. The actress is also known as Samia in Assassin’s Creed, Tipi in Black Mirror, and as Resistance transport pilot, Pamich Goode, in Star Wars episodes VII and VIII.
Jack Fox plays Sir Edward Denham
Who is Edward Denham? Nephew to Lady Denham, and brother to Esther Denham, Edward is unforgiving in his determination to receive a large sum in his Aunt’s will.
What else has Jack Fox been in? Most recently, Jack has played Nico Eltham in Sky’s drama Riviera. He is also recognisable as Geoffrey in Johnny English Strikes Again, Lars in Kids in Love, and Ralph in Fresh Meat.
Charlotte Spencer plays Esther Denham
Who is Esther Denham? Edward Denham’s equally money-motivated sister Esther works with Edward as they try to fight their way into inheritance.
What else has Charlotte Spencer been in? Charlotte is best-known for her role as Charlotte Appleby in BBC thriller, The Living and the Dead. The up-and-coming actress also starred in Line of Duty as Carly, and in Glue as Tina.
Lily Sacofsky plays Clara Brereton
Who is Clara Brereton? The niece of Lady Denham, who lives as her companion in Sanditon. She is a “poor relation” and immediately bonds with Charlotte – but are they truly destined to be friends?
What else has Lily Sacofsky been in? The actress played Hannah Petrukhin in Summer of Rockets. She also played the role of Laura Fraser in Bancroft.
Leo Suter plays Young Stringer
Who is Young Stringer? A young man who works in Sanditon. His father Old Stringer is a foreman, and they are instrumental to building the upcoming seaside resort and making it a fashionable holiday spot.
What else has Leo Suter been in? Leo Suter played Drummond in the TV series Victoria, and was also Jack in Clique. Recently he starred as Daniel in Beecham House.
Rob Jarvis plays Old Stringer
Who is Old Stringer? Young Stringer’s father, a skilled stonemason. He is employed on Tom Parker’s building site in Sanditon, but thanks to a shortage of money and men, he has been doing the work of a labourer himself just to get the job done.
What else has Rob Jarvis been in? The actor played Eddie in the TV series Hustle. Recently, he played DC Euan Johnson in Collateral.
Jyuddah Jaymes plays Otis Molyneux
Who is Otis? The secret boyfriend of Georgiana Lambe.
What else has Jyuddah Jaymes been in? The newcomer recently starred as Aubrey in the TV series Clique.
Ruth Kearney plays Eliza Campion
Who is Eliza Campion? An old connection of Sidney Parker’s.
What else has Ruth Kearney been in? Ruth Kearney played Jess Parker in Primeval, Daisy in The Following, and London in the TV series Flaked.
Jack Brady plays Mr Howard
Who is Mr Howard? Without giving you any spoilers, we’ll say he’s not a very nice man.
What else has Jack Brady been in? Screen credits include Snatch (as Eddie Flowers), The Miniaturist, Decline and Fall, and Coronation Street.
Sophie Winkleman plays Lady Susan
Who is Lady Susan? Charlotte Heywood meets Lady Susan at a party in London, when they are both taking a breather, and the two get along excellently. In Sanditon, Lady Susan is a high-society woman with huge influence on the “beau monde”. The name may also be a nod to Jane Austen’s novella, Lady Susan, though in that story the character is far less nice.
What else has Sophie Winkleman been in? Recent roles have included Margot in the TV series Trust, Zoey in Two and a Half Men, and Harper Dylan in the new TV version of Four Weddings and a Funeral. The actress already has history of playing characters named Susan, having starred as “Older Susan” in The Chronicles of Narnia and Big Suze in Peep Show.
And like her Sanditon character, Sophie Winkleman is actually also a lady: specifically, she’s Lady Frederick Windsor, wife of Lord Frederick Windsor, who is son of Queen Elizabeth II’s first cousin Prince Michael of Kent.
ALSO, Strictly’s Claudia Winkleman is her half-sister.
Kevin Eldon plays Mr Hankins
Who is Mr Hankins? Sanditon’s resident religious man. He’s a bit of a sanctimonious bore, but Mrs Griffiths likes him.
What else has Kevin Eldon been in? The actor is not a total stranger to the cloth, having played Bishop Erkenwald in The Last Kingdom. He’s also starred in Dad’s Army: The Lost Episodes (as Lance-Corporal Jones), Danger Mouse, Hot Fuzz, Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge, and Brass Eye.
Adrian Scarborough plays Dr Fuchs
Who is Dr Fuchs? The doctor makes a dramatic entrance into Sanditon in episode three, when Tom Parker decides that a medical man is the key to his seaside town’s future success. He doesn’t actually appear in the novel – but at the start of Jane Austen’s first chapter, Mr and Mrs Parker do get in a carriage accident because they’re on a misguided detour to find a doctor for Sanditon. That provided the perfect opportunity for screenwriter Andrew Davies to bring in Dr Fuchs.
“I’ve been trying to get Dr Fuchs into things for ages,” Davies explained. “I originally invented him as a sort of weird shopping psychoanalyst for Mr Selfridge, and we all used to have a great giggle in script conferences. But people said: no, we can’t have Dr Fuchs in that. So I thought, right, I’ll just park him for a while. But Sanditon needs a doctor, and I thought, yes. Dr Fuchs is just right for it. And he’s been to Baden-Baden and he knows all the latest cures and inventions and contraptions.”
What else has Adrian Scarborough been in? Adrian Scarborough is a familiar face as a supporting actor. Recent roles have included Raymond in Killing Eve, Hal Gallsworthy in Christopher Robin, and George Carman QC in A Very English Scandal. His other credits include The King’s Speech, Gavin & Stacey, Les Misérables, Vera Drake, The History Boys, and Upstairs Downstairs, as well as upcoming drama The Light.
Turlough Convery plays Arthur Parker
Who is Arthur Parker? Tom Parker’s 21-year-old brother. He is merry but indolent, and has taken on his sister’s hypochondria – fancying himself a delicate “invalid”.
What else has Turlough Convery been in? The actor recently had a star turn as Grantaire the revolutionary in Les Misérables. He played Tom Harry in Poldark, with other credits including Lovesick, River, and My Mad Fat Diary.
Alexandra Roach plays Diana Parker
Who is Diana Parker? Sister of Tom Parker. She is constantly concerned about her health, and is a bit of a busybody and a martyr.
What else has Alexandra Roach been in? Up until series three, Alexandra Roach starred as DS Joy Freers in No Offence. She has also appeared in Hold the Sunset, Hunderby, and played a young Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady.
Elizabeth Berrington plays Mrs Griffiths
Who is Mrs Griffiths? Miss Lambe’s guardian in Sanditon. She is a respectable woman who has taken three young ladies under her care, including the English Miss Beauforts.
What else has Elizabeth Berrington been in? The actress is a familiar face on our screens, with more than 100 film and TV credits. Recently you might have spotted her as Dagon, Lord of the Files in Good Omens, or as Hazel in Yesterday, or as Lady Bareacres in Vanity Fair.
Kate Ashfield plays Mary Parker
Who is Mary Parker? Tom Parker’s wife. She loves him dearly, but has had to adjust to Sanditon itself being the third person in their marriage – so great is his passion for the town.
What else has Kate Ashfield been in? Kate Ashfield starred as Liz in the movie Shaun of the Dead, and as Sadie in This Little Life. On TV, she has played Jools Gates in the first season of Line of Duty (opposite Lennie James), and appeared in Secrets and Lies, Collision, and The Diary of Anne Frank.
Matthew Needham plays Mr Crowe
Who is Mr Crowe? One of Sidney’s friends, who he has convinced to accompany him to Sanditon. He has no particular respect for women.
What else has Matthew Needham been in? The actor made a brief appearance in the TV miniseries Chernobyl, playing Dmitri. He began his career as Toby De Silva in Casualty.
Mark Stanley plays Lord Babington
Who is Lord Babington? Lord Babington falls for Esther, and is determined to woo her.
What else has Mark Stanley been in? Since starring as Grenn in Game of Thrones, Mark Stanley has appeared in Dickensian (as Bill Sikes), Our Kind of Traitor, Love Lies and Records, Euphoria, Broken, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens (as a Knight of Ren).
Sanditon aired in the UK in August-October 2019 on ITV
Sanditon airs in double bills from Sunday December 13 at 8/7c on PBS Masterpiece in the US
from Radio Times https://ift.tt/37ZuHhP
