As series 6 is on its way, we're counting down the days until we next see Sunny and Jessie back on our screens, and what better way to prepare for the new season than to take a look at the cast of Unforgotten from the past and present?
Main and returning cast of Unforgotten
There have been three returning lead cast members throughout the show. From series 1 to 4, Nicola Walker and Sanjeev Bhaskar played the two detectives, until Nicola left and Sinéad Keenan took over in series 5.
Nicola Walker as DCI Cassie Stuart (series 1-4)
*Contains a potential spoiler for those that haven't watched the previous series.*
Nicola Walker played DCI Cassie Stuart in Unforgotten from series 1-4 (2015-2021), but sadly her character was killed off in the fourth series in a car crash.
Cassie is the embodiment of quiet strength, a dedicated police officer with a moral compass that sometimes leads her to make difficult personal sacrifices. Throughout the series, Cassie’s calm demeanour and investigative brilliance counter the often chaotic and emotional cases and life decisions she faces.
Nicola Walker, a highly respected actress who has earned widespread acclaim for her portrayal of Cassie. Known for her nuanced performances, she has made her mark in numerous other series, including Sally Wainwright's Last Tango in Halifax and Abi Morgan's The Split.
In Unforgotten, her portrayal of Cassie’s emotional and professional journey remains one of the most compelling aspects of the show.
Nicola says she could never be a DCI in real life. “While I have the utmost respect for the work the police do, I couldn’t do it. In one of the first scenes, you see Cassie finding the skeleton in the cellar. I wouldn’t be able to take something like that in my stride – just acting it has an effect on me and I try not to take it home with me. I want to affect the audience, not my poor family.”
Discussing her take on the Unforgotten, Nicola told us: “Essentially, Unforgotten poses questions like – ‘How do you live when you have something in your past which you have to completely bury because it’s so awful?’
“How does a person live a life, having murdered someone, without it showing?"
“What’s very special about The Unforgotten is that it shows the lives of the four suspects before it’s confirmed they have anything to do with the murder. You really get to know their characters and you start caring about them and their families. I also like the fact that it’s a far more realistic representation of a police force investigating a crime than we’re perhaps used to seeing on TV. That’s what initially drew me in when I first read the script.”
Sanjeev Bhaskar as DI Sunny Khan (series 1-6)
Sanjeev Bhaskar has played Sunny Khan for 10 years since the show began in 2015. Sunny is divorced and has two teen daughters Aisha and Gemma whom he shares with his ex-wife Usha (played by Shobu Kapoor).
He brings a sense of warmth and empathy to the often-gritty world of police work, which perfectly complements his boss' character. He is well respected by his colleagues at the station, and he was particularly close to his colleague and partner-in-crime DCI Cassie Stuart.
He starts a relationship with a woman called Sal (Michelle Bonnard), who wants to have a baby with him, but Sunny isn't sure if that's what he wants.
Sanjeev is a well-known actor and comedian, who is perhaps best known for his work on The Kumars at No. 42 and Goodness Gracious Me, but his role as Sunny Khan is a departure from these comedies.
Sinéad Keenan, DCI Jessica 'Jessie' James (series 5-6)
Sinéad Keenan plays Jessie James, who took over the role of DCI from the much-loved and respected Cassie Stuart (Nicola Walker).
Sinéad says she's happy to be back working on series 6. “I am absolutely delighted to be stepping into the world of Unforgotten once more. To be involved with the incredible team at Mainstreet on yet another set of stellar scripts from Chris Lang, with the brilliant Andy Wilson at the helm is a real treat. And to get to work again with Sanjeev, Carolina, Jordan, Pippa, and Georgia is an absolute joy. To call it *work* is a total misnomer. I can’t wait to get started!”
You may recognise Sinéad from her roles in Being Human, as well as Three Families and Little Boy Blue, which are both based on true stories.
Carolina Main as DC Fran Lingley (series 1-6)
Jordan Long as DS Murray Boulting (series 1-6)
Pippa Nixon as DC Karen 'Kaz' Willetts (series 1, 4-5)
Lewis Reeves as DC Jake Collier (series 1–4)
Peter Egan as Martin Hughes (series 1-4)
Jassa Ahluwalia as Adam Stuart (series 1–4)
Andrew Lancel as Steve (series 5-6)
Andrew Lancel (The Bill, Marcella) is returning to play Jess’s husband Steve.
Kate Robbins as Kate (series 5-6)
Dinnerladies and The Couple Next Door actor Kate Robbins will be playing Jess's mother Kate.
Unforgotten series 1 cast
Tom Courtenay as Eric Slater
Trevor Eve as Sir Phillip Cross
Bernard Hill as Father Robert Greaves
Ruth Sheen as Lizzie Wilton
Gemma Jones as Claire Slater
Unforgotten series 2 cast
Lorraine Ashbourne as D.I Tessa Nixon
Lorraine Ashbourne played DI Tessa Nixon, the murder victim's ex-wife in series 2 of Unforgotten.
Lorraine is best known for her role as spy-cop Daphne Sparrow in Sherwood, eccentric Grandma Joan in BBC sitcom Alma's Not Normal and Molly in After The Flood.
She'll also be starring in Happy Valley writer's drama Riot Women, about a punk-rock band formed of menopausal women.
Mark Bonnar as Colin Osborne
Rosie Cavaliero as Marian Kelsey
Badria Timimi as Sara Mahmoud
Adeel Akhtar as Hassan Mahmoud
Charlie Condou as Simon Osborne
Unforgotten series 3 cast
James Fleet as Chris Lowe
Alex Jennings as Tim Finch
Kevin McNally as Tim Finch
Neil Morrissey as Pete Carr
Bronagh Waugh as Jessica Reid
Unforgotten series 4 cast
Susan Lynch as DCC Liz Baildon
Andy Nyman as Dean Barton
Phaldut Sharma as DCI Ram Sidhu
Liz White as Fiona Grayson
Sheila Hancock as Eileen Baildon
Unforgotten series 5 cast
Ian McElhinney as Lord Anthony Hume
Hayley Mills as Lady Emma Hume
Hayley Mills played Lady Emma Hume. Hayley has had an extensive career spanning over 60 years, which started when she was just 12 years old, and Walt Disney called her “the greatest movie find in 25 years!”.
One of her most famous roles is in the 1961 film The Parent Trap, in which she played estranged twin sisters who meet in a summer camp and plot to bring their parents back together.
Martina Laird as Ebele Falade
Mark Frost as Dave Adams
Unforgotten series 6 cast
Victoria Hamilton, Juliet Cooper
Victoria Hamilton (COBRA, Life, Doctor Foster) plays Juliet Cooper, a History Lecturer and Faculty Head at a central London University.
MyAnna Burning, Melinda Ricci
Melinda Ricci is played by actress MyAnna Buring (In the Dark, Responder). Mel is based in Ireland and is an outspoken television commentator who is renowned for her forthright views.
Elham Ehsas, Asif Syed
Actor and writer Elham Ehas has been cast as Asif Syhed, an Afghan man who speaks fluent English and is in training for his UK citizenship test.
Max Fairley, Martin ‘Marty’ Baines
Marty is autistic and lives in Deal, Kent with his mother, Dot. He is played by newcomer Max Fairley.
Jan Francis
Actress Jan Francis is joining Unforgotten series 6. She has appeared in Just Good Friends and Stay Lucky.
Damien Molony
Irish actor and The Split, Brassic and The Suspects star Damien Molony is also taking on a role in this series of Unforgotten.
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Arabella Horspool is a Commercial Content Writer for Yours at Bauer Media. She's a bookworm who enjoys cooking and spending time with her many pets.