Unforgotten is back on ITV with Sinead Keenan in her second year as DCI Jess James. She once again stars alongside Sanjeev Bhaskar as DI Sunny Khan.
In the first episode, a spine is dredged out of Whitney Marsh and with it, a new case begins for Jess and Sunny’s team at Bishop Street CID. There are four potential suspects – Juliet, Melinda, Asif and Marty.
All four of them have secrets to hide, but both Jess and Sunny are glad of a new challenge given their turbulent personal lives. An analysis reveals the remains are relatively recent and suggest the body was placed there already dismembered.
With this insight, Jess and Sunny intensify their search, certain they will make more gruesome discoveries not too far away.
Here is all you need to know about who else will be appearing alongside Sinead and Sanjeev in the new season of Unforgotten.
Victoria Hamilton as Juliet Cooper (Image: ITV)
Melinda Ricci – MyAnna Buring
Melinda is one of the main subjects in the murder inquiry and she is a complicated woman who works as a political commentator.
She is played by MyAnna Buring, a Swedish-born actress known for her roles in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn and The Witcher.
Now living in North London, she has one son who was born in 2017.
She said of joining Unforgotten: “I love Unforgotten, it’s fantastic and brilliant and I am obviously huge fan of Nicola (Walker) and Sanjeev (Bhaskar), so it was amazing to watch their chemistry.
“And then Sinéad (Keenan), when she came in it was just fantastic to see.”
Asif Syed – Elham Ehsas
Asif comes from Afghanistan but is proud of the life he has made for himself in the UK. When the series starts, he is helping someone important to him.
He is played by Elham Ehsas, a writer, director and actor known for his roles in The Kite Runner, Young Wallander and War Machine.
He explained how he felt when reading the Unforgotten scripts: “Unforgotten is such a sweetheart of television.
“The script and the series, especially in Chris [Lang’s] writing, has always had its pulse on what’s happening in the world.
“It’s always drawn from events around us and puts it through a narrative that makes us think, makes us question the world that we live in, which is a sign of great writing.”
Marty Baines – Maximilian Fairley
Marty is an Autistic man who lives with his mother and he is recovering from a traumatic event that occured during the pandemic.
He is played by Maximilian Fairley, a graduate of the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.
He makes his TV debut in Unforgotten but previously starred in a short film called Guanilo’s Island.
The star, who is neurodiverse, said: “I’ve been a fan of Unforgotten since it first came out in 2015, I’d watch it every week with my parents.
“So to end up on it has been incredibly surreal. Marty in particular has been superbly written by Chris Lang and is a depiction of an autistic individual which I don’t feel has been explored quite so in-depth on TV before, so to be trusted with the part has been a real honour.”
Juliet Cooper – Victoria Hamilton
Juliet comes across as a powerful force and she is not someone to be messed with, however, she has a teenage daughter who gets into trouble at school and this is something she struggles with.
She is played by Victoria Hamilton, a 53-year-old English actress known for her theatre career.
However, her TV credits include Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion and Mansfield Park. She is married to Mark Bazeley and has two children.
Dot Baines – Michele Dotrice
Dot is Marty’s mother and she is played by Michele Dotrice, a 76-year-old English actress known for playing Betty Spencer in Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em.
She is also known for her roles in The Old Curiosity Shop and Chintz.
Her parents were the actors Roy Dotrice and Kay Dotrice. She was married to actor Edward Woodward from January 1987 until his death in November 2009 and they have a daughter.
Steve James – Andrew Lancel
Steve is played by Andrew Lancel, a 54-year-old TV and theatre actor, producer and director.
He is best known for his role as Dr. Andrew Collin in Cardiac Arrest, and as DI Neil Manson in The Bill.
The star is married to Louise Edge and has two children.
Patrick – Emmett J Scanlan
Patrick is Melinda’s husband-to-be in the series and he had been in a horrific car accident which left him disabled from the waist down.
He is played by Emmett J Scanlan, a 46-year-old Irish actor known for his roles as Brendan Brady in Hollyoaks and for his roles in The Fall and Peaky Blinders.
He is married to actress Claire Cooper and has three children.
Leanne Balcombe – Georgia Mackenzie
Pathologist Leanne Balcombe is back for another series and she is played by Georgia Mackenzie.
The 51-year-old British actress is otherwise known for her roles in Outlaws, Hot Money and Catwalk Dogs.
She met her husband, actor Richard Coyle, filming Up Rising together in 1999. They married in 2004 and divorced in 2010.
Kate – Kate Robbins
Kate is played by Kate Robbins, a 66-year-old actress and singer known for her song More Than in Love while she was appearing in the soap Crossroads.
She is also known for being the mother of actress and comedian Emily Atack.
DS Murray Boulting – Jordan Long
DS Murray Boulting returns as part of Jess and Sunny’s loyal police team and he is played by Jordan Long.
Jordan is a 51-year-old actor from London who is otherwise known for his roles in Prime Suspect: Tennison and Kingsman: The Secret Service.
DS Fran Lingley – Carolina Main
Carolina Main returns and she is a London-born actress known for her roles in Blood and Temple.
DC Karen Willets – Pippa Nixon
Pippa Nixon is back and she is a 45-year-old English actress best known for her theatre work.
Her TV credits include Midsomer Murders and Grantchester.
Marty Baines played by Maximilian Fairley (Image: ITV)
Asif Syed played by Elham Ehsas (Image: ITV)
Don’t miss… [VIDEO] [EXPLAINER]
Patrick played by Emmett J Scanlan (Image: ITV)
The rest of the cast includes:
Gabriel played by Oliver Lansley
Buxton played by Jane Jeffery
Dr Clacy played by Paul McQuaid
Hassan played by Ahmad Sakhi
Abdul played by Samir Arrian
Maya played by Aimie Atkinson
Paul Merrick played by Adrian Rawlins
Claire played by Jennifer Aries
Taylor Cooper played by Pixie Davies
Geoff played by Philip Buck
Vita played by Katherine Kinglsey
Omar played by Sharif Dorani
Ram Sidhu played by Phaldut Sharma
Waiter played by Roger Dipper
Unforgotten airs on ITV on February 9 at 9pm