Career: At 16, Waterman returned to Britain and concentrated on stage work until an acclaimed performance in 1968's Up the Junction led to more film roles. Low-budget movies (such as Scars of Dracula) and TV shows (including Colditz) followed until, in 1974, he co-starred with John Thaw in Regan, the pilot episode of iconic series The Sweeney, which became a major TV hit. A 10-year stint in comedy drama Minder followed. Other projects include TV shows On the Up, Stay Lucky, and Circles of Deceit. He's also worked on the stage, most notably in Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell, and My Fair Lady. As Gerry Standing, in BBC drama New Tricks, he has introduced himself to a new generation of fans.

Career: Thaw's first professional job came at the Liverpool Playhouse. His film debut came in 1962's The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, which starred Courteney. Thaw worked extensively on stage with the Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre, and early TV roles came in Z Cars and Redcap. But it was The Sweeney, alongside Dennis Waterman, that made him a household name thanks to its uncompromising style. He switched to comedy with Home to Roost, but it was playing Inspector Morse that made him a national treasure. Almost everything he touched then turned to gold; he starred in top-rated dramas such as Kavanagh QC, Goodnight Mister Tom and Buried Treasure. He died in 2002 following a battle with cancer of the oesophagus.

Career: While beavering away in theatre, where he was associate director of The Mermaid and had become an established star in the West End, Joss was also appearing in TV series such as The Avengers, Z Cars and The Persuaders. His most high-profile role came in the 1987 movie White Mischief, which brought him to the attention of Hollywood. Since then, he has amassed an eclectic body of work, including the films Lethal Weapon 2, The Hunt for Red October and These Foolish Things. His small-screen CV is equally impressive, and includes starring in Sky One's lavish adaptation of Terry Pratchett's Hogfather.

Career: In 1980 his regular appearances in Grange Hill as woodwork teacher Stuart Hopwood made him a cult star. A year later he played Donald Worthington in Coronation Street and returned to Weatherfield in 2001 as serial killer Richard Hillman. He picked up the award for Best Soap Villain Ever by readers of the TV Times and Best Storyline, Best Actor, Villain of the Year, Spectacular Scene of the Year and Best Exit at the British Soap Awards 2003. He has also appeared in Minder, The Bill, Doctors and EastEnders, as well as the films Still Crazy, 101 Dalmatians and Emma.