Career: Early projects included A Relative Stranger, Poldark and Wilde, but it was his small part as Fifth Officer Lowe in James Cameron's blockbuster Titanic that got him noticed. The title role in miniseries Hornblower followed, making Gruffudd a star on both sides of the Atlantic. He impressed in the BBC's adaptation of Great Expectations, drama Solomon and Gaenor (for which he learned Yiddish) and children's hit 102 Dalmatians, before reprising Hornblower. He's also appeared in The Forsyte Saga, Man and Boy, Warriors and Ringer, and his healthy film career has included the movies Fantastic Four (and its sequel), Black Hawk Down, and historical drama Amazing Grace. In 2014, he began playing Dr Henry Morgan in American crime drama Forever.

Career: Lindsay's movie debut came in 1973's That'll Be the Day. His big break came in 1977 when he played would-be revolutionary Wolfie in John Sullivan's BBC sitcom Citizen Smith. After that he concentrated on serious roles. Theatre parts include Hamlet and Cyrano De Bergerac, but his biggest stage hit to date is musical Me and My Girl, for which he won numerous awards on both sides of the Atlantic. He made his Hollywood debut in the ill-received Bert Rigby You're a Fool in 1989, but Alan Bleasdale's TV series GBH put his career back on track. Since then, successes include Jake's Progress, The Wimbledon Poisoner, Brazen Hussies, Hornblower and My Family. More recently, he's starred in detective drama Jericho, played Tony Blair in A Very Social Secretary and The Trial of Tony Blair, traced his family on Who Do You Think You Are? and starred in Sky1 sitcom Spy.

Career: Lawson's first big success was in West End musical Pal Joey. He also appeared in such memorable TV productions as The Merchant of Venice, Rock Follies and The Man in the Iron Mask. He had a small role in the original Star Wars trilogy, was in the acclaimed Local Hero in 1983, and took the lead in sitcom The Kit Curran Radio Show. He has rarely been out of work since, whether it's on stage, film or TV. Among his other projects are The Ambassador, Bob Martin, Hornblower, Holby City, Bleak House, Robin Hood, Enid, Just William, Marchlands and New Tricks. He's also a director and has worked with his nephew on the theatre production Little Malcolm and his Struggle Against the Eunuchs, and short film Solid Geometry.

Career: McNeice's TV breakthrough was in the drama series Edge of Darkness. He has also appeared in a number of films, including 84 Charing Cross Road, Day of the Dead, No Escape, From Hell and The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain. His breakthrough into American films occurred when he played opposite Jim Carrey as Fulton Greenwall in Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (1995). Other notable credits include Conspiracy (2001), Valkyrie (2009) and the HBO hit series Rome. Since 2004, he has played Bert Large in Doc Martin.