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: 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: Roles followed for Waldhorn in the 1980s in the likes of Brideshead Revisited, Minder, Harry's Game, Robin Hood and The Chief. He is best known for the roles he played in two sitcoms, Lionel Bainbridge in Brush Strokes and David Horton in The Vicar of Dibley. His theatre credits include work with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Career: Although Smith had an uncredited role in 1970's Leo the Last, she didn't act professionally until the age of 50 when she was cast in Mike Leigh's Bleak Moments. She's rarely been out of work since, is equally at home in comedy and drama, and is now regarded as a national treasure. Among her projects are I Didn't Know You Cared, Russ Abbot's Madhouse, The French Lieutenant's Woman, A Private Function, The Vicar of Dibley, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Royle Family. More recently she appeared in the film City of Ember, and in 2006 published her autobiography, Our Betty.