My Family - The Second Greatest Story Ever Told - 07:20 am Sunday, February 1 on U&W

Robert Lindsay (Actor) .. Ben Harper

Born: December 13, 1949 in Ilkeston, Derbyshire

Best Known For: Citizen Smith and My Family.

Early-life: Born Robert Lindsay Stevenson on December 13, 1949, in Ilkeston, Derbyshire. One of three children, his Second World War veteran father worked as a joiner and his mother was a cleaner. He failed his 11-plus exam and went to the Secondary Modern Gladstone Boys School. Despite having a miserable time there, his art teacher spotted his acting talent in a school production and encouraged him to take it up seriously. He originally intended to become a drama teacher, but worked in regional theatre companies after attending the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (Rada).

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.

Quote: "There's a huge entertainer in me, and I couldn't ignore it any longer. I wanted to be very serious, but I've paid my dues and should start enjoying my career."

Trivia: He supports Derby County.

Zoe Wanamaker (Actor) .. Susan Harper

Born: May 13, 1949 in New York

Best Known For: Playing a variety of strong women.

Early-life: Born May 13, 1949, in New York, the daughter of acclaimed actors Charlotte Holland and Sam Wanamaker. At the age of three, her family fled the US before her father could be called by Senator McCarthy's notorious House of Un-American Activities Committee; the family settled in the UK. Zoë decided to become an actress at age 10 after spending a summer in Stratford-Upon-Avon watching her father. Both parents tried to persuade her not to go into the profession but she enrolled at the Central School of Speech and Drama, graduating in 1970.

Career: Wanamaker spent 25 years with the RSC and National Theatre, and continues to appear on stage. She made her TV debut in 1975 in Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill. Her most memorable work has come on the small screen in projects such as Edge of Darkness, the first episode of Prime Suspect, A Dance to the Music of Time, Love Hurts, My Family, David Copperfield, Gormenghast and Doctor Who; she also has a recurring role as Ariadne Oliver in Agatha Christie's Poirot. Films include Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and Wilde.

Quote: "I think there is a niche for Beauty and the Beast, but there are also people who want to see good drama, who want to be moved by something."

Trivia: Despite her English upbringing, she remains a US citizen and received an honorary CBE in 2000.

Kris Marshall (Actor) .. Nick Harper

Born: April 01, 1973 in Malmesbury, Wiltshire

Best Known For: Playing dopey Nick Harper in My Family

Early-life: Born in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, on April 1, 1973. He spent some of his childhood in Hong Kong and Canada, and attended Wells Cathedral School in Somerset, from which he was expelled at the age of 17. He puts the incident down to not being able to do things in the confines of school, such as smoke, which he freely did at home. After failing his A levels, he enrolled at Redroofs Theatre School in Maidenhead.

Career: Marshall's first TV role came in 1993's Closing Numbers. He later had bit parts in shows including The Bill and Trial and Retribution II. Playing gormless Nick in My Family turned him into a star in 2000. He left the sitcom three years later (although he returned to made guest appearances), and went on to appear in Doctor Zhivago, Love Actually, Iris, The Four Feathers and The Merchant of Venice. His first lead role in a TV drama came in 2004 when he was cast as DS Luke Stone in ITV1's Murder City alongside Amanda Donohoe. He's since featured in Citizen Khan, Derek and Lightfields. Marshall also appeared in a popular series of ads for BT between 2005 and 2011. He took over from Ben Miller as the star of Death in Paradise in 2014.

Quote: "I am 6ft 2in with legs like a giraffe and I get fan mail from six-year-olds."

Trivia: In 2008, he suffered head injuries after being hit by a car during a night out with friends in Bristol. He made a full recovery, and credits a card from his favourite football team, Aston Villa, for boosting his morale.

Daniela Denby-Ashe (Actor) .. Janey Harper

Gabriel Thomson (Actor) .. Michael Harper

Siobhan Hayes (Actor) .. Abi

Keiron Self (Actor) .. Roger Bailey Jnr

Paul Clayton (Actor) .. Director

Michelle Gomez (Actor) .. Dental Assistant

Born: April 21, 1971 in Glasgow

Best Known For: Playing Sue White in Green Wing.

Early-life: Michelle Gomez was born on April 21, 1971, in Glasgow. She caught the acting bug at the age of seven after seeing a production of Kiss Me Kate. She attended Shawlands Academy and trained at The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Theatre.

Career: In 1998, Gomez landed parts in The Bill, The Acid House and Il Mio West, while Ticks, Taggart, Highlander: The Raven and New World Disorder also boosted her profile. In 2001 she was snapped up to star in hit comedy The Book Group. That eventually paved the way for her role as HR manager Sue White in Green Wing. Recent projects have included Chromophobia, Murder in Suburbia, Carrie and Barry, and Feel the Force. On the stage, she has starred in Boeing-Boeing, and The Taming of the Shrew.

Quote: "It is always nice to play somebody who is slightly dour, and a Scot seems to manage to do that quite well for some reason."

Trivia: Married to This Life star Jack Davenport since 2000. They have a son, Harry.

Sydney Stevenson (Actor) .. Sophie

Raymond Sawyer (Actor) .. Moderator

Javone Prince (Actor) .. Customer

Kirsty McLaren (Actor) .. Ellie the Sheep

Kristopher Milnes (Actor) .. Sophie's Boyfriend

John Bartlett (Producer)

Steve Armogida (Writer)

Dewi Humphreys (Director)

Jim Armogida (Writer)

My Family: The Second Greatest Story Ever Told

07:20 am - 08:00 am, Sunday, February 1 on U&W (25)

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The Second Greatest Story Ever Told
Season 3, Episode 6

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