Career: Bolam appeared on stage alongside Laurence Olivier and John Gielgud, then followed it up with films The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner and A Kind of Loving, before being cast as cynical Terry Collier in The Likely Lads in 1964. He agreed to reprise the role in Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads? nine years later. James went on to star in When the Boat Comes In, Only When I Laugh and Alan Plater's Beiderbecke trilogy. He has also appeared in Clockwork Mice, The End of the Affair, Born and Bred, Grandpa in My Pocket, To Kill a King and controversial feature-length drama Shipman, about serial killer doctor Harold Shipman. He starred in New Tricks between 2003 and 2012 and continues to appear on stage.

Career: Michael spent 10 years appearing on stage and working as an air steward before his big break came in 1993 when he landed the part of David Wicks in EastEnders. He stayed in Walford for three years before leaving to appear in Crime Traveller (he returned briefly in 2012 to mark the death of his on-screen mother, Pat Evans). More TV roles followed in The Gentleman Thief, Born and Bred, and The Fabulous Bagel Boys. He also featured in radio plays and did video game voiceover work. Between 1998 and 2013 he had various stints playing Dr Nick Jordan in Casualty and sister programme Holby City. He returned briefly to EastEnders in 2012 to mark the death of his on-screen mother, Pat Evans. He rejoined EastEnders as a regular character in September 2013.

Career: Swift made his TV debut opposite Warren Mitchell in a 1963 episode of Love Story. His first film was Catch Us If You Can (1965). He would later star in Alfred Hitchcock's Frenzy (1972). For the next 20 years, he worked solidly as a character actor on stage, TV and radio. His TV credits include The Liver Birds, South Riding, The Brothers, Hazell, The Nesbitts Are Coming, The Gentle Touch, and The Pickwick Papers. His life changed in 1990 when he was cast as Richard Bucket in the hugely popular BBC sitcom Keeping Up Appearances. The role made him a household name and it ran for 44 editions. He returned to the world of sitcoms in 2009 when he began starring opposite Roger Lloyd Pack in The Old Guys.

Career: Russell's early career saw her perform with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Then, between 1990 and 1992, she played Maggie Lomax in the television comedy On the Up. Russell has appeared in a number of theatre and musical productions and received an Olivier Award for her performance in Sunday in the Park with George. She was also nominated for a Tony Award when she appeared in the same play in New York. On TV, she played the role of Deborah Gilder in the series Born and Bred and has appeared in such shows as Doctor Who, Peak Practice and Minder. Her career has taken her to the big screen, including a role as a detective in Mortdecai (2015). In 2016, Russell took on the character of Michelle Fowler in EastEnders.

Career: Denise starred in a variety of hit TV dramas including Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, Byker Grove, Soldier Soldier and Spender before landing the part of Natalie in Coronation Street in 1997. She stayed on the soap opera for four years but left when she discovered she was pregnant with her second child. She was asked to present This Morning following the departure of Richard and Judy, but turned the offer down. She went on to make appearances in TV shows The Vice, Born and Bred, and Down to Earth, before joining the cast of Waterloo Road. The actress has also hit the charts with the singles You Don't Have to Say You Love Me and Cry Me A River. She was a panellist on Loose Women between 2002 and 2013. In August 2013, she was a contestant on ITV's dancing reality series Stepping Out.