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: 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: 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.