Career: Tompkinson has rarely been out of work since thanks to radio, stage, TV and film roles. Early parts came in The Manageress, Casualty and Treacle, before he got his first big role playing ruthless reporter Damien Day in acclaimed sitcom Drop The Dead Donkey in 1990. All Quiet on the Preston Front, Chancer and Minder followed, before Brassed Off and Ballykissangel made him a star in 1996. Hollywood agents came knocking, but Tompkinson preferred to stay in the UK to star in Grafters, Mr Charity, Ted and Alice, In Deep, Staying Up and Lucky Jim. He's also had roles in New Tricks, Marian, Again, Prime Suspect: The Final Act, Wild at Heart and Truckers. The drama DCI Banks has become a regular fixture in the schedules.

Career: At the age of 18, she moved to London permanently and numerous stage roles followed. She also appeared in the movie December Bride, but it was playing a teenage temptress in A Time to Dance in 1992 that brought her instant media attention. Since then she has starred in Goodnight Sweetheart and Ballykissangel, which established her as one of British TV's best-loved actresses. She's also won acclaim for her work on The Dark Room, Flint Street Nativity, Eureka Street, The Bombmaker, Hearts and Bones, The Silence, 55 Degrees North, Doctor Who and Injustice.