Waking the Dead - Straw Dog: Part Two - 11:20 pm Thursday, December 25 on U&Drama

Sue Johnston (Actor) .. Dr Grace Foley

Born: December 07, 1943 in Warrington, Cheshire

Best Known For: The Royle Family and Brookside.

Early-life: Born Susan Johnston on December 7, 1943, in Warrington, Cheshire. Her mother was a housewife, and her father was a plumber who worked his way up to become a clerk of works. While employed at a tax office, Johnston would visit the Cavern in Liverpool during her lunch break. She used to hang around with Paul McCartney, and went to his 21st birthday party. They lost touch until a few years ago when they met during a visit by the Queen to Liverpool. She eventually quit her job and studied at London's Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Arts.

Career: On leaving drama school, Johnston began landing roles in fringe theatre, school workshops and occasional TV appearances in shows such as Coronation Street. She didn't become a famous face until her eight-year stint in Brookside as long-suffering Sheila Grant. She went on to star in Medics, hit comedy The Royle Family (alongside Brookie co-star Ricky Tomlinson), and The Things You Do for Love, in which the actress played former Corrie actress Pat Phoenix. Among her film credits are the award-winning Brassed Off, and crime drama Face, starring Robert Carlyle. Other projects include Sex, Chips and Rock 'n' Roll, Score, My Uncle Silas, Jam & Jerusalem, Waking the Dead and Being Eileen.

Quote: "I'm a character actress, not a glamour one. I like playing a dried-up old stick."

Trivia: Her memoir, Things I Couldn't Tell My Mother, was published in 2011.

Trevor Eve (Actor) .. Det Supt Peter Boyd

Born: July 01, 1951 in Birmingham

Best Known For: Playing 1970s detective Shoestring.

Early-life: Trevor John Eve was born on July 1, 1951, in Birmingham, but was raised in Wales. His father was a drinks wholesaler who was 50 when Eve was born. His mother was 15 years younger. He describes his dad as the most frugal man he's ever met, who saved hard to pay for his education. Eve was disappointed to miss out on being captain of his school cricket team, but knew he was never good enough to turn professional. Instead, he decided to become an artist, but later trained as an architect. He never acted until applying to Rada, and to his surprise, they accepted him.

Career: Eve made his professional debut at the Liverpool Playhouse as Paul McCartney in Willy Russell's John, Paul, George, Ringo - and Bert. Singled out for praise, it demonstrated his early promise. He then appeared in West End production Filumena before playing the roguish private eye Shoestring on TV in 1979, the part that made him a household name and a heart-throb. Laurence Olivier was a fan, and hired Eve to star in his TV series Best Plays. Memorable work since includes The Politician's Wife, A Sense of Guilt, Troy, The Family Man and the brilliant BBC drama Waking the Dead, which ended in 2011 after nine series. His other notable work includes playing game show host Hughie Green in Hughie Green, Most Sincerely, the 2010 ITV remake of Bouquet of Barbed Wire, and three-part drama Kidnap and Ransom. He has also worked and lived in the US, but is now settled in London.

Quote: "It's astonishing that people connected to solving crime do the job day after day. I don't know how they escape or where they go for rest and relaxation."

Wil Johnson (Actor) .. DI Spencer Jordan

Best Known For: Waking the Dead and Emmerdale.

Early-life: Wilbert Johnson was born in London in 1965. His acting training came courtesy of the Mount View theatre drama group in Crouch End, The Haringey Theatre and three years spent at the National Youth Theatre. He made his professional acting debut in the play Four Seasons at the 1985 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. He followed this up with guest appearances on TV in Casualty, London's Burning, Dramarama and Mr Don & Mr George.

Career: During the 1990s, Johnson landed recurring roles on Anna Lee and Cracker and starred in the TV movie Babymother. His big break came in 2000 when he was cast in Waking the Dead as Detective Sergeant Spencer Jordan. He remained on the show until it ended in 2011. In 2000, he also landed a recurring role in Paul Abbott's drama Clocking Off. His other TV credits include guest appearances in The Bill and recurring roles on Babyfather, Waterloo Road and Holby City. In 2012, he began playing Dom Andrews in Emmerdale. He left the soap in 2014. His film credits include Adulthood (2008), In a Better World (2010) and Anuvahood (2011).

Quote: "I don't set parameters for myself. I just try to keep myself open to what the next challenge is going to be."

Trivia: To make ends meet between roles, Johnson once worked for an undertaker.

Esther Hall (Actor) .. Dr Felix Gibson

Felicite du Jeu (Actor) .. Stella Goodman

Emma Lowndes (Actor) .. Young Grace

Tom Ellis (Actor) .. Harry Taylor

Born: November 17, 1978 in Bangor

Best Known For: Miranda.

Early-life: Thomas Ellis was born in Bangor on November 17, 1978. A teacher persuaded him to take theatre studies for A level and he later went to drama school in Glasgow, where he became friends with fellow actor James McAvoy. After leaving drama school, Tom quickly landed roles in ITV drama Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby and BBC sitcom Kiss Me Kate.

Career: After a flying start to his professional acting career, strong parts became hard to come by. He had one-off roles in the likes of Holby City, Doctors, Midsomer Murders and Waking the Dead and a stint in EastEnders as Dr Oliver but he didn't really start to get noticed until he began playing Miranda Hart's love interest in her BBC sitcom Miranda. The success of that show has opened a number of doors for Ellis. Away from Miranda, he has starred in Gates, The Secret of Crickley Hall, Once Upon a Time and ABC pilot Gothica.

Quote: "I don't take myself too seriously. But that doesn't stop me being a bad person sometimes and doing things I regret."

Trivia: Ellis supports Arsenal.

Paul Freeman (Actor) .. Dr Hoyle

Terence Hillyer (Actor) .. Terry Healy

Eugene O'Hare (Actor) .. Kevin Keogh

Tilly Vosburgh (Actor) .. Sarah

Amerjit Deu (Actor) .. Mr Qureshi

Billy Keating (Actor) .. Hemmings

Andrew Turner (Actor) .. Taz

Christopher Godwin (Actor) .. Lord Cole

Ian Palmer (Actor) .. Newsreader

Peter Eastland (Actor) .. Doctor

Richard Burrell (Producer)

Jim O'Hanlon (Director)

Declan Croghan (Writer)

Waking the Dead: Straw Dog: Part Two

11:20 pm - 12:40 am, Thursday, December 25 on U&Drama (20)

About this Broadcast

Straw Dog: Part Two
Season 5, Episode 8

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