Career: McShane's first film was 1962's The Wild and the Willing. After that, he built a reputation as a fine stage actor thanks to various West End productions. His first starring role came in 1966's Skywest and Crooked, which co-starred Hayley Mills and was directed by her actor father John. He played Heathcliff in an acclaimed TV adaptation of Wuthering Heights and gained plaudits for such productions as Roots, Jesus of Nazareth and Disraeli. McShane became a household name thanks to Lovejoy in 1986, and even appeared in Dallas. Other projects include Deadwood (for which he won a Golden Globe award), Sexy Beast, Kings, 44 Inch Chest, The Pillars of the Earth, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and Jack the Giant Slayer.

Career: Sayle first came to the attention of TV viewers in 1982 on the adult incarnation of Tiswas. Fronted by Chris Tarrant, OTT (Over the Top) lasted just a season, but nevertheless provided a good grounding for Sayle whose off-the-wall comedic spot proved memorable, if not overwhelming. Later that same year, a guest role in BBC sitcom The Young Ones reinforced his angst-ridden persona with audiences. Sayle proved well-suited to TV and Alexei Sayle's Stuff, his first starring vehicle, reached screens in 1988, and was well received. He racked up further appearances in Doctor Who and Lovejoy, and has given convincing performances on the big screen as the Sultan in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) and Achmed in Carry On Columbus (1992). He starred in the oddball sitcom Paris and resurrected his sketch show in the early 1990s. Sayle featured as impresario Charles Frobisher in the BBC's adaptation of the Sarah Waters novel Tipping the Velvet. Since then, his TV acting credits have included Keen Eddie, Agatha Christie's Marple and Holby City. His various novels have been acclaimed and he has fronted several BBC documentaries.