Career: Cole made his big-screen debut in 1941's Cottage to Let, but didn't achieve fame until he landed the part of Flash Harry in the classic St Trinian's films. He went on to have a successful career on stage, TV and in movies, often appearing opposite mentor Sim in such productions as Scrooge and The Green Man. TV credits include My Good Friend, Dad, An Independent Man, Blott on the Landscape and Minder, which ran for 15 years. In his later years, he appeared in Station Jim, Bodily Harm, Mary Reilly, A Class Apart, and Diamond Geezer. He died on August 6, 2015, after a long illness. He was 90.

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.