Cracker - Men Should Weep - Part Two - 11:15 pm Thursday, January 15 on That's TV 3

Robbie Coltrane (Actor) .. Dr Eddie `Fitz" Fitzgerald

Born: March 30, 1950 in Rutherglen, near Glasgow

Best Known For: Playing psychologist Fitz in Cracker, and Hagrid in the Harry Potter films.

Early-life: Born Anthony Robert McMillan on March 30, 1950, in Rutherglen, near Glasgow, Coltrane's father Ian was a GP and a police surgeon who was keen to educate his son and encourage him to read as much as possible. Mother Jean was a teacher and musician who often played the piano for her son. At 17, his father died of lung cancer. His younger sister Jane later committed suicide while attending York University.

Career: Coltrane first captured the public's attention as a member of the Comic Strip team in 1982, co-writing and co-directing the series as well as starring. He'd done the rounds as a stand-up comedian, but realised he wanted to pursue a career in acting. He has proven himself to be capable of doing straight roles and comedy, winning three Best Actor Bafta Awards for crime drama series Cracker. He has also won roles in big-budget movies, including two outings as a Bond villain in Goldeneye and The World Is Not Enough, and more recently as Hagrid in the Harry Potter films as well as voicing roles in several children's animations. Robbie received an OBE for services to drama in 2006.

Quote: "My size? I am six foot one inch in just about every direction."

Trivia: Away from acting, Coltrane is a talented painter.

Barbara Flynn (Actor) .. Judith Fitzgerald

Ricky Tomlinson (Actor) .. DCI Charlie Wise

Born: September 26, 1939 in Blackpool

Best Known For: Playing Jim in The Royle Family.

Early-life: Born Eric Tomlinson in Blackpool on September 26, 1939, but has lived mostly in Liverpool. His father was a baker, while his mother had three jobs. He wanted to be a footballer, but playing the banjo in clubs and pubs became more important. After marrying, he moved to Wrexham and worked as a plasterer - which led to his involvement in a 1972 strike and a subsequent prison sentence. Upon his release in 1975, he set himself up as an entertainer, and in 1980 he had a small part in Alan Bleasdale's Boys from the Blackstuff.

Career: Tomlinson's big break came when he landed the role of Bobby Grant in Channel 4 soap opera Brookside. He stayed with the show for six years until 1988, after which he featured in Ken Loach's gritty drama Riff-Raff. TV projects since then have included Roughnecks, Cracker, Playing the Field and Clocking Off, while his film CV boasts offerings such as The 51st State and Mike Bassett: England Manager. He became a comedy icon 1998 thanks to his role in the comedy series The Royle Family. He opened his own cabaret club, The Green Room, in Liverpool in May 2010. He has reportedly donated £1million to the Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool.

Quote: "I never had acting lessons so I'm still an old ham, probably playing myself most of the time."

Trivia: A play entitled United We Stand tells the story of Tomlinson's incarceration. It toured the UK in 2014.

Geraldine Somerville (Actor) .. DS Jane Penhaligon

Lorcan Cranitch (Actor) .. DS Jimmy Beck

Kieran O'Brien (Actor) .. Mark Fitzgerald

Best Known For: A string of roles.

Early-life: Kieran was born in Oldham in 1973. He made his acting debut at a young age in the children's drama Jossy's Giants. Guest appearances followed in One by One, Bulman, Bellman and True and Gruey. He also had a role on Children's Ward, playing Lee Jones. In the early 1990s, he had recurring roles in Coronation Street and Cracker.

Career: In 1999, O'Brien made his film debut in Virtual Sexuality. His other film credits include 24 Hour Party People (2002), 9 Songs (2004), Goal! The Dream Begins (2005) and Goal II: Living the Dream (2007). More recently, he has starred on the small screen in Bluestone 42, Silk, Grantchester, The Syndicate and Prey.

Quote: On his graphic sex scenes in the film 9 Songs: "To me they were just scenes we were shooting, and I was surprised how ordinary and how natural it was."

Trivia: In 2013, O'Brien toured in a UK stage production of The Full Monty.

Colin Tierney (Actor) .. DC Bobby Harriman

Tess Thomson (Actor) .. Kate Fitzgerald

Wilbert Johnson (Actor) .. PC Skelton

Graham Aggrey (Actor) .. Floyd Malcolm

Rachel Davies (Actor) .. Mrs Malcolm

Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Actor) .. Marcia Reid

Born: April 26, 1967 in London

Best Known For: Secrets & Lies and Without A Trace.

Early-life: Marianne Jean-Baptiste was born in Camberwell, London, on April 26, 1967. She studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. After graduating, she landed roles in numerous stage productions, including The Way of the World and Measure for Measure at the National Theatre. She also recorded an album of blues songs.

Career: Jean-Baptiste became an overnight success after appearing opposite Brenda Blethyn in the critically acclaimed Secrets and Lies. She became the first British black woman to be nominated for an Oscar for her role in the film. A classically trained singer, Marianne is also a composer and playwright. She co-wrote the music for Mike Leigh's Career Girls in 1997. After moving to America, she appeared in a number of films, including Mr Jealousy, The 24 Hour Woman and The Cell. Marianne starred in hit US crime drama Without A Trace between 2002 and 2009 as FBI agent Vivien Johnson. Since then she has starred in the film Takers, and American TV movie Secrets in the Walls.

Quote: "The old men running the film industry just have not got a clue. Britain is no longer a totally white place where people ride horses, wear long frocks and drink tea."

Trivia: She become the first black British actress to be nominated for an Academy Award following her success in Secrets & Lies.

Claire Hackett (Actor) .. Deborah Wiley

Andrew Readman (Actor) .. Andrew Wiley

Julie Saunders (Actor) .. Bev Malcolm

Alexander Newland (Actor) .. Marvin Malcolm

Ewen Cummins (Actor) .. Wilson

Jimmy McGovern (Writer)

Jean Stewart (Director)

Paul Abbott (Producer)

Cracker: Men Should Weep - Part Two

11:15 pm - 12:20 am, Thursday, January 15 on That's TV 3 (71)

About this Broadcast

Men Should Weep - Part Two
Season 2, Episode 8

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