Career: Carlyle co-founded the Raindog theatre group in Glasgow in 1990 and his big break came in the same year when director Ken Loach cast him in the film Riff-Raff. Four years later, he won a Scottish Bafta for his performance as murderer Albie Kinsella in a three-part episode of Cracker. The lead role in Hamish Macbeth followed in 1995. He caught Hollywood's attention after appearing in Trainspotting and The Full Monty. He has also starred in Plunkett and Macleane, Angela's Ashes, The Beach, Bond film The World Is Not Enough, and The 51st State, as well as 28 Weeks Later.

Career: Wilkinson made his TV debut in the mid-1970s, and went on to appear in programmes including First Among Equals and A Pocket Full of Rye. However, it was his role as Mr Pecksniff in the BBC's 1994 adaptation of Martin Chuzzlewit that really put the actor on the map. Three years later Tom won a Bafta for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in The Full Monty, and the 1990s also saw him appear in such notable films as Shakespeare in Love, In the Name of the Father and Wilde. More recently, he played the gangster Carmine Falcone in Batman Begins, gained great critical acclaim for In the Bedroom, starred alongside George Clooney in Michael Clayton and played German army officer Friedrich Fromm in Valkyrie. He won a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Benjamin Franklin in the miniseries John Adams. His recent work on the big screen includes roles in The Ghost, Burke and Hare, The Green Hornet and The Conspirator.

Career: After graduating, Addy returned to act at York's Theatre Royal and also performed at the West Yorkshire Playhouse and Hull Truck Theatre Company. Addy appeared in The Bill, A Very Peculiar Practice, Heartbeat and The Thin Blue Line before landing his big break in 1997's The Full Monty, after being recommended for a role by playwright John Godber. Projects since include Jack Frost, The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas, A Knight's Tale, The Time Machine and Around the World in 80 Days. He also starred in US sitcom Still Standing and ITV comedy drama Bonkers. Other projects include the Red Riding trilogy, Barney's Version, Robin Hood, Game of Thrones, Trollied and Atlantis, and he continues to be in demand for stage work.

Career: His big break came in 1997 when he had one of the lead roles in the hugely popular The Full Monty. From a £3million budget, the film went on to gross more than £160million worldwide. He has worked solidly on TV ever since in the likes of Hearts and Bones, Clocking Off, The Last Detective, Bleak House, Sorted, Silent Witness, Five Days, Midsomer Murders, Bedlam, Father Brown, and The Musketeers.

Career: Sharp has rarely been out of work since the mid-1980s, but chooses her projects carefully, preferring to select top quality productions rather than jobs for the money. Her first movie was 1986's Rita, Sue and Bob Too. Roles in Road, The Rachel Papers and Close My Eyes followed. Frank Stubbs Promotes was a TV hit in 1993, the same year she worked on Naked, with Mike Leigh, with whom she re-teamed for Vera Drake. Her work in Playing the Field, Clocking Off and Bob and Rose made her one of the small screen's most sought-after actresses. Sharp has also worked extensively in the theatre, but is perhaps best known for playing DC Janet Scott in Scott & Bailey.

Career: Jones teamed up with a friend to create the comedy double act Clark and Jones, who were very successful on the northern club circuit, and also studied acting at the Manchester School of Theatre. His big break came in 1993, when director Ken Loach cast him in the film Raining Stones. He followed this up with appearances in the TV series Roughnecks, Heartbeat, Band of Gold and A Touch of Frost, and also took roles in the movies Bob's Weekend, TwentyFourSeven and The Full Monty. In 1997, he became a household name when he joined Coronation Street as loudmouth layabout Les Battersby. Since leaving the soap under something of a cloud he has appeared in several reality shows, including Celebrity Wife Swap, Celebrity Come Dine With Me, and Famous, Rich and Homeless. In August 2013, he entered the Celebrity Big Brother house.