Death Valley

Timothy Spall (Actor) .. John Chapel

Born: February 27, 1957 in London

Best Known For: Playing Barry in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet.

Early-life: Timothy Leonard Spall was born on February 27, 1957, in London, and brought up on a Battersea council estate. As a teenager, he considered joining the Army, but changed his mind after playing the Cowardly Lion in his school's version of The Wizard of Oz. He applied for Rada because his drama teacher - on whom he had a secret crush - suggested he should become an actor. He was named the most promising actor of 1978 when he left the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (Rada).

Career: Spall appeared on stage with Birmingham Rep and the Royal Shakespeare Company before his movie debut in 1979's Quadrophenia. His big break came playing Barry in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet in 1983. He received Bafta TV nominations for Our Mutual Friend, Shooting The Past and Vacuuming Completely Nude In Paradise. Other memorable projects include Secrets and Lies, Life Is Sweet, Topsy-Turvy, Vanilla Sky, Still Crazy, Frank Stubbs Promotes and several of the Harry Potter movies. He received an OBE in 1999. Always in demand, more recent work includes Pierrepoint, The Street, Enchanted, Oliver Twist, The Damned United, The Fattest Man in Britain, The King's Speech, The Syndicate, and Mr Turner.

Quote: 'I'm a decent, jolly, fat guy.'

Gwyneth Keyworth (Actor) .. DS Janie Mallowan

Steffan Rhodri (Actor) .. DCI Clarke

Alexandria Riley (Actor) .. Helen Baxter

Rithvik Andugula (Actor) .. DC Evan Chaudhry

Melanie Walters (Actor) .. Yvonne Mallowan

Jane Horrocks (Actor) .. Polly Trevor

Born: January 18, 1964 in Rossendale Valley, Lancashire

Best Known For: Her stunning turn in Little Voice.

Early-life: Born Barbara Jane Horrocks on January 18, 1964, in Rossendale Valley, Lancashire, the youngest child of a salesman and a hospital worker. She has two older brothers. At 10 she started singing and impersonating famous stars. On leaving school in Rawtenstall, near Burnley, she went to a technical college in Oldham. After being turned down by various drama schools, she eventually made it to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (Rada), where her classmates included Imogen Stubbs and Ralph Fiennes. She made ends meet one Easter by dressing up as Snoopy in Harrods, but ended up getting glandular fever.

Career: After graduating, Horrocks spent a year with the Royal Shakespeare Company, but left to make the film Life is Sweet with acclaimed director Mike Leigh. Her TV debut came in 1987's Road, by Jim Cartwright. He heard her impersonating Edith Piaf, Judy Garland and Shirley Bassey and was so impressed he wrote The Rise and Fall of Little Voice for her, which was turned into the 1998 movie Little Voice. Other projects include The Witches, Absolutely Fabulous, Hunting Venus and Chicken Run. She also had a one-off sketch show, Never Mind the Horrocks, in 1996, sang on Robbie Williams' Swing When You're Winning album and has released her own album. Other work includes Gracie!, The Road to Coronation Street, Trollied, True Love and Sunshine on Leith.

Quote: 'If you're still acting when you're old, there's something wrong with you.'

Trivia: She's recorded a collection of songs inspired by her youth, including punk classics.

Alexandra Roach (Actor) .. Angela Vaughan

Hannah Daniel (Actor) .. Sally Morris

Jacob Ethan Tanner (Actor) .. Liam Jenkins

Hammed Animashaun (Actor) .. Warren Medwin

Paul Doolan (Writer)

Josh Cole (Executive producer)

Madeline Addy (Executive producer)

Nikki Wilson (Producer)

Simon Hynd (Director)

8:15 pm - 9:00 pm, Sunday, May 17 on BBC One London (1)

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Season 2, Episode 1

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