Where Do I Know That Actor?

There’s a new series on Sunday nights, kicking off prime time. It’s RIDLEY, starring Adrian Dunbar in the title role as a retired detective inspector brought back in as a consultant. Certainly, sounds intriguing as a premise so we’ll see if it holds up. Each episode is split into two parts making for an 8-part series. So far, we’ve been treated to the first investigation and got to see a few faces that you may know from elsewhere.

Before we start, I will note that RIDLEY gives us a lot of actors who have appeared in other series we’ve aired but none who really rise to the level of main star. Still, that’s why I do this. You’re bound to recognize a Dame Judi Dench when she shows up on something but the bit players and character actors are harder to pin down. So let’s see who’s who…

Adrian Dunbar, of course, starts as former DI Alex Ridley. While there have been a few guest roles on shows like Death In Paradise, Scott & Bailey and Inspector Morse, it’s possible you may have seen him as Plantagenet in The Hollow Crown.

Where Do I Know That Actor?

When a master beekeeper is injured attempting to apprehend a thief, DCI Barnaby and DS Winter are called to investigate. The coppers quickly discover that the village of Granville Norton is abuzz with news of missing bees, suspicions and, of course, death. And so MIDSOMER MURDERS latest series continues to offer guest stars galore. Six, by my count. Let’s meet them…

To start, Griff Rhys Jones played bee obsessive lord of the manor Ambrose Deddington. He’s been a comedian and actor for decades and longtime viewers may remember him as one of the cast of Not The Nine O’Clock News, a Thatcher-era sketch comedy series we broadcast briefly in the 80s.

Jacquetta May portrayed Ambrose’s sister Melissa. She played Rachel on EastEnders for 137 episodes in the early 1990s.

Jack Fox was Jude Deddington, Ambrose’s nephew. He should be familiar to Sanditon fans as he plays Sir Edward Denham in that series.