Trivia: Moved from Trinidad to Newcastle, England with his family following his father's death in 1958. Began working at the Flora Robson Playhouse in Newcastle at age 17. Was cast as Philip Smith in The Banana Box in 1973, which was staged in London and Newcastle; he later reprised the role in the television series adaptation, Rising Damp. Starred in the National Theatre's staging of Kwame Kwei-Armah's Statement of Regret at the Cottesloe Theatre in London in 2007. Was paired with professional dancer Lilia Kopylova as a contestant on the sixth season of Strictly Come Dancing, in 2008. Awarded an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours of 2008. Made his directorial debut with the staging of Rum and Coco Cola at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in 2010. Directed a stage revival of Rising Damp in 2013 at the Menier Chocolate Factory in 2013.

Trivia: Was a member of London's renowned National Youth Music Theatre from 1993 to 1995. Nominated for the prestigious Ian Charleson Award for his part in the 2009 production of Oscar Wilde's An Ideal Husband at London's Vaudeville Theatre. Played Stanley Kowalski opposite Rachel Weisz as Blanche in the 2009 West End production of A Streetcar Named Desire. Swam 26 kilometers across Lake Zurich in Switzerland on August 7, 2011 to raise funds for the Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, which provides care for premature babies at the London-based hospital. Stepped behind the camera for the first time in 2013, picking up a producer credit for the thriller Dreck, in which he also stars.

Trivia: One of Britain's more underrated actors, Samuel West first became known to international audiences in 1992 as the perpetually unfortunate Leonard Bast in the acclaimed Ismail Merchant/James Ivory adaptation of E.M. Forster's Howards End.The son of actors Timothy West and Prunella Scales, West was born in London on June 19, 1966. Taking to science rather than to acting when he was growing up, he attended Oxford University, where he planned to study physics. However, an interest in acting finally took hold, and West switched his studies to English and became involved with the University Experimental Theatre Club and Dramatic Society, touring Africa with it in 1986.Upon his graduation in 1988, West secured his first film role as a German aristocrat in Reunion. Although the film was critically well-received, it was largely unseen, and West subsequently did most of his work on television. His acclaimed performance in Howards End, for which he earned a British Academy Award nomination, gave him both greater respect and recognition. He went on to appear in a number of films of varying quality, doing particularly notable work in Persuasion (1995), Carrington (1995), and Jane Eyre (1996). He parodied the sort of period dramas in which he had made his name with his role as an upper-crust prig in Stiff Upper Lips in 1998, and that same year he finally broke through to modern dress in the Canadian film Rupert's Land, earning a Genie nomination for his portrayal of a clean-cut lawyer reluctantly dragged on an odyssey across the wilds of British Columbia. The following year, he was back in breeches and a frock coat for his bit part in Notting Hill, and that same year he could be seen taking to the sea in the popular British miniseries, Horatio Hornblower. In addition to his screen roles, West is known in his native country for his work on the stage, television, and radio, endearing many a listener to his deep, mellifluous voice.

Trivia: Lived in a variety of countries when he was growing up, including Cyprus and Uganda, because his father was a geography teacher in the armed forces. Reckons he received around 66 strokes of the cane while at school. His English teacher encouraged him to focus on drama, cast him in school plays and allowed him to take time out of other lessons to study drama. Met his future comedy partner, Rik Mayall, at university. Was a member of the spoof heavy metal band Bad News who played at the Monsters of Rock festival in 1986. Played Captain Hook in a Peter Pan pantomime during its Christmas run in 2009 at the Marlowe Theatre in Kent. Won the BBC1 cooking series Celebrity Masterchef in 2013, beating Les Dennis and Janet Street-Porter. Was a pallbearer at the funeral of his close friend and fellow comedian Rik Mayall in 2014. Took part in episode 4 of The Greart Sport Relief Bake Off in 2016 and won the title of Star Baker. His children's book Tilly and the Time Machine was published in May 2017. Appeared in EastEnders as Daniel Cook in 2019.

Trivia: Was rejected for four years before being granted a place at RADA. Originally offered a place at Oxford University to study English, but turned it down to go to drama school. Worked in betting shops, bars and delivering sandwiches before going to drama school. Won the Awarded Audience Prize at the RADA Prize Fights when she was at RADA in 2003. Played the role of Cecily Cardew in The Importance of Being Earnest at the Oxford Playhouse in the summer of 2005. Nominated for an Evening Standard Award in 2007 for her role as Laura Wingfield in The Glass Menagerie at the Apollo Theatre in London. Former member of the National Youth Theatre. Played Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry Vll, in the BBC series The White Queen in 2013, based on Philippa Gregory's best-selling novel series The Cousins' War. Also in 2013, starred as Elinor Dashwood in the BBC Radio 4 adaptation of Sense and Sensibility.

Trivia: Took time off his A-level studies to film The Royle Family and returned to school after the series getting the grades needed to get to university. Put his medical studies on hold to pursue acting. Has played football in semi-professional clubs whenever his schedule allows it. Is friends with Robbie Williams and has played for his football team. Is a suporter of Manchester United.