Patience cast and character guide: Who plays whom in the PBS detective drama?

Move over, Sherlock — there is a new detective duo in town, and this time, the sleuthing isn't all about trench coats and tortured backstories. Patience, the latest detective drama making waves on PBS, swaps tired tropes for emotional authenticity, sharp wit, and a quietly radical rethinking of what it means to be a crime solver. At its heart is Patience Evans, an autistic police archivist whose extraordinary mind proves to be the missing puzzle piece in some very cold cases.

The series is a breath of fresh Yorkshire air — yes, it is set in York — with storylines that blend emotional depth with sly, dry humor. Think crime-solving with actual character growth, not just red herrings and chase scenes. The casting, too, is as intentional as the storytelling, led by Ella Maisy Purvis in a breakout performance that already has viewers reaching for tissues — and the rewind button.

If you are wondering who plays whom in this tender and tenacious new entry into the detective genre, we have got you covered. From neurodivergent support group hosts to jaded detectives with soft centers, here is your full guide to the key players in the series.

Ella Maisy Purvis as Patience Evans and Laura Fraser as Bea Metcalf

At the center of it all is Ella Maisy Purvis as Patience Evans, a brilliant but overlooked police archivist whose knack for pattern recognition turns her into an unlikely investigator. Purvis delivers a nuanced performance that never slips into caricature — she is earnest, blunt, and often the smartest person in the room — just not always the loudest. The show treats her neurodivergence not as a “quirky advantage” but as a core part of who she is, and it is Purvis’s layered performance that makes that ring true.

Opposite her is Laura Fraser as Detective Bea Metcalf, the steely but compassionate cop who first sees her potential. Fraser, known for Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, brings a weary warmth to Bea — juggling a demanding job with raising a neurodivergent son she is just beginning to understand. Their partnership is the emotional spine of the series, quietly challenging every expectation the genre usually clings to.

Nathan Welsh, Mark Benton, Connor Curren and more

The rest of the Patience cast brings just as much depth. Nathan Welsh plays DS Jake Hunter, initially skeptical of Patience’s involvement, but gradually transformed by what he sees. Welsh brings a thoughtful, grounded energy to the role — a rare portrayal of professional growth without the gruff clichés. Mark Benton, meanwhile, offers a more bureaucratic presence as the team’s boss, Calvin Baxter. But don’t expect a stereotypical hard-nosed superior — Benton’s Baxter is refreshingly human, and even a little funny.

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Connor Curren is another standout as Billy Thompson, the warm and wise support group leader who connects with her on a personal level. With supporting turns from Liza Sadovy as a frosty forensic specialist, Tom Lewis as the workplace cynic, and Maxwell Whitelock as Bea’s sensitive son, the cast works like a constellation — each character shining in their own right, but even brighter together.

For fans of character-driven mystery with heart, this show is a must-watch. And with a cast this compelling, don’t be surprised if you’re following their careers long after the credits roll.

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