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The Unforgotten British crime television series first aired on ITV in 2015 and has been a highlight since the pilot due to its emotionally rewarding plot, richly drawn characters, and a very human concept of justice. Unforgotten was developed and written by Chris Lang, who establishes the series with the excavation of decade-old human bones, and each season follows detectives as they peel back layers of time to uncover painful truths.
Supported by talented lead actors and a constantly turning door of witnesses and suspects, the series explores how past crimes continue to echo into the present, often with devastating consequences. It is Unforgotten's structure that makes it unique; however, each series brought a new case, new suspects, and new emotional challenges.
Yet the continuity of the lead investigative team provided individuals a hook to come back to with each new case. With six seasons to choose from, the program has been able to get a good balance of main recurring characters and a revolving door for guest and support appearances.
Main cast across Seasons 1 to 5 of Unforgotten
Nicola Walker as DCI Cassie Stuart
The main character in Unforgotten for its first four seasons is DCI Cassie Stuart, played by Nicola Walker. Effortlessly calm in stress but profoundly moved by the human weight of the cases she investigates, Cassie is a tactically unobtrusive listener and a detective whose gut is only wrong when it's not. Her presence is the emotional balance point of the program in its early seasons.
Cassie is also careful, thoughtful, and empathetic, working herself into an emotional meltdown in seeking justice. Her increased mental issues, which were established over Season 4, are reflective of the mental strain of this type of work. Walker's exit after Season 4 represented a monumental change for Unforgotten. Unforgotten did not shy away from her exit; the last scenes of her departure left an indelible mark on viewers and altered the team dynamic irrevocably.
Sanjeev Bhaskar as DI Sunil "Sunny" Khan
DI Sunny Khan, portrayed by Sanjeev Bhaskar, is the sole actor to appear in all seasons of Unforgotten so far. With his subtle integrity, attention to detail, and emotional stability, Sunny is Cassie's reliable second-in-command and subsequently the head detective. Ever there with his ubiquitous rucksack and stoic presence, Sunny provides calmness in emotionally charged situations.
His character develops from sidekick to top man during the series, particularly from Season 5, when he is the de facto head after Cassie's resignation. Sunny's private life is also set groundwork throughout Unforgotten, revealing his domestic life and relationships. His commitment and humble perseverance are the driving forces of the inquiry team.
Jordan Long as DS Murray Boulting
DS Murray Boulting is played by Jordan Long, a seasoned detective and one of the series detectives' mentors. A season 1 addition, Murray is one of Unforgotten's investigative pillars. Less emotionally present than his colleagues but solid and responsible, Boulting does most of the street-level dirty work, conning through documents, tracking down timelines, and confirming alibis.
Though not given much of his background, his personality is stable and consistent, particularly with both Cassie and Sunny. His aloof nature brings stability to the group, and he remains a presence over several seasons.
Sinéad Keenan as DCI Jessie James
Sinéad Keenan is welcomed to the Unforgotten lead cast with Season 5 as DCI Jessie James, replacing team leader Cassie Stuart. Jessie comes with her leadership style, more withdrawn, more formal, and sometimes more confrontational. She is introduced tightly wound with Sunny and the rest of the crew, who are all still shaken by Cassie's killing.
Later on in the second half of the season, though, it is revealed that Jessie is a good detective who simply thinks differently. Keenan's performance captures such a talented woman under this stress, struggling with preposterous issues and questioning colleagues. Her character is an injection of freshness into the program without straying from the overall tone and rhythm of Unforgotten.
Carolina Main as DC Fran Lingley
Carolina Main is also DC Fran Lingley, the regular cast member for the investigations since the start of Unforgotten. Fran is tactless but efficient and provides a cheerful attitude to the otherwise dark investigations. She assists in interviewing suspects, reviewing evidence, and screening backgrounds.
Although a background character, Fran's advice makes the investigations feasible. Fran is introduced in Season 2 and becomes a recurring member of the cold-case team from that point forward. Her observational skills and calm demeanor make her a steady force within the unit.
Peter Egan as Martin Hughes
Martin Hughes, Cassie Stuart's dad, is played by Peter Egan, and his narrative is parallel to the investigations throughout the earlier seasons. Martin's poor mental health is the source of emotional distress to Cassie, particularly in Seasons 3 and 4. Martin has early-onset dementia, and Cassie's domestic life suffers as a consequence.
While not the central focus of screen time, Martin's situation enables the show to illustrate realistically the intersection of home life and work life under stress.
Season 1 (2015) – The core members & key guests
Major Season 1 characters are:
Nicola Walker as DCI Cassie Stuart: Cassie is the initial lead detective in Unforgotten. Empathetic and a thinker, she is the epicenter of the tone and direction of the series during the first four seasons.
Sanjeev Bhaskar as DI Sunny Khan: First introduced with Cassie, Sunny is her go-to partner and the solution to the initial case.
Jordan Long as DS Murray Boulting: A pre-existing member of the team from Season 1, Murray also provides research and surveillance.
Pippa Nixon as DC Karen Willetts: Karen Willetts assists the primary detectives with groundwork and suspect tracing.
Lewis Reeves as DC Jake Collier: Present during the initial seasons, Jake is part of the team's ground-level activity.
Jassa Ahluwalia as Adam Stuart: Cassie's son, Adam, is seen regularly in Season 1, providing insight into her home life and the emotional toll of her career.
Peter Egan as Martin Hughes: Cassie's father, Martin, is afflicted with early-onset dementia, causing personal tension for Cassie throughout the early storylines.
Some Season 1 guest stars include Tom Courtenay, Bernard Hill, Trevor Eve, Claire Goose, Ruth Sheen, Gemma Jones, Zoe Telford, Cherie Lunghi, and many more.
Seasons 2 to 5 – New characters and guests introduced each season
Season 2 (2017) Guest stars: Mark Bonnar, Lorraine Ashbourne, Badria Timimi, Adeel Akhtar, Rosie Cavaliero, Wendy Craig, Will Brown, and Nigel Lindsay.
Season 3 (2018) Guest stars: Alex Jennings, Kevin R. McNally, Neil Morrissey, Sasha Behar, James Fleet, Emma Fielding, Sara Stewart, Amanda Root, Bronagh Waugh, and Brid Brennan.
Season 4 (2021) Guest stars: Sheila Hancock, Susan Lynch, Liz White, Andy Nyman, Phaldut Sharma (Ram Sidhu), and Clare Calbraith.
Season 5 (2023) Guest stars: Rhys Yates, Hayley Mills, Ian McElhinney, Martina Laird, Max Rinehart, and Mark Frost.
The structure is repeated each season, with a new cast of characters all related to the case, each with secrets, traumas, and interpersonal relationships to be discovered.
The Unforgotten cast, its recurring actors, and its season-long visiting stars have been the hallmark of the show. Actor-driven, po-faced, emotionally and psychologically sophisticated character-driven stories rely to a great extent on actor quality. Since continuity is preserved via the detectives, various casts from season to season allow the show to reinterpret the plot stakes and dig deep into the crevices of society somewhere along the line.
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By changing up its supporting cast and grounding the story in a time-tested format, the show remains compelling, complex, and always character-based. Every actor adds their weight to the emotional plausibility and authenticity that has been the staple of the series since 2015. Whether watching Unforgotten anew or catching up on earlier installments, Unforgotten is always a treat to watch.
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