The first season of Greg Davies's crime scene comedy The Cleaner boasted rather an impressive list of guest stars – and with the second season landing on our screens this week, a similarly star-studded cast has been assembled.

Advertisement

Davies obviously gets back into his overalls as Paul 'Wicky' Wickstead, with our crime scene cleaner set to be joined by the likes of Asim Chaudhry (People Just Do Nothing), Dame Harriet Walter (Succession), and Simon Callow (Four Weddings and a Funeral) all set to appear in individual episodes.

Read on for everything you need to know about the rest of the cast for The Cleaner season 2 – as well as a reminder of the guests who appeared back in season 1 and last year's Christmas special.

Greg Davies plays Paul 'Wicky' Wickstead

Paul 'Wicky' Wickstead (GREG DAVIES)
Paul 'Wicky' Wickstead (Greg Davies) BBC

Who is Wicky? Wicky is a state-certified cleaning technician with a very special field of work - he is a crime-scene cleaner responsible for the removal of any signs of death. During the course of his work, he stumbles across a range of eccentric characters – from the victim’s relatives, employers, neighbours and acquaintances to occasionally even the murderers themselves, and is always quick to stop for a chat with whichever strange people he encounters.

What else has Greg Davies been in? Davies is best known for his comedy work – whether that be performing stand-up or presenting hit panel show Taskmaster. Previous roles include Mr Gilbert in The Inbetweeners and Ken Thompson in Cuckoo, while he also created and starred in the Channel 4 series Man Down.

More like this

The Cleaner season 2 cast

Dame Harriet Walter as Lisa (Episode 1)

The Cleaner - season 2
Dame Harriet Walter as Lisa in The Cleaner. BBC/Studio Hamburg,Jonathan Browning

Who is Lisa? We meet Lisa in the first episode of season 2, entitled The Transaction. She's a "hard-bitten" landlady and meets Wicky as he undertakes the job at her pub, which has left behind its own mess after a lethal brawl. But is there more to this case than meets the eye in regards to Lisa's involvement?

What else has Harriet Walter been in? The well-known award-winning actress has been in a lengthy list of things over her career and was appointed as a Dame in 2011 for her services to drama. As well as an illustrious stage career, Walter has more recently graced our screens in Succession, Call the Midwife, Doctor Who, Ted Lasso and This Is Going to Hurt.

Charlie Rawes as Cuddle (Episode 1)

The Cleaner - season 2
Charlie Rawes as Cuddle in The Cleaner. BBC/Studio Hamburg,Jonathan Browning

Who is Cuddle? Cuddle is Lisa's muscle-bound barman.

What else has Charlie Rawes been in? The English actor has starred in a number of action movies including Gangsters, Guns & Zombies, Skiptrace, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.

John MacMillan as Strazzamo (Episode 2)

The Cleaner - season 2
John MacMillan as Strazzamo in The Cleaner. BBC/Studio Hamburg,Jonathan Browning

Who is Strazzamo? Joining the cast of episode 2, Strazzamo is described as a "self-important clown" who Wicky comes across when he is called to a theatre where a male strip show has got out of hand.

What else has John MacMillan been in? MacMillan is probably best known for his recent role in House of the Dragon as Laenor Velaryon but has featured in numerous roles both on stage and on screen. He has starred in Silk, Chewing Gum, Extraordinary and Ghosts, to name a few.

Jemma Carlton as Selina (Episode 2)

The Cleaner - season 2
Jemma Carlton as Selina in The Cleaner. BBC/Studio Hamburg,Jonathan Browning

Who is Selina? While details of Selina's character remain unknown right now, we do know that she's the "feckless" assistant involved in the 40-woman brawl that Wicky has to clean up in episode 2.

What else has Jemma Carlton been in? Carlton's breakthrough role came in October 2022 in her leading role in Channel 5's Maxine, where she starred as the girlfriend of Ian Huntley.

Simon Callow as Mr Abahassine (Episode 2)

The Cleaner - season 2
Simon Callow as Mr Abahassine in The Cleaner. BBC/Studio Hamburg,Jonathan Browning

Who is Mr Abahassine? Described as a "whimsical" theatre manager, Wicky meets Mr Abahassine in his nightmarish day at work at the theatre.

What else has Simon Callow been in? Callow is a British actor, director, narrator and writer with notable roles including the 2004 stage production of The Phantom of the Opera, as well as TV roles in Doctor Who, Midsummer Murders, Hawkeye and The Witcher.

Asim Chaudhry as Karl (Episode 3)

Greg Davies and Asim Chaudhry in The Cleaner season 2.
Greg Davies and Asim Chaudhry in The Cleaner. BBC

Who is Karl? In the third episode, The Night Shift, Wicky meets Karl, who is a shelf-stacking conspiracy theorist preparing for the end of the world. He insists it's imminent and his paranoia is something Wicky has to listen to as the pair are sharing a night shift after Wicky's called to a shooting in a technology shop.

What else has Asim Chaudhry been in? Chaudhry is best known for playing Chabuddy G in BBC mockumentary series People Just Do Nothing. He has also had starring roles in High & Dry and Taskmaster and has also more recently starred in The Sandman.

Additional cast members for The Cleaner season 2

There are a host of new faces joining the cast for The Cleaner's second season in yet to be disclosed roles. The additional cast members are as follows.

  • Roisin Conaty as Her
  • Rudi Dharmalingam as Him
  • Zoë Wanamaker as Lucile
  • Alex Lawther as Dan
  • Susannah Fielding as Fran
  • Mark Lewis Jones as Richard
  • Joshua McCord as Timber
  • Louis Emerick as Vince
  • Amy Morgan as 'manager'

The Cleaner Christmas special cast

Robert Curran plays Robbie

Robert (ROBBIE CURRAN)
Robert (ROBBIE CURRAN) BBC

Who is Robbie? A regular customer at the ice cream parlour, who isn't going to let a little thing like a murder stop him from getting the perfect peach melba ice cream.

What else has Robert Curran been in? Curran is an actor and writer whose only previous TV acting credit came on Doctors – although he's appeared extensively on stage. He co-wrote the episode along with Davies.

Sian Gibson plays Sis

Sis (SIAN GIBSON)
Sis (SIAN GIBSON) BBC

Who is Sis? Wicky's sister.

What else has Sian Gibson been in? Gibson is probably best known for co-writing and starring in Peter Kay's Car Share – while other credits include the TV films series Murder on the Blackpool Express, episodes of Inside No. 9 and Death in Paradise, and the eighth season of Taskmaster, in which she finished fourth.

James Bolam plays Dad

Who is Dad? Wicky's dad.

What else has James Bolam been in? Veteran actor Bolam is best known for his roles as Terry Collier in The Likely Lads and its sequel Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads, while other notable TV credits include When the Boat Comes In, Only When I Laugh, The Beiderbecke Trilogy, New Tricks, Grandpa in My Pocket and most recently Marriage.

The Cleaner season 1 cast

Helena Bonham Carter plays 'The Widow' (Episode 1)

The Cleaner
BBC

Who is The Widow? Driven to wit's end by her husband's control-freak habits and model-building obsession, The Widow decides enough is enough and brutally kills off her other half. When she returns to the crime scene heavily armed, she finds Wicky cleaning up the mess and has no option but to hold him captive.

What else has Helena Bonham Carter been in? One of the most celebrated British actors of her generation, Bonham Carter's film roles have included A Room with a View, Fight Club and numerous collaborations with her ex-husband Tim Burton. She also played Bellatrix Lestrange in the Harry Potter films and portrayed Princess Margaret in seasons three and four of The Crown, while recent film appearances include Oceans 8 and Enola Holmes.

David Mitchell plays 'The Writer' (Episode 2)

The Cleaner
BBC

Who is The Author? Terrence Redford is a successful author hindered by a desperate case of writer's block – not helped by all the commotion caused after his grandmother burnt to death in their living room. He looks down on Wicky and just wants to be left in peace to write his latest masterpiece – which he hopes will win him that long-awaited Booker prize.

What else has David Mitchell been in? A modern comedy legend, Mitchell is known for his work with Robert Webb on both their sketch show That Mitchell and Webb Look and the hugely acclaimed sitcom Peep Show. More recently he re-teamed with Webb for the sitcom Back and has played William Shakespeare on Ben Elton's sitcom Upstart Crow and his West End spin-off. He is also a panel show regular, including serving as a team captain on Would I Lie to You.

Ruth Madeley plays 'The Neighbour' (Episode 3)

The Cleaner
BBC

Who is The Neighbour? When Wicky is given the wrong key to the house of a recently dead man, he finds himself bonding with the deceased next-door neighbour – a hardline vegan who challenges him on his carnivorous ways.

What else has Ruth Madeley been in? Madeley is known for her role as Rosie Lyons in Russell T Davies' acclaimed 2019 drama Years and Years, while other credits include recurring roles in The Rook, The Accident and The Watch.

Stephanie Cole plays 'The Aristocrat' (Episode 4)

The Cleaner
BBC

Who is The Aristocrat? The wealthy owner of an opulent mansion – the scene of a failed burglary – this character enjoys pontificating to Wicky about her illustrious ancestors, collection of priceless antiques, and what the world is coming to. But she has a darker side too, and there could be more to this case than meets the eye.

What else has Stephanie Cole been in? Veteran actor Cole has a slew of credits to her names, including major roles in Tenko, Open All Hours and its spin-off Still Open All Hours, Waiting for God, Keeping Mum, Doc Martin and Cabin Pressure. She also teamed up with Greg Davies in his previous sitcom Man Down and played Sylvia Goodwin in Coronation Street from 2011 to 2013.

Layton Williams plays 'The Influencer' (Episode 5)

The Cleaner
BBC

Who is The Influencer? Going by the name of 'Home Alone Hosea’ this character is a 23-year-old social media influencer with millions of followers and an obsession with the 1980s – even if his depth of knowledge of the decade isn't all that. Hosea is none too happy about Wicky's clean up job – depriving him as it does of a great opportunity for a viral video of the crime scene.

What else has Layton Williams been in? Williams is perhaps best known for his starring role in the stage musical Everybody's Talking About Jamie. He's been acting since the age of 12, appearing in a range of West End productions such as Billy Elliot and Thriller-Live, while TV appearances include Beautiful People and Bad Education.

Jo Hartley plays 'The One' (Episode 6)

The Cleaner
BBC One

Who is The One? Maggie was Wicky's first proper girlfriend – and so when she turns up at the holiday home at which he's performing a cleanup operation he's very surprised to see her. She's since married and settled down and is surprised to see Wicky is still hanging around with the same people as he did all those years ago.

What else has Jo Hartley been in? Hartley has appeared in a range of TV series including This is England, The Mimic, Not Safe For Work, After Life, in My Skin and Bliss, while film work has included The Young Victoria, Eddie the Eagle and Slaughterhouse Rulez.

Other actors who appear in the series include Donald Sumpter (Game Of Thrones), Shobu Kapoor (Four Weddings And A Funeral), Zita Sattar (Casualty), Georgie Glen (The Crown, Call The Midwife), Bill Skinner (Ted Lasso) and Esmonde Cole (Still So Awkward).

The Cleaner season 2 airs on Friday 24th March at 9:30pm. The first season is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. If you’re looking for something else to watch, take a look at the rest of our Comedy coverage or check out our TV Guide.

Advertisement

Try Radio Times magazine today and get 12 issues for only £1 with delivery to your home – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement