A Good Girl's Guide to Murder cast: Who stars in the detective drama?
Wednesday and A Minecraft Movie's Emma Myers stars as Pip – who is on a mission to solve a murder.
BBC detective drama A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, which was adapted from Holly Jackson's YA novel of the same name, is now available to stream on Netflix UK.
The six-episode series stars Emma Myers as Pip, a 17-year-old who is on a mission to uncover what really happened to a local school girl who was killed five years ago.
"I haven’t done a character like Pip before," Myers previously told Variety. "Pip’s a lot more like me and I haven’t really done many characters that are closer to my personality so I thought that would be fun. Most people assume that it’s easy to play a character that’s like you, but it’s actually way harder and I wanted that challenge.
"Plus, I loved the story so much in the way that Pip is just searching for truth. She really loves people and wants to help people and when she gets in it, she can’t let it go.
"And I kind of get the same way when I’m in something and I just have to see it done. So I was totally excited to play her."
In an interview with Glamour, Myers said that she actually read the TV script before delving into Jackson's source material.
"I got an email asking me to meet with the director and the producers," she explained. "I read the first three episodes, then I met with them, and really liked them. I bought the book when I was in the conversation of playing Pip. I knew a bunch of people who liked them, and I’d seen them everywhere, but I never picked it up myself until I was potentially going to play the character.
"But then I bought the rest of them, read all of them, and have read them like five times all the way through. I love them."
A number of newcomers star alongside Myers, as well as a handful of screen veterans you will most definitely recognise.
Read on for a full rundown of the major players.
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder main cast
The major players in the new BBC series are as follows:
- Emma Myers as Pip
- Zain Iqbal as Ravi
- Asha Banks as Cara
- Yali Topol Margalith as Lauren
- Jude Morgan-Collie as Connor
- Raiko Gohara as Zach
- India Lillie Davies as Andie
- Rahul Pattni as Sal
- Yasmin Al-Khudhairi as Naomi
- Henry Ashton as Max
- Jackson Bews as Dan
- Carla Woodcock as Becca
- Anna Maxwell Martin as Leanne
- Gary Beadle as Victor
- Kamari Loyd as Josh
- Mathew Baynton as Elliot
- Jessica Webber as Nat
- Georgia Aaron as Emma
- Oliver Wickham as Jesse
- Siddiqua Akhtar as Nisha
- Adam Astill as Toby
- Georgia Lock as Isla
For more information about the characters and where you've seen the cast before, continue reading...
Emma Myers plays Pip
Who is Pip? In order to complete her A-Levels, Pip must tackle an Extended Project Qualification. Never one to follow the crowd, she chooses to take on the Andie Bell case. The 17-year-old schoolgirl was killed five years ago and Pip believes the killer is still out there.
"Pip is a very strong character, just so determined," said Myers. "The way Holly Jackson has written her in the books and the way it's been translated on screen by Poppy Cogan was such a joy to play. Pip's journey and what she goes through is quite a lot. She's a completely different person from the start to the end. It was really fun exploring that."
Where have I seen Emma Myers before? She's best known for Wednesday and A Minecraft Movie. She also appeared in Family Switch and Girl in the Basement.
Zain Iqbal plays Ravi
Who is Ravi? His brother admitted to killing Andie five years ago, but the real murderer was never caught. He teams up with Pip in a bid to uncover the truth and clear his sibling's name.
"There’s no Ravi without Pip, there's no Pip without Ravi," said Iqbal. "They’re both there for each other, and I don't think Pip would've been able to solve anything without Ravi.
"Ravi's in his own world before he meets Pip, and Pip brings Ravi out of his shell. He doesn't speak to anyone, doesn’t interact with anyone apart from in his house, so she’s the first person since this murder has happened five years ago that he's spoken to and opened up to."
Where have I seen Zain Iqbal before? This is his most notable role to date.
Asha Banks plays Cara
Who is Cara? Pip's best friend. "She's so funny, she's really sarcastic and dry," said Ward. "During filming I spoke to Holly Jackson, who said she thought she was most similar to Cara out of the book characters, which made so much sense because everything that comes out of Holly's mouth is sarcastic and hilarious, and it's kind of the same with Cara."
Where have I seen Asha Banks before? She's best known for My Fault: London. Her CV also includes Rebel Cheer Squad and The Magic Flute.
Yali Topol Margalith plays Lauren
Who is Lauren? Pip's good friend. "She brings a sort of Marilyn Monroe comic aspect to the character," said director Dolly Wells.
Where have I seen Yali Topol Margalith before? She's appeared in House of David and The Tattooist of Auschwitz.
Jude Morgan-Collie plays Connor
Who is Connor? One of Pip's close friends. He's described as "funny" and "daft".
Where have I seen Jude Morgan-Collie before? You might know him from Here We Go.
Raiko Gohara plays Zach
Who is Zach? A key member of Pip's friendship group. "He brings this eccentric, slightly deadpan aspect to Zach," said director Dolly Wells.
Where have I seen Raiko Gohara before? This is Gohara's first major role.
India Lillie Davies plays Andie and Rahul Pattni plays Sal
Who is Andie? A local schoolgirl who was murdered five years ago. Her case was seemingly solved, but Pip thinks otherwise.
Where have I seen India Lillie Davies before? She appeared in single episodes of Bridgerton and Call the Midwife.
Who is Sal? Andie's boyfriend. He admitted to her murder, before taking his own life. But Pip is convinced he's innocent.
Where have I seen Rahul Pattni before? He has appeared in an episode of Casualty.
Yasmin Al-Khudhairi plays Naomi
Who is Naomi? Cara's older sister. She was best friends with Sal.
Where have I seen Yasmin Al-Khudhairi before? She's best known for Ackley Bridge.
Henry Ashton plays Max
Who is Max? One of Sal's best friends. Max comes from wealth and is entitled and arrogant.
Where have I seen Henry Ashton before? You might know him from My Lady Jane. He also appeared in a couple of episodes of Outlander.
Jackson Bews plays Dan
Who is Dan? A police officer who was involved with Andie's case.
Where have I seen Jackson Bews before? He's had roles in Black Mirror's San Junipero, Maleficent and Doctors.
Carla Woodcock plays Becca
Who is Becca? Andie's younger sister.
Where have I seen Carla Woodcock before? She's best known for Free Rein. You might also have watched her in Ackley Bridge, Tell Me Everything and Such Brave Girls.
Anna Maxwell Martin plays Leanne
Who is Leanne? Pip's mum. "She's trying, sometimes failing," said Maxwell Martin. "I think she's pretty nice as a mum, she just cares about and is a bit worried about her. She can see Pip going down a precarious road.
"She's pretty sensible, although I can imagine her feeling a bit full-on, maybe a little bit pushy. She has high expectations of Pip, which I think means she is pushy - she can’t bear to see her waste her life."
Where have I seen Anna Maxwell Martin before? You might have watched her in Motherland, Ludwig, Line of Duty, Until I Kill You, Code 404, Bleak House, Hollington Drive and The Bletchley Circle.
Gary Beadle plays Victor and Kamari Loyd plays Josh
Who is Victor? Pip's stepfather. "Victor is loving, doting, compassionate and empathetic," said Beadle. "Emma and Victor are both complete nerds in terms of doing meticulous preparation for any kind of project, task or anything. He absolutely adores his wife.
"I feel like he's a very amiable fellow, and that his wife brings out the best in him. But more than anything, he is that calm tempo amongst the chaos."
Where have I seen Gary Beadle before? He's best known for EastEnders. You might also know him from Hard Truths, The Gentlemen and The Wheel of Time.
Who is Josh? Pip's half-brother.
Where have I see Kamari Loyd before? This is Loyd's biggest role to date.
Mathew Baynton plays Elliot
Who is Elliot? Cara's father. Elliot is a teacher and a single father of two. His wife died when Cara was 10 years old.
Where have I seen Mathew Baynton before? You might know him from Ghosts, Murder Is Easy, Horrible Histories, Wonka, Spy and Yonderland.
Additional cast:
- Jessica Webber (After Everything) plays Nat - One of Andie's best friends. She's related to Dan.
- Georgia Aaron (Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire) plays Emma - Andie's other best friend.
- Oliver Wickham (Wednesday) plays Jesse - they help Pip out of a couple of tight spots.
- Siddiqua Akhtar (DI Ray) plays Nisha - Sal and Ravi's mum.
- Adam Astill (Doctors) plays Toby - Andie and Becca's dad.
- Georgia Lock plays Isla - a homeless girl.
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder is available to stream on BBC iPlayer and Netflix. Sign up for Netflix from £5.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream.
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Authors
Abby Robinson is the Drama Editor for Radio Times, covering TV drama and comedy titles. She previously worked at Digital Spy as a TV writer, and as a content writer at Mumsnet. She possesses a postgraduate diploma and a degree in English Studies.
