After the Flood cast: Who stars in the ITV drama?
The cast boasts a number of British screen favourites.
There's a brand new mystery for detective Jo to solve in After the Flood season 2 as the drama of Waterside continues.
While there's a constant risk of flooding and moorland fires, that's not her only challenge she has to contend with.
Last season, viewers saw Mackie unmasked as a corrupt police officer and a murderer in an epic twist that even Jo didn't see coming. (If you want a refresher, take a look at our ending explained.
The season 2 synopsis reads: "Jo's race to stop the killer brings her into direct conflict with powerful and influential forces within the town, ultimately drawing her into an investigation that becomes deeply personal.
"One that will require her to operate in secret if she is to have any hope of rooting out the corruption that has blighted the town's police force – and her own family – for decades."
Speaking about revisiting the world of After the Flood, lead Sophie Rundle said: "A second series can often feel like a bit of an add–on, whereas this feels like we just pick up where we left off and we're running with it.
"There are lots of interesting people who’ve found themselves in interesting positions in the series, and at the end of series one, there was a lot of room to explore more."
Alongside Rundle, several familiar faces have returned for season 2 – and there are some new additions, who you may or may not recognise.
Read all about the cast of After the Flood below.
After the Flood cast
- Sophie Rundle as Jo Marshall
- Lorraine Ashbourne as Molly Marshall
- Matt Stokoe as Pat Holman
- Nicholas Gleaves as Sergeant Phil Mackie
- Philip Glenister as Jack Radcliffe
- Jill Halfpenny as DS Sam Bradley
- Alun Armstrong as Alan Benson
- Steph De Whalley as Harriet Benson
- Ian Puleston-Davies as Tony Rower
- Jacqueline Boatswain as Sarah Mackie
- Faye McKeever as Kelly Kamali
- Matthew McNulty as Xav Palmer
- Tripti Tripuraneni as Deepa Das
- Heider Ali as DS Babak
- Anil Desai as DCI Balsara
- George Bukhari as Keith Kamali
- Maui Connock as Sophie Kamali
- Tony Marshall as Fraser Tempest
- Roger Morlidge as Geoff Dixon
- Leo Flanagan as Finn
- Nathalie Armin as Layal
- Donna Rower as Jenny Platt
- Oliver Nelson as Declan Rower
For more about the central cast and characters in After the Flood, read on.
Sophie Rundle plays Jo Marshall
Who is Jo Marshall? Jo is now a detective after passing her exams and is working on a "baffling" murder investigation. She has also separated from Pat and is living with her mum Molly, but they are co-parenting their daughter Eve, who's about to turn one.
"At the start of the series, we see Jo trying to work out where she is in relation to Mackie and Pat, and we see how she is coming to terms with everything she’s uncovered," said Rundle. "On the surface, it seems like everything is fine, but we soon realise that she's playing the long game and is working to bring Mackie down and build a case against him."
Where have I seen Sophie Rundle before? She's best known for Peaky Blinders and Sally Wainwright dramas Gentleman Jack and Happy Valley. You might also have watched her in BBC thrillers The Nest and Bodyguard, and Sky period drama Jamestown, among others.
Lorraine Ashbourne plays Molly Marshall
Who is Molly Marshall? Jo's mum, who is now a councillor. "In many ways, she’s grown in confidence, she's made for it," said Ashbourne. "Her sense of community and responsibility is so strong, and she doesn't question it. She's not scared because she knows what she's doing is right." Molly is also romantically involved with Jack in season 2 – and she also spends her free time cold water swimming, "so there's a whole new side there".
Where have I seen Lorraine Ashbourne before? She starred in James Graham's Sherwood and Sally Wainwright's Riot Women. You might also have watched her in Netflix's Bridgerton, season 2 of ITV crime drama Unforgotten, BBC comedy Alma's Not Normal and BBC One's Playing the Field.
Matt Stokoe plays Pat Holman
Who is Pat Holman? He's feeling "very sorry for himself" after his separation. "He’s still holding a candle for her, doing everything he can to try and win her back, to rekindle their romance." Ad he's also trying to bring down Mackie. "He wants closure. He wants Mackie to be punished for what he’s done, but that pursuit sometimes comes at the expense of Pat’s personal life and even his professional responsibilities."
Where have I seen Matt Stokoe before? Stokoe, who is Rundle's husband in real life, appeared alongside her in Jamestown. He also played Raoul Moat in a 2023 ITV drama about the hunt to catch him.
Nicholas Gleaves plays Sergeant Phil Mackie
Who is Sergeant Phil Mackie? "At the end of series one, his life was quite devastating and very difficult, but we cut to almost a year later, and he has protected himself, and is back in a place of real confidence," said Gleaves. "He has taken command, weathered the storm and managed to cover up what he did." But will Jo find a way to change all of that in season 2?
Where have I seen Nicholas Gleaves before? His credits include Coronation Street, Sally Wainwright's detective drams Scott & Bailey, the 2019 revival of The Demon Headmaster. Playing the Field and Kay Mellor's The Chase.
Philip Glenister plays Jack
Who is Jack? A local property developer who lost everything in season 1. "Jack’s been away; he’s gone off because things didn’t really work out," said Glenister. "He’s lost all his money – been done over in business." But now he's back "because he has some inner demons he needs to get out from the first series".
Where have I seen Philip Glenister before? He's best known for police procedural Life on Mars and its sequel Ashes to Ashes. He also appeared in true crime drama Steeltown Murders, which aired on the BBC last year, Julian Fellowes's Belgravia, Sky's Mad Dogs and BBC drama Clocking Off, among others.
Jill Halfpenny plays DS Sam Bradley
Who is DS Sam Bradley? She's just moved to Waterside from Newcastle. "A highly-qualified and experienced murder detective, Sam’s excellent at her job and immediately takes a liking to Jo – she sees something of herself in her," reads her character description. "Sam also has a firm streak and believes the rules are there for a reason; it’s a trait that might just see her butting heads with Jo and her instincts for breaking the rules." Sam doesn't have a partner, but she does have two grownup children.
Where have I seen Jill Halfpenny before? She's best known for EastEnders and Byker Grove. Her credits also include Waterloo Road, Humans, Everything I Know About Love and The Cuckoo, among others.
Alun Armstrong plays Alan Benson
Who is Alan Benson? "A hugely successful businessman and the town’s most generous benefactor, it was Alan who swiftly responded to last year’s flooding and paid £10 million to have a flood wall built to protect Waterside," reads his character description. He lives on a huge estate surrounded by privately-owned moorland. Despite his contributions to the town, he's a controversial figure.
Where have I seen Alun Armstrong before? You might know him from Breeders, Frontier, New Tricks and Sherwood.
Steph De Whalley plays Harriet Benson
Who is Harriet Benson?Alan's daughter. She is "starting to look after his interests, but he struggles to relinquish control".
Where have I seen Steph De Whalley before? She has appeared in Doctor Who and Midnight Taxi.
Ian Puleston-Davies plays Tony Rower
Who is Tony Rower? A councillor. He "works closely with Molly and the two of them have a great rapport". He has a daughter, Donna, and a grandson, Declan. "The three of them were flooded out a year ago, and the damage was so bad that they are only now about to return home."
Where have I seen Ian Puleston-Davies before? You might have watched him in Coronation Street, Tin Star, Pennyworth, DI Ray, The Responder and The Bay.
Jacqueline Boatswain plays Sarah
Who is Sarah? "Sarah won her seat in Parliament and has been thriving in her new career away from Waterside," reads her character description. "With her future looking bright and her confidence at an all-time high, she’s got too much to lose to look backwards."
Sarah was having an affair with Jack, but that's since come to an end. "She needs to make serious decisions about the future of her relationship with Phil."
Where have I seen Jacqueline Boatswain before? Most people will know her from Hollyoaks and Grange Hill.
Faye McKeever plays Kelly
Who is Kelly? Pat's sister. After Jo moved out, she moved in with her daughter. Her partner, Keith, begins the season in prison due to his involvement in the insurance scam involving Jack's "stolen" farming equipment last season.
Where have I seen Faye McKeever before? You might know her from Trollied, The Responder and Time.
Additional After the Flood cast includes:
- Matthew McNulty (The Jetty, The Rising) plays Xav Palmer - "Charismatic and hard to resist, Xav’s a driven man, who cares about certain things deeply, with a strangely moral, if occasionally warped, sense of justice."
- Tripti Tripuraneni (House of the Dragon) plays Deepa Das - a friend and colleague of Jo's.
- Heider Ali (You Don't Know Me) plays DS Babak - Jo and Babak often butt heads over work-related matters.
- Anil Desai (The Night Manager S2, Sex Education) as DCI Balsara - Jo's boss.
- George Bukhari (The A Word, Ridley) as Keith Kamali - Kelly's partner. He's released from prison in season 2.
- Maui Connock as Sophie Kamali - Kelly and Keith's daughter. She gets a taste for environmental activism in season 2.
- Tony Marshall (Sister Boniface Mysteries, Casualty) as Fraser Tempest - he used to work in the police alongside Mackie and Jo's late dad.
- Roger Morlidge (The Bank of Dave, Chemistry of Death) plays Geoff Dixon - a local farmer. One of his workers is murdered. He's also frustrated by fly-tipping on his land.
- Leo Flanagan (Waterloo Road, Gentleman Jack) as Finn - a local lad who is friends with Molly. Finn is an environmental activist.
- Nathalie Armin (Showtrail S2, Maigret) as Layal - she teaches at the local high school and is friends with Molly, who she joins for wild swimming.
- Donna Rower as Jenny Platt (Versailles, Waterloo Road) - Tony's adult daughter, She also knows Xav.
- Oliver Nelson (The Gathering, Home Fires) as Declan Rower - Jenny's son.
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After the Flood season 2 lands on ITV1 and ITVX on Sunday 18th January at 9pm. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on.
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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.
