The Loch cast: Full list of actors in crime drama and where you know them from

Shortly after Swift's death, a human heart is found on a beach and another resident disappears, striking fear into the town and forcing the police to act quickly before the killer can strike again.

If you're curious who each of the characters are in this thrilling tale, and what they've been up to since it aired eight years ago, here is the full cast of The Loch and where you may have seen them before:

Laura Fraser – DS Annie Redford

Who does she play? Annie Redford is a dedicated – but dissatisfied – Detective Sergeant in rural Lochanfoy. She has a strained relationship with her teenage daughter Evie, and a loving one with husband Alan. But when the town is hit by a brutal serial killer, she is horrified by what is happening to her community – and also excited about the career opportunity a murder case could present.

Where have I seen her before? Scottish actor Laura Fraser starred as Eve Stone in The Missing. She played Juliet in One of Us and was Lydia Rodarte-Quayle in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul.

Siobhan Finneran – DCI Lauren Quigley

Who does she play? Glasgow detective and single-minded career officer Lauren Quigley is brought in to lead the investigation. She's under no illusions about the darker side of human nature, and as an outsider she can see clearly that the killer is probably hiding in plain sight. A no-nonsense policewoman, she wants to catch the culprit and get back to her home city to secure the promotion she has been working towards for her entire career.

Where have I seen her before? Siobhan Finneran starred as Clare Cartwright in Happy Valley. She played a very different character, Janice Garvey, in Benidorm – and also took on the role of Mandy in TV series The Syndicate. But many ITV viewers will know her best as lady's maid O'Brien from Downton Abbey, a scheming servant and one-time friend of Thomas Barrow.

John Sessions – CI Frank Smilie

Who does he play? Frank Smilie is a traditional old-school cop nearing the end of his career. He doesn't want any drama and will look after his own – even if that means bending the rules. He has worked with Lauren Quigley before, and the two don't like each other very much. Now Quigley is also a DCI and back in town, it's a case of "two Chiefs, one territory".

Where have I seen him before? Across his career, John Sessions featured on the big screen in Made in Dagenham, Belfast, The Iron Lady and many more. On TV he was a regular on Whose Line Is It Anyway?, and took on roles in Upstart Crow, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, Outlander and Mr Holmes. Sessions sadly passed away aged 67 in November 2020.

Gray O'Brien – Alan Redford

Who does he play? Alan Redford is Annie's husband. He works as a local tour boat operator telling tales of the Loch Ness Monster to tourists. He adores his wife, but the murder case drives a wedge between them.

Where have I seen him before? Gray O'Brien had a three-year stint as Tony Gordon in Coronation Street, a role which earned him the Villain of the Year title at the British Soap Awards 2009. He has also been a regular in Casualty and River City, as well as playing roles in Taggart, Doctor Who and Titanic: Blood and Steel.

Shona McHugh – Evie Redford

Who does she play? Evie is the only child of Annie and Alan. Aged 18, she's spirited, rebellious and keen to leave school for a new life in Australia. A (pretty weird) teenage prank involving bones from the local abattoir arranged in the shape of the Loch Ness Monster lands Evie and her friends in trouble when a human heart turns up in this fake "Nessie".

Where have I seen her before? Prior to The Loch, Shona McHugh was last on TV in Waterloo Road in 2006. Since the show's release, she has gone on to have roles in series such as Shetland, Annika, Marriage and The Head.

Don Gilet – Blake Albrighton

Who does he play? Blake Albrighton is a flirtatious, intelligent, arrogant forensic psychologist with a bestselling book to his name. Due to the unusual nature of the murder, he has been brought onto the case by DCI Quigley. Not everyone is a fan.

Where have I seen him before? Don Gilet memorably played Lucas Johnson on EastEnders. He has also had roles across film and TV in Death in Paradise, The Beekeeper, The Stranger, Holby City, and even some video game roles, providing voices for the Dragon Age series.

Murray Fraser – PC Jason Denny

Who does he play? PC Jason Denny is a young officer on the force, and certainly not the brightest. Still, he's eager to learn and his heart is in the right place.

Where have I seen him before? The Loch was Murray Fraser's TV debut, and he has gone on to minor roles in other series like Victoria, Glow & Darkness and Nightsleeper.

Alastair Mackenzie – Craig Petrie

Who does he play? Craig Petrie is the head of Lochnafoy College and an accomplished academic. However, he can tend towards arrogance.

Where have I seen him before? Alastair Mackenzie has recently played Perrin Fertha in the Star Wars Andor series. Beyond that, he has featured in some major productions, such as Wolf Hall, Borgen, Monarch of the Glen, The Crown, Cold Feet and more.

William Ash – Leighton Thomas

Who does he play? Leighton Thomas is the town's only former offender. He is a frustrated man seeking rehabilitation in a small community, but these tragic events make him a prime suspect.

Where have I seen him before? Most recently, you will likely know William Ash as Caleb Milligan in Emmerdale. A TV mainstay, he has also had roles as Christopher Mead in Waterloo Road and Michael Wyatt in The Rising, as well as featuring in Paranoid, The Tunnel and Clocking Off alongside The Loch co-star Siobhan Finneran.

Jack Bannon – Kieran Whitehead

Who does he play? Kieran is one of Evie's friends from the local sixth form college. He is quick-witted, good-looking and caring, but has a secret: at home he must help his mother Bea take care of his bedridden brother, who is suffering from locked-in syndrome. Evie has a crush on him.

Where have I seen him before? Jack Bannon recently played Tom Cole in medical drama Pulse, and has also had roles in Endeavour, The Darkness, Pennyworth and more. On the big screen, he's featured in The Imitation Game and Kids in Love, among others.

Keiran Gallacher – Jonjo Patterson

Who does he play? Jonjo is Evie and Kieran's friend. His parents Ken and Nicole run the local abattoir (where he helps out) and he likes to push their buttons. The joker of the group, Jonjo also suffers from bipolar disorder and can behave erratically when he neglects to take his medication.

Where have I seen him before? The Loch was Keiran Gallacher's first TV role, although he had previously starred in the short films Skin Deep and Footballers United. Since The Loch, his only credited role has been in an episode of the 2021 series Weegies.

Moray Hunter – Ken Patterson

Who does he play? Ken Patterson runs the local abattoir and struggles to make ends meet. This murder case could finish his business off altogether. But this is the least of his worries...

Where have I seen him before? Moray Hunter starred in the Channel 4 sketch show Absolutely and in the spin-off series Mr Don and Mr George. He played Dr Martin Baxter in Broadchurch and also works as a scriptwriter. More recently, he played Demon Josh in two episodes of Good Omens.

John Heffernan – Dr Simon Marr

Who does he play? Simon Marr is the local doctor. He has been recently widowed and has a young daughter, who was one of murdered man Niall Swift's piano students. The doctor has truths about his past that he would prefer remain undiscovered.

Where have I seen him before? John Heffernan has recently had roles in A Gentleman in Moscow and This Town, and has previously played Jaggers in the TV series Dickensian, and Steven Rose in Luther. He also popped up in Ripper Street as Ronald Capshaw. He also has some voice acting pedigree, featuring multiple times in the Final Fantasy 14 and 16 video games.

Oliver Greenall – Jordan Whitehead

Who does he play? Kieran's older brother supposedly has locked-in syndrome after suffering an aneurism years ago. But there are signs he is waking up. Has his mother been keeping him paralysed all these years so she can look after him?

Where have I seen him before? Oliver Greenall was a newcomer to TV in The Loch, and went on to play Rick Saddleworth in an episode of Armchair Detectives later in 2017.

Euan Stamper – Crawford Baxter

Who does he play? The local bully, Baxter particularly enjoys beating up fellow student Dessie. But he has the typical story of the troublesome teen character: Baxter is unhappy in his private life, with his dad dying and his future looking bleak.

Where have I seen him before? Euan Stamper was also a newcomer to TV in The Loch, but has gone on to have a minor role in Outlander, as well as the 2019 film Run.

Jenny Ryan – Nicole Patterson

Who does she play? Nicole Patterson is the mother of Jonjo. She's a bit less harsh on the boy than his dad is.

Where have I seen her before? Jenny Ryan played Sally Stewart in Waterloo Road. She also starred as Amanda in the TV series Cracked.

Simone Lahbib – Mhari Toner

Who does she play? Mhari Toner is Annie's friend and sparring partner. She has a son in Evie's class at sixth form college.

Where have I seen her before? Simone Lahbib played Katy Lewis in 20 episodes of EastEnders between 2020 and 2021. She has also been in Monarch of the Glen, Bad Girls, Wire in the Blood and London Bridge. More recently, she has had minor roles in River City, Grantchester, Shetland, Vera and more.

Conor McCarry – Dessie Toner

Who does he play? Shy teen Dessie gets bullied by Baxter and protected by Evie and Kieran. He knew the victim Niall Swift.

Where have I seen him before? Conor McCarry appeared as Jacob Dodridge in The Night Manager alongside Tom Hiddleston, as well as PC Alex Grant in Shetland. He's also made brief appearances in Outlander, Time, Rillington Place, Anna Karenina and Battleship.

Fraser James – Oliver Tench

Who does he play? Tench is a ghost from Leighton Thomas' past. He was an accessory to the murders Leighton committed all those years go, and when he sees his old friend on TV on the news he decides to pay him a visit. But he is surprised to find himself unwelcome in Leighton's house as the ex-con tries to protect his new life. Tench is a volatile, vulnerable and dangerous character.

Where have I seen him before? Fraser James has had roles in Law & Order, Holby City, Death in Paradise, Endeavour and more.

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