Waiting for the Out cast: Josh Finan and Phil Daniels star in the BBC drama
The drama's cast also includes Stephen Wight and Samantha Spiro in key roles.
New BBC drama Waiting for the Out comes from writer Dennis Kelly, and is based on the memoir by Andy West, The Life Inside: A Memoir of Prison, Family and Learning to Be Free.
The series tells the story of Dan, a philosopher who begins teaching a class of men in prison, but starts to worry he too will eventually be locked up, as he reflects on his past, and the fact that three crucial men in his life - his father, brother and uncle - have all spent time inside.
Dan is played by The Responder star Josh Finan, while he is joined in the cast by the likes of Gerard Kearns, Stephen Wight, Phil Daniels and Samantha Spiro in crucial roles.
But who else stars in the six-part drama series and who do they all play?
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Read on for everything you need to know about the cast of Waiting for the Out.
Waiting for the Out cast: Who stars in the BBC drama?
Here are the main cast members and characters in Waiting for the Out. Read on below for more details about who they all are and where you've seen the actors before.
- Josh Finan as Dan
- Gerard Kearns as Dad
- Stephen Wight as Lee
- Phil Daniels as Frank
- Samantha Spiro as Mum
- Alex Ferns as Keith
- Francis Lovehall as Dris
- Josef Altin as Greg
- Steven Meo as Macca
- Ric Renton as Wallace
- Tom Moutchi as Junior
- Nima Taleghani as Malik
- Sule Rimi as Samson
- Charlie Rix as Zach
- Ronkẹ Adékoluẹjo as Officer Stephens
Josh Finan plays Dan
Who is Dan? Dan is a philosopher who starts a job teaching inmates at a prison. A number of the men in his family have spent time in prison, and while working in his new job Dan starts to obsessively worry that he too will be locked up.
Where have I seen Josh Finan? Finan has had roles in series including The Gentlemen, Baby Reindeer, The Responder, Say Nothing and Black Mirror, as well as films such as The Current War and Hellboy.
Gerard Kearns as Dad
Who is Dad? Dad is Dan and Lee's dad, who was sent to prison and who they haven't seen in years.
Where have I seen Gerard Kearns? Kearns has had roles in series including Shameless, The Town, The Smoke, The Last Kingdom, Chernobyl, The English Game, The Essex Serpent and The Day of the Jackal, as well as films such as Peterloo.
Stephen Wight plays Lee
Who is Lee? Lee is Dan's brother, who has had issues with addiction and spent time in prison. He is now clean, in a stable relationship and raising his child.
Where have I seen Stephen Wight? Wight has had roles in series including Whites, Sherlock, Threesome, The Escape Artist, The Paradise, Bluestone 42, I May Destroy You, Manhunt, Silent Witness, Andor, Screw, The Bay and Bergerac, as well as films such as Peterloo and Men in Black: International.
Phil Daniels plays Frank
Who is Frank? Frank is Dan's uncle who has spent time in prison.
Where have I seen Phil Daniels? Daniels has had roles in series including The Pickwick Papers, Sunnyside Farm, Holding On, Time Gentlemen Please, EastEnders, Adult Material, Sliced, I Hate Suzie, Beyond Paradise, Endeavour, Boat Story, Inside No. 9, House of the Dragon and Gangs of London, as well as films such as Quadrophenia and The Hatton Garden Job.
Samantha Spiro plays Mum
Who is Mum? Mum is Dan and Lee's mum.
Where have I seen Samantha Spiro? Spiro has had roles in series including Cold Feet, Grandma's House, Bad Education, Psychobitches, Game of Thrones, Doctor Who, Tracey Ullman's Show, Ridley Road, Beyond Paradise, Sex Education, Only Child and Missing You, as well as films such as Me Before You, Horrible Histories: The Movie, One Life and Hard Truths.
Alex Ferns plays Keith
Who is Keith? Keith is one of the prisoners in Dan's class.
Where have I seen Alex Ferns? Ferns has had roles in The Batman, Andor, The Irregulars, Chernobyl, Six Four, Nightsleeper, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire and The Devil's Hour, amongst other series and films. He is also known for playing Trevor in EastEnders between 2000 and 2002.
Francis Lovehall plays Dris
Who is Dris? Dris is one of the prisoners in Dan's class.
Where have I seen Francis Lovehall? Lovehall has had roles in series including Small Axe, His Dark Materials, Champion, Criminal Record, Masters of the Air and A Thousand Blows, as well as films such as Death on the Nile.
Josef Altin plays Greg
Who is Greg? Greg is one of the prisoners in Dan's class.
Where have I seen Josef Altin? Altin has had roles in series including Peep Show, Robin Hood, The Bill, Game of Thrones, River, Peaky Blinders, Unforgotten, The Alienist, Harlots, Top Boy, The Gold, Wolf Hall and Out There, as well as films such as The Young Victoria, A Long Way Down, Child 44, Tomb Raider, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Blitz and Last Breath.
Steven Meo plays Macca
Who is Macca? Macca is one of the prisoners in Dan's class.
Where have I seen Steven Meo? Meo has had roles in series including Torchwood, Grownups, Gavin & Stacey, High Hopes, The Pembrokeshire Murders, Back, Doctors, Code 404, Coronation Street, House of the Dragon, Death Valley and Juice.
Ric Renton plays Wallace
Who is Wallace? Wallace is one of the prisoners in Dan's class.
Where have I seen Ric Renton? Renton has had roles in Good Girls Club and Censor.
Tom Moutchi plays Junior
Who is Junior? Junior is one of the prisoners in Dan's class.
Where have I seen Tom Moutchi? Moutchi has had roles in series including Famalam, Temple, PRU and Criminal Record, as well as the films The Hustle and Gladiator II.
Nima Taleghani plays Malik
Who is Malik? Malik is one of the prisoners in Dan's class.
Where have I seen Nima Taleghani? Taleghani has had roles in Casualty, Hatton Garden, Femme and Heartstopper.
Sule Rimi plays Samson
Who is Samson? Samson is one of the prisoners in Dan's class.
Where have I seen Sule Rimi? Rimi has had roles in series including DNN: Definitely Not Newsround, Unforgotten, Death in Paradise, Manhunt, Andor, Classified, The Day of the Jackal, Grace, Doctor Who and Foundation, as well as films such as The Nan Movie.
Charlie Rix plays Zach
Who is Zach? Zach is one of the prisoners in Dan's class.
Where have I seen Charlie Rix? Rix has had roles in series including Back to Life, Masters of the Air, The Rings of Power and Silent Witness.
Ronkẹ Adékoluẹjo plays Officer Stephens
Who is Dan? Officers Stephens is a prison guard.
Where have I seen Ronkẹ Adékoluẹjo? Adékoluẹjo has had roles in series including Chewing Gum, Doctor Who, Cuckoo, Rain Dogs and Alex Rider, as well as films such as Ready Player One, Christopher Robin and Dreamers.
Waiting for the Out will premiere on Saturday 3rd January at 9:30pm on BBC One.
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Authors
James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
