Forever Home cast: Who stars in the 5 drama adaptation of Graham Norton's book?

Forever Home is a six-part drama starring Amy Nuttall and Douglas Henshall.

Adapted from Graham Norton's best-selling novel, this twisty Channel 5 thriller follows Carol Crottie, a second wife who makes a chilling discovery in the basement of the home she shares with her new husband.

When a long-dead body turns up, Carol begins to doubt everything she has been told about the house's past, and about the disappearance of her husband's first wife.

Filmed in Northumberland, the adaptation assembles a notable ensemble spanning soap, crime drama and stage, with Shetland's Douglas Henshall and Loose Women star Denise Welch among the recognisable names alongside Coronation Street and Emmerdale alumni.

Read more:

• Forever Home stars confirm major change from Graham Norton's book: "Nobody will be able to spoil it"

Here's a guide to the actors and characters appearing in Forever Home.

• Amy Nuttall as Carol Crottie
• Douglas Henshall as Robert Barrie
• Denise Welch as Moira Crottie
• Kevin Whately as Silent Dave
• Lewis Cope as Kaden Barrie
• Jenny Walser as Sally Barrie
• Shane Zaza as Daniel Evans
• James Baxter as Patrick Tanner
• Aimeé Kelly as Martha
• Samantha Bond as TBC

For more information about the characters and where you've seen the actors who play them before, read on.

Amy Nuttall plays Carol Crottie

Who is Carol Crottie? Carol, a former teacher, is the second wife at the heart of the story, whose discovery of a corpse in her basement upends the tale she has been told about her home and her husband.

"Writer Clara Salaman summed her up perfectly when she wrote in the script, 'Carol is the mouse that will learn to roar,'" said Nuttall.

"Hopefully an audience will find her very recognisable. She is very warm, kind and extremely compassionate, but I think she is underestimated. Even by herself. She is forced to confront things that she never imagined – like her partner's dementia and long-buried family secrets."

What else has Amy Nuttall been in? Nuttall is best known for playing Chloe Atkinson in Emmerdale between 2000 and 2005, and housemaid Ethel Parks in Downton Abbey across series 2 and 3. She began in musical theatre, including an early role in The Phantom of the Opera, and her later screen credits include Hotel Babylon, The Musketeers, Liar and Mr Bates vs The Post Office.

Douglas Henshall plays Robert Barrie

Who is Robert Barrie? Robert is Carol's husband, whose secrets and possible link to his first wife's disappearance drive the mystery. He has dementia, which is worsening at an alarming rate.

"Robert is a man under constant stress," said Henshall. "He has paranoia to a terrible degree and awful guilt. He is constantly having to check himself for everything he says and does. ‘Am I being consistent with the lies?’

"I don’t know how you survive like that with the amount of strain that he is under all the time and has been for so many years."

What else has Douglas Henshall been in? The Scottish actor is best known as DI Jimmy Perez in the BBC crime drama Shetland, a role he played from 2013 until stepping away after nearly a decade. He won a BAFTA Scotland award for the role in 2016.

Denise Welch plays Moira Crottie

Who is Moira Crottie? Carol's straight talking mother. Moira can be harsh with Carol, but she would say it comes from a place of love.

"Moira loves Carol in the only way that Moira can love somebody," said Welch. "He loves herself first and then she loves her daughter. She would do anything for her. A lot of people have mums like that. There is a little bit of competitiveness and as the series goes on you will see why."

What else has Denise Welch been in? Welch played Natalie Barnes in Coronation Street and Steph Haydock in Waterloo Road, the latter a role she returned to in a recent revival. She is also a familiar panellist on Loose Women.

Kevin Whately plays Silent Dave

Who is Silent Dave? Carol's father. While her mother is often blunt and brusque, Dave is favours a softer approach.

"He doesn't have a lot to say but his life onscreen is very rich around the table," said Daniel Evans.

What else has Kevin Whately been in? Whately is one of British television's best-known crime-drama actors, playing Detective Sergeant Robbie Lewis alongside John Thaw in Inspector Morse before leading his own long-running spin-off, Lewis. He was appointed OBE for services to drama.

Lewis Cope plays Kaden Barrie

Who is Kaden Barrie? Kaden is Robert's son, an estate agent who is about to become a father via surrogate with his partner.

"I would say that he’s challenged because of his upbringing," said Cope. "Since the departure of their mother their dad Robert has very much shut down. He’s very hard-faced... Kaden has been hardened by his world."

What else has Lewis Cope been in? Cope played Nicky Milligan in Emmerdale from 2022 to 2024, and went on to compete in Strictly Come Dancing. His earlier screen work includes Vera, Doctors and Hetty Feather.

Jenny Walser plays Sally Barrie

Who is Sally Barrie? Sally is Robert's daughter, an aspiring social media influencer who works in a leisure centre. She is in a secret relationship with someone who is married with children, but she wants him to leave his family for her. Sally also has a strained relationship with Carol.

"Sally is very multi-layered and complicated," said Walser. "There is a lot going on beneath the surface that sometimes comes to the surface."

What else has Jenny Walser been in? Walser is known to Netflix audiences for playing Tori Spring in Heartstopper.

Shane Zaza plays Daniel Evans

Who is Daniel Evans? Daniel is Kaden's partner. He desperately wants a baby, but is worried Kaden doesn't feel as strongly about becoming a father as he does.

"Daniel is a very warm, driven, passionate guy," said Zaza. "Dan has chosen a difficult partner but if anyone is going to be able to tackle someone like that, it’s Dan. I don’t think that’s a problem for him. It’s a challenge. Kaden is a challenge. A difficult puzzle to solve."

What else has Shane Zaza been in? Zaza is a stage and screen actor whose television credits include Happy Valley and Black Mirror.

James Baxter plays Patrick Tanner

Who is Patrick Tanner? Sally is essentially his "bit on the side". She wants to take their relationship public, but Patrick is married and changes the subject every time she brings it up.

"Patrick Tanner is this Jack-the-lad who does what he wants, plays around and plays with people's emotions," said Cope.

What else has James Baxter been in? He's best known for Emmerdale, Still Open All Hours, and Waterloo Road.

Additional Forever Home cast

• Aimeé Kelly (Wolfblood, Hijak) plays Martha - Kaden and Daniel's surrogate.
• Samantha Bond's (James Bond, Downton Abbey, The Marlow Murder Club) role is TBC.

Forever Home is coming to 5 on Monday 14 September.

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