Daniela Denby-Ashe Margaret Thornton Actor Richard Armitage John Thornton Actor Sinead Cusack Hannah Thornton Actor Lesley Manville Maria Hale Actor Tim Pigott-Smith Richard Hale Actor Pauline Quirke Dixon Actor Brendan Coyle Nicholas Higgins Actor Anna Maxwell Martin Actor Jo Joyner Actor Kay Lyon Actor Brian Protheroe Actor Rupert Evans Actor John Light Actor Emma Ferguson Actor William Houston Actor Jane Booker Actor Lucy Brown Actor Tom Charnock Actor Tim Faraday Actor Travis Oliver Actor Brian Percival Director Elizabeth Gaskell Writer Sandy Welch Writer Kate Bartlett Executive Producer