Judi Dench Miss Matty Jenkyns Actor Claudie Blakley Martha Actor Julia McKenzie Mrs Forrester Actor Alex Jennings The Rev Hutton Actor Barbara Flynn Mrs Jamieson Actor Adrian Scarborough Mr Johnson Actor Debra Gillett Mrs Johnson Actor Tom Hiddleston William Buxton Actor Imelda Staunton Miss Octavia Pole Actor Deborah Findlay Miss Tomkinson Actor Jim Carter Captain Brown Actor Andrew Buchan Jem Hearne Actor Simon Curtis Director Sue Birtwistle Writer Susie Conklin Writer Elizabeth Gaskell Writer Heidi Thomas Writer