What else has Bessie Coates been in? A relative newcomer to our screens, Bessie Coates recently played Margaret in Upstart Crow.

Kerry Godliman plays Ena Schroeder

Who is Ena Schroeder? Julie's mother. She and her husband Alf Schroeder (Nick Waring) have an ever-growing family, with a new baby on the way, and Ena is struggling to cope with the prospect of her teenage daughter's death. Alf became Julie's father when she was five years old but struggles to demonstrate his affection.

What else has Kerry Godliman been in? The comedian and actress has appeared in shows including Bad Move, Save Me, Derek and Our Girl. She has also been a panellist on Taskmaster, The Last Leg and Mock the Week.

Ann Mitchell plays Elsie Dyer

Who is Elsie Dyer? Val's grandmother. Elsie is extremely proud of her granddaughter and her achievements as a midwife, but is perhaps a little lonely. A dignified older lady, she is reluctant to go to the doctor for any embarrassing health problems, preferring to invite Val over to her house in the East End.

What else has Ann Mitchell been in? The actress plays the outspoken Cora Cross in EastEnders. She first rose to fame in the 1980s as Dolly Rawlins in the crime series Widows. In 2018 she made a cameo as another character in Steve McQueen's film version.

Zephryn Taitte plays Cyril Robinson

Who is Cyril Robinson? A mechanic who Phyllis hires to fix her car. Cyril is an immigrant from Guyana and spends his evenings studying civil engineering, and he immediately takes a liking to Lucille. But will she return his affections?

What else has Zephryn Taitte been in? He played Dorian in the TV series Brothers with No Game, and has also appeared in The Hour and Doctors. Zephryn Taitte's stage work includes Glengarry Cross, trust, and The Tempest.

Rosie Sheehy plays Heather Pugh

Who is Heather Pugh? A young mother expecting her first child. She visits the clinic complaining about frequent urination and a funny smell.

What else has Rosie Sheehy been in? The actress played Kat Richards in the TV series DCI Banks, but is more commonly found on stage.

Phill Langhorne plays Vince Pugh

Who is Vince Pugh? Heather's husband. He makes money in the evening working at the races, taking bets from punters.

What else has Phill Langhorne been in? By his own description, Phill Langhorne "plays a lot of policemen." He has appeared in Krypton, EastEnders, Doctors, Holby City, and Transformers: The Last Knight.

Sophie Ladds plays Ivy

Who is Ivy? Heather's friend and neighbour. She and husband Toby (played by Eric Blakemore) already have one son, and now another baby is on the way.

What else has Sophie Ladds been in? Screen credits include Silent Witness, Doctors, and Bear Behaving Badly.

Claire Keelan plays Gilda Brittall

Who is Gilda Brittall? A Poplar woman with a lot of worries on her plate. Her father-in-law Joe is in the process of dying, and now her husband Barney Brittall (Tim Treloar) – who works as a docker – is suffering from health problems of his own. Her two grown-up sons Ed (Frankie Wilson) and John (Joe Flynn) also work as dockers and the whole Brittall family is deeply concerned about lax safety standards at the dockyard.

What else has Claire Keelan been in? Line of Duty season one, where she played DS Leah Janson. Keelan's other credits include Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon's The Trip (as Emma), The Last Weekend (as Em), and Black Mirror (as Naomi). She has also popped up in Paddington 2, playing a police officer.

Dennis Banks plays Joe Brittall

Who is Joe Brittall? A retired docker who has end-stage pneumoconiosis after a lifetime of manual labour. He has been discharged from hospital so he can be given palliative care at home, and the nurses visit him every day to administer oxygen.

What else has Dennis Banks been in? It's unlikely you've seen his face on TV before, as he's a newcomer to our screens.

Hannah Rae plays Elaine Pilkington

Who is Elaine Pilkington? A teenager who has been concealing her pregnancy from her unsympathetic parents. She is determined to keep the baby and raise it herself.

What else has Hannah Rae been in? You may remember her from Broadchurch, where she played Tess and Alec's daughter Daisy Hardy. She has also made appearances in Manhunt (as Sarah Knight) and City of Tiny Lights (alongside Riz Ahmed and Billie Piper).

Holly Freeman plays Lois Parry

Who is Lois Parry? A young woman about to get married. She attends Dr Turner's clinic for a cervical smear, hoping for some reassurance that everything is as it should be – but instead she receives some surprising news.

What else has Holly Freeman been in? This is the first on-screen appearance for the young actress, who recently graduated from stage school.

Sarah Belcher plays Bronwyn Parry

Who is Bronwyn Parry? Lois' mother. She gave birth under the care of Sister Monica Joan 22 years ago, and is now excited for her daughter's wedding.

What else has Sarah Belcher been in? Screen credits include Holby City, Brexit: The Uncivil War, and EastEnders. Sarah Belcher is better known for her theatre work, with more than 30 productions to her name.

Nancy Sullivan plays Pam Sharp

Who is Pam Sharp? A local woman in the late stages of pregnancy. She can't wait to be a mother.

What else has Nancy Sullivan been in? The actress has appeared in the 2012 movie Les Misérables, and in Harry Price: Ghost Hunter.

Jack Doolan plays George Sharp

Who is George Sharp? Pam's husband. He is nervous about taking part in preparations for the baby.

What else has Jack Doolan been in? Perhaps best known for playing DC Mark Travis in Marcella, Jack Doolan has also appeared in White Gold, playing Andrew Davies. He also starred in Only Fools and Horses spin-off The Green Green Grass as Tyler – the teenage son of Boycie (John Challis) and Marlene (Sue Holderness).