The Jetty cast: Who stars alongside Jenna Coleman in the BBC crime drama?
The four-part series unpacks the link between a fire, a cold case and the abuse of underage girls in a scenic Lancashire town.
Jenna Coleman, best known for Doctor Who, Victoria and The Serpent, leads the cast of the BBC's latest crime thriller The Jetty.
She plays Ember Manning, a detective who begins investigating what appears to be a run-of-the-mill fire, only to find out that something far more sinister is afoot, with co-star Archie Renaux describing the show's exploration of the sexual abuse of underage girls as an "important" story to tell.
"I've been asked if this project could have been made 10 years ago, and maybe yes, but through a different lens," the actor told Radio Times magazine.
"We're not saying women good, men bad, it's more nuanced. One teenage girl character is sexually liberated, another much less so – so how can you apply the same rules to both? 10 years ago, their stories would have been painted with much broader brushstrokes."
While the series is "fiction", it is "loosely inspired" by something writer Cat Jones experienced when she was a teenager.
More like this
"A couple of my friends got involved in relationships with grown men," she said. "At the time, we all thought it was very exciting that these older guys were interested in our younger friends, but of course when you reflect upon that later, you realise that it was actually illegal and abusive."
She went on to say that she has "always been interested to know how those girls feel about that situation in the future".
"Is it something they look back on and think, 'We were in love, it was fine,' or do they look back and say 'that wasn't okay'?" asked Jones.
The series has an impressive cast list, with many of the faces familiar to fans of UK TV, with alumni of The Office, I May Destroy You, Misfits and Gentleman Jack all featuring, alongside some former Coronation Street and Hollyoaks stars.
Read on to find out who else stars in the series, and where you've seen them before.
Who's in the cast of The Jetty?
The full list of stars in The Jetty is as follows:
- Jenna Coleman as Ember
- Connie Jenkins-Greig as young Ember
- Tom Glynn-Carney as Malachy
- Bo Bragason as Amy
- Laura Marcus as Caitlin
- Weruche Opia as Riz
- Ruby Stokes as Hannah
- Archie Renaux as Hitch
- Amelia Bullmore as Sylvia
- Matthew McNulty as Arj
- David Ajala as Casey
- Ralph Ineson as Morgan
- Dominic Coleman as Brad
- Niamh Blackshaw as Rosie
- Philip Hill-Pearson as Rob
- Elliot Cowan as Russell
- Shannon Watson as Miranda
- Georgina Rich as Sheena
- Arthur Hughes as Liam
- Nina Barker-Francis as Chloe
- Miya Ocego as Jules
- Clare Calbraith as Joan
- Rick Warden as Martin
- Anna Wilson-Jones as Imogen
- Eleanor Nawal as Lawley
- Adam Astill as Mr Ryan
- Ruaridh Mollica as Troy
- Ryan Dean as Joe
- Jonny Fines as present day Joe
- Peter Sullivan as Blake
- Philip Whitchurch as Superintendent Needham
- Amer Nazir as Ali
- Natalie Gumede as Nina
- Lorna Nickson Brown
Read on for everything you need to know about the actors, who they play and where you've seen them before.
Jenna Coleman plays Ember
Who is Ember? A detective and a mum. "She's investigating a case which becomes very personal to her," said Coleman.
She described Ember as "quite prickly, stubborn, proud and free-willed. She's also very warm and loyal. And I also think she's really funny. Cat Jones's writing of her is very sardonic, dry and she's not easily impressed. In the series she's going through an awakening and really finding herself. Her husband, who she was with from a very young age, died a year before the series starts, so she's going through this new kind of re-discovering of herself".
- Connie Jenkins-Greig (Queen Charlotte) plays young Ember.
What else has Jenna Coleman been in? She's best known for Doctor Who, Emmerdale and a string of dramas including Victoria, The Serpent, The Cry and Wilderness.
Tom Glynn-Carney plays Malachy
Who is Malachy? An adult man who is in an "abusive and illegal relationship" with a girl called Amy.
What else has Tom Glynn-Carney been in? He's currently starring in Game of Thrones spin-off House of the Dragon. You might also know him from war epic Dunkirk, Netflix's The King, starring Timothée Chalamet, and BBC World War Two drama SAS Rogue Heroes.
Bo Bragason plays Amy
Who is Amy? She's romantically involved with Malachy. "I'd describe Amy as a very complex character," said Bragason.
"There are many layers to her and I'd say she acts on impulse but is also very calculated. She's young, wild and free, has a great spirit to her, and is also unapologetically herself, which I really like about her."
What else has Bo Bragason been in? She recently appeared in Sally Wainwright's Disney Plus series Renegade Nell.
Laura Marcus plays Caitlin
Who is Caitlin? Marcus describes Caitlin as "almost the polar opposite" of Amy.
"She is a natural introvert and far more shy," said Marcus. "She's essentially a moth to a flame when it comes to Amy. She's completely drawn to her because she’s the first person that she can express her queerness to, and has found a mutual attraction with, although their relationship is tumultuous."
What else has Laura Marcus been in? She's best known for comedy Bad Education.
Ruby Stokes plays Hannah
Who is Hannah? Ember's daughter, who she had when she was "really young". She has a "great relationship" with her mum, almost like a "sisterly friendship". Hannah is "really impacted" by Ember's "soul searching".
What else has Ruby Stokes been in? Her CV includes Netflix's Bridgerton and Lockwood and Co, and Paramount Plus crime thriller The Burning Girls.
Weruche Opia plays Riz
Who is Riz? "Riz classifies herself as a journalist," said Opia. "She's a crime podcaster who focuses on missing people and she's taken it upon herself to investigate the cold case of a girl who went missing 17 years ago.
"She's undertaken this investigation as she believes that if nobody will fight for this young girl, then it's Riz's duty to do so and reveal the truth."
Speaking about why The Jetty tells an important story, Opia said in the press notes for the series that the show will help audiences realise "that what was deemed acceptable back in the day wasn't necessarily right".
She continued: "Grooming and crimes against women are huge issues that we shouldn't be experiencing in the world we live in now but, unfortunately, we are still dealing with these things, so I think they're really important themes to explore."
What else has Weruche Opia been in? Her CV includes Michaela Coel's I May Destroy You, Dave sitcom Sliced, comedy Bad Education and US biographical series Genius.
Archie Renaux plays Hitch
Who is Hitch? A "rookie" detective working alongside Ember. "I'd describe Hitch as someone who's young at heart," said Renaux. "He hasn't quite reached the level of maturity yet, but he's like a puppy dog who'll do anything to impress."
Speaking about why he believes the story needs to be told in the press notes for the series, Renaux explained that even though progress is being made, "there are still grey areas".
He continued: "For example, just because something is legal doesn’t necessarily make it right. I think the show sheds light on topical issues and will spark necessary conversation."
What else has Archie Renaux been in? You might have watched him in Netflix YA fantasy series Shadow and Bone and BBC thriller Gold Digger.
Amelia Bullmore plays Sylvia
Who is Sylvia? Ember's mum. "Sylvia is spiritual and creative, yet disappointed with her life," said Bullmore. "She wants to have a good time and follow her dreams. Sylvia is Ember's mum and Hannah's grandmother.
"She had Ember when she was quite young, and Ember had Hannah when she was really young, so they’re all quite unusually close together in age. Sylvia doesn't feel like she had many choices for how her."
What else has Amelia Bullmore been in? Her extensive CV includes Coronation Street, Sally Wainwright series Scott & Bailey and Gentleman Jack, ITV's The Larkins and detective drama Vienna Blood.
Ralph Ineson plays Morgan
Who is Morgan? A detective inspector who clashes with Ember on multiple occasions.
What else has Ralph Ineson been in? He's best known for The Office UK. He's also appeared in BBC drama Playing the Field, Coronation Street, Waterloo Road, ITV's Trigger Point, BBC surveillance drama The Capture and films The First Omen and The Green Knight.
Dominic Coleman plays Brad
Who is Brad? A local who has a motive for setting fire to the boat hut. Ember suspects he might also be taking advantage of underage girls.
What else has Dominic Coleman been in? You might recognise him from Sky sitcom Trollied, BBC comedy Upstart Crow and Netflix's Bridgerton.
Niamh Blackshaw plays Rosie
Who is Rosie? She's interviewed by Riz for her podcast.
What else has Niamh Blackshaw been in? She's best known for Hollyoaks.
Philip Hill-Pearson plays Rob
Who is Rob? He's refurbishing the boat hut for its new owner.
What else has Philip Hill-Pearson been in? His credits include Coronation Street, ITV crime drama The Bay and Netflix football drama The English Game.
Elliot Cowan plays Russell
Who is Russell? Amy's father. He has a strained relationship with his daughter.
What else has Elliot Cowan been in? He's appeared in Apple sci-fi series Foundation, Syfy series Krypton, historical fantasy drama Da Vinci's Demons and ITV crime drama Innocent.
David Ajala plays Casey
Who is Casey? Ember's therapist. Over the course of the series, their feelings for one another grow.
What else has David Ajala been in? He has appeared in Star Trek: Discovery, Sky's Dream Team, US supernatural drama Falling Water and superhero series Supergirl.
Matthew McNulty plays Arj
Who is Arj? He was best friends with Ember's late husband.
What else has Matthew McNulty been in? You might know him from sci-fi comedy-drama Misfits, Sky Atlantic's Domina, Take That-inspired film Greatest Days, Channel 4 crime drama Deadwater Fell and ITV crime drama The Bay, among others.
Additional cast includes:
- Shannon Watson plays Miranda - a pregnant 16 year old. Ember suspects the father is an older man. Has Brad, her step-father, been abusing her?
- Georgina Rich (Heartstopper) plays Sheena - Miranda's mum.
- Arthur Hughes (The Barbara Met Alan) plays Liam - Miranda's step-uncle.
- Nina Barker-Francis (Moonhaven) plays Chloe - one of Hannah's best friends.
- Miya Ocego (Wreck) plays Jules - Hannah's other best friend.
- Clare Calbraith (Heartbeat) plays Joan - Caitlin's mum.
- Rick Warden (Happy Valley) plays Martin - Caitlin's dad.
- Anna Wilson-Jones (Victoria) plays Imogen - Amy's mum.
- Eleanor Nawal (Somewhere Boy) plays Lawley - Ember and Hitch's colleague.
- Adam Astill (Holby City) plays Mr Ryan - the owner of the boat hut.
- Ruaridh Mollica (Red Rose) plays Troy - a boy from Hannah's school. They're seeing one another.
- Ryan Dean (Ackley Bridge) plays Joe - Malachy's brother.
- Jonny Fines (Hollyoaks) as present day Joe
- Peter Sullivan (The Borgias) plays Blake - a private detective.
- Philip Whitchurch (The Bill) plays Superintendent Needham - now retired, he previously worked on the Amy Knightley case.
- Amer Nazir (Coronation Street) plays Ali - a witness in the Amy Knightley case.
- Natalie Gumede (Coronation Street) plays Nina - a GP.
- Lorna Nickson Brown (The Sixth Commandment) as present day Caitlin.
Read more:
- The Jetty review: Jenna Coleman's crime drama has a fire in its belly
- Jenna Coleman: The Jetty would have been made “through a different lens” 10 years ago
- The Jetty ending explained: Stars react to "heartbreaking" reveal
The Jetty is available to stream now on BBC iPlayer.
Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to see what's on tonight. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
