Moonflower Murders cast list: Who plays who in the Magpie Murders sequel on BBC One
By Helen Fear | Fri Nov 15 2024Moonflower Murders reunites the popular characters from Magpie Murders, with Lesley Manville leading the cast.
The actress reprises her role as amateur sleuth Susan Ryeland, in the TV sequel on BBC One. And she's joined once again by Tim McMullan, Conleth Hill, and Daniel Mays.
The detective drama catches up with Susan after the events of Magpie Murders, and she is living a very different life in Crete. So who else is in the cast of Moonflower Murders on BBC One?
Here's everything you need to know about who plays who in our full Moonflower Murders cast list.
Moonflower Murders cast list: Lesley Manville plays Susan Ryeland
Brighton-born actress Lesley Manville, 68, reprises her role as Susan Ryeland in the Magpie Murders spin off. She is THE reason to watch (read why in our Moonflower Murders review).
Lesley has been on our screens for 50 years, and undoubtedly has National Treasure status. She is known for her film collaborations with director Mike Leigh, including Secrets & Lies, High Hopes, Another Year, and Vera Drake.
The actress has been in dozens of films over her career, not least 2017's Phantom Thread for which she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars. In 2022, she played the lead role of Ada Harris in the acclaimed Mrs Harris Goes to Paris.
Lesley, who was once married to Slow Horses actor Gary Oldman, is also famous for her TV roles in Emmerdale, Cranford, World on Fire, Citadel, and Harlots.
Between 2016 and 2019, she portrayed Cathy in the heartwarming series Mum. More recently, she starred as Julie Jackson in Sherwood series 1 and 2, and Nurse Redd in Ryan Murphy's Grotesquerie.
Who plays Atticus Pünd in Moonflower Murders?
Actor Tim McMullan returns as fictional detective Atticus Pünd in Moonflower Murders, a role he first played in Magpie Murders in 2022. He actually signed up to portray the character after actor Timothy Spall pulled out of the production due to scheduling issues.
Like his co-star Lesley, London-born Tim, 61, has a long TV, film and theatre career. He's been on screens ever since 1993, when he first appeared as Donaldson in the TV movie Stalag Luft opposite Stephen Fry.
Over his 30-year career, he's perhaps best known for his role in films - including Frees in Shakespeare in Love, Stephen Lamport in The Queen, and Charles McIntyre in Enola Holmes 2.
He also starred as Arthur Valentine in the TV series Foyle's War, and Douglas Cartwright in The Serpent.
Tim suffers from BPES syndrome, a genetic condition that causes eyes to look smaller, and limits vision.
Moonflower Murders cast list: Conleth Hill stars as Alan Conway
Northern Irish actor Conleth Hill, 59, stars as author Alan Conway in the cast of both Magpie Murders and Moonflower Murders.
Of course, he's probably best known for playing Lord Varys in Game of Thrones. Conleth played the bald eunuch in the HBO mega-drama from 2011 to 2019, over the course of eight series.
His character Varys was killed off when he was burned to death by a dragon in the final season's penultimate episode. Ouch.
Conleth has been on our screens for more than three decades, having made his first TV appearance in an episode of Boon in 1988. After years as a jobbing actor, in shows such as Casualty and The Bill, he struck gold with Game of Thrones.
Since then, he's played Superintendent O'Kelly in crime drama Dublin Murders, and Sgt PJ Collins in Holding, the BBC adaptation of the Graham Norton novel of the same name.
More recently, Conleth played Martin in the comedy series The Power of Parker, Mendel Liebermann in Vienna Blood, and Philip in The Lovers.
Daniel Mays plays Inspector Chubb and DS Locke
Daniel Mays, 46, stars as Inspector Chubb and DS Locke in the cast of Moonflower Murders on BBC One. He also appeared in Magpie Murders.
Another very strong and popular lead, Daniel has been across TV, film and theatre for nearly 30 years. One of his first TV roles was in 1996, when he played Adrian in Grange Hill at the age of 18.
In 2020, he popped up as Kevin in EastEnders, before going on to play Danny Bird in NCS Manhunt, Jimmy Burns in Tipping the Velvet, and Carlton in Top Buzzer.
Other notable roles include Carter Krantz in Funland, Rob Black in Plus One, DCI Jim Keats in Ashes to Ashes, and Cass Cromwell in Outcasts.
Epping-born Daniel is probably best known for playing PS Danny Waldron in series 3 of Line of Duty in 2016. He's also played Arthur Young in Good Omens, Marcus in White Lines, and Lee Simmons in Temple. Between 2020 and 2022, he played DI John Major in the comedy Code 404, opposite Stephen Graham.
Moonflower Murders cast list: Adrian Rawlins portrays Lawrence Treherne/Lance Gardner
Actor Adrian Rawlins stars as both Lawrence Treherne, and Lance Gardner in the cast of Moonflower Murders. From Stoke-on-Trent, the 66-year-old is perhaps best known for playing James Potter in the Harry Potter movie franchise.
A familiar face in TV, film, and theatre, his very first screen appearance was in 1979. At the age of 21, he portrayed David Litvinoff in the film Palm Beach.
He went on to play Major Tim Radley in Soldier Soldier in 1993, David Baylis in Tears Before Bedtime, and DS Mike Withey in She's Out.
Other notable performances include D.S. Mills in Mayday, Ian in Prisoners Wives, DCI Simson in Glue, and Edward Barbary in Dickensian. In 2018, he played another copper in Hard Sun, before playing Rob Moffatt in the ITV drama Innocent.
More recently, Adrian has played Duncan Tropper in Slow Horses, Ian Farquhar in The Sixth Commandment, and Sir Edward Coke in Mary & George.
Pooky Quesnel stars as both Pauline Treherne, and Maureen Gardner
Actress Pooky Quesnel stars as both Pauline Treherne, and Maureen Gardner in Moonflower Murders.
Eccles-born Pooky, 58, most recently played Louise Fitzallan in Death in Paradise spin-off Beyond Paradise, and Louise Wilson in the cast of Ralph & Katie, reprising her role from The A Word.
Outside of The A Word, Pooky is probably best known as Olga Fitzgerald in Waterloo Road. She was the wife of headteacher Vaughan Fitzgerald and the mother to Justin and Leo.
Pooky got her start as Dr Monica Broome in the BBC medical series Cardiac Arrest. Other notable roles include a stint in EastEnders as Rachel Branning, the ex-wife of Max Branning. She also played Diane Short in Family Affairs.
You might also recognise her as Mo Buckley from The Victim, which she starred in with Kelly Macdonald.
Of course, The Larkins viewers will know her as Enid. Film fans will also recognise her as Mrs Phillips in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, as well as her role as Sarah Pocket in Great Expectations.
Moonflower Murders cast list: Will Tudor plays Aiden MacNeil/Algernon Marsh
Actor Will Tudor, 37, portrays both groom Aiden MacNeil, and book character Algernon Marsh in the cast of Moonflower Murders on BBC One.
The London-born star is perhaps best known for portraying Olyvar in the HBO series Game of Thrones. He played the rather saucy part from 2013 to 2015. You may have seen more of his bum than his face! Of course, fans of the show will know that Olyvar was a spy and a prostitute in the employ of Petyr 'Littlefinger' Baelish.
Between 2015 and 2018, Will played synthetic Odi in the Channel 4 drama series Humans. He went on to portray Theo Tuck in Industry, Mark in The Ipcress File, and Barthanes Damodred in The Wheel of Time.
More recently, he starred as Edward Seymour in Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light.
Film fans might know him for playing Christopher Dean in the ITV feature length drama Torvill & Dean.
Mark Gatiss plays Frank Parris
County Durham-born Mark Gatiss, 58, portrays murder victim Frank Parris in the present day, and Oscar Berlin in the book.
Of course, Mark is probably best known for his collaborations with Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton on The League of Gentlemen.
Of course, writer, actor and comedian Mark Gatiss has found huge fame since his League of Gentlemen days.
His biggest TV roles have included playing Tycho Nestoris in the HBO series Game of Thrones, Stephen Gardiner in Wolf Hall, and Prince Regent in Taboo.
Sherlock fans will know him as Mycroft Holmes in the popular drama series. Mark also created the TV series Dracula alongside Steven Moffat, and has written (and starred) in several episodes of Doctor Who.
Moonflower Murders cast: Rupert Evans plays John Spencer
Actor Rupert Evans stars as cuckolded husband John Spencer in the cast of Moonflower Murders on BBC One.
jouThe Staffordshire-born star, 47, has been on our screens since 2001, when he played Charlie in High Stakes. He went on to play Toby Edwards in Paradise Heights, and Jamie Doughan in Rockface. He then enjoyed roles in the period dramas North & South, Fingersmith, World Without End, and Emma.
In 2008, he starred as King Richard IV in the fictionalised The Palace, before going on to portray Peter Fleming in the mini-series Fleming.
Other notable roles include Elliott in Rogue, Edmund Allingham in The Village, and Frank Frink in The Man in the High Castle. Between 2018 and 2022, Rupert portrayed Harry Greenwood in Charmed, a modern remake of the early 90s hit show starring Shannen Doherty. He also popped up as Edmund Bridgerton in one episode of Bridgerton in 2022.
More recently, Rupert played James Everett in Black Cake, and Andrew Greenwood in Wisting.
Who else stars in the BBC murder mystery?
The Island's Alexandros Logothetis stars as Andreas Patakis. The Greek born actor plays Susan's long-term boyfriend in both Magpie Murders, and Moonflower Murders.
Gangs of London's Pippa Bennett-Warner is Madeline Cain.
The Serpent Queen's Rosalie Craig is Lisa Treherne/Melissa James. She is perhaps known best for her performances in musical theatre.
Rivals' Claire Rushbrook portrays Lesley Manville's sister Katie Williams for the second time. They also played siblings in Sherwood.
Funny Woman's Matthew Beard, an actor and model, stars as James Taylor.
River City's Sanjeev Kohli is Sajid Khan.
The Chelsea Detective star Amy Griffiths is new bride Cecily MacNeil, who later disappears.
Maternal actress Aliona Baranova stars as housemaid Natasha Dmityeva, who unluckily stumbles across the dead body.
Australian Home & Away star Wade Briggs plays wedding guest Liam Corby.
The Couple Next Door's Paul Dunphy stars as complaining husband Nick at the hotel.
Wreck's Davina Moon is the unhappy wife.
Greek newcomer Kostis Daskalakis portrays Vangelis.
Grand Hotel star Giannis Koukourakis is Yiorgus.
Baby Reindeer's Thomas Coombes is Derek Endicott/Eric Chandler.
Alex Secareanu plays Stefan Leonida. He's known for portraying Darius Knezevic in Happy Valley.
Belgravia: The Next Chapter actor Liam Garrigan plays Leonard Collins.
Man Down actress Jenny Spark is Samantha Collins.
Joanna Bacon - aka Jackie in Breeders - stars as Gwyneth Endicott/Phyllis Chandler.
Shaun of the Dead's Kate Ashfield plays Joanne Webster in episode 3 onwards.
Muriel's Wedding star Daniel Lapaine plays Craig Andrews.
