Ridley series 2, episode 1, “The Sleeping Tiger”, which airs on ITV1 on ??????????, kicks off with an exciting smash-and-grab at a jewellery store executed by a gang who make their getaway on motorbikes.

But Copelton’s finest have had a tip-off, and manage to arrest one of the young guys. It’s all part of a major crackdown on a local crime gang, and Ridley seems to have a mysterious source who’s helping out with inside info.

But when one of the gang is run down and killed in broad daylight, a whole web of lies and deceit starts unravelling.

There are whole host of “hang on – I recognise them…” guest stars in this episode, so let’s have a look who they are.

Chloe Harris plays Tasha Walker

Tasha Walker is back behind the bar at the New Bridge Inn in Framley, where her mum’s the landlord. She’s been away a few years after walking out because of her abusive father. But now she’s returned, having spent some time in the army, and she’s renewing old friendships.

Tasha is played by Chloe Harris, one of two former Sherwood stars in the episode. She played PC Kirtsy Dove throughout the first series of the gritty BBC drama (2022).

She also played Susan Hanson (the actress famous as “Miss Diane” – as Benny used to call her – in Crossroads) in Russell T Davies’s Noele Gordon biopic series, Nolly (2023). In ITV1’s The Long Shadow (2023) she played WPC Jenny Bush, one of the cops on the trail of the Yorkshire Ripper, alongside Toby Jones and her Sherwood costar David Morrissey.

Christine Bottomley guests stars as Katharine Penrose

Katharine Penrose is the wife of well-off local businessman Simon Penrose. She actually manages the stud farm that he inherited from his family, because he’s pretty much lost interest in it, having other things to preoccupy his time. She needs to keep a closer eye on who she employs, though.

Katharine Penrose is played by Christine Bottomley, who appeared in all six episodes Sherwood series two, though not, confusingly, as any of the many characters called Bottomley. She played Rachel Crossley, the long-lost daughter of Daphne Sparrow (Lorraine Ashbourne).

She also starred as the spurned and vengeful Scribonia in the Sky Atlantic Roman empire drama Domina (2021-2023), and played Gwen, the estranged mother of runaway teen Alyssa, through both series of Channel 4’s The End of the F***ing World (2017-2019).

And way back in the noughties she was one of the main characters in Craig Cash’s pub-based sitcom Early Doors (2003-2004), playing the daughter of the landlord, Ken, who just happened to be played by John Henshaw, who’s also in this episode (see below).

John Henshaw plays Frank Stanford

Frank Stanford is grandfather to Ryan Stanford, one of the Framley gang suspected of carrying out armed robberies. He and his wife Pat – now dead – brought up Ryan after both his dad and later his heroin-addict mum run out on him.

Frank Stanford is played by John Henshaw, who, as previously mentioned, starred in Early Doors (2003-2004) as Ken Dixon, landlord of The Grapes, and dad to Melanie (played by Christine Bottomley, who’s also in this episode).

You may also know him as station master Wilf Bradshaw in the BBC’s cosy 1950s medical drama Born and Bred (2002-2005) and more recently he was seen ITV1’s drama about the hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper, The Long Shadow (2023) – which also starred Chloe Harris, who plays Tasha in this episode (this is getting like a game of Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, isn’t it?).

Matt Bardock appears as Terry Sansom

Terry Sansom is a local haulage company boss with a shady past that Team Ridley is all to aware of, even if he’s never actually been convicted of anything. “I bring a lot of money to this town – jobs, wages – I’m one of the good guys,” he tells Ridley, who isn’t convinced.

Matt Bardock, who plays Terry Sansom, is better known as paramedic Jeff Collier from Casualty between 1993 and 2014. To jog your memory, he was the one who married lesbian paramedic “Dixie” Dixon, because she’d never come out to her father, and whose dying wish was to see her get married. Jeff was killed rescuing Ash from a car that exploded.

Kerim Hassan guest stars as Liam Manley

Liam Manley is another member of the Framley gang, who hangs out in the New Bridge Inn. He used to go out with Tasha before she ran away from home. Now she’s back, is he interested in rekindling that old flame?

Young actor Kerim Hassan may not have a long CV yet, but he made a splash in BBC One’s eight-part rap-themed drama Champion (2023), playing Memet, best friend of the lead character, musician Bosco Champion.

Toby Hadoke plays Simon Penrose

Simon Penrose is the posh, slightly arrogant husband of Katharine Penrose. He’s inherited a stud farm but takes little interest in it, leaving her to make all the business decisions.

Stand-up comedian and unashamed geek Toby Hodoke had a brief stint on Coronation Street (2021) as traffic warden Fergus Dunford, who helped Izzy Armstrong cope with self-isolation during the Covid lockdown.

But if you’re a Doctor Who fan, Hadoke is a legend. He’s never appeared on the show itself, but he’s a superfan of the sci-fi series, who’s hosted countless making-of documentaries on Doctor Who DVD and Blu-ray releases.

John Michie makes his debut as Harry Bentham

Technically, Harry Bentham isn’t a guest character in this episode, as he actually appears in all four stories of Ridley series 2. But as this is his first appearance, you may be wondering where you’ve seen the actor who plays him before.

Jewellery shop owner Harry Bentham is a potential new love interest for Annie, and he definitely has ideas for her jazz club, Marling’s. But he also has a rather shady reputation, which Ridley is all too aware of.

John Michie, who plays Harry Bentham, is another former resident of Coronation Street, where he played bad boy Karl Munro from 2011-2013 (he burnt down the Rovers Return and unplugged Sunita Alahan from her life support machine).

Before that he appeared in 13 series of Taggart (1998-2010) as notorious ladies man, alcoholic and gambler DI Robbie Ross. After that he had a memorable stint as neurosurgeon Guy Self on Holby City (2013-2016, with a few guest appearances after that).

What’s the song Ridley sings in Episode 2, “A Sleeping Tiger”

The song Alex Ridley croons in this episode is a cover of Richard Hawley track, “Can You Hear the Rain, Love?”, from Hawley’s 2001 album Late Night Final.

The full cast for Ridley series 2, episode 1 “A Sleeping Tiger”

Adrian Dunbar stars as Alex Ridley

Bronagh Waugh costars as DI Carol Farman

Terence Maynard appears as DCI Paul Goodwin

George Bukhari plays DC Darren Lakhan

Julie Graham is Annie Marling

Georgie Glen portrays Dr Wendy Newstone

Bhavna Limbachia appears as Geri Farman

Tareq Al-Jeddal plays Jack Farman

Suzanne Packer joins the regular cast as Dr Samantha Larsson

John Michie makes his debut as Harry Bentham

Chloe Harris guest stars as Tasha Walker

Christine Bottomley plays Katharine Penrose

Kerim Hassan appears as Liam Manley

Isabelle Smith is Donna Burnside

John Henshaw plays Frank Stanford

Matt Bardock guests as Terry Sansom

Krissi Bohn plays the role of Rebecca Bayling

Christine Entwisle is Joy Walker

Toby Hadokeappears as Simon Penrose

Ruaridh Mollica doesn’t last long as Ryan Stanford

Kaya Mooreplays Callum Douglas

Jessica Whitehurst mucks out horses as Janey Rutter

Steve Holness, Sophie Alloway and Rory Dempsey together form the Marling’s house band

Ridley series 2, episode 1 “A Sleeping Tiger” airs on ITV1 on DETAILS TO COME