Grace series 6: Episode 3 Dead Man's Game guest cast includes stars of Holby, and Blue Lights
Roy and Bella investigate a murder on a council estate
Grace series 6 continues episode 3’s Dead Man’s Game and, as usual, there are some new faces joining the cast as guests.
This week, Roy and Bella investigate a murder on a council estate after a teenager is stabbed to death. At first, signs point to it being drug-related, but the victim’s parents are adamant that their son had nothing to do with drugs…
The investigation subsequently brings Grace face to face with someone from his past and stirs up “old demons” that worry Bella. The case will eventually place one of the team in grave danger… Lastly, Branson’s investigation into a masked armed robbery leads to tensions in CID.
Here’s who plays who in the cast of Grace series 6 episode 3 Dead Man’s Game.
Chizzy Akudolu stars as Maggie Hayton
Strictly alumni Chizzy Akudolu joins the cast of Grace series 6 as Maggie Hayton. She’s most famous for portraying Mo Effanga in Holby City, a role she played for 10 years between 2012 to 2022. Her Strictly stint came while she was on the medical series. In 2017, Chizzy was the first celebrity to be eliminated after performing a Foxtrot with pro dancer Pasha Kovalev.
The actress went on to take part in the Strictly Come Dancing 2019 Christmas special, where she was partnered with Graziano Di Prima. Debbie McGee won.
London-born Chizzy, 52, has been on our screens since 2004 when she played Melinda in an episode of Sean Lock comedy 15 Storeys High. That year, she was one of eight new comedy performers who won the BBC Talent Initiative, The Urban Sketch Showcase.
She went on to play Mattie in one episode of EastEnders, and various characters in the sketch show Stupid. After winning small roles in Green Wing, The Complete Guide to Parenting, and Roman’s Empire, she portrayed Angel in the Channel 4 Big Brother zombie-thriller Dead Set.
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Chizzy’s other notable roles include Cookie in Jinx, Grace 2 in Campus, and Addy Smith ‘The Squeak’ in Too Close. More recently, she’s starred as Jasmine Peters in Criminal Record, Lola in The Woman in the Wall, Mercy in Best Interests, Reverend Kate in the Beyond Paradise 2024 Christmas special, and social services worker Lucy Harding in thriller Little Disasters.
She’s also taken part in Celebrity Masterchef, Celebrity Hunted, and performed on Let’s Sing and Dance for Comic Relief. She’s a regular panellist on Loose Women, and team captain on panel show Sorry, I Didn’t Know.
Grace series 6 episode 3 cast: Alexander Cobb plays Kevin Spinella
Lewisham-born Alexander Cobb returns to Grace as morally ambiguous Kevin Spinella. He first appeared as the fictional Argus reporter in series 1 in 2021, before returning in series 2 and 3. Safe to say, Roy Grace isn’t much of a fan, and isn’t pleased to see him again this week.
Actor Alexander Cobb is probably best known for playing Ian McLeod in C4 period drama Indian Summers, a role he played from 2015 and 2016. Mr Selfridge fans, however, will recognise him as Sam.
Other notable roles include J.B. in Moon Knight, Iian in Top Boy, Matt Brandon in Ridley, and DS Miller in Towards Zero. He’s also popped up in episodes of Death in Paradise, Van der Valk, Father Brown, Vera, and Whitstable Pearl. So you could say he’s a regular on the crime drama circuit!
He’s also a regular in stage, and has appeared in National Theatre Live: The Magistrate, and Antony & Cleopatra opposite Ralph Fiennes.
Grace series 6 episode 3 cast: Jonathan Harden plays Damian Young
Belfast-born Jonathan Harden joins the cast of Grace series 6 as Damian Young. And Blue Lights will know his face very well. The actor played David ‘Jonty’ Johnston in series 1 and 2 of the brilliant police drama, before popping up again in series 4 for one episode.
Jonty was a police inspector before being fired after embarking on an affair with junior officer Jen Robinson. His covert work with MI5 eventually led to the death of colleague Gerry Cliff. Jonty returned in season 2 and beyond hoping for redemption.
Actor Jonathan has been on our screens for 25 years, and is also famous for playing Sean Rawlins in Unforgotten series 1, Captain Briggs in World on Fire, and Brendan Murphy in Sean Bean drama Time.
Other notable roles include Walter Hill in Titanic: Blood and Steel, Newman Noggs in The Life and Adventures of Nick Nickleby, and Axl in Halo: Nightfall. Jonathan also popped up as DS Kye Anderson in EastEnders!
More recently, he’s portrayed Adam Reid in Ellis, Martin Baxter in Mixtape, and Agent Nick Cistulli in John Grisham drama The Rainmaker.
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Emma Lowndes portrays Carol Tylerson
Salford-born actress Emma Lowndes, 50, joins the cast of Grace this week as Carol Tylerson. She’s been on our screens for the best part of 25 years, and made her first big impression in Lisas Fulkner romantic drama Burn It in 2003.
Emma went on to play Mary Rivers in Jane Eyre, Bella Gregson in Cranford, and Mrs Drewe in Downton Abbey. So she is rather partial to a period drama!
In 2019, the actress portrayed Annie in the moving Sharon Horgan film Military Wives. Other notable roles include Carla Davis in The Trial: A Murder in the Family, Claire Lockford in Silent Witness, and Sally in Survivors. More recently, she’s played Therese in Amadeus.
In real life, her long-term partner is Emmerdale and Waterloo Road star Jason Merrells.
Who else joins the cast of Grace series 6 episode 3 Dead Man’s Game?
Will Bagnall plays John Tylerson in Grace this week. The young actor made his very first TV appearance as Jack Houston in Casualty in 2025, and subsequently played Jacob in Wild Cherry, and Thomas Goodson in A Thousand Blows.
Jobbing actor Adam Leese stars as Gary Owens. He’s best known Damian Morrison in Bad Girls, Felix McGowan in Rock Rivals, and Barry in The IT Crowd. Other notable roles include Guy Flannel in Dani’s House, and Martin in The Support Group. Most recently, Adam played Mike in Tell Me Everything.
Mark Arden plays David Higson. He started out in comedy series such as The Comic Strip Presents, and The Young Ones. Mark went on to play Vaseline in London’s Burning, Mark Dingwall in Lazarus & Dingwall, and Tony Briton in The Estate Agents. He also portrayed Bryan in Teenage Kicks, Eddie Nero in Endeavour, and Franklin in Screw. Now 69, Mark recently popped up as Oligarch in the 2024 action film Kraven the Hunter.
Full cast list for Grace series 6 episode 3 Dead Man’s Game:
John Simm stars as Det Supt Roy Grace.
Richie Campbell returns as DI Glenn Branson.
Zoe Tapper plays Cleo Morey.
Laura Elphinstone portrays DS Bella Moy.
Brad Morrison is DC Nick Nicholl.
Rebecca Scroggs stars as Ari Branson.
Juliette Motamed portrays DC Vee Wilde.
Finn Guegan as Bruno.
Guest cast list:
Chizzy Akudolu joins the cast as Maggie Hayton.
Alexander Cobb stars as Kevin Spinella.
Jonathan Harden plays Damian Young.
Emma Lowndes portrays Carol Tylerson.
Will Bagnall is John Tylerson.
Adam Leese is Gary Owens.
Mark Arden plays David Higson.
One Day’s Gary Forbes plays Brian Hayton.
Casualty’s Cariad Hargan-Hughes stars as Seb Willis.
Mobland’s Bradley Turner portrays Scott Atherton.
Ellis’ Kyle Ndukuba stars as Chris Hayton.
Foundation’s Haqi Ali plays Tarak Prasad.
Riches’ Wesley Bozonga portrays Drew Simpson.
EastEnders’ Travis Phillips stars as Brett Mosely.
Stepping Up’s Oscar Hewitt-Richards is Luke Fraser.
The Great’s Tarik Badwan portrays Wes Cowan.
Read more: Grace on ITV recap: How series 5 ended and what it means for series 6
