Little Disasters on Channel 5: Cast of 'terrifying story' led by Diane Kruger, Jo Joyner, and Shelley Conn
There's some serious star quality here!
Little Disasters on Channel 5 is a brand-new original series tackling gripping psychological issues, and the six-part drama boasts an exceptionally talented cast.
The psychological thriller is led by German actress and former Hollywood darling Diane Kruger, alongside British actresses Jo Joyner and Shelley Conn.
Furthermore, the series is based on the bestselling novel of the same name by author Sarah Vaughan. The plot is described as an “emotionally terrifying story” and centres on a group of female friends whose close bond is put to the ultimate test when a disturbing secret comes to light.
As a result, long-standing friendships are pushed to their limits, creating a tense and compelling mystery at the heart of the drama.
Here’s everything you need to know about the brilliant cast of Little Disasters on Channel 5. Notably, the series first aired on Paramount+ in 2025.
Diane Kruger stars as Jess Carrisford in the cast of Channel 5’s Little Disasters
Little Disasters centres on the friendship between four women. Initially, Jess, Liz, Mel and Charlotte met 10 years ago as expectant mothers at an antenatal class. Since then, they have remained close friends.
At the centre of the story, Jess, the seemingly perfect stay-at-home mother, becomes the focus of the mystery. However, her world begins to unravel when she brings her baby daughter to hospital with a head injury she cannot explain. Consequently, a chain of events is set in motion that threatens to change everything.
In the lead role, Diane Kruger plays Jess. The German actress, 48, is best known for her work on the big screen. Most notably, she played Helen in the 2004 epic Troy, starring alongside Brad Pitt, Eric Bana and Orlando Bloom. She also portrayed Abigail Chase in National Treasure and its sequel, National Treasure: Book of Secrets. Furthermore, she earned widespread acclaim for her role as Bridget von Hammersmark in Inglourious Basterds.
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Meanwhile, on television, the former ballerina-turned-fashion-model-turned-actress is best known for portraying Sonya Cross in the US adaptation of The Bridge. It’s a role she played between 2013 and 2014. In this crime drama, two detectives team up to hunt a serial killer operating on both sides of the Texas–Chihuahua border.
More recently, in 2022, Diane portrayed abusive movie studio executive Joyce Holt in the drama Swimming with Sharks.
Away from her acting career, Diane has a son with her partner Norman Reedus. He is best known for playing Daryl Dixon in The Walking Dead. Notably, the couple met on the set of the 2015 film Sky. Before that, she was in a long-term relationship with Dawson’s Creek star Joshua Jackson.
Jo Joyner plays Dr Liz Burgess
Actress Jo Joyner portrays Jess’ close friend and on-duty A&E doctor Liz. She must make the excruciating decision to call social services. This subsequently sets in motion a chain of events that nearly destroys not only their families but their entire friendship group…
Of course, British TV audiences know Jo very well. The Essex-born 47-year-old actress is one of the most bankable women in the country, and seemingly adored by everyone.
Soap fans will know Jo best as Tanya Branning in EastEnders, a role she played on and off for 12 years. Between 2006 and 2018, she portrayed the long-suffering wife of Max Branning.
The mum-of-two is also known for playing Erin Cartwright in Netflix’s Harlan Coben series Stay Close, Mandy Carter in Ackley Bridge, Lisa in Ed Stone is Dead, and Meg in Trying Again.
Between 2004 and 2006, she starred as Beverly ‘Beth’ Nicholls in the nurses drama No Angels, opposite The Game’s Sunetra Sarker. Other notable roles include Beth in Ordinary Lies, Lorna in The Interceptor, Vicar in Marley’s Ghost, and Jayne in Mount Pleasant.
This year, she returned to play Luella Shakespeare in series 5 of Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators. She’s no stranger to tense thrillers either, having played Beth Morgan in the Channel 5 series The Wives, Alison Weston in Riptide, and Laura Conroy in For Her Sins.
Charlotte Hinman portrayed by Shelley Conn
London-born actress Shelley Conn, 48, stars as third friend Charlotte in the cast of Little Disasters. Charlotte is an Oxford educated, no-nonsense, ambitious corporate lawyer, who is “partner in a major law firm”. Although she has a tough exterior, we soon find out that she has an unrequited love for Jess’ husband Ed. They first met at Oxford university. Bit awks.
Shelley has been on our screens since 2000, when she played Uzma in the TV movie The Last Musketeer, led by Robson Green. She went on to appear as PC Miriam Da Silva in Merseybeat, Kerry Jamill in Down to Earth, and Ashika Chandirimani in Party Animals.
The actress is probably most famous for playing Jessica Fraser in Mistresses, Dr. Elisabeth Shannon in Terra Nova, and DI Vanessa Harmon in Liar.
More recently, she’s best known for playing Indira Shetty in Gen V, Beelzebub in Good Omens, Lady Mary Sharma in Bridgerton, and Laura Kellner in Alex Rider.
Shelley has been on tonnes of films too. These include thriller Malevolent, Nina’s Heavenly Delights, Gwyneth Paltrow romance Possession, and the 2005 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory adaptation. She played Princess Pondicherry in the Johnny Depp movie.
In real life, Shelley is married to former Casualty heart-throb Jonathan Kerrigan, with whom she has one child.
Little Disasters cast on Channel 5: Emily Taaffe is Mel Quinn
Emily Taaffe, from Dublin, completes the quartet of friends as Mel Quinn. Mel, the youngest of the group, is a ball of energy with her bubbly, free spirited and outgoing personality.
The 41-year-old theatre and TV actress is perhaps best known for playing Maria Kelly in the 2022 drama The Rising.
She’s also played Katya in the 2016 TV adaptation of War & Peace, Niamh in The Beast Must Die, and Megan Morten in Informer. Emily has also popped up in episodes of Silent Witness, Vera, Death in Paradise, and Call the Midwife.
Watch out for her in series 4 of Professor T, too.
Patrick Baladi plays Andrew Hinman
Popular TV actor Patrick Baladi stars as Charlotte’s husband, and George’s dad in the cast of Little Disasters on Channel 5.
The West Midlands-born star, 53, made his name playing David Brent’s nemesis, the perfect Neil Godwin, on The Office.
The actor also appeared in another iconic BBC TV show – Line of Duty. He joined the cast as morally-dubious solicitor Jimmy Lakewell for three episodes in 2017. Viewers might remember the shocking moment Jimmy was strangled to death in his prison cell.
Patrick also portrayed Michael Jackson in the Sky One drama Stella, and Stephen Holmes in the ITV thriller Marcella.
He first appeared on TV in 1995, when he was cast as an Orderly Sergeant in Soldier Soldier. He went on to star in the 2004 film Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason.
Since then, he’s popped up in Midsomer Murders (where he got electrocuted in his car), and Silent Witness, where he portrayed ex-detective Ron Radford.
Patrick has also starred in EastEnders, New Tricks, Mistresses, My Family and Jed Mercurio’s Bodies. He appeared nude in the TV movie Consuming Passion, when Olivia Colman seduced him in the shower, and portrayed Dodi Al-Fayed in the 2007 TV docudrama Diana: Last Days of a Princess.
More recently, he’s played Darren in Breeders, John Wingsnight in Ted Lasso, Tilson in Douglas is Cancelled, and DI Patrick Holden in DI Ray series 2.
Ben Bailey Smith stars as LIz’s husband Nick Burgess
London-born actor Ben Bailey Smith, 47, portrays Liz’s husband Nick. He’s an inspiring secondary school teacher, and dad to Rosa and Sam. On paper, he’s perfect.
As well as being famous author Zadie Smith’s lil’ bro, Ben is probably best known for playing DC Brian Lodge in Des, and Blake in the Sheridan Smith drama Cleaning Up.
Previously known by the name Doc Brown, the actor, comedian, and rapper won his first significant TV role in 2010 when he played the voice of Budge in the children’s TV show Big Babies. As well as lots of voiceover work, Ben played Tyrone in the 2012 thriller Hunted, DS Joe Hawkins in Law & Order: UK, and teacher Nathan in 4 O’Clock Club.
Other notable roles include Johnny Daniels in Brief Encounters, DS Evans in Bounty Hunters, Rufus in Britannia, Richie Hansen in The Split, and Joe Gibson in Suspicion.
More recently, Ben has starred as Lieutenant Supervisor Blevin in Andor series 1, Simon Blake in The Sixth Commandment, Gabe in Black Mirror episode Bête Noire, and Samuel in Truelove.
He’s also popped up in TV series such as Murder, They Hope, Boiling Point, Significant Other, The Light in the Hall, Doctor Who, and Fleabag. Ben has been in multiple films, too, including Other Side of the Game, David Brent: Life on the Road, Cinderella, and Persuasion.
JJ Feild portrays Ed Carrisford in cast of Little Disasters on Channel 5
American-born actor John Joseph Feild, 47, stars as Jess’ husband Ed. Father to Kit, Frankie and Betsey, he’s the alpha male.
Known for his theatre work, he’s perhaps best known on TV for playing Major John Andre in period drama TURN: Washington’s Spies.
In 2019, he starred as David in the Idris Elba comedy Turn Up Charlie, before going on to play Dr Zach Ligon in New Amsterdam, and Ben Adler in Lost in Space.
Most recently, he’s starred as Lev Zubov in dystopian sci-fi thriller The Peripheral, from the creators of Westworld.
Other notable roles include Ledge in comedy horror Stag (which also starred his Little Disasters co-star Stephen Campbell Moore), Marsac in The Musketeers, and Adam Western in Waking the Dead.
He’s been in multiple films, including 2000’s The Railway Children, Le Mans ’66, The Tulse Luper Suitcases franchise, and Captain America, in which he played James Montgomery Falsworth.
JJ is married to Scream actress Neve Campbell, with whom he has two kids.
Stephen Campbell Moore is Rob Baird
British actor Stephen Campbell Moore, 45, stars as Mel’s husband Rob Baird, Mollie and Connor’s dad. He’s a bit of a bad boy, and his career allows him to indulge in the party lifestyle…
London-born Stephen is perhaps most famous for playing Irwin in Alan Bennett’s play The History Boys and the 2007 film based on it. Other famous film roles include Cameron Foster in action thriller The Union, J.R.R. Tolkien in Freud’s Last Session, Major Chetwode in 2019’s Downton Abbey, and Max in Judi Dench’s Red Joan.
On TV, he’s best known for portraying Evan White in the 2008 series Ashes to Ashes, opposite Keeley Hawes. He also starred as Jonathan Gresham in War of the Worlds.
TV viewers might also recognise him for playing Thomas Andrews in Titanic, Stephen Turner in Hunted, Reverend Aaron Webb in Our Zoo, Smoke in The Wrong Mans, and Lieutenant Ed Laithwaite in The Last Post.
More recently, Stephen portrayed Leo Hanratty in Criminal Record, Maj. ‘Red’ Bowman in Masters of the Air, and George Benham in The Confessions of Frannie Langton.
Chizzy Akudolu appears as Lucy Harding
Strictly alumni Chizzy Akulodu stars as stern social services worker Lucy Harding in the cast of Little Disasters.
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, 51, 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.
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, and Reverend Kate in the Beyond Paradise 2024 Christmas special.
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.
Robert Gilbert is DC Steve Rustin
London-born Robert Gilbert, 27, stars as investigating officer DC Steve Rustin in Little Disasters.
Killing Eve fans might remember him for playing Yusuf in the BBC thriller, one of Eve’s coworkers (with benefits) in season 4.
Big Boys fans will know him best for portraying Tim in the comedy, opposite Beyond Paradise‘s Dylan Llewellyn.
Having made his name playing Tazeem in Sinbad, Robert went on to bag some other big TV roles including DS Jackson in The Burning Girls, Will in Big Mood, Supt. Simon O’Brian in Red Eye, and Faisal Ahmed in ITVX thriller Insomnia.
More recently, Robert starred as Barney Crozier in the Bergerac reboot on Prime Video, opposite Damien Molony. He’ll be back in the upcoming series 2, too.
Who else stars in the cast of Little Disasters?
Leo Flanagan stars as Dr Ronan Morris in the cast of the Channel 5 series. Waterloo Road fans will know him best for playing Floyd Westbrook in Waterloo Road in 2014. It was one of his first ever TV roles.
He went on to play Matthew Avison in Suranne Jones drama Gentleman Jack, and Finn in ITV drama After the Flood.
Dominic Mafham stars as consultant Dr Neil Cockerill. You might know him for playing Matthew Castle in Castles, Dr Andrew Argyle in Always and Everyone, Simon Kingdom in Kingdom, and Dan Woodhouse in The Clinic.
More recently, he played St John Gurney-Clifford in Grantchester, Henry Thorne in ITV soap Coronation Street, and James Wyckham in The Marlow Murder Club.
Chloe Harris stars as DC Cat Farron. Her firsr major TV roles was playing Agnes Hankin in The Village, and she went on to play Mel in three episodes of Emmerdale, Emma in Wanderlust, and Joanna in Traitors.
Crime fans will know her best for playing Paula in The Trail of Christine Keeler, PC Kirsty Dove in Sherwood, Susan Hanson in Nolly, and WPC Jenny Bush in The Long Shadow. Chloe also appeared in series 2 of Ridley.
Main cast list of Little Disasters on Channel 5:
Diane Kruger stars as Jess Carrisford.
Jo Joyner plays Dr Liz Burgess.
Shelley Conn portrays Charlotte Hinman.
Emily Taaffe is Mel Quinn.
Patrick Baladi plays Andrew Hinman.
Ben Bailey Smith stars as Liz’s husband Nick Burgess.
JJ Feild portrays Ed Carrisford.
Stephen Campbell Moore is Rob Baird.
Chizzy Akudolu appears as Lucy Harding.
Robert Gilbert is DC Steve Rustin.
Supporting actors include:
Chloe Harris as DC Cat Farron.
Child actor Jago Bilderbeck as Kit, in his first ever TV role.
After the Flood’s Jacqueline Boatswain as Sheila Foster.
Newcomer Cameron Douglas as Sam.
Waterloo Road’s Leo Flanagan as Dr Ronan Morris.
Child star Lucy Freegard as Mollie, in her first TV role.
EastEnders’ Angela Harvey as Cathy.
Belgravia: The Next Chapter actor Jax James as Frankie.
Newcomer Oscar Kerrigan as George.
The Clinic’s Dominic Mafham as Dr Neil Cockerill.
Newcomer Skylin Truter as Rosa.
Petra Wagner as baby Betsey in her very first TV appearance!
Child star Barney Wheeler as Connor, in his first TV role.
Lauren Alexandra, who played an acrobat in Matilda: The Musical, as a fertility nurse.
Charlotte Lucas – aka Selena Geeson in Bad Girls – as Dr Jane Morbury.
Coma’s Anita Major as Jade.
Industry‘s Charlotte Pyke as Louisa Reid.
New Eden’s Jonathan Rhodes as the headmaster.
Whitstable Pearl’s Adil Akram as Nihal.
Protection‘s Roderick Hill as a security guard.
The Fear Index’s Payal Vashist as birth doctor.
Jonah Rzeskiewicz, who played Jimmy Parks in Masters in the Air, as the estate agent.
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