Lynley on BBC One: Leo Suter and Sofia Barclay lead the cast as DI Lynley and DS Havers
The mismatched duo are back on our screens after nearly 20 years in a new reboot
Lynley is a brand new detective drama arriving on BBC One this week, nearly 20 years after we last saw DI Lynley and DS Havers on our screens – and the cast has had a bit of a facelift.
No offence to Nathaniel Parker and Sharon Small, who played the characters brilliantly two decades ago. But we rather like the mismatched combo of Leo Suter and Sofia Barclay.
It’s a tale as old as time. An unlikely detective duo – in this case, total opposites, are forced to unite to solve a crime. Like Cooper and Fry, McDonald and Dodds, and Mulder and Scully, Lynley and Havers have very different approaches and backgrounds…
That often makes for a compelling partnership. And detectives DI Lynley and DS Havers have a growing chemistry – not in that way! – that’s great to watch. Here’s a look at the leading cast of Lynley, including who plays who, and where you’ve seen them before.
Leo Suter stars as DI Thomas Lynley in BBC One cast
Who is DI Thomas Lynley?
Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley is a brilliant police detective who has transferred to Norfolk from the Met. He’s an outsider in the force, simply because of his aristocratic (posh as hell) upbringing. His dad’s an Earl! He doesn’t fit in with his family either, having refused to comply with his father’s career plans. Thomas is paired with DS Barbara Havers, a perky, blue-collared copper with a reputation.
What TV and films has Leo Suter been in?
London-born Leo Suter, 32, isn’t quite as posh as his character. But he’s not far off. Like DI Lynley, Leo was Oxford-educated and has the polished accent to prove it.
His TV career began in 2012 when he portrayed a posh pupil in the Jack Whitehall comedy Bad Education. He worked as a jobbing actor for a few years until winning the role of Trevor in the 2016 film Fallen. The next year, 2017, was his year though. He played Drummond in Victoria, and Daniel Beecham in Beecham House. Other significant roles include Jack in Clique, Young Stringer in Sanditon, and Nicholas Hale in the recent thriller The Girlfriend.
Leo is arguably most famous for playing the tattooed, bulging-pecced Harald Sigurdsson in Vikings: Valhalla, a role he played between 2022 and 2024. He’s had a good trim and washed off those fake tattoos for the role of DI Thomas Lynley, though.
In real life, he’s married to American dancer Haylee Roderick. He’s nearly 6’2.
Lynley cast: Sofia Barclay plays DS Barbara Havers
Who is DS Barbara Havers in Lynley?
Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers, is a working class copper with a “maverick attitude” who has a habit of speaking her mind. Even if it gets her in trouble at work. Having already upset her past partner, she’s now been paired with DI Lynley. With seemingly nothing in common, the “mismatched duo” become a formidable team, bonded by their desire to see justice done.
What is Sofia Barclay famous for?
London-born Sofia, 37, may play a blue-collar copper. But, in real life, her family is probably posher than her co-stars! In fact, her grandfather was British billionaire David Barclay who, along with his brother Frederick, frequently appeared on the rich lists. Sofia’s twin brother Frederick was named after their Great Uncle.
Sofia has been on our screens ever since 2010, when she played a witch in the TV movie Witchville. And she must have cast a spell on casting agents, as her career soon began to fly. As well as TV appearances in comedies Defending the Guilty, and We Are Lady Parts, she starred in films including NYPD Blue, Love Again, and Sulpher and White.
Between 2021 and 2023, she popped up as Dr. O’Sullivan in global hit Ted Lasso. She recently starred as Safiya Zamil in the Leo Woodall thriller Prime Target.
Who else is in the main cast of Lynley on BBC One?
The always brilliant Daniel Mays plays DCI Brian Nies. Of course, Line of Duty fans will know him as PS Danny Waldron in series 3, but he’s famous for his leading roles in Code 404, White Lines, and Mrs Biggs. He’s also appeared in A Thousand Blows, Moonflower Murders, Franklin, The Long Shadow, Temple, and Good Omens.
This Is Going to Hurt’s Michael Workeye plays tech specialist DC Tony Bekele. He recently starred in Bookish, The Stolen Girl, and My Lady Jane.
Kris Hitchen plays DI Derek Horwood. He’s known for playing John Hudson in Trigger Point, DC John Nunn in The Long Shadow, and Tom in Four Lives.
The Undeclared War’s Joshua Sher (pictured below) stars as forensic scientist, Simon St. James. The actor has been in a wheelchair ever since a tragic motorcycle accident.
After losing his NHS worker dad to Covid, Josh and his brother Joe went for a ride and a drive together in tribute. However, Josh’s bike flipped and he couldn’t move his legs. He’d sustained two broken vertebrae in his neck, nine vertebrae in his back, nine broken ribs, a fractured wrist, a cracked sternum, a broken collarbone, a broken eye socket and a ruptured lung.
Some of the vertebrae he broke in his back were pushing against his spinal cord which caused severe damage. He was told he’d never walk again, prompting his brother to fundraise for him.
Niamh Walsh stars as Lynley’s former flame Helen Clyde
Who is Helen Clyde in Lynley?
Helen Clyde is an estate agent and Lynley’s former Oxford classmate – and more. Their romance is sparked when their paths fatefully cross on a case in episode 2. We learn that Helen was with Lynley’s best friend, so “nothing really happened between them”. Until now…
What is Niamh Walsh famous for?
Niamh Walsh is one of the few Irish actors in the cast, even though the show was filmed in Ireland. Arklow-born Niamh, 37, is probably most famous for playing Cara Martinez in Holby City between 2015 and 2o16.
She is also known for her roles in Smother, Jamestown, and Wreck. She recently played Bex in The Revenge Club, and Lena McAllister in thriller Dead and Buried. Niamh doesn’t appear in episode one of Lynley, however, but features in episode 2 and beyond.
Who guest stars in Lynley episode 1 A Place of Hiding?
Eloise Thomas stars as Cynthia in episode 1 of Lynley. She’s best known for playing Teenage Becky in Chloe, Izzy Metcalf in The Bay, Darien in The Reckoning, Sheri Gillard in True Detective, Lia in Strike, and Alice Asquith-Gore in Dope Girls.
Lebanon-born actress Helene Maksoud plays Susan Myerson. She’s known for Gabrielle Reid in Coronation Street, and Nurse Alice in Silo.
Amanda Drew plays Valerie Layton. Of course, she’s more famous Dr. May Wright in EastEnders, Cate Gillespie in Broadchurch, Ruth in The Outlaws, Miss Kane in Gangs of London, CS Cath McLean in The Gold.
Nadia Parkes stars as Sofia Cullen. She’s famous for playing Chloe Ayling in Kidnapped: The Chloe Ayling Story, Rosa de Vargas in The Spanish Princess, and Annalise in The Bastard Son & the Devil Himself.
The main stars are joined by an ensemble guest cast, also including:
Fortitude’s Barry Aird as Ted Munson.
Industry’s Sonny Poon Tip as Sam Addington.
Ripper Street’s Gillian Saker as Carmel Brouard.
Culprits’ Mark Field as Adrian Brouard.
The Story of Tracy Beaker’s Nisha Nayar as Amani Havers.
Emmerdale’s Adrian Wheeler as James Havers.
The Rainmaker’s Fionn Ó Loingsigh as Rob Palmer.
The Frankenstein Chronicles’ Lucy Cray-Miller as Thea Johnson.
Dave Anders as Guy Brouard in his first ever role.
Combat Hospital’s Hamza Jeetooa as Sgt. Dev Ellis.
Black Doves’ Angus Cooper as Paul Chandler.
Mr Selfridge’s Wendy Nottingham as Ruth Brouard.
Hetty Feather’s Rosalyn Wright as Maia Saunders.
Emmerdale’s Andrew Readman as Tony Shannon.
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