Number One Fan on Channel 5: Cast led by Jill Halfpenny and Sally Lindsay, and a popular Emmerdale villain
Another day, another Channel 5 thriller with a great cast...
Number One Fan on Channel 5 brings together popular soap actresses Sally Lindsay and Jill Halfpenny for the first time on screen, along with some other famous faces in the cast.
The thriller introduces viewers to one of the most popular presenters on TV who even has her own show called Lucy Logan Live. But her fate changes when she is mugged in broad daylight at her local shops – and is saved by a woman called Donna, who claims to be her number one fan. (Reader, she isn’t).
As Donna becomes more and more stalker-like, Lucy realises she wasn’t her fairy godmother, after all. In fact, she has nefarious intentions. And won’t stop until she brings Lucy down.
So who plays who in the cast of Number One Fan on Channel 5… Read on to find out.
Jill Halfpenny portrays Lucy Logan in the cast of Number One Fan on Channel 5
TV favourite Jill Halfpenny, 50, leads the cast of Number One Fan as Holly Willoughby-style presenter Lucy Logan. Lucy is the “hottest TV star in the country”, with a hit morning show, huge following on social media, and a gorgeous family. In fact, some might say her life is perfect. Until she meets Donna, of course.
If you’re partial to a bonkers C5 thriller like us, then you’ll already know that Jill has previously appeared in The Drowning, The Feud, The Cuckoo, and The Holiday (all are still available to watch on Channel5.com).
Gateshead-born Jill began her acting career at the age of 14, when she played Nicola Dobson in the BBC One children’s drama Byker Grove. She went on to star in Peak Practice, Dalziel and Pascoe, Heartbeat, and Coronation Street.
However, Jill is probably most famous for her role of Kate Mitchell in EastEnders – a police officer sent to spy on Phil Mitchell. She went on to take part in Strictly Come Dancing in 2004, and won the competition with professional Darren Bennett.
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Jill subsequently starred as drama teacher Izzie Redpath in Waterloo Road, Emma in Mount Pleasant, and Davina in Babylon. In 2019, she portrayed mum Sam in Dark Money, who is horrified to discover her son has been sexually molested. She also starred as Jennifer Robertson in Liar.
More recently, Jill played DS Sam Bradley in After the Flood, and Eve in Girl Taken.
Madame Blanc actress Sally Lindsay stars as Donna Hughes
Sally Lindsay stars as Donna Hughes, Lucy’s so-called Number One Fan. And it’s a rare sinister role for the popular actress. But it’s not her first time in a Channel 5 thriller. She previously portrayed Emma in the cast of psychological thriller Love Rat, and Family Liason Officer Karen Bailey in Intruder.
Of course, soap fans will know her best for playing Shelley Unwin in ITV’s Coronation Street. Her character was the daughter of Bev Unwin, who was portrayed by Susie Blake. Sally played the role of Shelley from 2001 until 2006. After leaving the ITV soap, Sally went on to play Paula Appleton in the comedy sketch show Scallywagga, and Kathy in Ordinary Lies. Between 2011 to 2014, she became a regular panelist on ITV’s Loose Women.
She played Alison Bailey in Scott & Bailey for five years, and Lisa Johnson in all 53 episodes of Mount Pleasant. Sally also appeared in Still Open All Hours as Kath Agnew.
More recently, Sally is best known for playing the amateur sleuth Jean White in The Madame Blanc Mysteries. The series has been running since 2021, and is arguably one of the most popular cosy crimes on TV right now.
Dean Andrews plays cancelled TV presenter Stewart Jones
Rotherham-born actor Dean Andrews, 62, plays the cancelled TV presenter Stewart Jones in the cast of Channel 5 thriller Number One Fan. And if anyone else thinks his story is an EXACT copy of Jeremy Kyle’s then you’re not alone.
Many of you will know Dean best for playing DS Ray Carling in the BBC drama series Life on Mars. He played DCI Gene Hunt’s right-hand man between 2006 and 2007. He subsequently reprised the role in the sequel series Ashes to Ashes until 2010.
From 2012 to 2016, the actor played Robbie in Sally Wainwright‘s Last Tango in Halifax. Other notable roles include Hazel’s lover Steve Ashby in Between the Sheets, Eddie Maynard in Marchlands, Tony Powell in The Case, and Pete Lewis in Being Eileen.
As of April 2019, he appeared as ex-con Will Taylor on ITV soap opera Emmerdale. Will was dad to Dawn Taylor, granddad to little Lucas and happily loved up with lady of the manor Kim Tate. For a while anyway! Will was also the former partner of Harriet Finch, who was an undercover police officer during her marriage to Will and assisted in his arrest… Will was known for his long-standing rivalry with Cain Dingle. He left the show on Boxing Day 2024 when his character died of a heart attack. He later appeared in the following January as an hallucination.
His role in Number One Fan is his first TV appearance since leaving Emmerdale in early 2025. Not content with acting, Dean can also sing and is a qualified chef!
Erin Shanagher portrays Jane Shelley
Blackpool-born Erin Shanagher portrays journalist Jane Shelley, who is a thorn in Lucy’s side. The actress is best known for playing DS Karen Hobson in ITV drama The Bay, which will return for a series 6 later this year. She’s played the role since the very first series in 2019.
Before joining the cast of The Bay, Erin popped up in all sorts of TV series including Emmerdale, Coronation Street, Shameless, and Scott and Bailey.
She played Penny in Hit & Miss, Joanne in Residue, Lorraine Kenwood in The Five, and Debbie in The Moorside.
Perhaps her most significant role before The Bay was that of Fiona Baker in the ill-fated Viewpoint. A decent ITV thriller swiftly buried after allegations surfaced about leading man Noel Clarke.
More recently, she’s portrayed Penny Lindsey in the Adrian Dunbar drama Ridley, Patty Denmore in Father Brown, and voiced Poppy in The Family Pile.
Sharlene Whyte is Lucy’s manager Mel
Nottingham-born actress Sharlene Whyte, 49, plays Lucy’s manager Mel in the cast of Number One Fan on Channel 5. The RADA-trained actress has been on our screens since 1997, and made her name playing Jenny, the head care worker at Stowey House, in The Story of Tracy Beaker between 2002 and 2003.
She went on to play two difference roles in Waterloo Road. First, in 2009, she portrayed Alison Yates. She later portrayed Adanna Lawal in 2011. Other notable roles include Beverley (Bev) Summers in Sadie J, Doreen Lawrence in Stephen, and Gill Mendy in We Hunt Together.
More recently, she’s portrayed Madame in The Doll Factory, Pam Bottomley in Sherwood, Donna Walker in Mr Loverman. Sharlene is also a regular on the theatre circuit.
Who else appears in the cast of Number One Fan on Channel 5?
Daniel Adegboyega portrays Lucy’s husband Shawn Logan. The actor is most famous for playing Pierre Martineau in Sanctuary: A Witch’s Tale between 2024 and 2025. He also played Shakiel Oliver in The Tower series 3, and has popped up in Man Down, Save Me, and Nightflyers.
Sushil Chudasama is Lucy’s driver Tommy. He’s best known for playing Scooter in Coronation Street in 2005. Other notable roles include Faz Usmani in Clocking Off, Hardeep in Drop Dead Gorgeous, PC Sanjay Gopal in Collision, and DC Henry in Emmerdale. More recently, he starred as Mr Shah in children’s TV show Biff & Chip.
Full cast list of Number One Fan on Channel 5
Jill Halfpenny plays Lucy Logan.
Sally Lindsay stars as Donna Hughes.
Dean Andrews portrays Stewart Jones.
Erin Shanagher is journalist Jane Shelley.
Sharlene Whyte is Lucy’s manager Mel.
Daniel Adegboyega portrays Shawn Logan.
Sushil Chudasama is Tommy.
Newcomer Harvey Rhys-Conway stars as Lucy’s son Jacob Logan.
Silo’s Tiffany Gray plays Tabbie Marwell.
Newcomer Ben Stevenson Langley stars as Ben Hughes.
Waterloo Road’s Freddie Dawson portrays Vince.
The Dry’s Bryan Quinn stars as Ruairi.
Fair City’s James O’Driscoll plays Cillian Carr.
Read more: Unforgotten star joins cast of The Hardacres series 2 as new villain in first look at hit Channel 5 drama’s return
