The Hairdresser Mysteries cast: Leading lady Sally Phillips joined by stars from Coronation Street, Hollyoaks, Casualty and Holby
It's fun, it's filled with famous faces, and it's free to watch – what's not to love?!
The Hairdresser Mysteries is as cosy as crime dramas get, with a wholesome bunch of characters played by a likeable collection of actors in the cast.
The new BBC One six-part series introduces London celebrity hair stylist Lily Petal, who relocates to Blossom Vale, a quiet village in the West Midlands. Hoping for a change of pace, she actually finds her natural intuition about people is vital when a series of crimes start to take place.
Lily, who is obsessed with all things 70s, teams up with her assistant Clary to turn amateur detective. In episode 1, they untangle the clues when a priceless antique goes missing, and the person who took it winds up dead.
Here’s who plays who in the cast of afternoon cosy crime The Hairdresser Mysteries on BBC One.
Who plays Lily Petal in the cast of The Hairdresser Mysteries?
British Hong Kong born Sally Phillips, 56, takes the lead role of Lily Petal in The Hairdresser Mysteries. The comedic actress is perfectly placed to lead a cosy crime drama, and will be well known to TV viewers.
She started her career as a comedian, appearing in sketch shows such as Smith & Jones, Six Pairs of Pants, and Fist of Fun – as well as I’m Alan Partridge.
But it was the female-led Smack the Pony which really catapulted her to fame in the UK. She appeared in the show between Fiona Allen, Sarah Alexander, and Doon Mackichan.
Since then, she’s probably most famous for playing Katie Nash in Rescue Me, Tash Vine in Jam & Jerusalem, Tilly in Miranda, and Elaine in Tourist Trap. More recently, Sally starred as Ingrid Hartswood in Austin.
Her famous film roles have included Shazza in all four Bridget Jones films, Tessa Jones in Love at First Sight, and Gina in How to Please a Woman.
Charlotte Jordan plays Clary Coombs
Surrey Heath-born Charlotte Jordan, 32, portrays Clary Coombs, Lily’s “bright and analytical assistant”. She’s described as “the Watson to her Shear-lock Holmes”. While Lily relies on her instinct, Clary is all about data and calculations.
Soap fans will know Charlotte best for playing Daisy Midgeley in Coronation Street, a role she portrayed between 2020 and 2025. Jenny Bradley’s step-daughter, Daisy was initially bought in as a villain. However, viewers soon learnt the “iconic bad girl” struggled with abandonment issues throughout her childhood.
After leaving the ITV soap, Charlotte joined the cast of The Archers playing Amber Gordon in 2025.
The actress first popped up as a child star in a 2007 episode of The Bill. She went on to play Serena in the children’s show Summer in Transylvania, before winning the role of Gaby Grant in horse drama Free Rein.
The Hairdresser Mysteries cast: Ben Castle-Gibb stars as PC Adam Watson
Bucks-born Ben Castle-Gibb stars as PC Adam Watson, an eager young copper in the local village who falls head-over-heels for salon assistant Clary. He’s forever trying to follow police protocol but that’s not easy with several uninvited locals always arriving at the crime scenes!
The actor made his very first mainstream TV appearance playing Toby in Netflix thriller You, which is quite the introduction! He went on to portray Kane in a dozen episodes of Hollyoaks in 2025.
Other notable roles include Andy Crawford in an episode of Doctors, Hotspurn in The Witcher, and an uncredited role in House of the Dragon. In 2026, he also appeared in the Charli XCX mockumentary The Moment.
Sunetra Sarker portrays Wincey ‘Newsflash’ Evans
Liverpool-born actress Sunetra Sarker, 53, portrays Wincey Evans, the village’s local chit-chatter with a reputation as a known gossip. There’s a reason why the nosy but well-meaning gossip is nicknamed “Newsflash” by her peers.
Sunetra is probably best known for her stint on Strictly, and her roles in Casualty, No Angels, Ackley Bridge, and The Bay.
Sunetra played Stella Bradwell in the 2021 series 2 of The Bay on ITV1, and the Sheriff of Nottingham in the first series of the excellent Sherwood.
Other notable roles include Nisha Batra in Brookside, Anji Mittel in No Angels, Sadia Shar in Informer, Deborah in Cold Feet, and Sahana Harrison in Broadchurch.
However, she is perhaps best known for her role as Zoe Hanna in Casualty. Sunetra portrayed the senior consultant from 2007 to 2018. She left because she “wanted to find something very different” to the show she was already doing. Although she DID return in 2024 for Derek Thompson’s last episodes as Charlie Fairhead.
The versatile actress also played Kaneez Paracha in Ackley Bridge, between 2017 and 2022.
Strictly Come Dancing fans will remember her from the 2014 series, in which she danced with Brendan Cole. The pair made it to week nine.
More recently, she’s been popping up virtually everywhere! She played lawyer Anika Chowdhury in Playing Nice, Gail in The Responder series 2, Maiya Goswami in Professor T, Amal in G’wed, Meena in Breeders, and Fiona Mason in Silent Witness. She also played Jason Watkins’ wife in the Channel 5 thriller The Game.
Guy Henry portrays Race Runard
London-born actor Guy Henry portrays Race Runard in The Hairdresser Mysteries. He’s the local village’s eccentric antiques dealer with a penchant for priceless teacup and saucer sets.
Of course, Guy is best known for playing the very complicated Henrik Hanssen in Holby and Casualty from 2010 to 2022.
The actor will also be familiar to those who adored Extras. He played the BBC’s Head of Comedy Iain Morris in the Ricky Gervais comedy. Other notable roles include Sherlock Holmes in Young Sherlock: The Mystery of the Manor House, Phillip Grainger in Look and Read, Dr Terror in Dr Terror Presents, and Cassius in Rome. Between 2006 and 2007, Guy played William Montgomery in sitcom The Chase.
More recently, he’s appeared in Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators, Grantchester, and Marie Antoinette.
As for his film career, Guy is probably most famous for playing Pius Thicknesse in the Harry Potter franchise, and Governor Tarkin in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
Who else appears in the cast of The Hairdresser Mysteries?
Actor Clive Rowe plays Lonnie, the flamboyant manager of the local charity shop. He’s best known for playing Duke in the children’s series The Story of Tracy Beaker, Mayor Doyle in Evermoor, Boxman in Will, and Mr. Salford in So Awkward.
Adrian Hood plays Stan. A jobbing actor of more than two decades, he’s best known for playing Lloydy in All Quiet on the Preston Front.
Veteran actress Maggie Ollerenshaw stars as Dobbie (Doris) Briggs. She’s known for playing Mavis in Open All Hours and sequel Still Open All Hours, Mrs Shelton in Seaview, Mrs Clegg in First of the Summer Wine, and Kate Henshaw in Lovejoy.
Angela Curran stars as Val Stromboli. Angela has decades of TV roles under her belt, but is probably best known for playing Janette Hodgkins in The Job Lot, and Caitlin Morgan in Doc Martin. Kids will know her as Mrs Hobbs in Waffle the Wonder Dog, and Waffle’s After School Club.
Guest cast of The Hairdresser Mysteries includes Guy Henry and Wendi Peters
Wendi Peters stars as Gloria Crudd. Gloria is another newcomer to the village hoping to make a fresh start with her ice cream parlour. Corrie fans will know Wendi best for playing Cilla Battersby-Brown between 2003 and 2014. She went on to portray Dr Nina Bulsara in Doctors from 2023 to 2024.
M People singer Heather Small plays herself in episode 3.
Oliver Dimsdale stars as Bob in episode 3. Grantchester fans will know him as Daniel Marlowe.
Soap actress Annie Hulley stars as Brenda in episode 3. She’s played Karen Moore in Emmerdale, and Gwen Loveday in Coronation Street.
River City’s Neil Pendleton plays Mike in episode 3, opposite Tim Dantay as Ron. Tim is known for his roles in Brassic, Jamie Johnson, Playing the Field, and Making Out.
Alex Macqueen is Lord Rupert in episode 3 and 4. He’s best known as a comedic actor, having played Julius Nicholson in The Thick of It, Neil’s Dad in The Inbetweeners, and Edmund in Hunderby. A jobbing actor for years, he subsequently won the role of sarcastic consultant anaesthetist Keith Greene in Holby City.
In episode 4 of The Hairdresser Mysteries, Gabrielle Glaister appears as Mrs Rind. The actress is best known for playing Patricia Farnham in Brookside, but has also appeared in Family Affairs, Emmerdale, and Coronation Street.
Veteran actress Frances Tomelty stars as Mrs Marigold in episode 5. She’s known for her roles in Harriet’s Back in Town, Strangers, Lucy Sullivan Is Getting Married, Unforgotten and Catastrophe.
Charlotte Hope plays Sophie Sweetley in episode 5. She recently played Sherry Carter in Murder Most Puzzling. Doctors actress Elisabeth Dermot Walsh also appears in the episode as Venetia Manly.
Anna-Louise Plowman stars as Stella in episode 6. Holby City fans will know her best as Annalese Carson.
Main cast list of The Hairdresser Mysteries on BBC One
Sally Phillips stars as Lily Petal.
Charlotte Jordan plays Clary Coombs.
Ben Castle-Gibb portrays PC Adam Watson.
Sunetra Sarker is Wincey Evans.
Guy Henry stars as Race Runard.
William Fox plays That Terry.
Angela Curran is Valarie Stromboli.
Clive Rowe plays Lonnie.
Maggie Ollerenshaw stars as Doris Briggs.
Adrian Hood is Stan.
Jack Slater Carroll plays Kev.
Michelle Gilliver is Shirl.
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