The Madame Blanc Mysteries series 5: Episode 2 cast welcomes Josh Bolt for a Benidorm reunion with Steve Edge
Would you have recognised him?
The Madame Blanc Mysteries series 5 continues this week with episode 2, and Benidorm fans are in for a treat as a special guest star appears in the cast.
In fact, the whole episode is bulging with famous faces from the world of soap, sitcoms, and comedy. This week, in the episode called The Black Pearl, Jean finds herself personally drawn into a murder investigation… The dead woman, Julietta Moncrief, is discovered wearing an exquisite Tahitian black pearl necklace that Jean sold only the previous day.
The buyer was her osteopath, Dr David Stephan, who told Jean the rare piece was intended as an anniversary present for his wife, Vienna. So why has the necklace suddenly appeared on another woman?
As well as the weekly murder mystery, The Madame Blanc Mysteries series 5 includes a big storyline for Dom’s daughter Claudie. She arrived pregnant at the end of episode 1, and is closely followed by her ex-boyfriend Marco. So who plays who in the guest cast?
Benidorm star Josh Bolt guest stars as Marco
In this episode of The Madame Blanc Mysteries, viewers meet Claudie’s boyfriend Marco for the first time. And the actor who plays him will be very familiar to Benidorm fans. In fact, he’ll be very familiar to main cast member Steve Edge, who portrays Dom in the cosy crime. Josh Bolt played Steve’s son in the ITV comedy!
On screen, however, the pair are set to clash. Marco is “not the nicest of character” and spells trouble for Dom and his family.
In the series, a pregnant Claudie is trying to separate herself from Marco – but he refuses to let go. His controlling behaviour becomes increasingly alarming, placing Dom in an impossible position as he tries to protect his daughter without making matters worse. Jean supports him, though the strain on the household is beginning to show…
As Jean and Caron follow the trail of the black pearl, a darker story of trust, betrayal and possession begins to emerge. And while the truth behind Julietta’s death remains elusive, Dom and Claudie are heading towards a confrontation of their own, forcing them to face just how dangerous Marco’s behaviour has become.
Former child actor Josh Bolt, 32, is known for playing Raff Greenwood in Last Tango in Halifax, and Rob Dawson in Benidorm. Other credits include Dunbar in George Clooney’s miniseries Catch-22, Lt. Pappy Lewis in Tom Hanks’ Masters of the Air, and Adam Newsum in Ludwig.
More recently, the Scouser played vile DC Douglas James in The Blame.
Josh Bolt and Steve Edge reunited in cast of The Madame Blanc Mysteries series 5 episode 2
Benidorm fans will know that Josh Bolt and Steve Edge are best known for playing father and son Rob and Billy Dawson in the hit ITV sitcom Benidorm.
They were part of the famous Dawson family, with Steve Edge playing dad Billy Dawson and Josh Bolt playing his son Rob Dawson. Julie Graham played the mother Sheron Dawson. The family were introduced in
They also reunited for the Benidorm: 10 Years on Holiday retrospective special in 2018.
In real life, Steve and Josh remain close friends and frequently share updates of their reunions. While Steve is 53, Josh is 32. So they could very well be father and son!
Lesley Joseph stars as Carol Jardine
London-born Lesley Joseph, 81, guest stars as Carol Jardine in the cast of The Madame Blanc Mysteries series 5 episode 2.
Of course, Lesley Joseph is probably most famous for playing Dorien Green in Birds of a Feather between 1989 and 2020.
The veteran actress has a stage and TV career spanning more than 60 years. Her very first TV role was playing Catherine of Braganza in the 1969 TV movie The Bastard King. She went on to appear in multiple TV series as a jobbing actress, until 1989 when she started portraying man-eater Dorien Green in Birds of a Feather.
Other notable roles include Ma Pecs in comedy drama Rumble in 1996, Miss Millington in Children’s anthology series Look and Read in 1997, and Green Beryl in 2006’s The Secret of Eel Island.
Between 2001 and 2003, she starred as comedic character Rachel Culgrin in Night & Day. The Channel 5 soap was set in Greenwich, and followed the lives of six very different families, amid the disappearance of a 16-year-old girl.
Like her friend and co-star Linda, Lesley has also appeared as herself in reality shows including Come Dine with Me, Pilgrimage, and Celebrity 5 Go Motorhoming. In 2016, she took part in Strictly Come Dancing. It was the 14th series, and she was partnered with professional dancer Anton Du Beke.
Behind the screen, Lesley has two children, a son and a daughter, from a relationship with Carl Littlejohn.
Brian Capron guest stars as Tom Jardine
Suffolk-born actor Brian Capron, 79, stars as Tom Jardine. Of course, soap fans will know the actor very well. Brian went down in Coronation Street history when he played serial killer Richard Hillman from 2001 to 2003. He reprised the role of Richard briefly in 2024 for the exit of Gail Platt (Helen Worth).
The actor first came to public attention as teacher Mr Stuart “Hoppy” Hopwood in Grange Hill from 1980 to 1983. He went on to play Murray McCoy in Full House, and Ozias Harding in Sarah Lancashire drama Where the Heart Is.
His role as Tom Jardine is his first TV appearance since he last played Tricky Dicky in Corrie in 2024. He popped up in a brief posthumous dream appearance. The character actually died in 2003 after confessing to a wave of murders and driving Gail Platt and her family into a canal… He drove the car straight into the Weatherfield Canal. While Gail, Sarah, and David managed to escape and survive, Richard drowned.
Who else appears in the guest cast of The Madame Blanc Mysteries series 5 episode 2?
Kevin Tuhipua stars as Dr Stephan. It’s only his second TV appearance, having previously played Foxy in Amsterdam Empire.
Jayne Giordanella plays Vienna. She played Cassius’ wife in 2026’s Pompeii: Out of Time with Tom Hiddleston.
This Way Up’s John Dadie portrays Paul Moncrief.
Who else guest stars in series 5?
There are plenty of famous faces joining the cast as guests in The Madame Blanc Mysteries series 5. As well as episode 1’s Justin Moorhouse, next week’s episode 3 welcomes Jason Manford.
The complete guest cast includes:
- Justin Moorhouse (Phoenix Nights).
- Brian Capron (Coronation Street).
- Lesley Joseph (Birds of a Feather).
- Josh Bolt (The Blame).
- Jason Manford (Waterloo Road).
- Michael Fenton Stevens (Slow Horses).
- Su Pollard (Hi-de-Hi!).
- Louisa Lytton (EastEnders).
- Frazer Hines (Emmerdale).
- Bonnie Langford (EastEnders).
- Zoe Lyons (Mock the Week).
Read more: The Madame Blanc Mysteries: Who is Jean’s nemesis Barbara, why is she in prison, and who plays her?
