Murder Most Puzzling on Channel 5: Full cast list of cosy crime, led by Phyllis Logan
Helen Fear | 12:25pm Wed 18 Jun | Updated 6:37pm Mon 16 JunMurder Most Puzzling is the cosy crime drama we’ve been most looking forward to on Channel 5 this month, not least because the brilliant Phyllis Logan leads the cast as the ‘Puzzle Lady’.
The new series introduces amateur sleuth Cora Felton, a character originally born in the Parnell Hall’s best-selling books The Puzzle Lady Mysteries.
She describes the new crime series as “Murder She Wrote meets Miss Marple on steroids”, so we know we’re in for a good ride! Here’s everything you need to know about the cast of Murder Most Puzzling. The six episodes have a main cast throughout, as well as a new guest cast for each instalment which is a new story each time.
Actress Phyllis Logan as Puzzle Lady Cora Felton in Murder Most Puzzling [Credit: Channel 5]
Who plays Cora Felton in Murder Most Puzzling?
Scottish actress Phyllis Logan, 69, stars as Cora Felton in the cast of Channel 5 cosy crime drama Murder Most Puzzling. Cora is described as the “sharp-witted Puzzle Lady who has a remarkable talent for solving murders”. However, viewers will soon find out that the eccentric Cora isn’t who she claims to be… In fact, she is hiding a secret which “would ruin her and those around her”. She’s considered a “national treasure”, but the nation might get a shock if they knew the REAL Cora.
Of course, the BAFTA award-winning actress is best known for playing Mrs Hughes (aka the now married Mrs Carson) in the award-winning Downton Abbey. Phyllis portrayed the head housekeeper from 2010 to 2015 in the TV series, as well as the subsequent two films. She’ll reprise the role in Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, the third and final film in the franchise which will be released in September 2025.
Phyllis Logan leads the cast of Channel 5 cosy crime
Phyllis has actually been on our screens for nearly five decades, having made her very first TV appearance in 1977. That year, she debuted in the TV movie The Red Dress. After working as a jobbing actress for several years, she subsequently won the biggest role of her career playing Lady Jane Felsham in Lovejoy.
Between
Other notable roles include Sqn. Ldr. Helen Knox in Invasion: Earth, Muriel McKendrick in Holby City, Annie Gilbert in Hope and Glory, and Maggie Smart in The Good Karma Hospital. More recently, she’s portrayed Maggie Lynch in Scottish drama Guilt, Grace Bain in Shetland, Moira Shearer in The Bombing of Pan Am 103, and Mrs Austen in Miss Austen.
Phyllis has also been in tonnes of films, too. In 1996, she played Monica in the award-winning Secrets & Lies opposite Brenda Blethyn.
Charlotte Hope as Sherry Carter in the cast of Murder Most Puzzling [Credit: Channel 5]
Charlotte Hope stars as Sherry Carter
Wiltshire-born actress Charlotte Hope, 33, portrays Cora’s long-suffering niece Sherry Carter in the cast of Murder Most Puzzling – and the sharer of her damning secret.
Charlotte is best known for playing Catherine of Aragon in Starz’s The Spanish Princess, a role she portrayed for two series between Spanish princess Catherine as she navigated the royal lineage of England with an eye on the throne. Charlotte met her future boyfriend on set, and has been with Ruairi O’Connor – who played Henry VIII – ever since.
She’s also famous for playing Myranda in Game of Thrones, a role she played between 2013 and 2016. Myranda was a servant of House Bolton and the lover of vile Ramsay Bolton.
Other notable roles include Margaret Alma Kinnaird in The English Game, Annabel Connors in Bancroft, and Elinor Campbell in Holby City, as well as pop-ups in Whitechapel, Endeavour, and The Musketeers.
More recently, the actress led the cast as Micki Pistorius in Catch Me a Killer. Based on the book of the same name, it told the harrowing story of the former journalist-turned-psychologist – South Africa’s first serial killer profiler.
Dalgliesh star Alistair Brammer joins the cast as Anton Grant [Credit: Channel 5]
Alistair Brammer portrays Anton Grant
Exeter-born Alistair Brammer, 36, stars as tenacious Bakerbury Gazette journalist Anton Grant in Murder Most Puzzling.
He’s probably best known for playing Dalgliesh’s sidekick DS Daniel Tarrant in the detective drama, a role he first played in 2023’s series 2.
The singer and actor is also famous for his career in musical theatre. He played Jean Prouvaire in both the 2010 special Les Misérables: 25th Anniversary Concert, and the 2012 musical film Les Misérables. Brammer performed as Chris in the Miss Saigon 25th anniversary performance.
He’s also performed in Wicked, Hair, Taboo, War Horse, and Miss Saigon. In 2008, while a student at Exeter College, he competed in the TV series Any Dream Will Do. He made it to the final 20 contestants. Despite not being selected to be on the show, judge Bill Kenwright asked him to appear in the 2008/2009 UK tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
In 2015, he made his first appearance as receptionist Jack Diamond in Casualty, a role he played until 2016. Other notable roles include Mark Antony in Ancient Empires, Gold Cloak in House of the Dragon, and Max Brant in Valhalla Project.
DCI Hooper is played by Adam Best in cosy crime drama [Credit: Channel 5]
Murder Most Puzzling cast: Adam Best plays DCI Hooper
Northern Irish actor Adam Best stars as DCI Hooper in the cast of Murder Most Puzzling on Channel 5. The 41-year-old is best known for playing Matt Parker in Holby City. He portrayed the medical student – dubbed Peter Parker because of his intuitive intelligent – between
Later in his career, he popped up in episodes of TV shows such as Waking the Dead, Silent Witness, The Lazarus Project, and The Crown.
More recently, he’s appeared in some seriously good dramas – and 2024 was certainly his year. Within 12 months, he portrayed criminal thug Keith Wylie in series 2 of Blue Lights, as well as starred as Joe Lynskey in the political drama Say Nothing, about ‘The Troubles’ in Northern Ireland.
He also played Irish MI5 agent Jim Perryman in Black Doves, and Major Robertson in All Creatures Great & Small. Adam’s film roles have included Doyle in Kneecap, Ben Fitzpatrick in Blooded, and PJ Johnson in Cup Cake.
Actor Ben Freeman, seen here as Caleb Malone in EastEnders, plays Dennis [Credit: BBC]
Ben Freeman stars as Sherry’s rock star ex-husband Dennis Pride
Actor Ben Freeman, 45, has the unpleasant task of portraying Dennis Pride in the cast of Murder Most Puzzling. In the Channel 5 drama, Dennis is the ex-husband of Sherry, Cora’s niece. And he’s a wife-beating rock star.
Soaps fans will know Ben best for portraying Scott Windsor in Emmerdale. He played the role of Viv and Reg Dawson between
Other notable TV roles include Chris Longworth in Grange Hill (
More recently, Ben has portrayed Corporal Jethro Woodbine in one episode of Outlander, and Athos in the film The Three Musketeers, alongside James Cosmo.
Jack Weise portrays PC Danny Finley in the cast of Murder Most Puzzling [Credit: Channel 5]
Who else appears in the cast of Murder Most Puzzling?
Nick Danan stars as DS Sam Brody. It’s his biggest TV role to date, having previously played minor roles in TV dramas such as Say Nothing, and WPC 56. In 2021, Nick portrayed Dr Paul Robbins in Katherine Kelly thriller Innocent.
Jack Weise portrays PC Danny Finley in the cast of Murder Most Puzzling. He’s best known for playing Jack in the Channel 5 period drama The Hardacres. He’s also popped up in episodes of Doctors, and Showtrial.
Yasmin Seky plays Becky Baidwan. It’s her second TV role to date. Having said that, though, her first role was pretty epic. She played Nikita Murphy in the brilliant RTÉ crime drama Kin series 1 and 2. Nikita was the beautiful and loyal girlfriend of Eric ‘Viking’ Kinsella.
Richard Croxford stars as the over-dramatic Mayor Firth in the cast of Murder Most Puzzling. Actor Richard is known for playing Ben McCafferty in the comedy Funboys. He’s also popped up as supporting cast in TV series such as Line of Duty, Bloodlands, and Aristocrats. In 2018, Richard starred as Father Nicholas in the true story dramatisation Mrs Wilson.
Meanwhile, Fiona Browne is Edith Potter. Fair City viewers will know her for playing DI Audrey McCabe between 2020 and 2023.
Relative newcomer Conor Sánchez plays Jimmi Potter. He recently portrayed Aaron Kelly in Channel 5 detective drama Ellis. Meanwhile, total newcomer Amber Mendez-Martin as Katy Hooper in her first ever TV role.
Lastly, David Crowley is Stuart Tanner. He’s famous for playing Garda Sean Holden in the Dublin-set crime drama Red Rock. And Dearbháile McKinney is Pamela Hawkins. She’s another Murder Most Puzzling actor who cut their teeth on Blue Lights. She played Tommy Foster’s girlfriend Aisling in series 1 and 2.
Nick Danan stars as DS Sam Brody [Credit: Channel 5]
Full list of main cast in Murder Most Puzzling on Channel 5:
Phyllis Logan is Cora Felton.
Charlotte Hope is Sherry Carter.
Alistair Brammer is Anton Grant.
Adam Best is DCI Hooper.
Nick Danan is DS Sam Brody.
Jack Weise is PC Danny Finley.
Yasmin Seky as Becky Baidwan.
Richard Croxford as Mayor Firth.
Conor Sánchez as Jimmi Potter.
Amber Mendez-Martin stars as Katy Hooper.
Yasmin Seky is lawyer Becky Baidwan.
Fiona Browne is Edith Potter.
David Crowley is Stuart Tanner.
Dearbháile McKinney is Pamela Hawkins.
Clean Sweep actor Trevor Kaneswaran is Sunil Baidwan.
Litvinenko’s Simon Haines is Rod Reed.
The Knife’s Ashionye Michelle Raccah is Barbara ‘Babs’ Dufresne.
Lata Sharma – who played a handler in Blue Lights – is Irene Farrow.
Hope Street’s Mukamajulé Michelo is Ellen Hooper.
Nova Jones’ Catherine Rees is Dr Nadia Burke.
Newcomer Barney Taylor is Colin Sugar.
The Secret’s Conor Grimes is Mr Trotter.
Dalgliesh’s Conor Doran is Casey Roth.
