Shakespeare & Hathaway series 5: Catch up with the main cast from Jo Joyner to Mark Benton
Dan Seddon | 6:00am Wed 24 SepShakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators series 5 has finally arrived, with its three beloved central cast members – three years since Stratford-upon-Avon last had its time in the ‘cosy crime’ sunshine.
Unlikely private eye duo Luella Shakespeare (a former hairdresser) and Frank Hathaway (seen-it-all cop) take to the cobbles as case crackers – this time apart…
Series 5 opens with their partnership dissolved and there’s plenty more difficult drama ahead – that’s even before we get to their latest crime-stricken clients.
Ahead of this long-awaited return the return of Shakespeare & Hathaway, refresh your memories on the main characters and the cast that makes them so well-loved.
The Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators series 5 cast
Joe Joyner as Lu Shakespeare?
First breaking into the industry with a bit-part in medical drama Always and Everyone, before drawing attention with a role in Channel 4 hit No Angels, Jo Joyner now co-leads Shakespeare & Hathaway as Lu Shakespeare.
Ahead of landing a major role in EastEnders as Tanya Branning – amassing a total of 679 episodes – Jo earned her stripes across various British TV institutions such as Heartbeat, Silent Witness, and Doctor Who.
As Lynda Moss, she appeared twice in Who, back when Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper teamed up as the Time Lord and his companion Rose.
Bad Wolf and The Parting of the Ways was a two-episode storyline airing in the summer of 2005, which also featured John Barrowman’s Captain Jack Harness and the Daleks.
Jo has tried her hand at comedy too, in Fat Friends, Trying Again, Porters, Hang Ups, and The Reluctant Landlord.
A four-year stint on Channel 4’s Ackley Bridge commenced in 2017, in which she portrayed the eponymous school’s headteacher Mandy Carter.
Mandy’s storylines included the breakdown of a marriage, becoming pregnant, and attempting to extract her mum from an abusive relationship.
In 2021 Jo joined the streaming revolution via Harlan Coben‘s Stay Close, playing the police partner of James Nesbitt’s DS Michael Broome in the Netflix drama.
Most recently, in 2024, she led Channel 5’s The Wives alongside fellow EastEnders alum Tamzin Outhwaite, before rubbing shoulders with Inglorious Basterds favourite Diane Kruger this year in the Paramount+ series Little Disasters.
Jo Joyner on her character Lu’s ‘dopamine dressing’
Asked what she loves most about stepping into the shoes of Lu, Jo singled out her alter-ego’s bold wardrobe choices.
“I’ve discovered there is actually a term for her style, she’s a ‘dopamine dresser’, which means if it makes her smile then she wears it,” she explained.
“I would never be brave enough to wear all the bright colours and things Lu wears, because I wouldn’t want to stand out as much, so I really enjoy playing that part of her.”
On the subject of filming Shakespeare & Hathaway in her home of the Midlands, she commented: “It’s just so beautiful. The countryside is so lovely and I’m a country girl at heart.
“My favourite place to film is always by the River Avon because you’re really in Stratford-upon-Avon then and it’s so beautiful – and the swans always come for a little visit, day or night!”
Mark Benton as Frank Hathaway
The co-headliner of this crime-solving programme is of course Mark Benton, best known for his affable performances in Waterloo Road, Northern Lights, and Barbara.
Flitting between TV and film work, he has appeared on the big screen for esteemed directors Mike Leigh (Career Girls, Topsy-Turvy, and All or Nothing), Anthony Minghella (Breaking and Entering), Terry Gilliam (The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus), and Joe Wright (Cyrano).
The 59-year-old is certainly no slouch when it comes to collaborating with TV maestros either, having brought to life characters dreamt up by Jimmy McGovern and Paul Abbott in The Street and Clocking Off.
Notably, Mark appeared in Early Doors – made by The Royle Family’s Craig Cash – as well as Born and Bred (by future Doctor Who showrunner Chris Chibnall), The Nevers (from Buffy the Vampire Slayer mastermind Joss Whedon), and Catterick (a Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer comedy vehicle).
Mark also belongs to a select group of actors who’ve enjoyed the tantalising Inside No. 9 experience on more than one occasion.
You can find him in the 2015 instalment La Couchette and 2024’s Plodding On.
Death in Paradise, Outnumbered, Doctor Who, and Murphy’s Law are other mentionable credits on his CV.
Mark Benton on daft connection to Frank Hathaway
“I think this series of Shakespeare & Hathaway is the best and funniest season yet, we’ve really made the most of it,” claimed Mark.
“We dress up a lot more in this season and I sport a nice Kevin Keegan wig at one point! The stories are great too, and the writing.”
Addressing the possible similarities between himself and his character, the star acknowledged how they’re both “daft”.
“When you play a character, it’s another version of you in a way. His daft side is very much ‘me’. And I guess the older I get, the grumpier I get.
“I am probably as messy as Frank, to be honest. Would I be friends with him? Yeah, I probably would. I’d probably take the Mickey out of him when he’s in his grumpy moments!”
Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators star Patrick Walshe McBride plays Sebastian Brudenell [Credit: BBC Studios]
Patrick Walshe McBride as Sebastian Brudenell
Providing some youthful edge to the central triumvirate is Patrick Walshe McBride as Sebastian Brudenell.
Shakespeare & Hathaway is the performer’s biggest job to date, having been involved since day one.
Prior to finding his feet on the show, Patrick was cast for two episodes of detective drama Lewis back in 2014.
Brief jobs on Holby City and Giri/Haji were next in line, with the latter co-starring an eye-catching ensemble cast of Shōgun’s Takehiro Hira, The White Lotus actor Will Sharpe, and Kelly Macdonald of Netflix’s Dept. Q.
In 2020, Patrick had the pleasure of sharing the screen with Claes Bang in the BBC adaptation of Dracula.
Patrick Walshe McBride on Sebastian’s dress-up in Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators
Speaking about Sebastian’s strong dress-up game, Patrick said that “one of the most joyful” parts of the gig is spitballing with the hair, make-up and costume departments.
“The dressing up element is Sebastian’s creative outlet, and obviously he lives above Gloria’s costume shop, so that was a resource that we could tap into and it’s grown and grown from there.”
