The Brassic gang are back for some festive-themed fun!

By Morgan Cormack

Published: Thursday, 21 December 2023 at 10:30 AM


It’s the day that Brassic fans have all been waiting for since the end of season 5: the anticipated Christmas episode.

It’s the first festive-themed outing for the gang, and A Very Brassic Christmas is set to be as hilarious as it is chaotic.

Led by Joe Gilgun as Vinnie and Michelle Keegan as Erin, the group are planning on having a fairly relaxed Christmas. That is, until Dr Chris’s (Dominic West) aunt is in crisis and Tyler’s school needs some serious nativity help.

Not only are all the main gang returning for the new episode, which airs today (Thursday 21st December), but we also have some starry new additions.

Joining her fellow The Crown co-star is Imelda Staunton as Edie, West’s on-screen aunt who needs looking after. And that’s not all, as Taskmaster‘s Greg Davies is also joining the cast for the Christmas special as Dick Dolphin.

Speaking about his role in the episode, Davies said: “I love Brassic. I think it’s the mayhem and I think it’s the surreal comedy, there’s a real sort of energy to it.

“I think Brassic has got a lot of heart, too. I’m also acting opposite Imelda Staunton, but what I am most worried about is my northern accent.”

Want to know more about the Brassic cast, including where you’ve seen them before? Read on for everything you need to know ahead of season 5.

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Brassic season 5 cast: Full list of actors and characters in Sky comedy

The full list of cast members for Brassic season 5 is as follows. Scroll on to find out more about the main cast, including who they star as in the series and where you’ve seen them before.

Joe Gilgun plays Vinnie 

Joe Gilgun in Brassic season 5, wearing a khaki shirt and brown coat with a white cap
Joe Gilgun in Brassic season 5.
Sky

Who is Vinnie? Vinnie continues to make the most of life despite having a rough time growing up. He’s the leader of his close-knit friendship group and relies on his gang to help him through life’s chaos, as well as his own struggles with bipolar disorder.

Where have I seen Joe Gilgun before? Gilgun is the co-creator of Brassic, and much of the series is inspired by his own experiences growing up. He is known for his roles in This Is England, Emmerdale, Misfits, Preacher and Pride.

Michelle Keegan plays Erin

Michelle Keegan as Erin in Brassic.
Michelle Keegan as Erin in Brassic.
Sky

Who is Erin? Erin is a fiercely independent mother of one, determined to give her son all the opportunities she didn’t get growing up in Hawley. Despite wanting to move away initially, she’s realised that Hawley isn’t all that bad where her friends are involved.

Where have I seen Michelle Keegan before? Keegan first found on-screen fame in Coronation Street as Tina McIntyre, but has since starred in dramas such as Our Girl, Ordinary Lies and Ten Pound Poms. She will be reuniting with BAFTA-winning Brassic writer Danny Brocklehurst once again for Netflix’s Fool Me Once.

Tom Hanson plays Cardi

Tom Hanson as Cardi in Brassic.
Tom Hanson as Cardi in Brassic.
Sky

Who is Cardi? Cardi is the sweet-natured and not all that confident friend in the group, often finding solace in the kebab shop and doing runs for the group.

Where have I seen Tom Hanson before? Hanson has appeared in The Outlaws, The Tunnel and Silent Witness.

Aaron Heffernan plays Ash

Aaron Heffernan as Ash in Brassic.
Aaron Heffernan as Ash in Brassic.
Sky

Who is Ash? Ash is from a hard-nosed fighting family that grew up on a traveller site on the outskirts of Hawley. He’s openly gay and feels most comfortable with his friends, but can often switch on the violence with a second’s notice.

Where have I seen Aaron Heffernan before? Heffernan has appeared in War of the Worlds, Atlanta and Love/Hate.

Ryan Sampson plays Tommo

Ryan Sampson as Tommo in Brassic.
Ryan Sampson as Tommo in Brassic.
Sky

Who is Tommo? Despite being a bit of a loner, Tommo is the mysterious one of the group and has recently started up a series of S&M nights for rich clients.

Where have I seen Ryan Sampson before? Sampson has starred in Plebs, The Frankenstein Chronicles, Doctor Who and Waiting.

Parth Thakerar plays JJ

Parth Thakerar as JJ in Brassic.
Parth Thakerar as JJ in Brassic.
Sky

Who is JJ? JJ’s family may mostly be doctors and lawyers, but he has found solace in setting up his own car workshop in Hawley. He’s not as on-board with the dodgy side of the group, but he does provide quick cars whenever needed.

Where have I seen Parth Thakerar before? Thakerar has starred in Gangs of London, Starstruck, Vigil and the 2023 adaptation of Great Expectations.

Bronagh Gallagher plays Carol

Bronagh Gallagher as Carol in Brassic.
Bronagh Gallagher as Carol in Brassic.
Sky

Who is Carol? Carol is Ash’s half-sister and Cardi’s wife after the pair married in the season 2 finale. She’s not one to be messed with, but is hiding a secret or two of her own.

Where have I seen Bronagh Gallagher before? Gallagher has starred in Pramface, The Life and Adventures of Nick Nickleby and The Commitments, and has also appeared in Star Wars Episode One: The Phantom Menace and Pulp Fiction.

Dominic West plays Dr Chris Coxley

Dominic West as Dr Chris Coxley in Brassic.
Dominic West as Dr Chris Coxley in Brassic.
Sky

Who is Dr Chris Coxley? Chris is Vinnie’s GP and has become a close friend of his, being someone Vinnie can divulge his life problems to. As a doctor, he’s slightly useless – instead he’s more interested in buying drugs from Vinnie.

Where have I seen Dominic West before? West is an acclaimed actor, having starred in numerous roles over the years including The Wire, The Crown, The Affair, 300 and SAS: Rogue Heroes, to name a few.

Steve Evets plays Farmer Jim

Steve Evets as Jim in Brassic.
Steve Evets as Farmer Jim in Brassic.
Sky

Who is Farmer Jim? Jim may be a slightly rude and blunt farmer, but he has come in good use over the seasons for the group.

Where have I seen Steve Evets before? Evets has starred in Looking for Eric, Gentleman Jack, Vera and Rev.

Imelda Staunton plays Aunt Edie

Imelda Staunton as Edie in A Very Brassic Christmas standing with her hands clasped next to a nativity scene.
Imelda Staunton as Edie in A Very Brassic Christmas.
Sky

Who is Aunt Edie? Dr Chris’s aunt who is a retired primary school teacher but finds herself in a bit of a crisis at Christmastime and needs looking after.

Where have I seen Imelda Staunton before? This is, of course, not Staunton and Dominic West’s first on-screen pairing together, as they star as the Queen and Prince Charles in The Crown. She is also known for roles in Vera Drake, Harry Potter, Nanny McPhee, Downton Abbey and Chicken Run.

Greg Davies plays Dick Dolphin

Greg Davies as Dick Dolphin in A Very Brassic Christmas sitting on a sofa wearing a suit.
Greg Davies as Dick Dolphin in A Very Brassic Christmas.
Sky

Who is Dick Dolphin? Dick runs the local winter wonderland and is confronted by the Brassic gang when they need help with some nativity items.

Where have I seen Greg Davies before? The comedian and actor is perhaps best known for being the Taskmaster in Taskmaster, starring in and writing The Cleaner, stealing scenes as Mr Gilbert in The Inbetweeners and for going head-to-head with the titular character as Ken Thompson in Cuckoo.