{"id":22803,"date":"2022-09-28T13:57:55","date_gmt":"2022-09-28T11:57:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1713037"},"modified":"2022-09-28T14:29:32","modified_gmt":"2022-09-28T12:29:32","slug":"meet-the-cast-of-this-england","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/meet-the-cast-of-this-england\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet the cast of This England"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By James Hibbs\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 28 September 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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New Sky drama This England<\/a> details the UK\u2019s response to COVID-19 in the early months of the pandemic, but is perhaps best known as the series which stars Sir Kenneth Branagh as Boris Johnson.<\/p>\n

Branagh is uncanny as the former Prime Minister, wearing full prosthetics to look like Johnson. However, he isn\u2019t the only star playing a real-life figure in the series.<\/p>\n

With Ophelia Lovibond<\/a> playing Johnson\u2019s wife Carrie, Andrew Buchan playing former Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Simon Paisley Day playing Dominic Cummings, This England certainly has a stacked cast.<\/p>\n

But who else appears in the central cast for the sweeping and broad-scale series, and who are the real people they portray? Read on for everything you need to know about the central cast of This England.<\/p>\n

Sir Kenneth Branagh plays Boris Johnson<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Kenneth Branagh and Boris Johnson<\/span><\/figcaption> Phil Fisk\/Sky and JEFF J MITCHELL\/POOL\/AFP via Getty Images<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Who is Boris Johnson<\/strong>?\u00a0<\/strong>Boris Johnson is the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, who at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic was coming off of a landslide election win for the Conservatives. He also had a baby on the way with his fianc\u00e9e Carrie Symonds.<\/p>\n

Where have I seen Sir Kenneth Branagh before? <\/strong>Branagh has had a long and storied career as both an actor and director. He has previously starred in Wallander, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets<\/a> and as Hercule Poirot in Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile<\/a>, both of which he directed, as well as in many other roles. He also director the first Thor<\/a> and wrote and directed this year\u2019s Oscar winner Belfast<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ophelia Lovibond plays Carrie Symonds (later Johnson)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Ophelia Lovibond and Carrie Johnson<\/span><\/figcaption> Phil Fisk\/Sky and Patrick Semansky\/POOL\/AFP\/Getty<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Who is Carrie Johnson<\/strong>?\u00a0<\/strong>Carrie Johnson (n\u00e9e Symonds) is the wife of Boris Johnson. She had previously been a Conservative Party media official and during the early months of the pandemic was expecting her first child, Wilfred.<\/p>\n

Where have I seen Ophelia Lovibond before? <\/strong>Lovibond has played Carina in multiple Marvel Cinematic Universe<\/a> projects, and is also known for appearing in Rocketman, Man Up, Elementary and Minx.<\/p>\n

Andrew Buchan plays Matt Hancock<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Andrew Buchan and Matt Hancock<\/span><\/figcaption> Sky\/Phil Fisk and Simon Dawson\/Bloomberg via Getty Images<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Who is Matt Hancock<\/strong>?\u00a0<\/strong>Matt Hancock is the former Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, who was in the role during the first year and a half of the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n

Where have I seen Andrew Buchan before? <\/strong>Buchan is best known for appearing in series such as Broadchurch, Garrow\u2019s Law, The Crown<\/a>, Industry<\/a>, The ABC Murders and Alex Rider<\/a>, while he has also appeared in films such as Sir Ridley Scott\u2019s All the Money in the World.<\/p>\n

Simon Paisley Day plays Dominic Cummings<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Simon Paisley Day and Dominic Cummings<\/span><\/figcaption> Sky\/Phil Fisk and Wiktor Szymanowicz\/Future Publishing via Getty Images<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Who is Dominic Cummings<\/strong>?\u00a0<\/strong>Dominic Cummings is a political strategist who was director of Vote Leave during the Brexit campaign and subsequently Chief Adviser to Prime Minister Boris Johnson until November 2020.<\/p>\n

Where have I seen Simon Paisley Day before? <\/strong>Paisley Day played General Quinn in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker<\/a>, and has history with Dominic Cummings-related projects, having previously appeared in Brexit: The Uncivil War alongside Benedict Cumberbatch. He has also appeared in series such as Doctor Who<\/a>, The Crown<\/a> and Sherlock<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Derek Barr plays Lee Cain<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Derek Barr and Lee Cain<\/span><\/figcaption> Phil Fisk\/Sky UK and Leon Neal\/Getty Images<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Who is Lee Cain<\/strong>?\u00a0<\/strong>Lee Cain is a PR professional\u00a0who served as\u00a0Downing Street Director of Communications until the end of 2020.<\/p>\n

Where have I seen Derek Barr before? <\/strong>Barr has appeared in series such as Casualty<\/a> and Little Boy Blue, as well as films including Journey\u2019s End.<\/p>\n

Shri Patel plays Rishi Sunak<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Shri Patel and Rishi Sunak<\/span><\/figcaption> Phil Fisk\/Sky UK and Alberto Pezzali\/NurPhoto via Getty Images<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Who is Rishi Sunak<\/strong>?\u00a0<\/strong>Rishi Sunak is the former Chancellor of the Exchequer, who served in Boris Johnson\u2019s Government, after replacing Sajid Javid in the role.<\/p>\n

Where have I seen Shri Patel before? <\/strong>Patel has previously appeared in Emmerdale<\/a> and Pennyworth.<\/p>\n

Jimmy Livingstone plays Chris Whitty<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Jimmy Livingstone and Chris Whitty<\/span><\/figcaption> Phil Fisk\/Sky and Leon Neal – WPA Pool\/Getty Images<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Who is Chris Whitty<\/strong>?\u00a0<\/strong>Chris Whitty is an epidemiologist who has served as Chief Medical Officer for England\u00a0and Chief Medical Adviser to the UK Government since 2019.<\/p>\n

Where have I seen Jimmy Livingstone before? <\/strong>Livingstone previously appeared in The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret but is best known for voicing characters in games such as Elden Ring<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Alec Nicholls as Patrick Vallance<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Alec Nicholls and Patrick Vallance<\/span><\/figcaption> Phil Fisk\/Sky and Leon Neal – WPA Pool\/Getty Images<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Who is Patrick Vallance<\/strong>?\u00a0<\/strong>Patrick Vallance is a physician and scientist who has served as the\u00a0Chief Scientific Adviser\u00a0to the\u00a0Government since 2018.<\/p>\n

Where have I seen Alec Nicholls before? <\/strong>Nicholls has previously appeared in series such as The Crown<\/a>, Doc Martin<\/a> and The Midwich Cuckoos<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Anthony Howell plays Neil Ferguson<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Anthony Howell and Neil Ferguson<\/span><\/figcaption> Sky\/Rory Mulvey and Thomas Angus, Imperial College London\/Creative Commons<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Who is Neil Ferguson<\/strong>?\u00a0<\/strong>Neil Ferguson is an epidemiologist who headed up the\u00a0Imperial College COVID-19 Response Team and was a government advisor on the\u00a0Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies in the early months of the pandemic.<\/p>\n

Where have I seen Anthony Howell before? <\/strong>Howell has appeared in Luther<\/a>, Shetland<\/a> and Foyle\u2019s War, and has also provided voices for numerous video games.<\/p>

Charles Dance plays Max Hastings<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Charles Dance and Max Hastings<\/span><\/figcaption> Sky\/Alison Painter and Roberto Ricciuti\/Getty Images<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Who is Max Hastings<\/strong>?\u00a0<\/strong>Charles Dance has a cameo at the start of the series as journalist Max Hastings, who has\u00a0worked as a foreign correspondent for the BBC, editor-in-chief of\u00a0The Daily Telegraph, and editor of the\u00a0Evening Standard.<\/p>\n

Where have I seen Charles Dance before? <\/strong>Dance is a prolific star of both TV and film, having appeared in Game of Thrones<\/a> as Tywin Lannister, The Crown<\/a> as Lord Mountbatten, David Fincher\u2019s Mank and The Imitation Game amongst many other projects.<\/p>\n

All six episodes of This England are available now on Sky and NOW \u2013 find out more about\u00a0how to sign up for Sky TV<\/a>. Check out more of our\u00a0Drama<\/a>\u00a0coverage or visit our\u00a0TV Guide<\/a>\u00a0to see what\u2019s on tonight.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The latest issue of Radio Times magazine is on sale now \u2013\u00a0subscribe now<\/a>\u00a0and get the next 12 issues for only \u00a31. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the\u00a0Radio Times podcast<\/a>\u00a0with Jane Garvey.<\/strong><\/p><\/body><\/html>\n

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