DI Ray series 2 cast list: Who plays who in the returning detective drama

DI Ray series 2 cast list: Who plays who in the returning detective drama

By Helen Fear |

DI Ray is back for a series 2, with some familiar faces in the cast - as well as some exciting new actors.

Parminder Nagra returns as the leading character in the ITV detective series, alongside TV favourites Gemma Whelan, and Jamie Bamber.

Here's a full rundown of the cast in DI Ray series 2, including the character, who plays them, and where you've seen them before...

Actress Parminder Nagra as DI Ray in series 2 (Credit: ITV)

Who plays DI Ray in the cast of series 2?

Leicester-born Parminder Nagra, 49, returns as Detective Rachita Ray in series 2 of the ITV drama.

ITV tells us that we join DI Ray "two months after her suspension" at the end of series 1 (DI Ray series 1 recap here). A synopsis of episode one says: "DI Rachita Ray is thrust back into homicide after a fatal drive-by shooting outside a Birmingham hospital kills young nurse Megan Parks and Frank Chapman, the head of a local crime syndicate."

The detective then faces a race against time to uncover the truth before the Chapmans act out their revenge and an all-out gang war erupts onto the streets...

What else has Parminder Nagra been in?

Of course, Parminder is perhaps best known for her breakout role as Jess in the 2002 film Bend It Like Beckham.

ER fans will recognise her for her role as Neela Rasgotra, a role she played from 2003 to 2009. Other significant roles include Dr. Lucy Banerjee in Alcatraz, Meera Malik in The Blacklist, and Senator Ellen Nadeer in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

From 2017 to 2018, she portrayed Dr. Sarinda Khatri in the Sky thriller Fortitude. More recently, she played Rebecca Harper in Intergalactic, and Dr. Maryam Afridi in the ITV medical drama Maternal.

Actor Jamie Bamber as corrupt policeman DCI Martyn Hunter in the cast of DI Ray series 2 (Credit: ITV)

Jamie Bamber is DCI Martyn Hunter

Jamie Bamber portrays DCI Martyn Hunter in the cast of DI Ray on ITV. In series 1, Martyn was Rachita's boyfriend-turned-fiancée, a fellow cop she can confide him.

However, after a rather thrilling four episodes, he was exposed as a corrupt policeman, who had been feeding information to criminal Marcus Tranter. ITV has revealed little about his role in series 2, although a first-look picture shows him in jail...

London-born actor Jamie, 51, is perhaps best known for his role as Captain Lee 'Apollo' Adama in Battlestar Galactica, or Matt Devlin in Law & Order UK.

He’s also famous for his roles as Dr. Matt Kendal in Peak Practice, Dr. Tyler Wilson in Monday Mornings, and Kev Allison in The Smoke.

From 2016 to 2018, he played DI Tim Williamson in Marcella, before winning a role as Col. Alexander Coltrane in Strike Back.

He subsequently played Sam Wright in the ITV drama Innocent opposite Katherine Kelly. More recently, Jamie has played Adam Haines in Signora Volpe, Archie Hughes in Beyond Paradise, and Harry King in Cannes Confidential.

In fact, he's had a prolific few years. In the past 12 months, he's portrayed DI Jim Armstrong in Netflix thriller Who is Erin Carter?, 4.2 in the Jon Voight film Strangers, and Charlie Morgan in The Wives...

Gemma Whelan returns as DCI Kerry Henderson in the cast of DI Ray series 2 (Credit: ITV)

DI Ray series 2 cast list: Gemma Whelan plays DCI Kerry Henderson

Leeds-born actress Gemma Whelan, 43, reprises her role as DCI Kerry Henderson in the cast of the ITV drama DI Ray.

In series 1, Kerry wasn't impressed when Rachita was assigned to her team. She didn't think Rachita had earned her stripes like everyone else... Will she feel any differently in DI series 2?

Gemma is perhaps best known for playing Marian Lister in the BBC drama Gentleman Jack, or her Game of Thrones character Yara Greyjoy.

In 2021, she got her own lead in the show The Tower, portraying no-nonsense DS Sarah Collins. The series was subsequently recommissioned for a second and third series.

Gemma has also starred as Geraldine in Killing Eve, Ann Eaton in White House Farm, DC Eunice Noon in The End of the F***ing World, and Prudence Glynn in the Spanish language Cristóbal Balenciaga (yes, the mum-of-two can speak Spanish).

Ian Puleston-Davies as Supt Ross Beardsmore in the cast of DI Rat series 2 (Credit: ITV)

Who plays Supt Ross Beardsmore in DI Ray?

Welsh actor Ian Puleston-Davies, 66, portrays Supt Ross Beardsmore in the cast of DI Ray series 2.

Of course, soap fans will know Ian best for playing Owen Armstrong in Coronation Street, but he's been acting for nearly four decades.

Early roles included small parts in Boon, Brookside and Grange Hill. From 1995 to 1996, he played Terry Williams in Hollyoaks. Two years later, in 1998, he popped up in nine episodes of EastEnders as Jimmy.

He's worked extensively as a jobbing actor in TV shows including The Bill, Conviction, Funland and Vincent. Ian also played Charlie Fisher in Waterloo Road, Peter Cullen in Marcella, Mick O'Callaghan in A Confession, and Frank Jackson in Tin Star.

Ian also starred in the doomed ITV series Viewpoint, and he is the voice of King Thistle in the surreal CBeebies show Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom.

More recently, Ian played Karl Turner MP in Four Lives, Professor Phil Scraton in Anne, and the villain in The Teacher. He also popped up as DI Philip Mays in Silent Witness, Terry McGregor in The Bay, and Eric in The Responder.

Steve Oram is DS Clive Bottomley in DI Ray (Credit: ITV)

Who plays DS Clive Bottomley in the cast of DI Ray series 2?

Actor Steve Oram, 51, plays DS Clive Bottomley in DI Ray on ITV.

Killing Eve fans might remember the actor as vicar Phil, who came to a gruesome ending at the hands of Villanelle.

The Melton Mowbray-born actor Steve is perhaps best known for some of his more comedic roles in Sightseers, The World's End, and Code 404.

He played Joseph Williamson in Doctor Who, Phil in The End of the F***king World, and Mick in Sally4Ever.

Most recently, he's played Blind Brian in the film Members Club, Tony, and the Taxi Driver in the TV series Still Up.

Peter Bankolé returns as DS Kwesi Edmund (Credit: ITV)

Peter Bankolé is DS Kwesi Edmund

Birmingham-born Peter Bankolé, 43, stars as DS Kwesi Edmund in the cast of DI Ray series 2.

Peter's been on our screens for about 20 years, having first appeared as Chris Barclay in one episode of Casualty in 2004.

He went on to play Steve Richards in The Rotters' Club, Josh Walcott in Doctors, and Lokoyas rådgiver in Borgen.

In 2014, he portrayed Big Dave in Death in Paradise. Two years later, he starred as William Letso in Peaky Blinders, and then as Mo in Clique.

Peter has also popped up in The Durrells, River, and Andor. More recently, he's played D.C. Connor Pollock in The Chelsea Detective, and Charles in Bodkin.

Lauren Drummond stars as Suzie Chapman in DI Ray series 2 (Credit: ITV)

DI Ray series 2 cast list: Lauren Drummond stars as Suzie Chapman

Manchester-born actress Lauren Drummond, 36, joins the cast of DI Ray series 2 as Suzie Chapman.

Lauren is probably best known for playing Chantelle Lane in Holby City from 2011 to 2016.

She's also famous for portraying Mika Grainger in Waterloo Road. She played the role between 2006 and 2007, making a surprise return in 2024 as the same character.

Her first ever role was playing Lucy in one episode of Grange Hill in 2005, before going on to star as Jane Black in Heartbeat.

Other notable roles include student nurse Faye Clark in the ITV drama The Royal, Kelly Jones in Unforgotten, Jane Bestwick in Coronation Street, and Georgina Kaplan in the recent Billie Piper comedy I Hate Suzie.

The Office star Patrick Baladi joins the cast of DI Ray series 2 as DI Patrick Holden (Credit: ITV)

DI Ray series 2 cast list: Patrick Baladi star as DI Patrick Holden

Patrick Baladi, from Sutton Coldfield, made his name playing David Brent's nemesis Neil Godwin on The Office.

The actor, now 52, also appeared in another iconic BBC TV show Line of Duty. He joined the cast as solicitor Jimmy Lakewell for three episodes in 2017. He's also portrayed Michael Jackson in the Sky One drama Stella, and Stephen Holmes in the ITV thriller Marcella.

Patrick first appeared on TV in 1995, when he was cast as an Orderly Sergeant in Soldier Soldier. He went on to star in the 2004 film Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason.

Since then, he's popped up in Midsomer Murders (where he got electrocuted in his car), and Silent Witness, where he portrayed ex-detective Ron Radford.

Patrick has also starred in EastEnders, New Tricks, Mistresses, My Family and Jed Mercurio's Bodies.

He appeared nude in the TV movie Consuming Passion, when Olivia Colman seduced him in the shower, and portrayed Dodi Al-Fayed in the 2007 TV docudrama Diana: Last Days of a Princess.

More recently, he's played Darren in Breeders, John Wingsnight in Ted Lasso, and Tilson in Douglas is Cancelled.

Michael Socha stars as Dave Chapman

Derby-born actor Michael Socha, 36, stars as Dave Chapman, whose high-profile criminal dad is shot in a drive-by shooting.

Of course, those of you who watched Showtrial series 2 this month on BBC One and BBC iPlayer will recognise Michael as charismatic and cocky officer PC Justin Mitchell.

This is England fans will know the actor from playing Harvey. He's also famous for portraying Tom McNair in Being Human, Will Scarlet in Once Upon a Time, and David Hartley in The Gallows Pole.

Actress Witney White as DC Charlene Ellis in the cast of DI Ray series 2 (Credit: ITV)

Who else is in the cast of DI Ray on ITV?

According to IMDB, although not confirmed by ITV, Jamie Bell stars as Stevo Miller in DI Ray series 2. Jamie's known for his portrayal of Billy Elliot in the film of the same name. He also portrayed Abraham Woodhull in the TV series TURN: Washington's Spies, and Harper in Shining Girls.

Meanwhile, Sam Baker-Jones stars as DC Liam Payne. He's probably best known for playing Scott in Noughts + Crosses, and Young Matthew in The Walk-In.

Annette Badland plays Liz. She's known for playing Fleur Perkins in Midsomer Murders, Mae Green in Ted Lasso, and Babe Smith in EastEnders.

Phoebe Marshall stars as Megan Parks. She's a relative newcomer, having played Princess Ella in The Royal Mob, and appeared in two short films.

Tony Van Silva plays Frank Chapman. Tony is actually a former stunt man, turned actor who's also appeared in Grantchester, and films such as Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

Ian Attard portrays David Brown. The actor recently played Charles Farren in Netflix superhero series Supacell, and Nelson in Bridgerton.

Tell Me Eveything actress Nicola Alexis stars as Dr. Sylvia Clancy, while Witney White portrays DC Charlene Ellis. Witney has played Scarlett Streatham in one episode of Father Brown, Marnie Lindop in Holby City, and Tulisa Brown in Doctors.

Actress Dinita Gohl as Amara Choudhry. She's played Bela Nasir in Silent Witness, Zoe in Treason, Fate Maiden in The Sandman, and Lucy Vaughan in Our House.

Lastly, Shobu Kapoor plays Debo Ray. She's known for playing Gita in EastEnders, Mrs. Khan in Citizen Khan, and Seema in We Are Lady Parts.