Ludwig on BBC: All the cast in the David Mitchell comedy drama, including guest stars
By Helen Fear |Ludwig is BBC One's new crime drama series and we're pretty sure the unique twist on the format will put a smile on your face - not least because of its brilliant cast.
The murder mystery isn't like any other you've seen before. And that's a fabulous thing. Peep Show star David Mitchell portrays unlikely 'detective' John Ludwig Taylor, who is working for the Cambridge police force despite being wholly under-qualified. In fact, he's a puzzlemaker, forced into a world of crime in a bid to find his twin brother...
Anti-hero John poses as his detective brother after his twin brother's disappearance. It's quirky, and has a cast full of 'wanted' famous faces. Here's everything you need to know about the cast of Ludwig on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Ludwig cast: David Mitchell plays John Taylor
Actor, writer, comedian and presenter David Mitchell plays nerdy, reclusive puzzle setter John Ludwig Taylor whose life is upended when his identical twin James disappears.
Crucially, twin James was a DCI in the local police force, and his job undoubtedly holds the key to his disappearance. In a bid to discover his brother's whereabouts, John reluctantly leaves his life of solitude.
Of course, TV viewers will know David Mitchell best for playing Mark Corrigan in Peep Show. He and co-star Robert Webb appeared in the hugely popular comedy from 2003 to 2015. They went on to appear in comedy sketch show That Mitchell and Webb Look, and Back.
Their first film, Magicians, was released in 2007. David is also a panel game show host, and fronts Would I Lie to You? He is married to Only Connect host Victoria Coren.
Anna Maxwell Martin stars as Lucy Betts-Taylor
Actress Anna Maxwell Martin, 47, portrays John's pushy sister-in-law Lucy, who is married to missing James.
Of course, Anna is much loved for her role in Motherland. She plays the perpetually harassed mother of two Julia.
She's also known for her comic roles in Code 404, Good Omens, Alan Partridge, and Mandy.
Line of Duty fans will know her for playing super-bitch Carmichael. But Anna actually started in a multitude of period dramas, including Bleak House, North & South, South Riding, and The Bletchley Circle.
Most recently, Anna played Leanne Fitz-Amobi in A Good Girl's Guide to Murder. She's set to portray Delia Balmer in the upcoming Until I Kill You on ITV1. The true crime dramatisation is based on Delia's autobiographical book Living with a Serial Killer.
Ludwig cast: Dipo Ola plays DI Russell Carter
Nigerian-born Dipo Ola plays DI Russell Carter in the cast of Ludwig on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
His first ever appearance on British TV was as Calvin in the 2020 episode of Inside No.9 entitled The Referee's A W***er. He appeared opposite TV favourites David Morrissey and Ralf Little.
That same year, Dipo portrayed Kellerman in Baghdad Central. He subsequently played Mark Everly in COBRA, Douglas Hylton in Landscapers, and Cal Baker in McDonald & Dodds.
The actor is perhaps best known for portraying the killer Baba Lenga in the crime drama We Hunt Together.
Gerran Howell portrays DC Simon Evans
Welsh actor Gerran Howell, 33, portrays DC Simon Evans in the cast of Ludwig on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
He's probably best known for playing Vladimir Dracula in Young Dracula, a CBBC television series that aired between 2006 and 2012.
Between 2011 and 2015, he played Ernesto in The Sparticle Mystery, before moving on to portray Jack in Emerald City.
Gerran has also starred as Kid Sampson in the George Clooney-led Catch 22, and Leo Newman in Suspicion.
Ludwig cast: Izuka Hoyle stars as DS Alice Finch
Izuka Hoyle, 28, stars as DS Alice Finch in the cast of crime drama Ludwig.
The Scottish actress first appeared on our screens in 2018 when she portrayed Mary Seton in the Margot Robbie film Mary Queen of Scots.
That same year, she played Dani in the TV series Clique, before playing Clara in Jerk in 2019.
Izuka went on to star as Camille in the film Boiling Point and the subsequent TV series, as well as Wren in the TV series Outpost.
More recently, she's played Corinne in the comedy Big Boys, Lorna in The Responder, and Jenny Spiegel in Dinner with the Parents.
Ludwig cast: Dorothy Atkinson portrays DCS Carol Shaw
Actress Dorothy Atkinson, 58, plays DCS Carol Shaw in the new BBC comedy drama series Ludwig.
She's been on our screens ever since 1991, when she first appeared as Alison in The Crimewatch File. That same year, she joined the cast of London's Burning as Zoe, a role she played until 1993.
After playing Jessie Bond in the 1999 Mike Leigh film, she popped up in the likes of Holby City, Life Begins, No Angels, Bodies, and Heartbeat.
In 2013, she portrayed Jane Sutton in Call the Midwife, before going on to play Barbara Ashworth in Code of a Killer, and Kathryn Kent in Strike. Dorothy is also known for playing Annabel Ghillies in Next of Kin, Florence Scanwell in Harlots, and Pauline in Mum.
More recently, she's starred as Mary Pennyworth in Pennyworth, Jessie Cole in the ITVX thriller Without Sin, Jeannie Savage in The Gold, and Betty Hoban in the Peter Sutcliffe crime drama The Long Shadow.
In 2023, she portrayed Paula Quick in the Netflix film Saltburn.
Dylan Hughes plays Henry Betts-Taylor
Actor Dylan Hughes, who plays Henry Betts-Taylor, is a relative newbie compared to some of his co-stars.
In 2021, he joined the cast of CBBC drama Mallory Towers as Sebastian Fairweather. He appeared in two episodes.
In 2023, he portrayed Jakub in the medical drama Maternal.
Ludwig cast: Ralph Ineson plays Chief Constable Ziegler
Actor Ralph Ineson, 54, portrays Chief Constable Ziegler in the cast of Ludwig. He's a well known face on TV.
Just recently he portrayed Detective Inspector Morgan in the Jenna Coleman murder mystery The Jetty. He's also played Commander Bregman in Trigger Point, DCI Alec Boyd in The Capture, and General Tarakanov in Chernobyl.
Waterloo Road fans might know him as John Fry, but he's also portrayed Zack in Corrie, Luke Mullen in Playing the Field, and Jeremy Hazledine in Suburban Shootout. Of course, he played the legendary Finchy in The Office.
He's also been in lots of films, including Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi, First Knight, Magnolia, the Harry Potter franchise (as Amycus Carrow), and Guardians of the Galaxy.
Felicity Kendall portrays Camilla Bryce
Veteran actress Felicity Kendall, 77, guest stars as Camilla Bryce in Ludwig. Of course, TV viewers will know her best for playing Barbara Good in the TV series The Good Life from 1975 to 1977.
She went on to portray Gemma in Solo, Maxine in The Mistress, Helena in The Chamomile Lawn, and Nancy Belasco in Honey for Tea.
Between 2003 and 2006, Felicity starred as Rosemary Boxer in Rosemary & Thyme.
Since then, she's popped up in the likes of Pennyworth, Inside No.9, and Doctor Who. Strictly fans will remember she took part in the 2010 series, partnered with Vincent Simone. She was eliminated seventh.
Ludwig cast: Rose Ayling-Ellis is Ms Freya Chordwell
Actress Rose Ayling-Ellis, 29, guest stars as Ms Freya Chordwell in the cast of Ludwig on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
EastEnders fans will know Rose for playing Frankie Lewis in the BBC soap from 2020 to 2022. More recently, she popped up in an episode of Murder, They Hope, playing Catherine.
Of course, Rose also won the 19th series of Strictly Come Dancing with Giovanni Pernice in 2021. At the time, she was the programme's first deaf contestant.
Sam Swainsbury plays Mr Bishop
Actor Sam Swainsbury, 34, portrays Mr Bishop in Ludwig. He's best known for paying Jason in the heartwarming Lesley Manville comedy Mum.
He's also portrayed Kevin Russell in Fearless, Ethan Williams in Hanna, and Mark in the comedy Ruby Speaking.
More recently, he's played Jason Pickles in Hullraisers, and Father Douglas Carrisford in The Red King.
His film roles include Rowan in Fisherman's Friends, and its sequel.
Ludwig cast: Derek Jacobi portrays Mr Todd
The fabulous Derek Jacobi, 85, guest stars as Mr Todd in the impressive cast of Ludwig.
He has more than 60 years of TV and film under his belt. His most famous film roles include Gracchus in the 2000 film Gladiator, Probert in Gosford Park, and Edward Henry Masterman in Murder on the Orient Express.
Having first appeared on TV in 1961 as Charles Marlow in BBC Sunday Night Play, he went on to play Diederich Hessling in Man of Straw, Lord Fawn in The Pallisers, Claudius in I, Claudius, and Brother Cadfael in Cadfael.
Between 2013 and 2016, he played Stuart Bixby in Vicious, opposite real life pal Ian McKellen. More recently, he starred as Duke of Windsor in The Crown, Alan in Last Tango in Halifax, and Sir Ralph Unwin in The Following Events Are Based on a Pack of Lies.
Unsurprisingly, perhaps, he has also narrated dozens of shows, including In the Night Garden, and Mist: The Tale of a Sheepdog Puppy.
Actress Sophie Willan plays Holly Pinder
Thirty-six-year-old actress Sophie Willan plays Holly Pinder in Ludwig.
She's probably best known for her portrayal of Alma in the sitcom Alma's Not Normal, for which she's won two BAFTAs.
Sophie also starred as Zooelia in the comedy Animal TV, Ruby in Still Open All Hours, and Maeve Riley in Time.
She played Jessie in the Stephen Merchant movie Click & Collect in 2018.
Karl Pilkingon portrays DI Matt Neville
Sick of It star Karl Pilkington appears as DI Matt Neville, a suspect on John's board in episode 1. At the time of writing, we're not sure if this is an in-joke, or if he actually appears in the series as himself at any point.
This is reminiscent of when stand-up comedian Andi Osho popped up briefly in Line of Duty.
Karl is 51, and best known for working with Ricky Gervais. After working with Ricky and Stephen Merchant as producer on their Xfm radio show, Karl became a co-host of The Ricky Gervais Show. He subsequently presented the Sky travel comedy series An Idiot Abroad, and the Sky One travel comedy series The Moaning of Life.
He made his acting debut in Gervais' comedy-drama series Derek. He also co-created, co-wrote, and starred in the comedy series Sick of It.
Who else stars in the cast of Ludwig on the BBC?
Amanda Lawrence and Paul Chahid star as Julie and Adrian Tate in the cast of Ludwig. Actress Amanda is known for playing Commander D'Acy in Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker, and Pimble in Mr Selfridge.
Paul Chahid is perhaps best known for playing Reverend Francis Seaton in This Country, and Domitius in Brittannia.
Doctors' Mia Austen portrays Jane in Ludwig, while Shetland star Jakub Bednarczyk plays young twins John and James Taylor.
The Gallows Pole actress Stevie Binns stars as Carla.
Kiri's Scarlett Brookes is Sarah Gilmarsh, The Archers' Annabelle Dowler stars as Esther Taylor, HATE's Ikky Kabir portrays Brian, and The Terror's Christos Lawton plays Jamie.
Meanwhile, This Town's Tom McCall stars as Chris the Taxi Driver, The Outlaws' Bridgitta Roy is Becka, The Nevers' Catherine Skinner portrays Claire, and newcomer Kewell Ganas plays Alan Howells.
