The Au Pair on Channel 5: Sally Breton and David Suchet lead the cast of thrilling new four-parter
By Helen Fear | Fri Mar 07 2025The Au Pair lands on Channel 5 this week, with David Suchet making a rare TV appearance as the cast lead alongside Not Going Out favourite Sally Bretton.
Like previous thrillers The Castaways, and The Wives on the same channel, The Au Pair offers a compelling, binge-worthy plot full of twists. What's not to love?!
It also has a fabulous cast, with Vera favourite Kenny Doughty completing the line-up. So who's who in the cast of The Au Pair on Channel 5? Here's everything you need to know about the four-parter...
Sally Bretton stars as Zoe Dalton in the cast of The Au Pair on Channel 5
Popular TV actress Sally Bretton, 44, portrays Zoe Dalton in The Au Pair cast. Zoe is a woman who seems to have it all, including a successful husband, two adorable stepchildren, a thriving tailoring business, and a gorgeous countryside home in a picturesque English town.
But, of course, all is not as it seems in the life of Zoe. Well, this IS a Channel 5 thriller we're talking about! In fact, Zoe experiences marital issues and pressure mounts when her diabetic father, George, moves in next door. Her life begins to spiral out of control after she hires an au pair for her children.
Hertfordshire-born actress Sally is best known for playing Humphrey’s fiancée Martha Lloyd in Beyond Paradise. The character first came to life in Death in Paradise in 2016. Martha appeared in five episodes until 2017, when she whisked DI Humphrey Goodman away to the UK. The pair now have their own spin-off show on BBC One, with season 3 is coming soon.
Of course, Sally is also famous for playing long-suffering Lucy in Not Going Out, opposite comedian Lee Mack.
The actress is well known for her comedic roles. She's done comedy sketches with Harry Enfield, and Armstrong and Miller, as well as playing Donna in The Office.
In 2001, she played Lisa in the ill-fated, Greenwich-set soap Night & Day. She went on to play Cat Durnford in Absolute Power, Mary Hathaway in Blessed, and Kim Alabaster in Green Wing.
David Suchet portrays Zoe's dad George
TV legend David Suchet, 78, makes a rare TV appearance these days in the cast of The Au Pair on Channel 5. He plays Zoe's diabetic father, George, who moves in next door to her.
David voiced Kaisa in His Dark Materials between 2019 and 2022, but his last physical appearance on TV was playing George Emmerson in 2018's Press.
Of course, the actor is best known for playing Hercule Poirot in the BBC adaptation of Agatha Christie's famous books. He played the role on TV across 24 years, from 1989 to 2013.
As well as an extensive film and theatre career, David has been on our TV screens since 1970. Notable roles include Edward Teller in Oppenheimer, Dr. Sigmund Freud in Freud, Blott on Blott on the Landscape, and Alfred Verloc in The Secret Agent.
Kenny Doughty stars as Zoe's husband Chris Dalton
Yorkshire-born Kenny Doughty, 49, portrays Zoe's husband Chris, and dad to their two children Amber and Noah.
Of course, Kenny is probably best known for playing DS Aiden Healy in long-running ITV series Vera. He's also known for playing Sean in Stella.
He's been on our screens ever since 1998, when he was 23 years old. His first ever role was playing Smokey's Friend in the film I Want You. Since then, he's appeared in dozens of films and TV series, including Coronation Street, Servants, Funland, and Goldplated.
But it was perhaps his role in the 2001 raunchy film Crush that got him really noticed. Two years later, Kenny won the role of William Forrest in Servants, and later played Liam Woolf in Funland. In 2009, he appeared in nine episodes of Coronation Street as cheeky Jake Harman, who pursued Michelle Connor.
Kenny turned to directing in 2008, when he directed the film You Me and Captain Longbridge. The movie captured a journey into the soul of 11-year-old Luke Stanton, who was struggling to come to terms with the hurt after the abrupt death of his father. Joseph Fiennes starred in the film, which only had a cast of four.
From 2012 to 2013, Kenny Doughty portrayed Sean McGaskill in the Ruth Jones comedy drama series Stella. In 2015, he won the role of DS Aiden Healy alongside Brenda Blethyn in ITV's Vera, but he left in 2023.
He's also done lots of theatre, and toured the UK with the stage version of The Full Monty. He recently married Shetland star Ashley Jensen.
The Au Pair cast includes Ludmilla Makowski as au pair Sandrine
French actress Ludmilla Makowski, 27, joins the cast as au pair Sandrine. The actress is probably best known for playing young Claire Laurent in the Netflix series Lupin.
Ludmilla is also known for portraying Lila Rivière in Les Siffleurs, Stéphane Audran in Bardot, and Emma Marçais in Anthracite. Most recently, she starred as Adèle in the French language film À l'Épreuve.
Who else stars in the cast of The Au Pair?
Margot Pue stars as Amber. It's her second TV role, having previously played Katie in Heartstopper.
Lesley Molony plays Lydia in the cast of The Au Pair on Channel 5. She's known for portraying Gina Hudson in The Inside Man. Lesley has also played small roles in episodes of Coronation Street, Doctors, Knuckles, and The Bay.
Actor Barry John Kinsella stars as Officer Holt. He's previously played Michael Whithall in Sanctuary, and Reverend Downing in Video Nasty.
French actress Virginie Ledoyen portrays Marie. On French TV, she's played Manu in Nona et ses filles, and Christine in L'île aux 30 cercueils.
Vanessa Ifediora plays Dr Vaughan. She's known for portraying Judith Kenny in James Nesbitt drama Bloodlands, Laurie in Derry Girls, and Imperial Herald in Foundation.
Lastly, French actor Louis Bernard portrays Fred Gastou. The bilingual French/British actor - based in London and Paris - played Serge in Unforgotten series five, Dr. Gabriel Mercier in Invasion, and Yannick Véron in Plus belle la vie, encore plus belle.
The Au Pair full cast list:
Sally Bretton stars as Zoe Dalton.
Kennt Doughty plays Chris Dalton.
David Suchet portrays Zoe's dad George.
Ludmilla Makowski stars as au pair Sandrine.
Margot Pue stars as Amber.
Lesley Molony plays Lydia.
Barry John Kinsella stars as Officer Holt.
Virginie Ledoyen portrays Marie.
Vanessa Ifediora plays Dr Vaughan.
Louis Bernard portrays Fred Gastou.
Newcomer Ripley Barden portrays Noah in his first TV role.
Love of the Irish actress Ebimie Anthony is Raye.
Newcomer George Ray Pang stars as Tyler.
Them actress Natalie Britton is Susannah.
Newcomer Demi Bhamber plays a posh mum.
Newcomer Jean Van is Sylvia.
