The Couple Next Door series 2: Sexy cast list of Channel 4 thriller led by The Split's Annabel Scholey
Helen Fear | 12:01am Mon 14 Jul | Updated 2:16pm Mon 14 JulThe Couple Next Door series 2 lands on Channel 4 this week, after series 1 left viewers wanting more, more, more (innuendo intended) – so who’s new in the cast?
Fans of the 2023 series will know that the sexy thriller starred Eleanor Tomlinson, Alfred Enoch, Sam Heughan and Jessica De Gouw. As the new series lands in 2025, it’s a brand new cast – with two exceptions.
Series 2 on Channel 4 features a new storyline. It shifts the focus to a new couple and a new set of frisky neighbours on the same street. Here’s everything you need to know about who plays who in the cast of The Couple Next Door series 2.
Cast of The Couple Next Door series 2 is led by Annabel Scholey as Charlotte [Credit: Channel 4]
Annabel Scholey stars as Charlotte ‘Lottie’ Roberts in the cast of The Couple Next Door series 2
Yorkshire-born Annabel Scholey, 41, plays heart surgeon Charlotte ‘Lottie’ Roberts. Charlotte has a perfect life with her husband – until she doesn’t.
The actress is best known for playing the former shoplifting, often drunk, middle sister Nina Defoe in The Split. She also worked in the law firm Noble Hale Defoe. Although a risky affair with the boss’ boyfriend ended very badly for her in series 3.
Annabel had smaller roles in EastEnders, Doctors, and Holby City before she won the role of Lauren in Being Human series 1. She appeared opposite Aidan Turner, who she later met again on the set of Rivals. While Aidan played Declan O’Hara in the cast of the Disney+ drama, Annabel portrayed Beattie Johnson… Fans of the show will know that Beattie and Alex Hassell’s character Rupert Campbell-Black kicked the series off with a rather naughty scene in the toilets of a jet!
Annabel is also known for playing Michelle Lerner in Personal Affairs, Gemma Nunn in Inspector George Gently, Contessina in Medici, Sarah Bailey in The Salisbury Poisonings, and Amena in Britannia. Meanwhile, Doctor Who fans will know her as Claire, a role she played for three episodes in 2021.
Annabel is having a rather excellent run of it recently – and it’s well deserved. In the past few years, she’s played Ann-Marie Blake in the brilliant true crime drama The Sixth Commandment. She’s also led the cast of The Serial Killer’s Wife playing Beth, and portrayed Cathy McDaid in Dead and Buried.
Actor and musician Sam Palladio stars as Jacob in The Couple Next Door [Credit: Channel 4]
Sam Palladio portrays Lottie’s husband Jacob
Kent-born actor and musician Sam Palladio, 38, plays Charlotte’s husband Jacob. He’s a consultant anaesthetist in the cast of The Couple Next Door.
Nashville viewers will know the actor as Gunnar Scott, a role he played from 2012 to 2018. The charming character of Gunnar was a former sound engineer at The Bluebird Cafe and a singer-songwriter.
Before his big break in Nashville, Sam worked as a jobbing actor for a few years until he won the role of Stoke in the Matt LeBlanc comedy Episodes. Other notable roles include Ed in the C4 robot drama Humans, Alexander Vasilchikov in Catherine the Great, and Luke Chapman in Rebel.
More recently, he’s appeared in the films Bob Marley: One Love, and The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star, where he played Prince Edward.
On joining the cast, he said: “I was drawn to the project through its brilliant writing and challenging characters. And to step into the world of the show which is already loved by fans and bring Jacob to life, a troubled and complex character, is exciting and unlike anything I’ve done before.”
Actress Aggy K. Adams as Mia in The Couple Next Door series 2 [Credit: Channel 4]
Who plays Mia in The Couple Next Door? It’s Aggy K. Adams!
Actress Aggy K. Adams portrays super-sexy temptress Mia, who causes big problems for Charlotte and Jacob when she moves in next door… She’s also not QUITE who she says she is.
The Polish-born actress, 30, is perhaps most famous for playing Lily in the Prime Video comedy drama Greek Salad. She’s actually done very little TV so far, having previously popped up in episodes of French language Les Petits Meurtres D’Agatha Christie, and The Witcher.
She’s been in multiple film roles, though, between 2012 and the present day. These include an uncredited role in World War Z, as well as leading parts in The Perfect Escape, Handbook for a Privileged European Woman, and Oh, Ramona!
Sendhil Ramamurthy stars as Charlotte’s ex-boyfriend Leo [Credit: Channel 4]
Sendhil Ramamurthy stars as Charlotte’s ex-boyfriend Leo
US-born actor Sendhil Ramamurthy, 51, stars as Charlotte’s ex-boyfriend Leo in the cast of The Couple Next Door series 2.
He is perhaps best known for his role as geneticist Mohinder Suresh in the NBC sci-fi drama Heroes. He played the character between 2006 and 2010.
Sendril subsequently starred as Jai Wilcox in the action spy series Covert Affairs from 2010 and 2012. He went on to portray Gabe Lowen in Beauty and the Beast, Nikhail Julian in the James Nesbitt drama Lucky Man, and Paul Hammond in Reverie.
Other notable roles include Ravi in the US version of The Office, Dr Panthaki in New Amsterdam, Asher Pyne in Good Sam, and Mr 104 in Doom Patrol.
He hasn’t just been working over in the States either. Some of his earlier roles include Ron Montague in Casualty, and Cpl. Alex Leonard in Ross Kemp drama Ultimate Force.
More recently, Sendril has played Ramsey Rosso in The Flash, and Mohan Vishwakumar in Never Have I Ever.
Hugh Dennis is the only returning cast member in The Couple Next Door series 2 [Credit: Channel 4]
The Couple Next Door series 2 cast: Hugh Dennis returns as neighbour Alan Richardson
Kettering-born Hugh Dennis, 63, returns as Alan Richardson, his creepy character from the first series. He’s one of only two series 1 cast members who return for series 2.
Of course, Hugh is arguably most famous for playing family man Pete Brockman in Outnumbered. He played the role on and off from 2007 to the recent Christmas special in 2024.
He has also played Toby in Lee Mack’s Not Going Out ever since series 7 in 2014.
While his character in The Couple Next Door is far from likeable, Hugh is actually best known for his funny, comedic roles. These include Spitting Image impressions, and panel show appearances on shows such as Have I Got News for You, Mock the Week, QI, and Would I Lie To You?
Hugh started out playing various characters in the Jasper Carrott sketch show, before becoming one half of the comedy double act Punt and Dennis, alongside Steve Punt. Between 2000 and 2006, Hugh played Dr Piers Crispin in My Hero, before going on to portray Martin Frost in Ballot Monkeys, and the bank manager in Fleabag.
More recently, Hugh has proved himself more than capable of playing serious roles, too. These include George Holden in McDonald & Dodds, and the super-creepy Alan in Channel 5 thriller The Couple Next Door.
This year, Hugh guest starred as Arthur Donalan in the cast of Beyond Paradise season 3. He played intimidating local councillor Arthur Donalan, who had links to a dead man.
TV rascal Adam James stars as Ben in the cast of The Couple Next Door series 2 [Credit: Channel 4]
Adam James stars as medical director Ben in the cast of C4 thriller
London-born Adam James, 52, stars as medical director Ben in The Couple Next Door series 2. And he’ll be VERY familiar to most of you.
The actor has been on our screens since 1996, when his very first TV appearance saw him playing Cpt. Philip Carline in Sharpe, opposite This City is Ours star Sean Bean.
He quickly made a name for himself, portraying Ross Grant in teenage drama Island, and Cleveland O. Petty in the brilliant Band of Brothers. In 2005, he won arguably his most significant TV role until that point. He joined the cast of Casualty as Pete Guildford.
Roles continued in TV series such as Judge John Deed, Waking the Dead, Ashes to Ashes, Extras, Doctor Who, Secret Diary of a Call Girl, and Silent Witness.
But it was his 2015 role as Neil Baker in the ITV thriller Doctor Foster that really made him a household name. He played the cheating husband in both series of the drama until 2017. Adam briefly reprised the role in the spin-off Life, opposite The Crow Girl actress Victoria Hamilton.
Adam hasn’t been off our screens since, and subsequently played Robert Dillon in Home from Home, Adam McKay in Deep State, John Bellasis in Belgravia, Julian in I May Destroy You, and Mr Pryor in The Harrowing.
In 2021, he portrayed Prentice in Vigil, alongside former Doctor Foster co-star Suranne Jones. Adam seems to have been in everything recently, often playing morally ambiguous characters. In the past few years, he’s played significant roles in Treason, Netflix thriller You, The Long Shadow, Hotel Portofino, The Day of the Jackal, Dalgliesh, The Buccaneers, The Suspect, and Death in Paradise.
Actor Shane Zaza as Hari in the new thriller [Credit: Channel 4]
Shane Zaza plays Leo’s brother Hari
Actor Shane Zaza, 41, stars as Hari in the cast of The Couple Next Door series 2 on Channel 4. Hari is Leo’s brother, and his character is morally ambiguous. Shane has been on our screens for two decades, ever since he played a police technician in the 2005 Messiah: The Harrowing.
He’s probably most famous for playing Shafiq Shah in the cast of unparalleled detective drama Happy Valley, a role he played between 2014 and 2023. He’s actually one of the few actors to have been in all three series of the BBC drama (without being killed off or maimed in some way). Shafiq was a Police Constable, who became a Sergeant in the final season.
Since the end of Happy Valley, actor Shane has subsequently played Fred in the heartbreaking Best Interests, Tariq in comedy series Big Boys, and Nikhil Kapur in sci-fi thriller Invasion.
Shane is also known for portraying Simon in Everything I Know About Love, Raz in Press, and Autolycus Brewit in Will. Other notable roles include Chuck in the 2016 Black Mirror episode Nosedive, Sami Rashid in Silent Witness, and Rakim in Mouth to Mouth.
Actress Jackie Clune as Annette – and she’s not the only Motherland star [Credit: Channel 4]
The Couple Next Door series 2 cast: Jackie Clune portrays Annette
Essex-born Jackie Clune, 59, stars as Annette in the C4 series.
Motherland fans will know the actress for playing the totally underrated character of Mrs Lamb in all three series of the comedy drama.
The actress, comedian, singer and writer recently reunited with her Motherland co-star Diane Morgan in Mandy. Jackie is also famous for playing Proctor in spoof documentary series Borderline.
After playing EastEnders’ Sue Williams in 1999, comedian Jackie went on to play Elaine Morrison in Waking the Dead, DS Elizabeth Marsh in The Bill, Jillian Menzies in Three Girls, and Leah Worthington in Too Close.
She recently portrayed staff member Miss Barrett in the cast of Agatha Christie’s Towards Zero.
Actress Maimie McCoy as Gemma in The Couple Next Door series 2 [Credit: Channel 4]
Maimie McCoy stars as Gemma
Yorkshire-born Maimie McCoy, 46, portrays Gemma in the huge ensemble cast of The Couple Next Door.
The actress is probably best known as Milady in the BBC One drama The Musketeers. She played the role between 2014 and 2016, alongside Strike‘s Tom Burke, and Whitstable Pearl‘s Howard Charles.
More recently, Van Der Valk fans will know her as Lucienne Hassell in the detective drama, a role she’s played since 2020. Other notable roles include Sophie in Top Buzzer, Nicole Palmerston-Amory in Personal Affairs, and Tamsin Richards in DCI Banks.
Maimie also portrayed DC Tracy Joyce in the crime drama A Confession, and Nancy Raynott in White House Farm.
Motherland legend Tanya Moodie as Yvonne [Credit: Channel 4]
Tanya Moodie portrays Yvonne
Actress Tanya Moodie stars as Yvonne in the returning thriller. Of course, the Canadian-born actress is most famous for playing mumpreneur Meg in Motherland, the series that went on to spawn the spin-off Amandaland (albeit without Tanya).
Tanya, 53, has actually been on our screens for more than three decades, having first appeared in the 1994 TV series So Haunt Me. She played Elspeth in the suburban family drama.
She went on to play Hunter in the London-based Neverwhere, before appearing in multiple TV series throughout the 90s and 00s. These included A Respectable Trade, Boyz Unlimited, Dr Willoughby, In Deep, Sea of Souls, and Prime Suspect: The Last Witness.
Between 2008 and 2009, Tanya starred as Dr Grace Safete in medical drama The Clinic. She went on to play Grace Tolou Aboka in Danish crime drama Dicte: Crime Reporter.
Other notable roles include Ella in Sherlock, Sheila in Enterprice, Sue Cole in The Feed, Lt. Diane Campbell in Absentia, and Catherine McKenzie in Tin Star. From 2018 to 2022, Tanya starred as Agatha Wilson in the Matthew Goode drama A Discovery of Witches.
More recently, she’s played Portia in The Man Who Fell to Earth, Serena in Rain Dogs, Gundabale Earthauler in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, and Judge Mary Meadows in Silo.
In 2023, she played another funny role in the Channel 4 menopause comedy The Change. She played Joy, a role she reprised in 2025’s series 2.
Actress Janine Duvitski returns as Gloria in series 2 of the sexy thriller [Credit: Channel 4]
Janine Duvitski returns as neighbour Gloria
Veteran actress Janine Duvitski returns as Gloria. She first played the role in the 2023 series 1, and is the only other person to reprise her role alongside Hugh Dennis.
The Lancashire-born actress, 73, came to fame playing comedic roles in TV series as Waiting for God, One Foot in the Grave and Benidorm.
While she first came to national attention in the play Abigail’s Party, written and directed in 1977 by Mike Leigh, she’s actually been on our TV screens since 1972 when she popped up in an episode of Z Cars. She was 20 at the time.
Her biggest TV role of the 70s was arguably Ariadne in The Georgian House, while in the 80s it was Muriel Bailey in Cowboys. Between 1990 and 1994, Janine portrayed Jane Edwards in the hugely popular sitcom Waiting for God.
The year 1990 was a particularly busy one, as Janine also started playing Pippa in One Foot in the Grave. She continued in the sitcom until 2000. Janine subsequently played Eve in The Worst Week of My Life, and Emily Scuttlebutt in Old Jack’s Boat.
Other notable TV roles include Mrs Bute Crawley in Vanity Fair, Katie in Look and Read, Mrs Meagles in Little Dorrit, Mrs Goadon in This is Jinsy, and Peggy in Boy Meets Girl.
Benidorm fans will know Janine best as Jacqueline Stewart, a role she played between 2007 and 2018.
Actor Barney White, seen here as DS Dan Winters in Professor T, joins the cast of The Couple Next Door [Credit: Channel 5]
Barney White is Brandon in the cast of The Couple Next Door series 2
Brandon is played by Barney White in the C4 thriller. He’s best known as DS Dan Winters in Professor T, a role he’s played since 2021. He’s set to reprise the role in the upcoming series 4.
The actor’s first big role was playing Johannes in the 2018 comedy web series Settling. He went on to portray Busker in the comedy Ellie & Natasia, Rory Faulkner in Holby City, and Mike Watson in Roslund & Hellström: Cell 8.
Other notable roles include Rupert in King Gary, Bob in Masters of the Air, and Mickey Carlyle in the TV movie Mystery Island: Play for Keeps.
Actor Jeff Rawle, seen here as Silas in Hollyoaks, stars in The Couple Next Door [Credit: Lime Pictures]
Jeff Rawle portrays Lottie’s dad Henry
Brummie Jeff Rawle, 73, stars as Lottie’s dad Henry in the cast of The Couple Next Door. Like his co-star Janine Duvitski, the actor has been on our screens for donkeys years! We’re talking more than 50 years.
Soap fans will know him best as serial killer Silas Blissett in Hollyoaks, a role he played between 2010 and 2022. Silas had 17 confirmed victims on the show, and is believed to have killed up to 100 women.
But before his second coming as a soap villain, Jeff was one of the most bankable TV stars in the 70s. Between 1973 and 1975, he played the leading role of Billy in the sitcom Billy Liar. In the 80s, one of his most famous characters was Plantagenet in Doctor Who.
Subsequent roles included John Price in The Gift, Paul in Faith in the Future, and Colin in Microsoap. In 1990, he won the role of George Dent in the comedy Drop the Dead Donkey which ran until 1998.
After years as a jobbing actor, Jeff went on to play Roger Fenn in Doc Martin, Charles Dickens in The Charles Dickens Show, and Clive Grey in You, Me & Them. Other notable roles include Geoffrey in Keeley Hawes drama The Durrells, and Sebastian Saunders in Lockwood & Co.
They are sexy and they know it [Credit: Channel 4]
Who else appears in the cast?
Wheelchair-user Amy Trigg, who was born with spina bifida, stars as receptionist Amber in The Couple Next Door. She is best known for playing Agnes in The Little Big Things, for which she won the Olivier Award as Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a musical in 2024.
She’s also played Miss Lambert in Everything Now, Claire in Such Brave Girls, Mrs Judd in Amandaland, and Louise Fordwater in Grace series 5 episode 2. This year, she played another Amber – this time in episode 6 of Death Valley.
Kristy Philipps stars as Ben’s younger girlfriend Alyssa. She’s previously played Apelina in the Shakespeare drama Will, Lucy in Halfway, and Alice in Sheridan Smith drama Cleaning Up. More recently, Kristy portrayed Leisa in Big Boys, Kayla in The Pact, and Claire Martin in Malpractice series 2.
Pål Sverre Hagen stars as mysterious figure Isak. The Norwegian actor is best known for his roles in Scandavanian drama including Valkyrien, Beforeigners, The Shift, Exit, Furia, and Requiem for Selina.
Madhav Sharma stars as Leo and Hari’s sickly dad Viraj. A jobbing actor for more than 60 years, soap fans will know him as Arshad Ahmed in EastEnders. He recently portrayed Tariq in the comedy We Are Lady Parts.
Full cast list of The Couple Next Door series 2:
Annabel Scholey stars as Charlotte.
Sam Palladio is Jacob.
Aggy K. Adams portrays Mia.
Sendhil Ramamurthy stars as Leo.
Barney White plays Brandon.
Hugh Dennis returns as Alan from series 1.
Janine Duvitski also returns as Gloria from series 1.
Adam James portrays Ben.
Jackie Clune stars as Annette.
Tanya Moodie portrays Yvonne.
Maimie McCoy stars as Gemma.
Jeff Rawle plays Henry.
Amy Trigg portrays Amber.
Kristy Philipps stars as Alyssa.
Pål Sverre Hagen as Isak.
Madhav Sharma stars as Viraj.
Riches’ Saskia Rose is Kali.
Wreck’s Anthony Rickman portrays Jaden.
Patience actor Chris Brooker is Norman.
German actress Dagmar Operskalski plays Anka.
The Gallows Pole actress Bonnie Milnes plays the care home manager.
Spellbound’s Dianne Weller is the business woman in episode 1.
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