Unforgotten is finally back on our screens, with Sanjeev Bhaskar and Sinéad Keenan leading the cast of series 6 which is as good as it's ever been.

The duo - who play DI Sunil 'Sunny' Khan, and DCI Jess James respectively -return in a new series of the cold-case drama. And the guest cast, as always, is pretty special. Although it's always Chris Lang's brilliant writing that's the backbone of the series, the strength of its cast is always a bonus.

Series 6 sees the Bishop Street CID team called to investigate when remains - at first, a spine - are dredged out of Whitney Marsh. And the four potential suspects each have secrets to hide... But who killed the victim, and why?

Here's everything you need to know about the guest cast of Unforgotten series 6, which includes Victoria Hamilton, MyAnna Buring, Jan Francis, and Emmett J Scanlan.

Unforgotten series 6 cast: Victoria Hamilton stars as Juliet Cooper

The plot of Unforgotten zooms in on four possible suspects - Juliet, Melinda, Asif and Marty

Juliet Cooper, played by Victoria Hamilton, is a troubled history lecturer and single mum whose husband disappeared without warning. Or, at least that's what she's saying anyway.

Doctor Foster fans will know Victoria for playing long-suffering wife Anna in the much-missed BBC drama, opposite Dalgliesh's Bertie Carvel. She reprised the role in the spin-off Life three years later.

London-born actress Victoria has been on our screens for three decades. One of her first ever television roles was as Mrs Forster in Pride and Prejudice in 1995. That same year, she donned her corset once again to play Henrietta Musgrove in Persuasion.

She went on to star in Cone Zone, Mansfield Park, The Savages and Babyfather among countless others. In 2007, she played Esther in The Time of Your Life and, a year later, portrayed Ruby Pratt in Lark Rise to Candleford.

After appearing in The Game, and What Remains, Victoria starred in what is arguably her most significant role to date. Between 2015 and 2017, played Anna in Doctor Foster, and reprised the role in the spin-off series Life.

Victoria portrayed The Queen Mother in 17 episodes of The Crown from 2016 to 2017. And it wasn't her first time playing a member of royalty. She won the role of Queen Victoria in the 2001 television production, Victoria & Albert, portraying the monarch in her early years.

Other notable roles include Senator Meaghan Sullivan in Deep State, Anna Marshall in Cobra, Ruth Jones in The Trick, and Dora Lang in series 4 of McDonald & Dodds.

Most recently, she portrayed Superintendent Verity Pound in The Crow Girl on Paramount+.

Maximilian Fairley plays Marty Baines

Actor Maximilian Fairley portrays disillusioned autistic man Marty. He is living in squalor with his ailing mother, and becoming increasingly caught up a hostile incel online group. As the series progresses he becomes more and more like a ticking time bomb.

Unforgotten is actually Maximilian's first ever TV role, apart from a role in a short film called Guanilo's Island in 2015.

In real life, Maximilian is hard of hearing, and neurodiverse. He has high-functioning Autism.

The fledgling actor graduated with an acting degree from The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in 2022. For his performance as Harry Honeybone in Village Idiot, Maximilian was nominated for Best Newcomer in the 2023 Offie Awards.

MyAnna Buring stars as Melinda Ricci

Swedish-born actress MyAnna Buring, 45, portrays conflicted news commentator Melinda Ricci. Her job as an outspoken and rather cruel right wing presenter seems to be at odds with who she really is. Her husband-to-be is recovering from a car accident and won't ever walk again, and she finds solace in religion. In more ways than one...

MyAnna Buring is perhaps most famous for playing tragic Dawn Sturgess in the brilliant crime drama The Salisbury Poisonings, based on the real life Novichok poisonings in the UK city.

Later, in The Responder, actress MyAnna starred as Chris' long-suffering wife Kate Carson.

She's played Edna Braithwaite in Downton Abbey, Elizabeth Quinn in Banished, and Long Susan in Ripper Street. Other notable roles include Lilly in White Heat, Sylvie in Blackout, and Elizabeth in One Night. Between 2019 and 2023, MyAnna portrayed Tissaia in The Witcher.

Her most famous film role is probably Tanya in the Twilight franchise. She's also starred in the movies The Descent and its sequel, The Omen, Lesbian Vampire Killers, and Official Secrets.

Elham Ehsas portrays Asif in Unforgotten series 6 cast

Afghanistan-born Elham Ehsas joins he cast of Unforgotten as asylum seeker Asif.

The actor made his acting debut in The Kite Runner in 2007. He played Young Assef in the acclaimed international film, based on the bestselling book by Khaled Hosseini.

Ten years later, in 2017, he played Ittak Khoury in the Silent Witness episodes Identity Part 1 and 2. That same year, he portrayed Mahmud in Brussel, before going on to play Ali in gritty drama Informer.

In 2020, Elham played Jalal Haqqani in Homeland series 8, the final ever series of the political drama, as well as Zemar in Young Wallander.

In 2022, another huge role came in the shape of Shantaram's Modena. More recently, he played British spy Edward in The Agency.

Michele Dotrice stars as Marty's mum Dot Baines

Those of you of a certain age will not believe the transformation in Michele Dotrice's character Dot Baines. Dot is living in squalor with her son Marty who is clearly unable to look after her. Her house is filthy, and her health issues mean she is unable to look after herself.

However, actress Michele Dotrice is best known for playing house-proud Betty Spencer in Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em. Betty was the long-suffering wife to calamitous Frank Spencer, played by Michael Crawford. She played the role between 1973 and 1978.

Lincolnshire-born Michele, now 76 - who was married to actor Edward Woodward in real life until his death - also starred in 60s and 70s TV series including Signpost, Katy, The Old Curiosity Shop, Middlemarch, and The Sextet.

In the 80s and 90s, she starred in Chintz, Boon, Bramwell, The Equalizer, and Vanity Fair. Other notable roles include Mrs Pipkin in The Way We Live Now, Barbara Hopewell in A Thing Called Love, and Edna Friendship in A Very English Scandal.

More recently, the actress has played Lyn in the comedy The Cockfields, Queen Victoria in The Royal Mob, and a party guest in Inside No.9.

Emmett J. Scanlan stars as Patrick

Dublin-born actor Emmett J. Scanlan, 46, portrays Patrick in the cast of Unforgotten series 6. Patrick is engaged to Melinda, and is determined to walk down the aisle on their wedding day - despite being left without the use of his legs after a catastrophic car accident.

Soap fans will perhaps know Emmett best for playing super villain Brendan Brady in Hollyoaks, a role he played from 2010 and 2013. He went on to play some very different characters, including Simon Monroe in zombie series In the Flesh, Saul in A.D. The Bible Continues, and Skellan in Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands.

Between 2013 and 2016, he portrayed DC Glen Martin in The Fall, before going on to portray Josh Mason in the Netflix Harlan Coben thriller Safe. That wasn't his last dalliance with Harlan Coben, though, as he later played Shane Tessier in Fool Me Once.

Other notable roles include Kieran in Women on the Verge, Jack O'Doherty in Gangs of London, Michael Callaghan in The Deceived, Tim Oxley in The Teacher, and Billy Grade in Peaky Blinders.

His finest moments, according to us, have to be playing Jimmy Kinsella in the brilliant Kin, and conflicted copper Inspector Kieran Shaw in The Tower.

Jan Francis plays Melinda's mum Hillary in in Unforgotten series 6 cast

Like her Unforgotten co-star Michele Dotrice, Jan Francis is also a long-standing member of TV royalty - thanks to her career starting in the 70s.

Jan, who plays Melinda's mum in Unforgotten series 6, is probably best known for playing Penny Warrender in Just Good Friends. The popular romantic sitcom aired from 1983 to 1986.

Early roles included Diana Barry in Anne of Green Gables, Susan Fraser in The Long Chase, Diana Barry in Anne of Avonlea, Lisa 'Yvette' Colbert in Secret Army, and Emily Roland in Couples.

More recently, she portrayed Elspeth in Next of Kin, and Paula in I Want My Wife Back. But she hasn't been seen on TV since 2018.

Phaldut Sharma returns as former DCI Ram Sidhu

Actor Phaldut Sharma plays Ram Sidhu, who first appeared in the 2021 series 4 of Unforgotten. In that series, he was one of the the suspects. Although he was not the murderer, Sunny charged him with preventing a lawful burial of a body. He was also culpable for being involved in a cocaine smuggling operation.

The character is back in series 6, as he is linked to Sunny and Jess' new case.

Welsh actor Phaldut is probably best known for playing AJ Ahmed in EastEnders, a role he played from 2012 to 2014. He's also famous for portraying Ranjit Singh in court room drama The Bench, Rajiv in Roger Roger, and Chief Constable Fraser in Sherwood.

Other notable roles include Vinnay Ramdas in Casualty, Tom in Hanna, Dr. Whittaker in The Accident, and Major Singh in The Singapore Grip.

More recently, he's portrayed Kethan in Romantic Getaway, Garmen Harry in Full Circle, and Peetham Shah in the 2023 comedy drama Men Up.

Damien Molony is Father Luke Ryan

Irish actor Damien Molony, 40, joins the cast as Father Luke Ryan, who finds himself putting his holy parts where they shouldn't be.

Damien came to fame playing Hal in Being Human, opposite Rivals actor Aidan Turner. He went on to play Det. Const. Albert Flight in Ripper Street, Danny Dempsey in Clean Break, and Anthony in Crashing.

Between 2014 and 2016, the actor DS Jack Weston in Suspects, before going on to portray Jon in GameFame.

In 2020, he joined the cast of The Split as Tyler, a seemingly nice bloke who was actually a serial adulterer and con artist.

Other notable roles include Callum McGowan in Safe Harbor, Stephen Rea in Say Nothing, and Dylan in Brassic.

He'll soon star as Jim Bergerac in the reboot of the detective drama of the same name. It's coming to U&Drama early in 2025.

Andrew Lancel portrays Jess' husband Steve James in Unforgotten series 6 cast

Unforgotten series 6 sees the return of Andrew Lancel as Jess' husband Steve James. In series 5, she has discovered he was having an affair with her sister. This time, he's back living with her, but she suspects he's up to his old tricks...

Lancashire-born Andrew, 54, is certainly no stranger to a cop drama! He's probably most famous for playing DI Neil Manson in The Bill from 2003 to 2010. The character was front and centre throughout the seven years he was in the show.

At one stage, he found himself framed for murder, and also became embroiled in the search for a missing child named Amy Tennant.

Andrew also played police officer DS Paul Sampson in The Thief, His Wife And The Canoe.

Coronation Street fans will know him as villain Frank Foster back in 2011. Frank became wrapped up in the dodgy dealings of Underworld while on the Cobbles. Viewers were horrified when he sexually assaulted Carla's PA Maria Connor.

However, his shocking reign of terror on the cobbles came to an end when he was murdered. After a shocking whodunnit, it was revealed that his mother, Anne Foster, had killed him.

Andrew went on to win the actor the Villain of the Year Award at the British Soap Awards in 2010 before he left the soap.

Meanwhile, Andrew has also had roles on shows including Casualty, Marcella, Holby City and the groundbreaking LGBTQ+ series Queer as Folk.

Actress Kate Robbins is back as Jess' mum Kate

Actress, comedian and singer Kate Robbins returns as Jess' mum Kate. The Kent-born star, 66, is mum to Emily Atack, but very much famous in her own right, too.

She's known for her varied career as a singer, comedian and actor. She scored a top 10 single in the UK Official Charts with More Than in Love in the early 1980s – and even represented us in the Eurovision Song Contest!

Acting roles include Penny Spencer-Wright in After Life, where fans demanded she get her own spin-off show. She's also voiced several characters in Spitting Image, including Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana, Joan Collins, and Cherie Blair.

Kate also had her one comedy sketch show, as well as one with her brother Ted.

EastEnders fans will know she played Jen Glover in the BBC soap in 2021. But since then, she's been popping up all over the place! Kate has played Jean in The Couple Next Door, Bev in Silent Witness, Vida Devine in The Good Ship Murder, Lucky Clayborn in Death in Paradise, and Janet in Whitstable Pearl.

Adrian Rawlins stars as Paul Merrick

Actor Adrian Rawlins stars as Juliet Cooper's boss Paul Merrick. From Stoke-on-Trent, the 66-year-old is perhaps best known for playing James Potter in the Harry Potter movie franchise.

A familiar face in TV, film, and theatre, his very first screen appearance was in 1979. At the age of 21, he portrayed David Litvinoff in the film Palm Beach.

He went on to play Major Tim Radley in Soldier Soldier in 1993, David Baylis in Tears Before Bedtime, and DS Mike Withey in She's Out.

Other notable performances include D.S. Mills in Mayday, Ian in Prisoners Wives, DCI Simson in Glue, and Edward Barbary in Dickensian. In 2018, he played another copper in Hard Sun, before playing Rob Moffatt in the ITV drama Innocent.

More recently, Adrian has played Duncan Tropper in Slow Horses, Ian Farquhar in The Sixth Commandment, and Sir Edward Coke in Mary & George.

He also played both Lawrence Treherne, and Lance Gardner in the cast of Moonflower Murders.

Unforgotten series 6 cast: Sanjeev Bhaskar plays DI Sunil 'Sunny' Khan

Middlesex-born Sanjeev Bhaskar, 61, portrays DI 'Sunny' Khan in the cast of Unforgotten series 6.

Comedian and actor Sanjeev was catapulted to fame after appearing in the BBC Two comedy series Goodness Gracious Me. He has since appeared in numerous comedies and dramas, and has a career spanning three decades.

After ditching his career as a marketing executive at IBM, Sanjeev pursued a job in showbusiness. He appeared in comedy series The Real McCoy, Captain Butler, We Know Where You Live and Small Potatoes.

Between 1998 and 2015, he starred in Goodness Gracious Me, often recognised as the series that made him famous. Sanjeev went on to star and write in the sitcom The Kumars at No. 42.

His more dramatic acting roles include the lead role of Dr Prem Sharma in The Indian Doctor and the main role as DI Sunny Khan in Unforgotten.

In January 2021, he was cast as Cain in the Netflix adaptation of The Sandman. Most recently, he's portrayed Les Vegas in Sandylands, Gwyn in Murder, They Hope, and Dr Jafri in the 2024 film Paddington in Peru.

Sinéad Keenan stars as DCI Jess James

Sinéad Keenan replaced Nicola Walker as the female lead in 2023. The Irish actress, 47, plays DCI Jess James.

Dublin-born Sinéad is probably best known for her BAFTA-nominated role as Melanie Jones in ITV's Little Boy Blue. However, Being Human fans will recognise her as Nina.

She's also played Addams in Doctor Who, Patricia in My Left Nut, Roz in Deep Water, and Dr. Bartholomew in Porters.

More recently, Sinéad popped up as Aideen O'Shea in Derry Girls, DI Paula Cassidy in Showtrial, and Theresa Ryan in Three Families.

Unforgotten series 6 cast: Carolina Main stars as DS Fran Lingley

London-born actress Carolina Main, 36, stars as DS Fran Lingley in the cast of Unforgotten series 6.

She joined the show in series 2, and has since become an integral part of DI Sunny Khan's team. Carolina's role as Fran is her most significant role to date.

Before appearing on the ITV series, the actress was best known for playing Cat Hogan in Blood, opposite Line of Duty actor Adrian Dunbar

She's also played Ambassador Shae Un Shae in Foundation, Cecilia Beaux in The Alienist, and Celine in Temple.

More recently, she starred as Angela Foley in Dalgliesh, and DI Diana Markham in Criminal Record.

Jordan Long plays DS Murray Boulting

London-born actor Jordan Long, 51, stars as DS Murray Boulting in the cast of Unforgotten series 6.

He's been on our TV screens for more than two decades. One of his first significant roles was in two episodes of 15 Storeys High, opposite the late comedian Sean Lock.

He went on to star in the TV series Mike Bassett: Manager as Spike in 2005, and Whitstable Ernest in a 2009 Marple.

Jordan popped up in a couple of episodes of Skins, and even played a taxi driver in Downton Abbey!

Between 2013 and 2014, Jordan played Len in The Wrong Mans, but it was his role as DS Paul Lawrence in Prime Suspect 1973 that saw him really get noticed.

In 2015, he joined the cast of Unforgotten series 1, and has been in every series so far. More recently, he's played DC Kidd in Finders Keepers, Konstantin in A Gentleman in Moscow, and a Triarchy member in House of the Dragon.

His film roles include a debt collector in Netflix's recent adaptation of Persuasion, Watkins in The Reckoning, a barman in The Gentlemen, and a Smuggler Driver in Dune: Part Two.

Pippa Nixon stars as DC Karen Willets

Actress Pippa Nixon, 44, returns as DC Karen Willets in the cast of Unforgotten series 6. She's appeared in the long-running detective drama ever since 2015, when the series started.

Pippa did not star in series 2 or 3, but returned for series 4 and 5.

One of Pippa's earliest roles was as Angie Duxbury in Dream Team, before she appeared in Cuffs as Alice Gove. In 2019, she portrayed Fiona Hutton in Queens of Mystery, and Sarah Caplan in MotherFatherSon.

She's obviously found a niche for playing coppers, too, as she played PC Chappelhow in Angela Black!

Other notable roles include Saskia Turner in The Chelsea Detective, Alice Taylor in Doc Martin, Ivy in Criminal Record, and Rhiannon Sawney in Midsomer Murders.

Georgia Mackenzie returns as pathologist Dr Leanne Balcombe

Actress Georgia Mackenzie, 51, reprises her role as pathologist Dr Leanne Balcombe.

Dr Leanne Balcombe has popped up in various episodes of the ITV drama, and has starred in 9 episodes in total between 2018 and 2023. She first appeared in series 3.

is it just us that really wants her to fall in love with Sunny and help him tackle his new loneliness?

Jobbing actress Georgia recently played Ruth Cooper in Silent Witness. Other notable roles include Carol Walcott in Casualty, Jennifer Headley in Waterloo Road, and Ronnie in Border Cafe.

She played Zoe in 20 Things To Do Before You're 30, Nurse Judy Conway in tlc, Sarah Beckenham in Outlaws, and Ellie Holloway in Murphy's Law.

In real life, Georgia is divorced from actor Fantastic Beasts actor Richard Coyle, and they share a daughter called Purdy.

Unforgotten series 6 full cast list:

Sanjeev Bhaskar star as DI Sunny Khan.

Sinéad Keenan portrays DCI Jess James.

Victoria Hamilton plays Juliet Cooper.

MyAnna Buring is Melinda Ricci.

Emmett J Scanlan stars as Patrick.

Maximillian Fairley plays Marty Baines

Elham Ehsas stars as Asif.

Georgia Mackenzie plays pathologist Leanne Balcombe.

Adrian Rawlins plays Paul Merrick.

Jan Francis portrays Melinda's mum Hillary.

Jordan Long returns as DS Murray Boulting.

Carolina Main portrays DS Fran Lingley

Paul McQuaid plays Dr Clacy.

Pixie Davies stars as Juliet's daughter Taylor Cooper.

Oliver Lansley portrays Gabriel.

Katherine Kingsley plays Vita.

Philip Buck stars as Geoff.

Michele Dotrice portrays Dot Baines

Ahmad Sakhi plays Hassan.

Amir Arri stars as Abdul.

Lisa Davina Phillip plays Doreen.

Jenni Maitland portrays Beth.

Pippa Nixon stars as DC Kaz Willets.

David Witts portrays Sam.

Kit Bradshaw plays a reporter.

Morag Cross stars as Susan.

Phaldut Sharma returns as DCI Ram Sidhu.

Damien Molony is Father Luke Ryan.

Andrew Lancel portrays Jess' husband Steve James.

Kate Robbins is back as Jess' mum Kate.

Gráinne Keenan plays Debbie.

Charles Abolemli stars as Dr Renfield.

Andrew Paul - famous for playing Dan Jones in Corrie, and PC Dave Quinnan in The Bill - portrays David Prentice.

Fiona Dolman plays Alison Rowe.

Unforgotten starts on Sunday, February 09, 2025 at 9pm on ITV1, with episode 2 airing on Monday, February 10. It drops as a boxset on ITVX from Sunday.