Whitstable Pearl series 3 finally gets its free-to-air premiere on U&Drama, and the popular regular cast are all back. 

Having first landed on Acorn TV in October 2024, the cosy crime will now be available to watch on U&Drama (from July 2025) with Kerry Godliman returning as the charming Pearl Nolan on the beautiful Kent coast.

Fans of the show will know that amateur sleuth Pearl is a local restaurant owner who set up a local detective agency after undergoing police training in an earlier career…

If you like The Madame Blanc Mysteries, and Murder Most Puzzling, then you’ll love this. Here’s a rundown of the actors who make up the regular cast in Whitstable Pearl series 3.

Or click here if you want to read about the season’s guest stars.

Whitstable Pearl series 3 cast: Kerry Godliman plays Pearl Nolan

London-born Kerry Godliman, 51, returns as amateur sleuth Pearl Nolan in the cast of Whitstable Pearl series 3. And, once again, she soon became embroiled in some seriously baffling cases.

In the latest episodes, Pearl is fully immersed in her private investigating, leaving most of the running of the restaurant to her mother Dolly and Ruby.

Former stand-up comedian Kerry is probably best known for her work with Ricky Gervais. She’s appeared in nearly all of his TV shows in one way or another – including Derek, and Extras. In After Life, Kerry played Lisa, the late wife of Ricky’s character Tony. She appeared in bittersweet flashbacks throughout all three series of the acclaimed Netflix comedy drama.

Kerry has actually been on our TV screens since 1998, when she first appeared as a WPC in Casualty. Over her 25 year career, she’s popped up in Holby City, The Bill, Spoons, Rush Hour, and Doctors.

Viewers may also recognise her from TV shows such as Call the Midwife, Bad Move, Him & Her, and Adult Material. Between 2017 and 2018, she led the cast of Jack Dee’s sitcom Bad Move, before going on to play Teens in the gritty drama Save Me.

Other notable roles include Belinda Dawes, the mother of 18-year-old Molly (Lacey Turner) in Our Girl. She starred in the TV movie and the first series of the show.

Trigger Point fans will know her as Sonya Reeves in the first two series. She will be returning in the upcoming series 3. More recently, Kerry played Jane in the film We Live in Time, opposite Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh.

Howard Charles portrays DCI Mike McGuire

Londoner Howard Charles, 41, stars as DCI Mike McGuire in the cast of the cosy crime. In series 3, the character returns to Whitstable having been away for a few months. He arrives back a changed man – leaner, fitter and more Zen. Read: drop dead gorgeous. But will this last?

A synopsis tells us: “There is still clearly a deep connection between Pearl and Mike… But Pearl’s concern is more about Mike’s state of mind throughout the series.

“As their paths continually cross, solving Whitstable crimes, it becomes clear to Pearl that Mike is far from resolved with his wife’s death and is determined to help him find closure.”

Actor Howard is probably most famous for portraying Porthos in The Musketeers alongside Strike‘s Tom Burke. The BBC drama ran from 2014 and 2016, and gave a contemporary take on the classic story.

Howard Charles isn’t just good at playing nice guys and swashbuckling heroes though. He previously portrayed the truly awful villain Curtis in Top Boy between 2013 and 2022 – a far cry from copper Mike in Whitstable Pearl.

Other notable roles include Tom Jansen in The Widow, Ethan Young in The Red Line, Carl Peterson in Liar, Wolf in Alex Rider, and Arken in Shadow and Bone.

This year, Howard starred as Captain Royce in the Daisy Ridley/Clive Owen film Cleaner. Coincidentally, Rufus Jones also appeared in the cast. The actor makes a guest appearance in series 3 of Whitstable Pearl.

Frances Barber stars as Dolly Nolan

Wolverhampton actress Frances Barber, 67, reprises her role as Dolly, Pearl’s mum in the cast of Whitstable Pearl series 3.

The veteran actress is known for her extensive work in the theatre, for which she has received multiple Olivier Award nominations. She’s also been in dozens of films, including Prick Up Your Ears with Gary Oldman, Sammy and Rosie Get Laid, and Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool.

On TV, she’s perhaps best known for playing Caroline Warwick QC in the legal drama Silk, alongside Rupert Penry-Jones.

She’s been on the small screen ever since 1978, when she was 20 years of age. Early roles include Dagmara in Reilly: Ace of Spies, Rebecca in Judi Dench comedy drama Behaving Badly, and Helga Bauer in The Nightmare Years.

In 1996, Frances portrayed Princess Catherine Radziwill in Rhodes, before going on to play Anna Nicholls in Real Women II, and Elizabeth in Manchild.

Other notable roles include April Summers in Having It Off, various characters in sketch shows Monkey Dust and Psychobitches, and Connie Woolf in Funland. Meanwhile, Doctor Who fans will know her as Madame Kovarian, a role she played in 2011.

More recently, Frances starred as Olivia Arnold in The Chelsea Detective, Cheryl in Dreamland, and Lesley in Inside No.9.

Whitstable series 3 cast: Isobelle Molloy plays Ruby

Essex-born Isobelle Molloy, 24, returns as Ruby in the cast of the U&Drama cosy crime. Ruby works in Pearl’s restaurant, alongside Pearl’s mum Dolly.

Isobelle began her career as a dancer when she was three, and subsequently portrayed Amanda Thripp in the West End version of Matilda the Musical in 2011. Isobelle was 11 at the time. She went on to play the lead character of Matilda Wormwood.

A relatively youngster on TV compared to some of her Whitstable Pearl co-stars, the actress previously portrayed Bella Young in EastEnders. Between 2013 and 2014, the character popped up in 12 episodes of the BBC soap. She was the daughter of Sadie Young and Jake Stone.

Isobelle made her film debut playing the role of young Maleficent in Disney’s 2014 fantasy film of the same name. She’s also portrayed Holly in the 2016 film Una, and Jenny Jones in one episode of the period drama Tom Jones.

Rohan Nedd stars as Pearl’s son Charlie Nolan

Londoner Rohan Nedd, 30, returns as Pearl’s largely absent son Charlie Nolan in the cast of Whitstable Pearl. He doesn’t actually pop up until episode 4.

The actor is no stranger to cosy crime dramas, having played Fergus Reid in the Acorn TV series Harry Wild, opposite Jane Seymour. He’s portrayed the sidekick role since 2022, up until the most recent series 4.

Having made his first TV appearance in a 2017 episode of Doctor Who, playing Simon, he went on to play Mike in the Harlan Coben Netflix thriller Safe.

Other notable roles include Dion Keelen in one episode of Doctors, Dwayne in the 2019 gang war film Blue Story, and Finn Wokoma in Midsomer Murders.

Sophia Del Pizzo stars as DS Nikki Martel

Eastbourne actress Sophia Del Pizzo returns as DS Nikki Martel, who works alongside DCI Mike McGuire in Whitstable. She is perhaps most famous for her appearances in US dramas, having worked and lived in LA for years. Sophia was previously married to American actor Jimmi Simpson, with whom she acted alongside in Hulu’s Into the Dark.

Westworld star Jimmi Simpson filed for divorce from Sophia Del Pizzo, his second wife, after 19 months of marriage. He was previously married to The Last of Us actress Melanie Lynskey.

Sophia has been on our screens for nearly two decades, having played Celine in the TV mini-series Shelley, Diana in Murders Maps, Grace in Perpetual Grace, LTD, and Rebecca in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

More recently, she’s portrayed Sky in Takeover, and Kayla in the podcast series There’s Something I Need to Tell You.

Robert Webb returns as Pearl’s boyfriend Tom in the cast of Whitstable Pearl series 3

Lincolnshire-born comedian and actor Robert Webb, 52, returns as Pearl’s boyfriend Tom. He made his first appearance in season 2 of the cosy crime drama, and plays a prominent part in series 3.

Of course, TV audiences know Robert best for being one half of the Mitchell and Webb comedy duo with Ludwig‘s David Mitchell. Together they created and starred in Peep Show, the sitcom Back, and the sketch show That Mitchell and Webb Look.

Other notable roles include Rufus in the HBO comedy series Frayed, Grant Hodges in Cold Feet, and Neil Tilly in Ambassadors.

In 2021, the dad of two competed in Strictly but had to leave the show early due to medical advice. More recently, he’s popped up as Martin in Murder, They Hope, and Just West in Death in Paradise. Robert starred as a commune resident and Doomsday prepper who lived alongside the murder victim Kit Martin.

Robert has actually been on our TV screens since 1998, and other notable roles include Robin in The Smoking Room, Bill Hathaway in Blessed, and Dan in Fresh Meat.

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