Whitstable Pearl is back with a series 3 and there are some rather special guest stars joining the already established cast of regulars on the beautiful Kent coast.

Robert Webb, who first appeared as Pearl’s boyfriend Tom in series 2, is back as a more prominent character this time around.

He returns in episodes 1 to 3. Don’t ask us what happens to him after that, we don’t want to blurt out any spoilers!

So who else guest stars in the cast of Whitstable Pearl series 3? Here’s a rundown of who plays who.

Whitstable Pearl series 3 guest cast: Penny Downie stars as photographer Izzy in episode 1

Australian Penny Downie, 71, portrays Izzy in the first episode of the new series. In episode one – entitled Girl, Whitstable Beach – Izzy is a local photographer who asks Pearl to help her with a baffling case. Izzy is knocked unconscious on the beach whilst taking photos of a young woman she believes to be Gemma – the missing daughter of her friend Val.

Val is convinced that Gemma’s husband Luke had something to do with her disappearance seven years ago. Having visited him, who is now single father to his and Gemma’s two young daughters, Pearl becomes suspicious when she finds parcels with handwritten labels in Luke’s bin. Val says it’s Gemma’s writing. Pearl enlists Mike’s help to forensically test the evidence and discover if Gemma has returned…

Actress Penny has been on our screens for nearly 50 years, and is probably best known for playing Ellen in the British TV sitcom Back (alongside Whitstable Pearl co-star Robert Webb).

Her very first role in 1976 was playing Kelly Jamison in the Aussie soap Bellbirds. Other early roles included Kerry Vincent in Prisoner: Cell Block H, Patty in The Sullivans, and Jane Fitzwilliam in Learned Friends.

A jobbing actress for decades, she’s appeared in TV series such as Campaign, A Taste for Death, Underbelly, The Cazalets, and New Street Law.

Her career, which has spanned the UK, the US, and Down Under, included playing Lady Sinderby in Downton Abbey in 2014. Penny clearly does a good posh performance, as she went on to play the Duchess of Gloucester in The Crown.

More recently, Penny played the US ambassador’s house manager Frances Munning in the Netflix political thriller series The Diplomat, and The Countess in A Gentleman in Moscow.

Who else guest stars in episode 1 of series 3?

Actress Sally Ann Triplett also guest stars in the cast of Whitstable Pearl series 3 episode 1. She plays Gemma’s grieving mum Val in the storyline, and is best known for playing Diane Larkin in one episode of Doctors.

Child actress Lily Currie portrays Lottie. It’s her very first TV role. Meanwhile, Senna’s Rob Compton stars as Luke, and Dodger’s Connor Curren plays Joey.

The episode also stars Mr Loverman’s Lauren Akosia as Jenny.

Kacey Ainsworth stars as Cassie in episode 2

Hertfordshire-born Kacey Ainsworth, 56, appears as Cassandra ‘Cassie’ Gilmartin in the second episode in the third series of Whitstable Pearl – entitled Death, the Devil and the Fool.

In the ep, Whitstable Pearl is hosting the annual Psychic Fair, but tragedy strikes when seven year old Saffia goes missing whilst in the care of her nanny, Flora. Pearl is approached by a local psychic, Cassie, who says she can feel the child’s presence…

Of course, EastEnders fans will know actress Kacey as ‘Little’ Mo Slater in the BBC soap. Her character remains an iconic one, during a time that the BBC soap was at its best. Mo suffered awful abuse at the hands of her vile husband Trevor. The scene where she fought back with an iron remains one of the best.

After leaving Walford, Kacey played Inspector Jenny Black in Holby Blue, Valerie Wright in The Wright Way, and Miss Gullet in The Worst Witch.

She’s now most famous for playing Cathy Keating in Grantchester, opposite on on-screen husband Robson Green. She’s played the role since the show first began in 2014. It was recently announced that the series is coming to an end for good.

Kacey has been in multiple films, too, including Topsy Turvy, Lynn + Lucy, and We the Kings.

Jaye Jacobs plays Tanya Thomas

Bristol-born Jaye Jacobs, 43, plays Saffy’s mum Tanya Thomas in episode 2. Of course she’s best known for playing Donna Jackson in Holby City between 2004 and 2022. She also portrayed the same character in crossover Casualty episodes during the same years.

Jaye is also famous for portraying Sian Diamond in Waterloo Road between 2011 and 2013, and Amber in Millie Inbetween from 2014 to 2018.

In 2005, she took part in the third series of Strictly. She and professional partner Andrew Cuerden were eliminated in the second week of the contest and finished in 11th place overall.

Who else guest stars in episode 2 of series 3?

Marc Baylis appears as missing girl Saffy’s dad Paul Thomas. He played Rob Donovan – Carla Connor’s brother – in Coronation Street on and off between 2012 and 2025.

The Whitstable Pearl series 3 episode 2 guest cast list also includes newcomer Rachel Woodward Carlton as Saffy’s nanny Flora Jenkins.

Whitstable Pearl series 3 episode 3 stars Rufus Jones as Theo in the guest cast

The always funny W1A star Rufus Jones plays the victim’s husband Theo in episode 3 entitled Oysters Kilpatrick. In this instalment, it’s Pearl and Tom’s anniversary and Pearl gets wind that he’s planning to propose on their romantic getaway…

However, something rather pesky gets in the way when the infamous food critic, Paddy Sheedy, drops down dead after being been poisoned at the restaurant. Is this the end of the seaside eatery?

Londoner Rufus, 49, is best known for his comedic roles in TV series such as W1A,  Hunderby, Camping, and Home.

Rufus Jones first appeared on TV as Crispin in the series White Teeth in 2002. He subsequently portrayed Nelson in Mongrels, Nick Edwards in Bob Servant Independent, and Prop Maartie in Edge of Heaven.

Between 2012 and 2015, he starred as Dr. Foggerty in the Julia Davis comedy Hunderby, before playing Tom in Camping – also created by Julia Davis.

Rufus is perhaps most famous for playing David Wilkes in W1A, Mark in Flack, or Peter in Home, which he also wrote. His film roles include Jenkins in the movie Wonka.

He recently played Deputy Prime Minister Paul Stratton in the cast of rompy Rivals on Disney. Paul was a vain, patronising, ruthless careerist and hypocritical Conservative MP in the throes of a midlife crisis. He married his glamorous secretary Sarah in series 1.

Who else guest stars in episode 3?

Knightmare’s David Verrey stars as celebrity food critic Paddy Sheedy, who is poisoned to death.

Renegades’ Tom Tidiman plays Evan. Yes, he does look like a distant cousin of Jason Momoa!

Silent Witness‘ Isis Davis portrays Roxy.

Whitstable Pearl series 3 guest cast: Kate Robbins plays Nikki’s mum Janet in episode 4

Sixty-six-year-old Kate Robbins, who was actually born in Kent, stars as Janet in the fourth instalment of the Kent-based cosy crime. She’s Nikki’s mum and a former copper herself.

In Prisoners of the Past, Pearl phones Charlie and is thrown to hear a UK ringtone. He’s supposed to be in Canada! Checking her phone tracker, it shows Charlie’s actually in London, so Pearl leaves immediately to find him. Meanwhile, Nikki celebrates her birthday in the restaurant with her mum, Janet.

Actress, comedian and singer Kate Robbins 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 series 1, Bev in Silent Witness, Vida Devine in The Good Ship Murder, Lucky Clayborn in Death in Paradise, and now Janet in Whitstable Pearl.

Vicki Michelle portrays Patti in the cosy crime cast

‘Allo ‘Allo legend Vicki Michelle – aka Yvette ‘Oooooh, René’ Carte-Blanche – will also guest star in the series. She’ll play Patti in episode 4.

She’s not French though; she’s from Essex! Now 74, Vicki played the sexy waitress in the BBC sitcom from 1982 to 1992. Vicki also became a regular on Noel’s House Party as Noel’s Neighbour.

More recently, the actress has popped up in EastEnders as Jo Cotton, and Angie Edwards in the podcast series Barmy Dale.

Whitstable Pearl series 3 guest cast: Larry Lamb stars as Dickie Masters in episode 4

Middlesex-born Larry Lamb, 77, stars as Dickie Masters in episode 4 of the cosy crime.

Gavin & Stacey fans will know Larry best as Gavin’s dad, Michael ‘Mick’ Shipman, a role he played between 2007 and 2024 – when the final ever episode aired over Christmas.

Larry is also famous for playing villain Archie Mitchell, the father of Ronnie and Roxy, in the BBC soap EastEnders. Her first arrived in Albert Square in 2008, and became involved in some pretty Machiavellian storylines.

He set fire to the Vic, manipulated Peggy, and plotted to financially cripple the Mitchell clan. Archie was subsequently killed off (by Stacey Slater) in a huge murder story line at Christmas 2009.

Larry has been on our screens for 50 years, having made his first appearance in 1975 in the TV movie Horse Latitudes. Significant early roles include Joey Fox in Fox, Matt Taylor in soap opera Triangle, and Don Castillo in Christopher Columbus.

Between 1992 and 1993, the actor portrayed Albert Sweet in comedy Get Back, before going to play Terry Dunning in Annie’s Bar, Simon Hughes in Supply & Demand, and Thomas a’ Beckett in Cathedral.

Other notable roles include George Garvey in James Nesbitt drama Murphy’s Law, Jonathan Fox in The Bill, Tommy Sutherland in Love & Marriage, and Ted Case in New Tricks.

More recently, he’s played Dennis in the C5 thriller The Inheritance, and Terry Dobson in The Feud. He’s also popped up as Rhys in Curfew, Sir Martin Wright in Conflict, and Ron Palmer in Art Detectives. The actor recently announced he’d retired from acting.

Who else guest stars in episode 4 of Whitstable Pearl episode 4?

Dogtown’s Dave Johns stars as convicted murderer Phil Nevin.

The Girl Before’s Francesca Knight plays Phil’s estranged daughter Paula Nevin.

Shetland‘s Bamshad Abedi-Amin as Lee.

Little Disasters‘ Adil Akram as Imran.

Rupert Hill guest stars as Ian Cranage in the cast of Whitstable Pearl series 3 episode 5

Former soap hearthrob Rupert Hill, 47, guest stars in the cast of Whitstable Pearl series 3 episode 5. In the penultimate episode – Walking with Ghosts – it’s Halloween and Pearl drags a grumpy Mike on a Ghost Walk run by the local septuagenarian, Jacob Cranage.

Later that night, Jacob witnesses what looks like a body being buried on the beach…

Rupert Hill portrays Jacob’s son Ian Cranage in the cast. Soap fans will know the actor as Cameron Davenport in Channel 5 soap Family Affairs, a role he played between 2002 and 2004.

Between 2004 and 2011, Rupert portrayed Jamie Baldwin in Coronation Street. Jamie was the son of Danny and Carol Baldwin and half-brother of Warren. He was something of a hunk when he appeared in the ITV soap, and was involved in on-screen relationships with Violet Wilson, and Frankie Baldwin. 

In real life, Rupert is married to actress Jenny Platt, with whom he has one child. The pair while playing Jamie and Violet Wilson in Corrie.

More recently, in 2018, Rupert starred as Josh Bradley in Hollyoaks. Like Ben Freeman, who recently popped up in Murder Most Puzzling, Rupert has mostly stepped away from acting.

Whitstable Pearl series 3 guest cast: David Hargreaves stars as Jacob Cranage

Veteran actor David Hargreaves guest stars as Jacob Cranage in the cast of Whitstable Pearl series 3 episode 5.

Believe it or not, Derbyshire-born David has been on our screens since 1962, when he appeared as a soldier in the TV series The Last Man Out. He was 22 at the time, and is now 85.

After a brief stint in soap Crossroads Motel as Harry Vickers, David went on to star in multiple TV series as a jobbing actor. Between 1981 and 1982, he portrayed Tom in Sorry I’m a Stranger Here Myself, and went on to play another Tom – this time Tom Darblay – in Juliet Bravo.

Arguably his most famous role was playing Derek Owen in the Salford-set drama Albion Market. Other notable roles include Pieman in Pie in the Sky, Colin in Making Out, Dr Wix in Earthfasts, and Sgt Bill Gentle in Merseybeat.

This Country fans will know him as Arthur Andrews in the BBC Daisy May Cooper comedy. More recently, David has portrayed Mr Prior in The Flatshare, Ronnie Hawkins in Doctors, and Benjamin Dawson in Silent Witness series 28.

Who else appears in episode 5?

Sam Phillips stars as Roy Morris. He’s best known for playing Jamie in Hotel Trubble, Spencer Cavendish in the 2015 series of The Syndicate, and Equerry in The Crown. More recently, he portrayed Rob in This England, and Lord Debling in Bridgerton.

Hersha Verity stars as Ian’s wife Freya Cranage. She previously played Dr Nina Gupta in EastEnders in 2022, and Maia Grey in 2024’s Geek Girl.

Jason Kavan (legal name Gareth Jones) stars as Kuldeep Das. He’s known for playing DS Nawal in Emmerdale, and Harti in EastEnders.

Lilies actress Leanne Rowe portrays Greta Waterford.

Nick Moran portrays Anthony Corella in the guest cast of season finale

In the season finale of Whitstable Pearl series 3, Nick Moran stars as Anthony Corella. In the episode, entitled Someone Like Me, Mike and Nikki find out that a taxi driver found shot in his car had previously avoided a rape charge with the help of a slick, female lawyer, Rhea…

Londoner Nick Moran, 55, is probably most famous for his multiple film roles. After several years of acting, he came to fame playing Eddy in the 1998 movie Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. The film also launched the careers of director Guy Ritchie, Jason Statham, and the film career of Vinnie Jones.

From 2010, Nick starred as Scabior in the Harry Potter film franchise. His TV career has included roles in The Bill, Mr Selfridge, DCI Banks, Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators, and Death in Paradise.

Who else appears in the season finale?

Doña Croll stars as Rhea Collis. She’s best known for playing Pearl McHugh in C5 soap Family Affairs, Vera Corrigan in Doctors, Adele Beckford in Casualty, and Emerald Fox in EastEnders.

What It Feels Like for a Girl star Laura Woodhouse plays Jade.

Newcomer Andrew Bone as Ryan.

Lewis’ Francesca Zoutewelle as Evie Blake, the single mum involved in the death of Mike’s wife.

Is Harry on the Boat? actor James Doherty (legal name Edward Doherty) plays Gabriel March.

Jeanie Hackman – aka Jade in Everything I Know About Love – stars as Ayla.

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