- John Standing - Nicholas Jenkins (older)
- Gillian Barge - Mrs Erdleigh
- Annabel Mullion - Mona
- Oliver Ford Davies - Le Bas
- Robin Bailey - Uncle Alfred
- Nicholas Jones - Bob Duport
- Nigel Lindsay - Odo Stevens
- Nicholas Rowe - David Pennistone
- Michael Williams - Ted Jeavons
- Sarah Badel - Lady Molly
- Zoë Wanamaker - Audrey Maclintick
- Harriet Walter - Mildred
- Caroline Harker - Priscilla
- Eileen Atkins - Brightman
- James Callis - Gwinnett
- Paul Brooke - Maclintick
- James D'Arcy - Nicholas Jenkins (student)
- Joanna David - Isobel (older)
- Emma Fielding - Isobel
- John Gielgud - St. John Clarke
- Frank Middlemass - Edgar Deacon
- Richard Pasco - Sir Magnus Donners
- Patrick Godfrey - General Conyers
- Tony Osoba - Colonel Flores
- Nicola Walker - Gypsy Jones
- Emily Mortimer - Polly Duport
- Robert Pugh - Biggs
- Lucy Fleming - Jean (older)
- Julian Wadham - General Liddament
- Jamie Glover - Robert Tolland
- Andrew Havill - Sunny Farebrother
- Grant Thatcher - Mark Members
- Colin Baker - Canon Fenneau
- Mark Dexter - Tompsitt
- Richard Leaf - Barnabas Henderson
- Carmen du Sautoy - Miss Weedon
- Amanda Walker - Mrs. Conyers
- Anastasia Hille - Matilda
- James Villiers - Buster Foxe
- Danny Worters - Nicholas Jenkins (boy)
- Geraldine Alexander - Susan
- Osmund Bullock - Erridge
- Sarah Crowden - Miss Orchard
- Barbara Durkin - Betty
- Nicola King - Mrs Jenkins
- David Yelland - Mr Jenkins
- David MacCreedy - Bracey
- Bryan Pringle - Smith
- Michael Wade - Dr Brandreth
- Tim Wylton - Albert
- Rohan McCullough - Flavia Wisebite
- Kevin Colson - Louis Glober
- Jeremy Child - Roddy Cutts
- Matthew Sim - Scorpio Murtlock
- Luke de Lacey - Stringham (student)
- Hugh Whitemore
- Anthony Powell
- Lorraine Goodman
- Joyce Gallie
- Sally Osoba
- Ian Wilkinson
- Mark Warman
- Carl Davis
- Ross Adams
- Wayne Brooks
Simon Russell Beale hace el papel de Widmerpool.
James Purefoy interpreta a Nicholas Jenkins en la serie.
James Fleet interpreta a Moreland en la serie.
Jonathan Cake hace el papel de Peter Templer.
Paul Rhys interpreta a Charles Stringham en la serie.
Claire Skinner hace el papel de Jean.
Miranda Richardson interpreta a Pamela Flitton en la serie.
Adrian Scarborough interpreta a JG Quiggin en la serie.
Edward Fox hace el papel de Uncle Giles.
John Standing interpreta a Nicholas Jenkins (older) en la serie.
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