Cast and characters

Published: Monday, 18 June 2007, 2:35PM

Who's who in the most recent Cracker series:

Robbie Coltrane: Dr Edward Fitzgerald
Fitz has what psychologists might call a few issues. He’s an alcoholic gambler who chain-smokes and is overweight. He is deliberately provocative and sexist yet has a brilliant mind. Summing up his love of excess, Fitz memorably says: "I drink too much, I smoke too much, I gamble too much. I am too much." The last decade in Australia has been calm but he has missed the excitement of police work.

Barbara Flynn: Judith Fitzgerald
She has been in the background for much of the time and has tolerated Fitz’s aggressive outbursts and vices. Being in Australia has definitely been good for her and her son, James, and has meant a settled period in her marriage to Fitz.

Kieran O’Brien: Mark Fitzgerald
Fitz and Judith’s eldest son, now married with a daughter. He has done well and is happy to have his parents stay with his family, but gets angry when he sees his father returning to his old ways. He’s incensed that Fitz appears to be disregarding the feelings of his family as he pursues the adrenaline rush of police work.

Richard Coyle: DI Walters
He is a young high-flyer in the Manchester police force. He’s a DI whose ambition drives him to fury whenever things don’t go exactly as he likes. His competitive nature means he has read all Fitz’s books to get the edge on anyone else in police work. He’s not a natural, instinctive copper, and he was probably fast-tracked through the ranks after university.

Saleh Nisha Nayar: DS Saffron
She has worked closely with Walters for a while and is a person that he trusts, and relies on to keep him calm. She is a no-nonsense DS, who is unimpressed by Fitz’s antics aimed at winding her up. Both she and Walters have studied Fitz’s work.