It is generally regarded as one of the great British TV dramas of all time, but Tyneside-set Our Friends in the North was also a launching pad for some spectacular acting careers.
The series written by Peter Flannery first aired in 1996, telling the lives of four friends over a 30-year period amid a backdrop of changing political events, including the Miners’ strike, the T. Dan Smith scandal and the Great Storm of 1987. Our Friends... won three Baftas and a number of other awards and was named by The Guardian as the third greatest TV drama ever.
As the story is revived for Radio 4, with a new episode being written to take the story on, we look back at some of its big stars and what they have done since.
Read more: Byker Grove stars...where are they now?
Daniel Craig - Geordie
Though he had had a number of TV and stage roles before Our Friends in the North, Daniel Craig’s role as troubled Geordie is very much thought of as his breakthrough part.
He would go on to star in films such as Munich, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Knives Out, but is of course best known as the seventh James Bond, starring in five films between 2005 and 2021. In that role, he acted alongside the Queen as the part of the 2012 Olympics opening ceremony. He is married to fellow actor Rachel Weisz and recently took American citizenship.
Christopher Eccleston - Nicky
Christopher Eccleston was already known before the programme through roles in films like Let Him Have It and Shallow Grave. He has been a constant on the film and TV screen ever since, and is probably best known for playing Dr Who for one series when the programme was revived in 2005. Eccleston is well known for his gritty roles, including the film Jude (which was filmed in the North East), the TV dramas Hillsborough and The A Word.
Mark Strong - Tosker
After playing Tosker in Our Friends in the North, Mark Strong has had parts in a number of Hollywood blockbusters, generally specialising in villainous roles. He has acted in films such as Sherlock Holmes, Kick-Ass, Green Lantern and Zero Dark Thirty, as well as playing Merlin in Kingsman: The Secret Service and Kingsman: The Golden Circle. He also provides the voiceover for the pre-film etiquette clips shown at Vue Cinemas and narrated Covid-19 public information films for the Government.
Gina McKee - Mary
The only actor of the four main roles to come from the North East, Gina McKee won three best actress awards for her role as Mary. She has had roles in films such as Notting Hill and Atonement and is a regular on TV, including a return to the North East with the 2012-2013 sitcom Hebburn.
She was also murdered, quite brutally, in the first series of Line of Duty. In 2002 she was given an honorary degree by Sunderland University.
David Bradley - Eddie
David Bradley played MP Eddie Wells in the show after a long acting career. He has since become best known playing Argus Filch, the grumpy school caretaker in the Harry Potter film series, and Walder Frey in the HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones.
Alun Armstrong - Austin Donohue
A native of Annfield Plain in County Durham, Armstrong’s character of Austin Donohue was loosely based on the influential Newcastle politician T. Dan Smith. He has been a constant on our TV screens for decades and is probably best known as one of the veteran detectives on the BBC show New Tricks.
Daniel Casey - Anthony
The son of well-known North East TV reporter Luke Casey had a small role in Our Friends in the North. He is well known playing DS Gavin Troy in Midsomer Murders, and has also appeared on Coronation Street, EastEnders and Emmerdale.
Peter Vaughan - Felix
One of the best known actors going into the programme, Peter Vaughan played Nicky’s dad Felix. He is known for playing the sinister Grouty in the 1970s sitcom Porridge (written by Newcastle’s Ian La Frenais and Dick Clement) and also had a recurring role in Game of Thrones as Maester Aemon.
