Maternal is a new six-part medical drama on ITV1 and it has a great cast – but how do you recognise all the faces in the show?
Maternal follows three female doctors who return from maternity leave to the frontline of the post-pandemic NHS.
They face the challenges of motherhood while also balancing their hectic work life and all the drama of their personal lives.
Here’s everybody you recognise from the cast of ITV‘s new drama Maternal…
Parminder Nagra plays Dr Maryam Afridi
Parminder Nagra leads the cast of ITV1’s Maternal as Dr Maryam Afridi, a paediatric registrar returning from two years of maternity leave.
Maryam immediately struggles to balance her feelings as a mother with caring for sick children.
Parminder, 47, is perhaps best known for playing Jess in the 2002 film Bend It Like Beckham.
She played an aspiring footballer alongside Keira Knightley.
She also starred in the 2004 film Ella Enchanted as Areida, the best friend to Anne Hathaway’s character.
Of course, ER fans will know that Maternal isn’t the first time that Parminder has been in a medical drama!
She joined the cast of US medical drama ER in 2003, playing Dr Neela Rasgotra.
She played Neela for 129 episodes before the show ended in 2009.
Other TV series on her CV include Alcatraz, The Blacklist, and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
You might also recognise her from the Sky series Fortitude, where she played
In recent years, she starred in Netflix‘s 13 Reasons Why as Priya Singh, and Rebecca Harper in Sky sci-fi series Intergalactic.
Last year, she led the cast of DI Ray on ITV, a crime drama recently renewed for a second series!
Film fans will also recognise her from Five Feet Apart and Bird Box, where she played another doctor!
Maternal cast on ITV1: Lara Pulver plays Dr Catherine MacDiarmid
Lara Pulver, 42, stars as Dr Catherine MacDiarmid, a new mum and surgeon who is determined to keep up in the boys’ club of surgery.
You’ll probably recognise Lara as Kate from BBC’s The Split.
She played Nathan’s love interest in the final series of the show last year.
You might also recognise her from the Starz series Da Vinci’s Demons, where she played Clarice Orsini in the dramatisation of Da Vinci’s early life.
Lara played Ann O’Neill alongside Dominic Cooper in the mini-series Fleming, and Karen Stratton in the US series The Alienist.
She also had an early role in Spooks as Section Chief Erin Watts, and has guest-starred in True Blood, Sherlock and Quantico.
Lisa McGrillis stars as Dr Helen Cavendish
Actress Lisa McGrillis plays Dr Helen Cavendish, who works in acute medicine.
The 40-year-old actress is probably best known for playing Kelly in the BBC comedy series Mum.
She also played Rachel Coles in the BBC crime drama Inspector George Gently.
Lisa starred as in the David Tennant mini-series Deadwater Fell in 2020.
You might also recognise her as Mad Kay from the comedy series King Gary.
Recently, she starred in Romesh Ranganathan‘s comedy series Avoidance, and also joined Channel 4’s Somewhere Boy as Sue.
Maternal cast on ITV1: Raza Jaffrey stars as Jack Oliviera
Raza Jaffrey plays Dr Jack Oliviera, the ex of Dr Catherine MacDiarmid.
They may play exes on screen but, in real life, Raza is married to actress Lara Pulver!
The pair began dating in 2012, and married in 2014.
They now live together in LA, and have a son named Ozias, and a daughter called Thea.
You might recognise the 47-year-old actor from Spooks.
He joined as Junior Case Officer
He then joined the cast of UK drama series Mistresses, where he played Hari Dhillon.
In 2010, he played Butler Gaurau in Sex and The City 2.
He also starred in another big US series, Homeland.
He played
Raza has also starred in The Enemy Within, Lost in Space and The Serpent Queen.
Oliver Chris portrays Guy Cavendish
Actor Oliver Chris plays Dr Guy Cavendish, Helen’s husband, and her boss in the acute medicine unit.
You might recognise the 44-year-old actor from his role in Trying.
He stars as Freddy in the popular Apple TV+ series.
Motherland fans will know him as largely absent husband and father Paul.
One of his earliest roles was in the Ricky Gervais sitcom The Office, where he played recent graduate Ricky Howard.
Other TV roles you might recognise him from include Nick in Bluestone 42, Boyce in Green Wing, and Richard from Breathless.
Film fans will also recognise him as John Knightley from Emma, Hart from Living and Sir Gareth from Dolittle.
He recently starred in Miss Scarlet and the Duke as Basil Sinclaire.
He’s also popped up as
Julie Graham plays Dr Susan Fisher
Julie Graham, 57, plays Dr Susan Fisher, Maryam’s boss in paediatric medicine.
Of course, Julie is perhaps best known as DI Perez’s boss Rhona Kelly in Shetland.
Julie has also played Sheron Dawson in Benidorm, and Mandy Lewis in Being Eileen.
She played Mary Gilcrest in William and Mary, and Cat Stone in Queens of Mystery.
She recently starred in ITV’s Ridley as bar owner Annie Marling.
Many TV fans will also recognise Julie from favourites like The Bill, Casualty and Doc Martin.
Maternal cast on ITV1: Abhin Galeya as Raz Farooqi
Abhin Galeya plays Raz Farooqi, Maryam’s husband, in the cast of Maternal on ITV1.
He is probably best known for playing PC Arun Ghir in the 24th series of The Bill.
He also recently starred in Star Wars series Andor as Salman Paak, a human from the Ferrix planet.
Abhin has previously guest starred in Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators, the brilliant This Is Going To Hurt, and Anne Boleyn.
Maternal cast: Hadyn Gwynne plays Anne MacDiarmid
Hadyn Gwynne, 65, plays Anne MacDiarmid, Catherine’s mum.
The actress is probably best known for her role as Alex Pates in BAFTA-winning comedy series Drop the Dead Donkey.
You might also recognise her as Dr Joanna Graham in Peak Practice.
Other well known TV roles include Calpurina in Rome, and Susan Blake in Merseybeat.
Haydn has recently starred as Camilla in the comedy series The Windsors, a satire about the Royal family.
She’s also recently guest starred in The Suspect, and The Crown.
Shaheen Khan stars as Sania Masoom
Shaheen Khan plays Sania Masoom, Maryam’s mother.
And this isn’t the first time Shaheen has played Parminder Nagra’s mum!
She also portrayed her mum, Mrs Bhamra, in Bend It Like Beckham.
The pair also worked together on DI Ray last year.
Shaheen is known for her roles in the TV movie The Boy with the Topknot, and the comedy series The Reluctant Landlord.
Maternal cast: Joe Thomas plays Dr Matt Malyon
Actor Joe Thomas plays junior doctor Dr Matt Malyon.
Of course, The Inbetweeners fans will know the actor best for playing Simon Cooper in the coming-of-age series and films.
He’s also known for his role in Fresh Meat as Essex lad Kingsley Owen.
Joe, 39, also starred in the BBC comedy drama White Gold.
He recently starred in Dave’s comedy film We Are Not Alone, and ITVX special Plebs: Soldiers of Rome.
Dean Ridge portrays Dr Simon Segman
Actor Dean Ridge plays paediatric junior doctor Dr Simon Segman.
He’s probably best known as Magnus from Vikings, which he joined in the fifth series.
He also played Rhone in the History channel drama series Knightfall.
Dean played Paul Wilkins in the Hulu mini series No Man’s Land, and will soon play Austin Butler in the Apple TV series Masters of The Air.
Matilda Ziegler stars as Becky Hillford
Matilda Ziegler, 58, plays Dr Becky Hillford on the ITV show.
The actress is probably best known as Donna Ludlow from EastEnders.
Donna was the daughter of Kathy Beale, who died a tragic death in the soap.
She’s also known for her work with Rowan Atkinson, appearing as Irma Gobb in many of his Mr Bean sketches and shows.
You might recognise her from the period drama series Lark Rise to Candleford, where she played dressmaker Pearl Pratt in the series.
In recent years, she’s also guest starred in Call the Midwife, The Girlfriend Experience, and Miss Scarlet and Miss Duke.
Mat Fraser plays Steve
Actor Mat Fraser plays Steve, who appears in episodes 1 and 3 of the ITV series.
Steve investigates Maryam’s case after the death of her patient Edward.
The actor is a disability activist, and was born with phocomelia – caused by the thalidomide given to his mum when she was pregnant.
One of his best-known roles is Paul, the Illustrated Seal from the fourth series of American Horror Story.
He also played Raymond Van Gerrit in the first series of His Dark Materials.
He also guest-starred as Jim Bell in Silent Witness back in 2020.
You might also recognise him as Roger Frostly from the US comedy series Loudermilk.
He also recently featured in the BBC and Netflix co-production Then Barbara Met Alan.
Nicola Stephenson guest stars as Debbie Wares
Nicola Stephenson stars as Helen’s half-sister Debbie Wares.
Best known for playing Margaret Clemence in Brookside, she made a big impact on the soap!
Her kiss with Beth Jordache, played by Anna Friel, caused a big stir when it was the first lesbian kiss to be aired before the 9pm watershed.
Another memorable role was Nurse Julie Fitzjohn in Casualty, and she also played the character in the first series of Holby City.
You might also recognise her as Allie Westbrooke from Waterloo Road.
She played the art teacher in the final series of the original run of the show.
In 2015, she had a stint on Emmerdale as Tess Harris, who was killed by drunk driver Kirin Kotecha.
She’s had recent guest spots in Call the Midwife, Whitstable Pearl and The Walk-In.
Eva Pope plays patient Sally in episode 2
Actress Eva Pope is unrecognisable as cancer patient Sally in episode 2 of Maternal.
You might recognise her best as scandalous Rovers barmaid Tanya Pooley from Coronation Street.
She later joined Waterloo Road as Rachel Mason, the first female Head Teacher of the school.
She is also known for playing nurse Claire Brightwell in series 12 of Peak Practice.
Eva has guest starred in Silent Witness and Somewhere Boy in recent years.
Maternal ITV1 cast: Cathy Tyson plays Amanda Hendrix
Cathy Tyson plays Amanda Hendrix in episode 4.
She gained critical acclaim for her role as Simone in the 1986 film Mona Lisa.
She is also most famous for her role as a prostitute in Band of Gold.
Film fans will know her from The Serpent and the Rainbow, Priest, and The Old Man Who Read Love Stories.
You might also recognise her as deputy head teacher Miss Gayle from Grange Hill, and Steph McKenzie from the soap Night & Day.
The actress won a BAFTA for her role as Best Supporting Actress in the Channel 4 film Help.
In recent years, she’s guest starred in McDonald & Dodds, and Whitstable Pearl.
She recently starred as Maureen in the Netflix film Bank of Dave, will soon be seen in the TV version of Boiling Point.
Cathy will play Carly’s mum Vivian.
Pooja Shah plays Anisah
Pooja Shah also features in episode 4 of Maternal as Anisah.
And it’s not the first time the actress has starred opposite Parminder Nagra before – she played her cousin Meena in Bend it Like Beckham!
Of course, EastEnders fans will recognise Pooja as Kareena Ferreira, who appeared in the soap from 2003 until 2005.
She’s also known for playing Sinjata in the BBC comedy series Is Harry on the Boat?, and Amy Garnett in the crime drama Missing.
Pooja has also guest starred in The L Word: Generation Q, and recently popped up as Usha in Silent Witness series 26.
Read more: Maternal on ITV: Parminder Nagra lead cast in post-pandemic medical drama
Who else stars in the Maternal cast on ITV1?
Alexander Karim plays Lars Nordstrom, the father of Catherine’s baby.
The Swedish actor has starred in many Swedish series, but is probably best known internationally as Muhammad Banir from Nicholas Cage’s film Dying of the Light.
Carolin Stoltz plays Brigitta, Lars’ wife, in Maternal.
Emmerdale fans will know her as Olena Petrovich, an illegal immigrant who was a love interest for Sam Dingle back in 2009.
Tareq Al-Jeddal plays Callum, Debbie’s son and Helen’s nephew. You might recognise him as Max Turner’s friend Chris from Coronation Street and as Jack Farham from Ridley.
D’vante Hart plays Maryam’s young patient Edward.
Cheryl Mackie stars as Edward’s mother, and she’s best known for playing Karen in the 2000s series Dream Team.
Darren Hart plays Edward’s father, and he is best known for playing MacDonald in the film Starred Up.
Guy Rufus Williams plays surgery consultant Professor Thomas, and he’s perhaps best known as
Elisabeth Dulau, aka
Lucy Black, best known for playing Florence in The Durrells, plays Hilary Wilshere.
Bill Skinner, who played AFC Richmond fan Tommy in Ted Lasso, plays Will in Maternal.
Dylan Hughes, who is known for playing Sebastian Fairweather in Mallory Towers, plays Jakub.
Remy Beasley, who you might recognise as Beyonce from the comedy series Stella, plays Nia in episode 6.
Maternal begins on Monday, January 16, 2023 at 9pm on ITV1.
So, what do you think of the Maternal cast? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think.