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Dalgliesh season 3 cast - Meet the characters in the Channel 5 drama

Doctor Foster and The Crown's Bertie Carvel stars in the Channel 5 adaptation of PD James's work, but who's joining him?

Bertie Carvel in Dalgliesh season 3, wearing a suit and walking to a car

Christopher Barr/Channel 5

Published: Friday, 6 December 2024 at 5:45 pm

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Bertie Carvel returns to our screens as Detective Chief Inspector Adam Dalgliesh in season 3 of Channel 5 crime drama Dalgliesh.

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He's once again joined by Carlyss Peer as DS Kate Miskin and Alistair Brammer as DS Daniel Tarrant, who appear at different points across the six episodes, which explore three of PD James's novels: Death in Holy Orders, Cover Her Face, his debut book, and Devices and Desires.

The first revolves around the murder of a senior churchman in a seminary in West Sussex, the second investigation looks into a murder in the house of a wealthy and influential family in Essex, and the final story sees Dalgliesh tackle a string of killings in Kent, suspected to be the work of anti-nuclear campaigners.

As ever, plenty of new guest stars have joined the cast, one being Claire Goose, who plays Dalgliesh's new love interest Dr Emma Lavenham – a relationship Miskin plays a "key" role in, according to Carvel.

"[It's] fantastic to have Carlyss back and to kind of, I don't know whether I'm going to say complete that storyline, but definitely develop that storyline," he said.

"She unlocks the growth that has been waiting to happen throughout these whole three seasons, and that he's moved in various different directions in terms of his secret heart, and she kind of holds the key in a funny kind of way.

"PD James had this great phrase about Dalgliesh having a sliver of ice in the heart, and I think she was talking about his ruthlessness more than anything else.

"But also, I think about that in terms of his wound and the grief, which is where we’ve started him with this series, and that actually the slow thawing of that sliver of ice is what's been happening for these three years.

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"And a huge part of that, I think, is down to [DS Kate] Miskin and the not always straightforward relationship that those two enjoy. And of course, you now know he’s going to, by the end of the series, take a leap, take a risk, and open himself to potential damage again by beginning a new relationship with Emma Lavenham [Claire Goose].

"But it's because of Miskin, it's because of the learning that I think has gone there, and because, in a way, he's closed doors before, and that's not completing him. He knows that he has to kind of open it again and take a risk."

Find out who else is starring in season 3 of Dalgliesh below.

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Dalgliesh season 3 main returning cast

The returning cast of Dalgliesh season 3 is as follows:

Read on for the cast of Dalgliesh season 3.

Bertie Carvel plays Adam Dalgliesh

Bertie Carvel in Dalgliesh, wearing a suit and looking at the camera with his arms crossed

Bertie Carvel in Dalgliesh. Christopher Barr / Dalg3 Productions Ltd / Channel 5

Who is Adam Dalgliesh? Detective Chief Inspector Adam Dalgliesh is the protagonist of the PD James mystery novels. Reserved and enigmatic, Dalgliesh is a widower and is reluctant to commit to anyone following her passing. He's also a published poet and when we first meet him at the very start of the series, he has begun writing again after taking a break.

"At the end of the second series he had considered giving it all up, but chose to remain and redouble his pursuit of truth," said Carvel.

"He was promoted and given the leadership of a specialist unit, investigating “sensitive cases” — high profile or politically significant in some way. At the start of this series we see him on the cusp of writing poetry, but he is interrupted before the pen touches paper. Would the ink have flowed? Is he ready to love and to create? Watch on to find out!"

Where have I seen Bertie Carvel before? Bertie Carvel is best known for playing cheating husband Simon Foster in Doctor Foster alongside Suranne Jones and his role as magician Jonathan Strange in Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. He also plays Tony Blair in The Crown, starred in ITV drama The Sister with Russell Tovey, appeared in the film adaptation of Les Misérables and won two Olivier awards for his work on stage in Matilda the Musical and Ink.

Carlyss Peer plays Kate Miskin

Bertie Carvel and Carlyss Peer in Dalgliesh, looking at the camera

Bertie Carvel and Carlyss Peer in Dalgliesh. Channel 5/Christopher Barr

Who is Kate Miskin? Kate Miskin was Dalgliesh's work partner, but she was promoted from DS to DCI at the end of season 2 and moved to another department.

Speaking ahead of season 2, writer Helen Edmundson said: "The two of them have become closer through working together and at the beginning of the new series we sense that possibly Miskin is developing feelings for Dalgliesh or at least thinking about him a little too much."

Where have I seen Carlyss Peer? You might recently have spotted her in an episode ion Beyond Paradise playing a woman whose house was burgled. Her CV also includes Doctors, ITV crime drama Viewpoint, sci-fi series The Feed and Holby City.

Alistair Brammer plays Daniel Tarrant

DS Tarrant waring a suit and sat down on a chair

Alistair Brammer in Dalgliesh.

Who is Daniel Tarrant? DS Daniel Tarrant joined Dalgliesh and Miskin's team in season 2. "He's in his late 20s and unlike Miskin, he's been fast-tracked into becoming a detective quite quickly, purely because as a white, male, Cambridge graduate he's from a privileged background," said Brammer when first introducing his character.

"He's certainly a product of his time – but he's a good guy. He's got a good heart. He's quietly good at his job, he's got good instincts. I think he can read people well. He’s certainly got the makings of a good detective."

Where have I seen Alistair Brammer before? He's best known for his stage work, appearing in Les Mislerables, War Horse and Miss Saigon. You night recognise him from Casualty.

Dalgliesh season 3: episodes 1 and 2 guest stars

Dalgliesh season 3: episodes 3 and 4 guest stars

Dalgliesh season 3: episodes 5 and 6 guest stars

Dalgliesh airs on Channel 5.

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Authors

A head and shoulders shot of Abby Robinson. She is in front of a grey background, looking at the camera and smiling. She wears a black zipped-up jacket with an elaborate gold and maroon design

Abby RobinsonDrama Editor

Abby Robinson is the Drama Editor for Radio Times, covering TV drama and comedy titles. She previously worked at Digital Spy as a TV writer, and as a content writer at Mumsnet. She possesses a postgraduate diploma and a degree in English Studies.

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