The Hairdresser Mysteries cast: Who stars in the BBC cosy crime drama?

Sally Phillips leads the BBC's new cosy crime series as a 1970s-loving hairdresser turned amateur sleuth. Here's everyone who joins her in the salon and around the village.

Promotional image for BBC drama The Hairdresser Mysteries. Four characters stand in front of bold 1970s-style patterned wallpaper under a spotlight. Sally Phillips stands at the front holding a purple hairdryer and smiling thoughtfully, wearing an orange coat over a retro patterned blouse. Beside her are Charlotte Jordan, dressed in a cream jacket and striped top; Sunetra Sarker, wearing colourful glasses, a bright checked coat and leopard-print top while making a "shh" gesture; and Ben Castle-Gibb in a police uniform looking off to the side. The image reflects the show's nostalgic 1970s setting and light-hearted mystery tone.

BBC

Published: Friday, 17 July 2026 at 8:00 am

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The Hairdresser Mysteries is a BBC cosy crime drama starring Sally Phillips as a hairdresser with a talent for solving murders.

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Lily Petal (Phillips) has swapped her glamorous London salon for a small 1970s-themed hairdressers on a cobbled street in a seemingly quiet northern town. But appearances can be deceiving, and it soon becomes clear that beneath its picture-postcard charm, the close-knit community is hiding more than a few skeletons in its closet.

As clients confide their deepest secrets, juiciest gossip and darkest suspicions from the salon chair, she finds herself uniquely placed to investigate when a series of murders shakes the town.

Guided by instinct, empathy and an insider's knowledge of the community, Lily proves to be an unexpectedly gifted amateur sleuth, aided by her bright and analytical colleague, Clary (former Coronation Street star Charlotte Jordan).

But who else joins them in the six-part series? And what can you expect from their characters?

Read on for a full rundown.

The Hairdresser Mysteries main cast

For more information about the characters and where you've seen the cast before, read on.

Sally Phillips as Lily Petal

Inside a brightly coloured retro-style hair salon, a blonde woman wearing a patterned blouse, brown corduroy trousers and a green headscarf leans across a counter while speaking animatedly to a younger woman. The younger woman, dressed in a pink top and dark pinafore-style dress, listens intently. Warm orange tones, geometric décor and red salon chairs create a vibrant 1970s-inspired setting.

Sally Phillips as Lily Petal and Charlotte Jordan as Clary Coombs. BBC

About the character: Lily is a high-end hairdresser who leaves a prestigious London salon to buy her own shop in a northern market town. A free-spirited, hippie-ish soul with an all-consuming love of the 1970s, she becomes an unlikely amateur sleuth, drawing on her hairdresser's intuition and empathy to solve local mysteries.

Where you've seen Sally Phillips before: Phillips is a well-known comic actor and writer, familiar from the Bridget Jones films as Shazzer, sketch show Smack the Pony and the BBC sitcom Miranda. She has also appeared in Veep and Bridgerton.

Charlotte Jordan as Clary Coombs

A smiling woman wearing a pink T-shirt under dark purple corduroy dungarees stands in a brightly coloured retro-inspired room with bold orange geometric wallpaper, a wooden room divider and mid-century furnishings in the background. Her hair is styled in two braided buns, and she rests one arm on a white table while looking at the camera.

Charlotte Jordan as Clary Coombs. BBC/Mill Bay Media/Gary Moyes

About the character: Clary is Lily's bright, analytical salon assistant, described as the Watson to her Shear-lock Holmes. Focused and by-the-book, she prefers facts over mysticism and provides a grounded, logical counterpart to Lily's more intuitive approach. PC Adam falls for her, though she barely notices.

Where you've seen Charlotte Jordan before: Jordan is best known for playing Daisy Midgeley in Coronation Street.

Sunetra Sarker as Wincey Evans

A woman with grey hair and oversized glasses sits in a wicker peacock chair, wearing a striped jumper and a patterned neck scarf. She looks to one side with a surprised, playful expression in a warmly lit retro-style room with orange walls and vintage décor.

Sunetra Sarker as Wincey Evans. BBC/Mill Bay Media/Gary Moyes

About the character: The village's resident gossip.

Where you've seen Sunetra Sarker before: Sarker is known for long-running roles in Casualty as Zoe Hanna, Brookside and Ackley Bridge, and was a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing.

Ben Castle-Gibb as PC Adam Watson

Three people stand outside a stone building in conversation. A police officer in uniform gestures while speaking to two women, one wearing a bright green coat and headband and the other dressed in a light-coloured jacket over a striped top. The younger woman looks concerned as she listens, while the officer appears to be explaining something. The scene takes place on outdoor steps beside large windows, suggesting an ongoing investigation or official inquiry.

Sally Phillips as Lily Petal, Charlotte Jordan as Clary Coombs and Ben Caste-Gibb as PC Adam. BBC

About the character: Adam is an eager young police constable who helps Lily and Clary with their investigations, and who develops feelings for Clary.

Where you've seen Ben Castle-Gibb before: Castle-Gibb is a rising Scottish actor with credits in British television soap Hollyoaks, as well as big-budget series like You, The Witcher and House of the Dragon.

Clive Rowe as Lonnie

A man wearing a bright patterned shirt, blue beret and colourful scarf sits among rows of red theatre seats, speaking into a black megaphone. A clipboard rests on the seat beside him in the empty auditorium, which features exposed wooden beams and warm lighting.

Clive Rowe as Lonnie. BBC/Mill Bay Media/Khuram Mirza

About the character: The eccentric manager of a local charity shop.

Where you've seen Clive Rowe before: Rowe is an Olivier Award-winning stage actor, celebrated for musical theatre and pantomime, with screen roles including Tracy Beaker, Doctor Who, Evermoor and So Awkward.

Guy Henry as Race Runard

A man with a neatly groomed moustache sits in the driver's seat of a vintage red convertible, wearing a dark checked three-piece suit, white shirt and patterned tie. He rests one arm on the open car door while looking towards the camera, with a church and historic buildings visible in the background.

Guy Henry as Race Runard. BBC/Mill Bay Media/Khuram Mirza

About the character: An eccentric antiques dealer with a particular love of rare teacup and saucer collections.

Where you've seen Guy Henry before: Henry is known for playing Henrik Hanssen in Holby City, Pius Thicknesse in the Harry Potter films and Grand Moff Tarkin in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

The Hairdresser Mysteries guest cast

Wendi Peters as Gloria Crudd

A woman with an elaborate pink updo, matching floral earrings and a shimmering pale pink dress leans on a café counter with her hands clasped. She looks thoughtfully to one side in a warmly lit venue, with tables, chairs and a blurred sign in the background.

Wendi Peters as Gloria Crudd. BBC/Mill Bay Media/Joss Barratt

About the character: Hoping to make a new start in life and add a dash of sweetness to the village, Gloria is a newcomer armed with an ice cream business. But, despite trying to stay out of things, she gets caught up in the madness.

Where you've seen Wendi Peters before: Peters is best known for playing Cilla Battersby-Brown in Coronation Street.

The Hairdresser Mysteries is coming soon to BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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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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