73 Yards

Ruby (Millie Gibson) tries to
work out what 73 yards is in
metres

One episode (73 Yards)

First broadcast: May 25 2024
Audience for story: 4.06m

REGULAR CAST

Ncuti Gatwa (The Doctor) Born Oct 15 1992 Click here for Ncuti Gatwa's entry on The Giggle

Millie Gibson (Ruby Sunday) Born Jun 19 2004 Click here for Millie Gibson's entry on The Church on Ruby Road

GUEST CAST

Sophie Ablett (Marti Bridges)

Career highlights

Debuted in the 2016 short The Ringmaster, followed by Taboo (2017), Doctors (2020), A Brixton Tale (2021) and Anomalous (2022).

Rhyanna Alexander-Davis (Elizabeth Campbell) Born 1996

Career highlights

Rhyanna debuted played Miss Wannamaker in 13 episodes of CBBC's The Ministry of Curious Stuff (2017), followed by roles in The Revolting World of Stanley Brown (2012) and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023).

Facts

Rhyanna also works as a social therapist for the NHS.

Ali Ariaie (Sanjay Miah)

Career highlights

Ali's first screen credit was on a 20126 episode of Raised By Wolves, followed by roles in Doctors (2019), Persuasion (2022), The Couple Next Door (2023) and Death in Paradise (2024). He also played Raskolvy in eight episodes of The Great (2021-23).

Dylan Baldwin (Security officer) Born 1980

Career highlights

Debuted in the short film Poof (1999), then Judge John Deed (2001), Brum (2001), Spy Wars (2019), The Inside Man (2022), Midnight Peepshow (2022), The Ex-Wife (2022), Coronation Street (2023), EastEnders (2023) and Dune Part Two (2024).

Aneurin Barnard (Roger ap Gwilliam) Born May 8 1987

Career highlights

Aneurin's earliest credit was in the 2003-04 TV series Jacob's Ladder, followed by roles in Y Pris (2007-08), Casualty (2008), Ironclad (2011), Powder (2011), Hunky Dory (2011), Citadel (2012), The Facility (2012), Mary Queen of Scots (2013), The White Queen (2013), Moonfleet (2013), Cilla (2014), The Scandalous Lady W (2015), War & Peace (2016), Thirteen (2016), SS-GB (2017), Dunkirk (2017), The Personal History of David Copperfield (2019), The Goldfinch (2019), Barkskins (2020), The Pact (2021), Time (2021), Peaky Blinders (2022), 1899 (2022), The Catch (2023), Steeltown Murders (2023), The Way (2024) and Timestalker (2024).

Awards

2010: Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical (Spring Awakening)

Albey Brookes (Rufus Bray) Born Nov 29 1988

Career highlights

Debuted aged eight in The Bill (1996), then Jo Brand Through the Cakehole (1996), Harry Enfield and Chums (1996), Microsoap (1998-2000), Shades (2001), EastEnders (2004), The Last Man (2010) and Fame: The Musical (2020). Albey has also starred in West End productions such as Aladdin, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Nipper.

Graham Butler (Frank Hinchey) Born 1986

Career highlights

Further work includes The Engagement (2006), The Symmetry of Love (2010), Law and Order UK (2010), Suspects (2014), Two Down (2015), Penny Dreadful (2014-15), The Isle (2018), Bancroft (2020) and Dagr (2024).

Facts

His brother is producer Matthew Butler-Hart, author of the bestselling filmmaking book Full to the Brim with Fizz, Ginger and Fierce Determination.

David Constant (Armed policeman)

Career highlights

Further work includes The Ballad of Billy MacRae (2021) and Age of Outrage (2020-21).

Shane David-Joseph (Akhim Patil)

Career highlights

Other work includes Temple (2021) and the podcast series Radioman (2022).

Elan Davies (Thin Lucy)

This is Elan's first credited work on screen.

Anita Dobson (Mrs Flood) Born Apr 29 1949

Doctor Who credits

Played: Mrs Flood in The Church on Ruby Road (2023), 73 Yards (2024), The Legend of Ruby Sunday/ Empire of Death (2024)

Career highlights

Anita's earliest TV credit was in the 1979 TV film Leave Him to Heaven, followed by roles in Nanny (1981), Partners in Crime (1983), Up the Elephant and Round the Castle (1983-84), Split Ends (1989), Red Dwarf (1993), Rab C Nesbitt (1993), Woof! (1993), Smokescreen (1994), Ghosts (1995), Dangerfield (1995), The Famous Five (1996), Highlander (1997), The Tichborne Claimant (1998), Sunburn (1999), Urban Gothic (2000), Daddyfox (2000), NCS Manhunt (2002), Hotel Babylon (2008), Gigglebiz (2009-11), Sadie J (2012), Pompidou (2015), The Rise of the Krays (2015), The Fall of the Krays (2016), Call the Midwife (2017), The Worst Witch (2018-19), Dodger (2022) and Inside No 9 (2023). Of course, Anita will forever be remembered most for her role as Angie Watts in 274 episodes of the soap EastEnders (1985-88).

Facts

Anita is married to Brian May, legendary guitarist with the rock band Queen. She is the great-granddaughter of Sarah Dearman, one of the leaders of the 1888 Bryant & May matchgirls' strike, which had a lasting impact on gender equality and the trades union movement. In September 1986, Anita reached number 4 in the UK singles chart with a vocal version of the EastEnders theme, entitled Anyone Can Fall in Love.

Maxine Evans (Lowri Palin) Born Nov 9 1966

Doctor Who credits

Played: Helen Sherman in Torchwood: Countrycide (2006)

Played: Lowri Palin in 73 Yards (2024)

Career highlights

Starting out in London's Burning (1994/97), Lowri's further credits include The Bill (1996), Next of Kin (1997), Canterbury Tales (2003), Goal! (2005), Perfect Parents (2006), Caught in the Act (2008), Poirot (2013), A Song for Jenny (2015), Call the Midwife (2015-16), Down the Caravan (2018), Time (2021), Why Didn't They Ask Evans? (2022), Steeltown Murders (2023) and Anfamol (2023). She also enjoyed a recurring role as Rhian in 37 episodes of Stella (2012-17). Maxine also worked as scriptwriter and storyliner on the HTV series Nuts and Bolts (1999-2002), which she also directed episodes of. Maxine also worked as a series editor on Crossroads and a storyliner on Coronation Street around this period.

Facts

Maxine is married to Neil Docking, a musician and writer who has worked on soaps as a storyliner also. Maxine has spoken candidly about her inability to have children, explaining that by the age of 21 she had not started her periods, and following an examination it was discovered that her womb had not developed fully, and she would never be able to have children.

Michelle Greenidge (Carla) Born Jun 15 1970

Doctor Who credits

Played: Carla Sunday in The Church on Ruby Road (2023), Space Babies (2024), 73 Yards (2024), Rogue (2024), The Legend of Ruby Sunday/ Empire of Death (2024)

Career highlights

Debuted in the 2009 short Leave, followed by All About the McKenzies (2014), Venus vs Mars (2015), A Lesson Learnt (2015), Intruders (2017), Timewasters (2019), I May Destroy You (2019-20), Small Axe (2020), It's a Sin (2021), Cruella (2021), King Gary (2021), Grantchester (2021), Alex Rider (2021), The Witchfinder (2022) and My Happy Ending (2023). Recurring roles include Lola in Mandy (2020-22), Valerie in After Life (2019-22) and Judith in Code 404 (2020-22).

Hilary Hobson (The Woman)

This is Hilary's only work to date.

Jason May (Groundsman) Born August 3 1970

Doctor Who credits

Played: Captain Walker in TARDISode: The Impossible Planet (2006)

Played: SOCO in Torchwood: Everything Changes (2006)

Played: Groundsman in 73 Yards (2024)

Career highlights

Jason's credited career began with 2000's Nuts and Bolts, followed by A Mind to Kill (2001), Holby City (2002), The Bench (2002), Kiddo (2005), A Bit of Tom Jones? (2009), Cow (2009), Devil's Bridge (2010), Stella (2013), One Chance (2013), Da Vinci's Demons (2014), The Lighthouse (2016), The Watcher in the Woods (2017), The Crown (2019) and The Pact (2021).

Deeivya Meir (Newsreader)

Career highlights

Born in the UK to Guyanese-Indian parents, Deeivya's other work includes King of Bollywood (2004), The Bill (2005), EastEnders (2006), Manhunt (2019), War of the Worlds (2019), Mister Winner (2020), Roadkill (2020), The Midwich Cuckoos (2022) and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024). She has also worked in several video games, notably voicing Ginny Weasley in the Harry Potter games.

Gwion Morris Jones (Ifor Jones) Born May 1999

Career highlights

Further work includes Marriage (2022), Dal Y Mellt (2022), Itopia (2023), Wolf (2023), The Winter King (2023) and Masters of the Air (2024).

Sian Phillips (Enid Meadows) Born May 14 1933

Career highlights

A grand dame of British entertainment, Sian's earliest credited screen work was in 1958's A Game for Eskimos, followed by roles in A Quiet Man (1959), Siwan: The King's Daughter (1960), Becket (1964), The Sex Game (1968), Goodbye, Mr Chips (1969), Under Milk Wood (1971), Shoulder to Shoulder (1974), How Green Was My Valley (1975-76), I, Claudius (1976), Warrior Queen (1978), Crime and Punishment (1979), Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979), Nijinsky (1980), Clash of the Titans (1981), Smiley's People (1982), Dune (1984), The Doctor and the Devils (1985), Ewoks: The Battle for Endor (1985), Vanity Fair (1987), The Snow Spider (1988), Emlyn's Moon (1990), Perfect Scoundrels (1991), The Borrowers (1992), Heidi (1993), The Age of Innocence (1993), The Return of the Borrowers (1993), A Mind to Kill (1995), Ivanhoe (1997), House of America (1997), Alice Through the Looking Glass (1998), The Magician's House (1999), La Femme Nikita (1998-2000), The Magician's House II (2000), Ballykissangel (2002), The Last Detective (2003), The Murder Room (2005), The Gigolos (2006), Shortland Street (2008), New Tricks (2010), Lewis (2011), Under Milk Wood (2014), Strike (2017), Doctors (2018), Dream Horse (2020), Keeping Faith (2020-21), Silent Witness (2021) and Good Omens (2023).

Awards

1970: Royal Society of Film Critics (USA) Award for Best Supporting Actress (Goodbye, Mr Chips)

1977: BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress (I, Claudius)

1977: Royal Television Society Award for Best Performance (I, Claudius)

2000: Commander of the order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to drama

2001: BAFTA Cymru Special Award

2016: Dame Commander of the order of the British Empire (DBE) for services to drama

Facts

Sian has been married three times, firstly to Don Roy, secondly to international leading actor Peter O'Toole, and thirdly to actor Robin Sachs (son of Leonard Sachs, who appeared in The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve and Arc of Infinity - it's funny to think of Sian Phillips as President Borusa's daughter-in-law!). Both O'Toole and Sachs died in 2013. Her daughter Kate O'Toole is also an actor.

Glyn Pritchard (Eddie Jones)

Career highlights

Glyn's first screen credit was in Crossroads: King's Oak (1987-88) as Paul the cheffette, followed by roles in Death of a Son (1989), Paper Mask (1990), A Mind to Kill (1995), Coronation Street (1996), The Famous Five (1997), Animal Ark (1998), Dirty Work (2000), Brookside (2000-03, as Christy Murray), The Courtroom (2004), The Indian Doctor (2010), Stella (2013), Hinterland (2013), Law and Order UK (2014), Inspector George Gently (2015), Keeping Faith (2017), Andor (2022) and Bariau (2024).

Sion Pritchard (Joshua Steele)

Career highlights

Debuted in Cowbois ac Injans (2006), then Pen Talar (2010), Caerdydd (2009-10), PhoneShop (2010-11), The Indian Doctor (2013), Aberfan: The Fight for Justice (2016), Trollied (2016), Bang (2017), Tourist Trap (2018-19), Hidden (2019), Doctors (2024) and Mammoth (2024).

Amol Rajan (Amol Rajan) Born 1983

Career highlights

After working at the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Amol became a presenter on The Wright Stuff (2006-07), as well as a researcher. He then became a print journalist on The Independent and London Evening Standard, becoming the first non-white editor of a national newspaper (the Independent) in over 100 years in 2013. Between 2011-13 Amol acted as advisor to Independent proprietor Evgeny Lebedev, son of Alexander Lebedev, former KGB attache. He later became a journalist for BBC Radio, and in 2023 became the presenter of University Challenge.

Facts

Indian-born Amol was named using Tamil customs as V. Amol (the V is his father's given name Varadarajan), and later altered his name to Amol Rajan. He is an outspoken anti-Royalist.

Jemma Redgrave (Kate Stewart) Born Jan 14 1965 Click here for Jemma Redgrave's entry on The Power of Three

Susan Twist (Hiker) Born c.1957 Click here for Susan Twist's entry on Wild Blue Yonder

Vee Vimolmal (Nurse)

Career highlights

Thai-born actor Vipavee started in Paris Skylight (2002), followed by 33 episodes of children's series Boobah as Sister (2003), Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004), Ultimate Force (2005), Basic Instinct 2 (2006), The Omen (2006), Little Britain (2006), Emmerdale (2009), Casualty (2013), Tangent Room (2017), Backstrom (2020), Knights of Newgate (2021) and Sanningen (2023-24).

Facts

As a model in British photographer Tom Hunter's series Living in Hell and Other Stories, Vee was one of the first photographed faces exhibited in London's National Gallery

Amanda Walker (Old Ruby) Born Nov 29 1935

Career highlights

The hugely prolific Amanda debuted in 1959's The Enormous Shadow, followed by Jury Room (1965), The Heart of Midlothian (1966), Champion House (1967), The Expert (1969), The Doctors (1970), Ryan International (1970), Doomwatch (1971), The Strauss Family (1972), Adam Smith (1972-73), Rooms (1975), Sutherland's Law (1976), The Mill on the Floss (1979), Richard's Things (1980), Travelling Man (1985), Shades of Darkness (1986), Intimate Contact (1987), The New Statesman (1987), Shadow of the Noose (1989), Poirot (1990), Paul Merton: The Series (1991), Medics (1992), Nostradamus (1994), Dandelion Dead (1994), Bramwell (1996), The English Patient (1996), Fierce Creatures (1997), City Central (1999), Life Force (2000), The Railway Children (2000), Foyle's War (2002), Pollyanna (2003), Strange (2003), My Family (2003), 28 Weeks Later (2007), Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), Cloud Atlas (2012), Sense8 (2017-18), Tell Me Everything (2022) and Rejoyce! (2024).

Facts

Amanda's husband is fellow actor Patrick Godfrey (who appeared in The Savages and The Mind of Evil), while their daughter is Kate Godfrey (head of voice for the Royal Shakespeare Company), and Amanda's mother was actor Madeleine Christie

Angela Wynter (Cherry) Born Jul 14 1957

Doctor Who credits

Played: Cherry Sunday in The Church on Ruby Road (2023), Space Babies (2024), 73 Yards (2024), The Legend of Ruby Sunday/ Empire of Death (2024)

Career highlights

Jamaican Angela's earliest credit is 1981's Burning an Illusion, followed by The Nation's Health (1983), Minder (1984), No Problem! (1983-84), The Bill (1992), Murder Most Horrid (1994), Cracker (1994), Cutting It (2002), Death in Paradise (2017), The Tunnel (2017-18), Les Miserables (2019), Last Christmas (2019), Home by 8.30 (2020), Mood (2022), Vampire Academy (2022), Call the Midwife (2023) and Time (2023). Regular roles include Makeda Sylvester in Doctors (2021) and Yolande Trueman in more than 360 episodes of soap EastEnders (2003-23).

Facts

Angela is also a singer, having been part of the 1980s band View from the Hill between 1985-88. During this period the band released an album called In Time, and three singles: No Conversation  (which peaked at number 58 in the singles chart), I'm No Rebel (which peaked at number 59) and Stay and Let Me Love You. More recently, Angela has been a member of the female reggae group Sistas.

Miles Yekinni (Craig Deloach)

Career highlights

Miles's further work includes Julius Caesar (2011), Doctors (2016), Krypton (2018), Cursed (2020), Britannia (2021), Slow Horses (2022), The Turkish Detective (2023) and The Strangers: Chapter 1 (2024).

CREW

Russell T Davies (writer) Born Apr 27 1963 Click here for Russell T Davies' entry on Rose

Dylan Holmes Williams (director) Born Dec 1992

Doctor Who credits

Directed: 73 Yards (2024), Dot and Bubble (2024)

Career highlights

Starting out by writing and directing several short films, such as Lick (2015) and The Devil's Harmony (2019), Dylan's directing work includes music videos for Ash and Banfi, as well as episodes of Servant (2022-23).

Awards

2020: Jury Prize for International Fiction (The Devil's Harmony)