Under Suspicion: Kate McCann cast – who stars in 5 drama?

Channel 5 has produced compelling dramas based on true events, including the Soham murders in ‘Maxine’ and the Huw Edwards scandal in ‘Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards’. Now, they’re creating a drama focusing on the police interrogation of Kate McCann, Madeleine McCann’s mother.

Three months after their daughter disappeared, Kate McCann found herself facing a change in how the media and Portuguese police were approaching the case. The focus had subtly shifted, and the McCanns were now being treated with more scrutiny.

Kate and her husband Gerry quickly become suspects when their daughter goes missing, and this drama focuses on Kate’s intense questioning by investigators.

So, the movie ends with Kate refusing to answer any questions during her last interrogation – her lawyer told her to stay silent. But as she walks out of the station, it really hits you: this whole thing started with a mother desperately looking for her child. And no matter how much the police suspect her, or how they try to build a case, that hope of finding her daughter hasn’t faded at all. It’s a really powerful moment.

Kate and Gerry consistently maintained their innocence in Madeleine’s disappearance, and were later officially cleared of any involvement by the authorities.

Want to know who plays Kate McCann in the new drama and the rest of the cast? Here’s a look at the actors in ‘Under Suspicion: Kate McCann’.

Under Suspicion: Kate McCann cast – Who stars in 5 drama?

Here’s the complete cast for Under Suspicion: Kate McCann. Keep reading to learn about each actor’s role.

Laura Bayston as Kate McCann
Joana Borja as Armanda Duarte Salbany Russel
Hugo Nicolau as Inspector João Carlos
Miguel Freire as Inspector Ricardo Paiva
Carlos Agualusa as Carlos Pinto De Abreu
James Robinson as Gerry McCann
Ruby Ranson as Madeleine McCann

Laura Bayston as Kate McCann

Kate McCann is the mother of Madeleine McCann. The disappearance of her daughter led to intense public attention, and Kate went from being a grieving mother to an official witness and, eventually, a suspect in the investigation – a devastating turn of events for her.

You might recognize Laura Bayston from her roles in TV shows like Killing Eve, Slow Horses, Casualty, and Doctors.

Joana Borja as Armanda Duarte Salbany Russel

Armanda Duarte Salbany Russel is the interpreter who helped Kate during her police interview because she doesn’t speak Portuguese.

You might recognize Joana Borja from her roles in the TV series Traces and Hanna, as well as the films Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue and Patience.

Hugo Nicolau as Inspector João Carlos

Inspector João Carlos is a leading investigator working on the case of Madeleine McCann’s disappearance.

You might recognize Hugo Nicolau from his roles in shows like The Musketeers, The Royals, and Women in Revolution.

Miguel Freire as Inspector Ricardo Paiva

Inspector Ricardo Paiva is a Portuguese police detective who played a significant role in the investigation of the McCann case.

You might recognize Miguel Freire from his work on popular Portuguese TV shows like Jardins Proibidos, Dancin’ Days, and Abandonados.

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Under Suspicion: Kate McCann premieres on Wednesday 20 May on 5 at 9pm.

Authors

Morgan CormackDrama Writer

Morgan Cormack writes about TV and streaming drama for TopMob. Before that, she was an Entertainment Writer at Stylist. She also has experience in content marketing and freelancing, and holds a BA degree in English Literature.

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2026-05-20 11:37