The Imposter cast: Who stars in the 5 thriller?

Family dynamics are rarely easy, and the O’Riley family is a particularly volatile mix just waiting for something to set them off. Don’t miss ‘The Imposter,’ 5’s gripping new drama.

I’m completely hooked on this show about a huge family hotel in Australia! It’s run by Helen, and let me tell you, she’s a tough boss. Basically, the whole family works there, and even if they don’t want to, they’re still under her control. It’s wild!

Helen is keeping secrets from her family, and a deal involving the hotel property is about to cause major problems. Things will get even more complicated when her long-lost daughter, Amanda, unexpectedly arrives.

So who is the family taking centre stage in this tale?

The Imposter cast

Here’s the main cast list for The Imposter:

Jackie Woodburne is Helen
Kym Marsh is ‘Amanda’
Dannii Minogue is Amanda
Don Hany is Simon
Jane Harber is Kate
Charlie Clausen is Todd
Jackson Gallagher is Ian
Kabir Singh is Lee

Here’s what you need to know about each character and who plays them.

Jackie Woodburne plays Helen

Helen is a woman in her late sixties who owns a hotel and works there with her three grown children, Simon, Kate, and Ian. She’s married to Reg, but her life wasn’t always like this. She once had a promising future in Australia with her young love, Bill. However, a significant choice she made in the 1970s dramatically altered her life path, and she’s been dealing with the consequences ever since.

Jackie Woodburne is an Australian actress famous for her long-running role as Susan Kennedy on the soap opera Neighbours, a part she’s played since 1994. She’s also known for her voice work as Anastasia Black in the radio series Night Terrance, and for playing Julie Edgbert in Prisoners.

Kym Marsh plays ‘Amanda’

Amanda is a British woman who had a difficult upbringing and is determined to make her own way in the world. Feeling cheated by life, she’s willing to do whatever it takes to get what she wants. When a man comes to the adoption agency where she temporarily works, asking about a grown-up child, Amanda sees a chance to change her life and takes it – all the way to Australia.

Kym Marsh is a British actress and singer who first became well-known as a member of the pop group Hear’Say, which was formed on the reality TV show Popstars. More recently, she’s recognized for her role as Michelle Connor on the long-running soap opera Coronation Street, which she played from 2006 to 2019. Currently, she appears as Nicky Walters in Waterloo Road, and also works as a presenter on shows like Morning Live and For Love or Money.

Dannii Minogue plays Amanda

Amanda is a deeply personal and painful secret from Helen’s past. Helen gave Amanda up for adoption shortly after she was born in the UK, so Helen and her boyfriend, Bill, could emigrate to Australia. For decades, Helen hasn’t known anything about Amanda or how her life unfolded.

Dannii Minogue is an Australian entertainer who sings, hosts TV shows, and acts. She’s particularly well-known in the UK as a judge on popular shows like The X Factor, Britain and Ireland’s Next Top Model, and Let It Shine. Currently, she narrates the BBC3 dating show, I Kissed a Girl/Boy.

Don Hany plays Simon

Simon is Helen’s oldest child, in his early 40s, but he’s also the most innocent and impulsive of her three children, which often leads to problems in his career and relationships. He works with his siblings at the family business, but feels controlled by their strong-willed mother, Helen, who seems to have planned his life for him. When the idea of selling the family hotel for a large profit is proposed, Simon enthusiastically agrees, but Helen rejects the offer. Feeling resentful, Simon begins to investigate secrets from his mother’s past.

Don Hany is an Australian actor known for his roles in several television series. He’s appeared in shows like East West 101, Serangoon Road, and Devil’s Playground, and had a part in the American drama Heartbeat. More recently, he played Pierce Grayson on Neighbours and starred in the Netflix series The Survivors.

Jane Harber plays Kate

Kate is a dedicated and diligent daughter who, like her mother, longs for a more fulfilling life. Though they share similar aspirations, Kate and her mother have a strained relationship. As a mother to a teenage daughter and married to her second husband, Todd, Kate often overlooks warning signs in her life. She’s eager to leave her job at the hotel and feels conflicted about the family business, but her mother’s refusal of a lucrative development deal crushes her hopes of moving on.

Let me introduce you to Jane Harber, an Australian actress you might recognize. Like a lot of talented performers, she got her start on the classic soap Neighbours. But she really became a familiar face with her long-running role as Zara on the series Offspring. And if you’ve been keeping up with recent Australian television, you’ve probably seen her in The Family Next Door, In Limbo, or MaveriX. She’s definitely one to watch!

Charlie Clausen plays Todd

Todd is Kate’s second husband and feels immense pressure to succeed at everything. He appears to have a perfect life as a successful real estate agent, but his marriage is actually crumbling. Kate overlooks his concerning behavior, and he believes selling the family hotel will finally allow him to live a luxurious lifestyle.

As a big fan of Australian TV, I definitely know Charlie Clausen! He’s one of those actors you see everywhere. He’s been a familiar face in long-running shows like McLeod’s Daughters – I loved him as Jake Harrison – and also Blue Heelers, where he played Alex Kirby. And if that wasn’t enough, he was Zac MacGuire in Home and Away! These days, I mostly see him hosting Getaway, which is fantastic – he really brings those travel segments to life.

Jackson Gallagher plays Ian

Let’s talk about Ian, the youngest of the O’Riley kids. He’s a really sensitive guy, and honestly, a bit of a pushover, working at the family hotel and constantly under his mother’s control. He feels obligated to stay and help, even though, like his brothers and sisters, it’s totally stifling his own life. He’s in a relationship with Lee, and they both desperately want to start a family. Selling the hotel isn’t just about money for Ian; it’s about finally being able to afford surrogacy and build the life they’ve always dreamed of. It’s a really poignant storyline, and you really feel for him being stuck between family duty and personal happiness.

Jackson Gallagher is an actor and photographer who began his career as a child on the show The Saddle Club. He’s widely recognized for playing Josh Barratt on the popular soap opera Home and Away from 2013 to 2016. He has also appeared in other shows like Playing for Keeps, Wentworth, Almost Paradise, and Spartacus: House of Ashur.

Kabir Singh plays Lee

Lee is Ian’s partner of many years. After enjoying a lively social life, he now prefers a more peaceful existence. He’s a calming influence, which is helpful considering his family, and he’s excited about starting a family of his own and becoming a dad.

Kabir Singh is an actor originally from India who moved to Australia as a child. He performs in both theater and television, with credits including roles in the shows Remi, Appetite, Plum, and The Abandoned.

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I’m really excited to watch The Imposter! It starts on Monday, December 15th on Channel 5, and it’s all going to happen pretty quickly – the last episode is on Thursday, December 18th. I’ve set a reminder so I don’t miss it!

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Authors

Tilly PearceFreelance Writer

Tilly Pearce is a freelance journalist who covers television, from popular reality shows like Love Is Blind to science fiction series like Fallout. She’s a highly qualified journalist, holding NCTJ Gold Standard accreditation, and has experience working at both Digital Spy and Daily Express US, where she previously served as a deputy editor.

2025-12-15 22:06