The Teacher season 2 cast: Who stars in Channel 5 drama?

As a seasoned viewer of British television, I must say that the cast for “The Teacher” is nothing short of impressive! Each actor brings a unique depth to their character that adds to the intrigue and suspense of the series.


Sheridan Smith makes way for Kara Tointon in season 2 of Channel 5 anthology series The Teacher.

In the newest episode, the previously known EastEnders actor portrays an art instructor involved in an affair with a coworker. However, the aftermath of their latest secret meeting brings about consequences that are much more severe than either of them had ever foreseen.

Tointon remarked that the two seasons were distinctly unique, which he found to be a consistently positive aspect.

Upon reading ‘The Teacher,’ I was taken aback immediately by the script. It’s not often that I take on a character as unconventionally mischievous as this one.

In the story, we encounter Dani, who is grappling with a midlife crisis. She’s been married since she was quite young, a relationship that originated from her college days. The role was intriguing for me because it presented an opportunity to portray a character that people might initially find off-putting. This isn’t due to any negative traits in Dani’s personality, as she is not inherently evil. Instead, the choices she makes raise questions about her character.

Who are Emmett J Scanlan (from Hollyoaks and Kin) and Will Mellor (from Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps and Mr Bates vs the Post Office) portraying, and who else makes up the rest of the cast?

The Teacher season 2 cast

  • Kara Tointon as Dani
  • Will Mellor as Jimmy
  • Emmett J Scanlan as Tim
  • Joni Morris as Sienna
  • Forrest Bothwell as Matt
  • Cal O’Driscoll as Zac
  • Ebby O’Toole-Acheampong as Chloe
  • Lila Coleman as Bel
  • Gwynne McElveen as DI Calgetti
  • Niamh McCann as Nina
  • John Nayagam as Mr Caulfield

If you’re eager to learn more about the characters from The Teacher’s second season and curious as to where these feline friends have appeared previously, continue reading below.

Kara Tointon plays Dani

Who is Dani? She’s a dedicated art teacher who serves as a mentor and inspiration for her pupils. However, her marriage seems to be lacking in intimacy and passion, leading her into an affair with a fellow educator during a school trip. Meanwhile, one of her students goes missing while she’s preoccupied with this romantic entanglement.

Has Kara Tointon appeared in anything else? You might recognize her from another Channel 5 thriller titled Too Good to be True. She’s also famous for her roles in EastEnders, the ITV period drama Mr Selfridge, and winning Strictly Come Dancing back in 2010.

Will Mellor plays Jimmy

Jimmy is a colleague and art teacher who is involved in an affair with Dani, who happens to be married to his close friend.

Mellor remarked, ‘Jimmy enjoys being admired.’ He has a strong desire for this. Moreover, he wants everyone to perceive things as he does. Often, individuals who are skilled at managing situations and maintaining control over them tend to be quite appealing.

Has Will Mellor appeared in any other shows or series? He is most recognized for his performances in comedies like Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, the influential ITV drama Mr Bates vs the Post Office, Hollyoaks, Casualty, the comedy-drama No Offence on Channel 4, and Coronation Street.

Emmett J Scanlan plays Tim

As a movie connoisseur, allow me to delve into the enigmatic character of Tim, a man whose emotional turmoil is palpable from the onset. Scanlan, the astute director, paints a poignant picture of Tim as a husband distanced from his partner Dani, their physical intimacy long gone. The chasm between them has grown over time, leaving Tim in a state of profound vulnerability, lost, and deeply hurt. Their shared son, Stan, is the only connection that binds this fractured family together.

Apart from the roles mentioned, Emmett J Scanlan has also appeared in other productions such as Hollyoaks, the ITV crime drama The Tower, Steven Knight’s Peaky Blinders, the crime series Gangs of London, and an Irish gangster drama called Kin.

Joni Morris plays Sienna

Who is Sienna? A “troubled but talented student”. Dani “sees a lot of herself in Sienna”.

What else has Joni Morris been in? You might known her from Apple sci-fi drama Foundation. 

Forrest Bothwell plays Matt

Who is Matt? He’s Jimmy’s child. There are concerns that Matt may return to live with his mother, Jimmy’s former spouse Becky, as Mellor mentioned. Additionally, Matt learns about his father’s infidelity involving Dani.

Has Forrest Bothwell worked on anything else apart from A Kind of Spark (CBBC) and World on Fire (BBC)?

Cal O’Driscoll plays Zac

Who is Zac? He’s one of Dani’s pupils, but unfortunately he went missing during a school excursion when Dani was dealing with Jimmy at the time.

Has Cal O’Driscoll also been part of any other productions? Yes, he was featured in the historical drama series Vikings: Valhalla on Netflix and the Canadian science fiction show Sanctuary.

Ebby O’Toole-Acheampong plays Chloe

Who is Chloe? Another student who is also on the school trip when Zac disappears.

Has Ebby O’Toole-Acheampong appeared in anything else, aside from EastEnders spin-off Kat & Alfie: Redwater?

Additional cast includes:

  • Lila Coleman (Normal People) plays Bel – another teacher at the school.
  • Gwynne McElveen (This England) plays DI Calgetti.
  • Niamh McCann (River City) plays Nina – Zac’s mum.
  • John Nayagam (Emmerdale) plays Mr Caulfield – the headmaster. 

The Teacher season 1 cast

Sheridan Smith plays Jenna

What’s Jenna like as a person? Well, she’s a top-notch high school English teacher who manages to bring out the best in her students, even though she faces personal struggles. The headmaster highly respects her. Sadly, 20 years ago, her mother passed away, leaving an enduring sorrow. Her relationship with her father is strained as well. To cope with her melancholy, Jenna turns to alcohol and intimacy.

Jenna’s friends often joke about her frequent visits to the nearby club Lazarus, yet she always stands up for herself. However, her world is shaken when a student claims they had sexual contact during one of her nighttime escapades.

Have you encountered Sheridan Smith in shows such as Four Lives, Cleaning Up, The Moorside, Cilla, Mrs Biggs, Doctor Who: The Eighth Doctor Adventures, Gavin & Stacey, Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps or elsewhere?

  • Read more: Our verdict on Sheridan Smith drama The Teacher – read our review

Samuel Bottomley plays Kyle

Who is Kyle, you might ask? Well, he’s a 15-year-old student with quiet self-assurance who claims Jenna had an intimate relationship with him. Originating from a financially modest background, he benefits from the school’s scholarship program. Unfortunately, he’s often targeted by his classmate Izzy due to his upbringing on the less affluent side of town.

Have you come across Samuel Bottomley somewhere before, perhaps from his roles in BBC’s comedy series “Ladhood”, the dark comedy film “Get Duked!”, Channel 4’s comedy-drama “Ackley Bridge” or ITV’s period drama “Jericho”?

Cecilia Noble plays Pauline

As a fellow fan, let me tell you that Pauline is one of Jenna’s dear coworkers and a steadfast ally. She’s an incredibly kind-hearted and generous individual who consistently finds the best in people, often standing up for Jenna when others are quick to criticize or judge unfairly.

Have you encountered Cecilia Noble somewhere in the past, perhaps in Silent Witness, Steve McQueen’s Small Axe, BBC drama Undercover, or The Bill?

Kelvin Fletcher plays Jack

Is it known that Jack is someone who works alongside Jenna at the same school? He’s a married man, yet he often engages in flirtatious banter with her, which has caused some raised eyebrows among others. There have been a couple of instances where their playful interactions almost progressed further.

Have I encountered Kelvin Fletcher somewhere before? Kelvin Fletcher is recognized for playing Andy Sugden on Emmerdale from 1996 to 2016, he won the 2019 season of Strictly Come Dancing with Motsi Mabuse and made an appearance in Death in Paradise last year.

Sharon Rooney plays Nina

I’ve come across another colleague of Jenna’s named Nina. We share the same workplace, but our perspectives on lifestyle and teaching methods seem to differ quite significantly. She frequently expresses her disagreement with Jenna’s approach whenever the opportunity arises. Interestingly, she aspires to be appointed as the Head of English, a role that the headmaster currently believes would suit Jenna better. This perceived preference seems to deepen Nina’s dislike towards Jenna.

Have I seen Sharon Rooney anywhere else apart from her role as Rae in My Mad Fat Diary on Channel 4? Yes, she has also appeared in Scottish sitcom Two Doors Down, Channel 4’s No Offence, BBC drama The Capture, and ITV series Finding Alice.

David Fleeshman plays Roger

Who does Jenna refer to as her father? The person being referred to as her father by Jenna is Roger. He was once a headmaster and is held in high esteem within the teaching community, including Jenna’s supervisor. To put it mildly, the bond between Roger and Jenna can be described as strained, as suggested by the image above. He often criticizes her lifestyle and expresses his disapproval whenever they interact.

Have I crossed paths with David Fleeshman in my favorite shows before? Well, his impressive resume spans across several popular productions such as Trial and Retribution on ITV, Coronation Street, Heartbeat (also on ITV), BBC drama All the Small Things, and Emmerdale. It’s quite possible that our paths have crossed in one of these beloved series.

Sarah-Jane Potts plays Mary

Who is Mary in this context? She is the mother of Kyle, who finds herself shocked upon learning about the rumored incident involving Jenna and Kyle. Despite not having a substantial amount of wealth, she strives hard to provide for her son.

Have you come across Sarah-Jane Potts in any of her TV roles such as Sugar Rush on Channel 4, Casualty, Waterloo Road, Holby City, Gracepoint or Netflix’s Zero Chill?

Tillie Amartey plays Izzy

Izzy is a student in Kyle’s grade and also Nina’s child. She holds a prominent position within the popular group and often finds amusement in poking fun at Bottomley’s personality whenever possible.

Have you come across Tillie Amartey in any previous roles, perhaps in the CBBC comedy-drama “Almost Never,” which follows a made-up boy band’s experiences?

Karen Henthorn plays DI Sowerby

Who is Detective Inspector (DI) Sowerby? DI Sowerby is the police investigator handling the accusations against Jenna by Kyle. She maintains a straightforward and direct manner in her work.

Have I encountered Karen Henthorn in any of these shows: ITV’s Viewpoint, The Trouble with Maggie Cole, Doctors, Coronation Street, or EastEnders?

Ian Puleston-Davies plays Brian

Who is Brian? He’s the latest person in Pauline’s life, and she’s hoping he’ll move in with her. However, whenever she brings up the idea, he seems to pull away.

Have I encountered Ian-Puleston-Davies in any previous roles? Yes, you might recognize him from shows like Viewpoint, Pennyworth (Batman prequel series), Sky Atlantic’s crime drama Tin Star, ITV’s true-crime series A Confession and detective series Marcella, as well as Coronation Street and Waterloo Road. He has also appeared in numerous other productions.

Karen Bryson plays Ava

Who is Ava? Ava serves as Jenna’s legal representative. In times of her client’s distress, she remains composed and rational. While she offers guidance to Jenna based on her expertise, she understands that the final decisions rest with Jenna in her struggle.

Have I encountered Karen Bryson in any previous roles? If yes, she has appeared in the sitcom Matchmakers, the thriller White Wall, the police procedural Bulletproof, the BBC drama MotherFatherSon, Netflix’s Safe, the crime drama Cuffs, Shameless, and Jed Mercurio’s Bodies.

Yemisi Oyinloye plays Denise

Who is Denise, the individual that Jenna reaches out to in an attempt to find assistance in solving a crucial enigma?

Have you encountered Yemisi Oyinloye previously, given her roles in shows like Emmerdale, Cold Feet, Cobra, Doctors, Casualty, and the ITV series Bancroft?

Reuben Johnson plays Sean

Who is Sean? – Sean is the former boyfriend of Jenna, with whom he occasionally communicates with her father. On occasion, he extends support to Jenna in response to Kyle’s accusations.

Have I encountered Reuben Johnson in any previous roles, perhaps? His resume features appearances on Sky’s drama series Cobra, Doctor Who, Casualty (known as Doctors in some regions), and the BBC drama Prisoners’ Wives.

Matt Devere plays Jojo

Who is Jojo, you ask? Jojo is the club bouncer where Jenna got spotted with Kyle in the security footage. Jenna’s hoping that he can clear up exactly what transpired.

Have you come across Matt Devere in any of the shows like Netflix’s SAS: Red Notice, The Witcher or Robin Hood?

Aaronveer Dhillon plays Adnan

Who is Adnan? Adnan is Kyle’s classmate and friend.

What else have I seen Aaronveer Dhillon in? The Teacher appears to be his first TV credit.

Harry Hepple plays Gabriel

Who is Gabriel, you ask? He’s the deputy head of the school where Jenna used to teach. She’s hoping he can assist her with her inquiries.

Have you come across any other shows or series featuring Harry Hepple, by chance? His notable roles include appearances on Boy Meets Girl, Holby City, and Doctors.

Anil Desai plays Ken

Who is Ken? He’s the school principal where Jenna teaches, an ardent fan of her father Roger, and he greatly appreciates Jenna’s teaching methods. He even suggests that she should consider applying for the position of Head of English.

Have you recognized Anil Desai from any previous roles? He’s been a part of the British sketch comedy series Goodness Gracious Me alongside Sanjeev Bhaskar, Meera Syal, and Nina Wadia. Additionally, he had brief appearances on The Bill and Doctors.

The Teacher season 2 will air from Monday 9th September to Thursday 12th September at 9pm on Channel 5. Stream on My5.

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2024-09-09 14:05