Young Kate accompanies her dad, Stephen, on a visit to the supermarket where she mysteriously vanishes. Despite a police investigation, media coverage and her parents' desperate search, two years later she remains missing.

Kate is played by Beatrice White in her first known role.

Rachel Murray (played by Anna Madeley)

Rachel is a teacher serving on a committee on childcare with Stephen, tasked with delivering a report to the government. She takes a liking to him – but is Stephen ready to move on from his marriage to Julie?

Who is Anna Madeley?

Anna Madeley is known for playing the title character in BBC TV film The Secret Life of Mrs Beeton and appeared in ITV drama The Outsiders. She has appeared on stage in The Philanthropist, both in the UK and on Broadway, and starred in Hammer Films' first live theatre play, The Turn of the Screw. More recently, she showed up as Clarissa Eden in Netflix series The Crown.

The Prime Minister (played by Elliot Levey)

In The Child in Time, the country's leader remains nameless – and in McEwan's book is genderless, too. We see the Prime Minister in a series of meetings, largely focused on the childcare report, but he also expresses his concern for his colleague Charles as he retreats from public life.

Who is Elliot Levey?

While his biggest role on screen to date is Francesco Pazzi in Da Vinci's Demons, Elliot Levy has done plenty of work on stage, appearing with some of Britain's biggest TV stars: his performances include Brutus in Coriolanus, opposite Mark Gatiss and Tom Hiddleston, and Don John in the 2011 production of Much Ado About Nothing with David Tennant and Catherine Tate. He's also cropped up as the headmaster in Man Down and Ambrose in BBC's Jamaica Inn.

Stephen's mother (played by Geraldine Alexander)

Stephen's parents are concerned about both him and Julie in the wake of Kate's disappearance – but when their son talks of a pub he comes across in Julie's new village, his mother takes a special interest.

Who is Geraldine Alexander?

Geraldine, who plays the older version of Stephen's mother, has appeared on TV screens in Any Human Heart, Marcella and Shetland, as well as guest arcs on EastEnders and Coronation Street. She has spent much of her career on stage, treading the boards in the award-winning The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Natasha Brown plays the same character in a flashback to her younger years.

Stephen's father (played by Richard Durden)

The older Lewis is cynical when it comes to politics – especially about the Prime Minister – but takes an interest in Stephen's reconnection with Julie.

Who is Richard Durden?

Richard Durden's career got off to a flying start when he acted in a play with Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor while studying at Oxford University. He has been in the industry for over 50 years, with more recent credits including Dickensian, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, and recent film Churchill.

This article was originally published in September 2017

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