The Control Room cast: who stars in BBC drama miniseries with Iain De Caestecker and Taj Atwal?

The Control Room is a new BBC miniseries about an emergency call handler who receives a desperate call from someone who seems to know him
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The Control Room is a new BBC One miniseries that follows Gabe, a Scottish ambulance service call handler who receives one call he will never forget.

One day whilst working in the control room, Gabe answers a call from a woman who claims to have killed someone.

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As Gabe tries to calm the woman down, she recognises his voice and Gabe’s own life in endagered as he finds himself linked to the supposed killer.

Taj Atwal and Iain De Caestecker in The Control RoomTaj Atwal and Iain De Caestecker in The Control Room
Taj Atwal and Iain De Caestecker in The Control Room

Who is in the cast of The Control Room?

Iain De Caestecker as Gabe

Gabe is the emergency call handler who is pulled into a web of mystery when he answers a call from a woman who recognises his voice and claims to know him.

One of De Caestecker’s earliest screen roles was playing Adam Barlow on Coronation Street until 2003 but he is now better known for his role as Leo Fitz in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

His other roles include playing a Douglas in the BBC comedy drama series US, and Duncan Knock in the political drama Roadkill.

Iain De Caestecker as GabeIain De Caestecker as Gabe
Iain De Caestecker as Gabe

Taj Atwal as Leigh

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Leigh is Gabe’s supervisor, who is also in a secret relationship with Gabe and becomes concerned for him after he takes the fateful call.

Atwal played  PC Tatleen Sohota in season five of Line of Duty, and Roxy in the drama mystery The Syndicate.

Recently, she starred as Rana in the east Yorkshire-based sitcom Hullraisers.

Taj Atwal as LeighTaj Atwal as Leigh
Taj Atwal as Leigh

Joanna Vanderham as Sam Tolmie

Sam is a mysterious character in the show - she is a fiery but damaged individual who has become caught up in something much bigger than herself.

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Vanderham’s first screen role came in 2011, playing Cathy in the crime series The Runaway, and she has since starred in Dancing on the Edge, The Paradise, and Warrior.

She played Atropos in season five of superhero series Legends of Tomorrow, and played Amanda Drummond in the Irvine Welsh series Crime.

Joanna Vanderham as SamJoanna Vanderham as Sam
Joanna Vanderham as Sam

Sharon Rooney as DI Anna Breck

Breck is the leading detective investigator trying to track down the woman who called Gabe - she finds the case to be far more unusual than others she has handled.

Rooney’s breakout role was playing Rae in the coming-of-age comedy series My Mad Fat Diary.

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Her other roles include playing Kiki Stokes in The Tunnel, Ruth in Jerk, and Bertha in comedy series Deep Heat.

Sharon Rooney as DI Anna BreckSharon Rooney as DI Anna Breck
Sharon Rooney as DI Anna Breck

Daniel Portman as Anthony Hardison

Hardison is the control room supervisor and second in command after Leigh and is there to assist call handlers when needed.

Portman will be recognised for playing Podrick Payne in several seasons of fantasy series Game of Thrones.

He also played Gary Walsh in the intense thriller series Vigil, and starred as Angus McDonald in the 2019 film Robert the Bruce.

Daniel Portman as Anthony HardisonDaniel Portman as Anthony Hardison
Daniel Portman as Anthony Hardison

Stuart Bowman as Ian

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Ian is Gabe’s father, although little else is known about the character or his motivations currently.

His most well known role to date is playing Stephen Hunter-Dunn, the head of MI5 in the BBC drama series The Bodyguard.

Bowman’s other screen roles include playing Bishop Aubrey Gray in Grantchester, Sean Palmer in Alex Rider, and Graeme Stanton in The Serpent.

Stuart Bowman as IanStuart Bowman as Ian
Stuart Bowman as Ian

When is The Control Room on TV?

The Control Room will premiere on BBC One on 17 July at 9pm. There are three episodes in the miniseries - episode two will air at 9pm on 18 July and episode three will air at 9pm on 19 July.

All episodes will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer shortly after they are first broadcast.

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