When Scott & Bailey first landed on ITV in 2011, it wasn't just another police procedural. It felt different. Grittier. Honestly, it felt like eavesdropping on real conversations in a Manchester breakroom. While the "Syndicate 9" murder cases kept us watching, the Scott and Bailey cast is what actually made the show a cult classic.
Most people don't realize the show actually started because two friends—Suranne Jones and Sally Lindsay—were sitting in a pub, complaining about the lack of decent roles for women. They didn't want to play the "wife of the copper" or the "victim in the canal." They wanted to be the ones holding the badge.
The Core Duo: Rachel and Janet
Suranne Jones played DC Rachel Bailey, a character who was basically a chaotic whirlwind in a polyester suit. She was brilliant at her job but a total disaster at life. One minute she’s nailing an interrogation, the next she’s making a mess of a relationship with a barrister or a fellow cop. Suranne didn't just play Rachel; she co-created her.
Then you had Lesley Sharp as DC Janet Scott. If Rachel was the fire, Janet was the cool, damp Manchester pavement. She was the "wise owl" of the team, but even she had her cracks. Janet’s home life was often just as messy, but she hid it behind a veneer of professional calm and a lot of tea.
The chemistry between these two wasn't faked. Suranne and Lesley have often talked about how they clicked instantly. They called themselves "a pair of comfy old slippers." That's why those scenes of them just chatting in the toilets or the car felt so authentic. It wasn't just dialogue; it was a vibe.
The Boss Everyone Feared (and Loved)
You can't talk about the Scott and Bailey cast without mentioning Amelia Bullmore as DCI Gill Murray. "Godzilla," as the team occasionally (and nervously) nicknamed her, was the backbone of the station. Bullmore didn't just act in the show; she eventually became a lead writer.
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Gill Murray was the kind of boss who would tear you to shreds for a paperwork error but would literally go to war for you if a case went sideways. Her sharp wit and dry delivery became the show's secret weapon. Remember the way she'd say "Janet" or "Rachel" with just enough disappointment to make you feel like you'd personally let your own mother down? Pure gold.
The Supporting Officers of Syndicate 9
The team around them wasn't just background noise. Each of them brought a specific energy to the Major Incident Team.
- Tony Mooney as DC Pete Readyough: The reliable guy who often got stuck with the grunt work.
- David Prosho as DC Ian "Mitch" Mitchell: An ex-military, meticulous interviewer. He was the one Janet trusted most.
- Delroy Brown as DC Lee Broadhurst: One of the most popular guys in the unit, always solid.
- Ben Batt as DC Kevin Lumb: He was basically the office punching bag for the first few seasons. Rachel and the others loved to wind him up, especially since he clearly had a massive crush on Rachel that went nowhere.
It’s interesting how the cast shifted over time. When Nicholas Gleaves (who is actually Lesley Sharp's real-life husband!) left his role as DS Andy Roper, it paved the way for Danny Miller to join as DS Rob Waddington. Danny was fresh off Emmerdale and brought a much younger, "fast-track" energy that initially rubbed the veterans the wrong way.
Why the Guest Stars Mattered
The show had a knack for picking incredible guest actors who would show up for a three-episode arc and absolutely wreck your emotions.
Think back to Series 3. Nicola Walker (long before Unforgotten) played Helen Bartlett. Her performance was chilling. She played a woman whose parents' dark secrets were unearthed, and the scenes between her and Janet Scott are still some of the most intense television ever filmed.
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We also saw Sean Maguire as PC Sean McCartney, the man who actually managed to get Rachel Bailey down the aisle—even if it was a bit of a disaster. And who could forget Sally Lindsay herself? Despite being a co-creator, she stayed in a recurring role as Rachel's sister, Alison. Their sibling bickering provided the perfect levity to the grim murder investigations.
The Evolution of the Team
By the time the show reached its fifth and final series in 2016, things looked a bit different. Rachel had spent time in London working in Vice and came back as an Acting Detective Inspector.
This created a weird friction. She was technically Janet’s boss now.
They also introduced Jing Lusi as DC Anna Ram. Rachel hated her almost immediately. Anna was young, ambitious, and had a brand of "banter" that Rachel found annoying—mostly because it reminded her of a younger, more obnoxious version of herself. It was a clever way to show how much the characters had aged and changed over five years.
Life After the Badge
When the show ended, fans were gutted, but the cast has stayed incredibly busy. Suranne Jones became a household name with Doctor Foster and Gentleman Jack. Lesley Sharp continued her streak of being one of the best character actors in Britain, starring in Before We Die.
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Suranne and Lesley actually had a "goodbye tea" together when the show wrapped. They wanted to say goodbye to the characters of Scott and Bailey as friends, not just as coworkers.
What Most People Get Wrong
There's a common misconception that the show was "just another Midsomer Murders" but in the city. It really wasn't. The crimes were almost secondary. The real plot was the internal lives of these women. If you watch it for the "whodunnit," you're missing the point. You should watch it for the way Janet balances a divorce while interrogating a serial killer, or how Rachel deals with her self-destructive tendencies while trying to get a promotion.
Honestly, the Scott and Bailey cast succeeded because they weren't afraid to be unlikeable. Rachel could be a total nightmare. Janet could be judgmental. Gill could be terrifying. But they were real.
Next Steps for Fans
If you're looking to revisit the world of Syndicate 9 or explore similar vibes, here's what you should do:
- Watch the Finale Again: If you haven't seen Series 5 in a while, it’s a three-part special that focuses on a single, massive cyber-crime case. It feels like a movie.
- Check out "Happy Valley": If you loved the Manchester/Northern grit and the strong female leads, this is the logical next step. It was written by Sally Wainwright, who wrote the best episodes of Scott and Bailey.
- Look for the "Making Of" clips: There are several behind-the-scenes interviews where the cast discusses how they researched police procedures with the Greater Manchester Police to keep the show feeling authentic.