If you were watching ITV back in 2009, you probably remember the shiver that went down your spine when the first episode of Whitechapel aired. It wasn't just the foggy London streets or the gruesome nods to Jack the Ripper. It was the friction. Specifically, the absolute, top-tier personality clash between a posh, OCD-riddled copper and a cynical, old-school sergeant.
Honestly, the Whitechapel TV series cast is one of those rare examples where the chemistry felt genuinely earned rather than forced by a script. It’s been years since the show wrapped up in 2013, but fans still talk about it. Why? Because the central trio—Rupert Penry-Jones, Phil Davis, and Steve Pemberton—captured a very specific kind of British "muddle through the darkness" energy that most procedurals miss.
The Polar Opposites: DI Chandler and DS Miles
The heart of the show is the "Odd Couple" dynamic, but turned up to a stressful, homicidal degree.
Rupert Penry-Jones played DI Joseph Chandler. Before this, he was mostly known for being the dashing hero in Spooks. In Whitechapel, he flipped that. Chandler was a "fast-track" detective—or a "plastic" as the old guard called him. He was out of his depth, terrified of germs, and constantly rubbing mint pomade on his temples to keep from having a panic attack. Penry-Jones played the vulnerability so well that you actually felt bad for him when the bodies started piling up.
Then you had Phil Davis as DS Ray Miles. Phil Davis is a legend for a reason. He brought this gritty, "seen-it-all-and-hated-most-of-it" vibe to Miles. He was the perfect foil to Chandler’s Savile Row suits and neurotic habits. In the beginning, Miles essentially wanted to feed Chandler to the wolves. But over four seasons, that relationship evolved into one of the most touching, albeit grumpy, bromances on television. They became a family, even if they'd never admit it over a pint.
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The Weirdest X-Factor: Edward Buchan
You can't talk about the Whitechapel cast without mentioning Steve Pemberton. Usually, when a show introduces a "consultant" who isn't a cop, it feels like a gimmick. Not here.
Pemberton played Edward Buchan, a "Ripperologist" who lived in a basement surrounded by dusty files and a slightly unhealthy obsession with Victorian gore. Buchan was the bridge between the modern crimes and the historical ones. Pemberton (of The League of Gentlemen and Inside No. 9 fame) brought a mix of high-functioning intellect and deep-seated loneliness to the role. He wasn't just a walking encyclopedia; he was a guy desperate to belong to something.
Watching Miles's utter disdain for Buchan slowly turn into a begrudging "fine, you can come to the crime scene" was one of the show's best slow-burn arcs.
The Team in the Basement: Supporting Roles
While the lead trio took the spotlight, the rest of the station felt lived-in. You had:
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- Sam Stockman as DC Emerson Kent: The young, loyal detective who often got stuck doing the legwork. He was the moral compass when things got too dark.
- Claire Rushbrook as Dr. Caroline Llewellyn: The pathologist. In a show this gory, the pathologist needs to be a steady hand, and Rushbrook played her with a brilliant, dry wit.
- Ben Bishop and Hannah Walters: As Mansell and Riley, they filled out the squad in later seasons, giving the series more of an ensemble feel as the cases moved away from just Jack the Ripper and into the Krays and other historical copycats.
Why the Cast Dynamics Changed Everything
What made this group special was the "historical" element. The show wasn't just about catching a killer; it was about the weight of London's past. The cast had to play characters who were literally haunted by the crimes of 1888 or the 1960s.
In Season 2, when they tackled the Kray twins, we saw a much more emotional side of Phil Davis’s character. We found out about his father’s connection to the original Krays, which added layers to his performance that you don't usually get in a standard "case of the week" show. It made the stakes personal.
A Legacy of British Noir
People still search for the Whitechapel TV series cast today because the show left a void. It was cancelled after four seasons—a move that still irritates a lot of us—leaving several plot threads hanging (like that creepy old lady Louise Iver, played by Angela Pleasence, who seemed to be the embodiment of evil itself).
The casting was brave. They didn't go for three "action guys." They went for a neurotic, a cynic, and a nerd. That's why it worked.
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If you're looking to revisit the series or are discovering it for the first time, keep an eye on how the background characters interact. The show was shot mostly at night, and the actors often talked about how gruelling those shoots were. You can see it in their faces—that genuine weariness wasn't just acting.
Next Steps for Fans:
If you've finished Whitechapel and need that same "gritty London" fix, look into Des or The Pembrokeshire Murders. Both feature that same commitment to atmosphere and character-driven procedural work. Also, check out Steve Pemberton’s Inside No. 9 for more of his brilliant, darker writing and acting range.
Whitechapel: Primary Cast at a Glance
- DI Joseph Chandler: Rupert Penry-Jones
- DS Ray Miles: Phil Davis
- Edward Buchan: Steve Pemberton
- DC Emerson Kent: Sam Stockman
- Dr. Caroline Llewellyn: Claire Rushbrook
- DC Finlay Mansell: Ben Bishop
- DC Megan Riley: Hannah Walters
Basically, the show proved that you don't need a massive budget if you have three actors who can sell a scene just by looking at each other in a cold, damp basement.