*Warning: This article discusses murder and sexual assault that some readers may find distressing.*
Netflix’s The Witness captures the experiences of André and Alex Hanscombe, who were rocked by the murder of their partner and mother, Rachel Nickell. Murdered on Wimbledon Common in 1992 in broad daylight, the only witness to the crime was her son, two-year-old Alex, who was suddenly thrust into the centre of the police’s investigations.
Not only was the toddler interviewed multiple times and forced to relive the most traumatic moments of his life, he was emblazoned on newspaper front pages. So, fearing for his son’s safety, André made the decision to move abroad.
The three-parter shows the kinds of impossible decisions that André had to make, the resulting investigation into Nickell’s murderer, and flashing ahead, the advancement in DNA testing that saw the right man caught for Nickell’s murder.
But who stars in the factual drama? Read on for everything you need to know about the cast of The Witness.
The Witness cast: Who stars in Netflix’s factual drama?
The full cast list for The Witness is as follows. Scroll on to find out more about the characters, plus where you may recognise the actors from.
- Jordan Bolger as André Hanscombe
- Max Fincham as Alex Hanscombe
- Jahsiah Williams as Alex Hanscombe (child)
- Eleanor Williams as Rachel Nickell
- Neil Maskell as DI Keith Pedder
- Kevin Eldon as DCI Mick Wickerson
- Mark Stanley as DS Ivan Agnew
- Jon Pointing as DC Nick Sparshatt
- James Dryden as DC Paul Miller
- Sean Gilder as DCS Nicholas Campbell
- Kerry Godliman as June
- James Bradshaw as DCI Tony Nash
- Claire Rushbrook as Dr Jean Harris-Hendriks
- Paul Chahidi as Professor Paul Britton
- Steve Stamp as Robert Napper
- Jamie Bisping as Colin Stagg
- Katherine Pearson as Samantha Bisset
Jordan Bolger as André Hanscombe
Who is André Hanscombe? Rachel’s partner who is suddenly made a single parent after her tragic murder. He worked as a courier delivery driver and is informed of Rachel’s murder whilst working – with things only growing more hectic as the public becomes fascinated with Alex.
Fearing for his son’s safety – also because Rachel’s killer remains uncaught – André makes some major decisions to uproot his son and also, to help him deal with his trauma.
Where have I seen Jordan Bolger before? Best known for his roles in Peaky Blinders and This Town, Bolger has also starred in The Woman King, The Book of Boba Fett and The 100.
Max Fincham as Alex Hanscombe
Who is Alex Hanscombe? Alex was the sole witness to his mother’s murder at just two-years-old and was lent on by the police to provide a description of the attacker. The process was long and painful for the toddler, with André later making the decision to move abroad to escape the glare of the press.
Where have I seen Max Fincham before? You may recognise Fincham from his leading role in BBC’s Dark Money but he has also had roles in Invasion, Blue Story and The Tower.
Jahsiah Williams as Alex Hanscombe (child)
Where have I seen Jahsiah Williams before? The child actor has also appeared in EastEnders as Jordan Fox.
Eleanor Williams as Rachel Nickell
Who is Rachel Nickell? Rachel was 23-years-old when she was killed on Wimbledon Common, where she was walking with her dog and son in the morning. She was stabbed and sexually assaulted, with her son Alex later being found clinging to her body.
Where have I seen Eleanor Williams before? Williams only has a small role in The Witness but has also featured in shows like Endeavour and Halo: Nightfall, as well as Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.
Kerry Godliman as June
Who is June? June is André’s mother and amidst the unimaginable tragedy of the case, houses her son and grandson in a bid to escape the press.
Where have I seen Kerry Godliman before? Godliman is best known for her roles in After Life, Whitstable Pearl and Trigger Point. She has also starred in Derek, Bad Move and The Undeclared War.
Neil Maskell as DI Keith Pedder
Who is DI Keith Pedder? Based on the real-life police officer of the same name, Pedder led the investigation into Rachel’s murder. He eventually led the controversial honeytrap operation named Operation Edzell.
Where have I seen Neil Maskell before? Maskell is known for his roles in The Football Factory, Hijack, Bull and Kill List. He has also starred in Litvinenko, The Bay, Peaky Blinders and The Hack.
Kevin Eldon as DCI Mick Wickerson
Who is DCI Mick Wickerson? Another character based on the real-life detective of the same name, Wickerson was another leader of Rachel’s investigation.
Where have I seen Kevin Eldon before? Eldon is known for his roles in It’s Kevin, Damned, The Last Kingdom and Sanditon. He has more recently starred in Hijack, My Lady Jane and The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power.
Mark Stanley as DS Ivan Agnew
Who is DS Ivan Agnew? Agnew is depicted as one of the detectives who picks up the cold case, 10 years after Rachel’s murder, to try and implement new DNA technology to find her killer.
Where have I seen Mark Stanley before? Stanley is no stranger to a crime drama, having starred in the likes of Criminal: UK, Happy Valley, Under Salt Marsh and A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story. He has also had roles in The Reckoning, Adolescence and Trigger Point.
Jon Pointing as DC Nick Sparshatt
Who is DC Nick Sparshatt? A fictional character for the series, Sparshatt is one of the detectives working Rachel’s case and is instrumental in getting key witness information from Alex.
Where have I seen Jon Pointing before? Pointing is known for his roles in Big Boys, Plebs and Sweetpea, having also starred in Murder is Easy, Run Away and Small Prophets.
James Dryden as DC Paul Miller
Who is DC Paul Miller? Another fictional detective for the drama, Miller works with Sparshatt to try and get Alex talking in the weeks after his mother’s murder.
Where have I seen James Dryden before? Dryden has starred in Time Bandits, Ladhood and All the Light We Cannot See.
Claire Rushbrook as Dr Jean Harris-Hendriks
Who is Dr Jean Harris-Hendriks? A child psychologist who is brought in to advise and oversee Alex in the days after his mother’s murder. She understands the need to get details of Rachel’s attacker, but the entire case is unprecedented for her, with her trying to underline the impact on Alex’s father.
Where have I seen Claire Rushbrook before? Rushbrook is known for her roles in Rivals, Ali & Ava, My Mad Fat Diary, Whitechapel and Home Fires. She has also starred in Sherwood season 1, Magpie Murders, Wilderness and, most recently, in A Very Royal Scandal.
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The Witness is now available to stream on Netflix.
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