Alan Bates
— Josiah Bounderby
Bob Peck
— Thomas Gradgrind
Richard E. Grant
— James Harthouse
Bill Paterson
— Stephen Blackpool
Beatie Edney
— Louisa Gradgrind
Harriet Walter
— Rachel
Christien Anholt
— Tom
Dilys Laye
— Mrs. Sparsit
Alex Jennings
— Bitzer
Diana Fairfax
— Mrs. Gradgrind
Peter Bayliss
— Sleary
Timothy Bateson
— Childers
Christopher Benjamin
— Slackbridge