Murdoch Mysteries: Cast and Characters

Detective William Murdoch (Yannick Bisson)

Fascinated by religion but passionate about science, raised a traditional Catholic but excited by technology and modernity, Detective William Murdoch is a man of contradictions. He's also a brilliant cop, using forensic science - still in its infancy - to crack crimes in 19th Century Toronto.

Murdoch is played by Yannick Bisson - the chiselled-cheeked, wonderfully named Canadian heartthrob whose TV career is down to an ad in the back of a newspaper. He was just 14 when his father spotted the words "Wanted: Child Actors" and suggested Yannick write in. A flood of TV work followed, and he was even dubbed Canada's answer to Michael J Fox. Excited to be playing Murdoch (a role first portrayed on screen by his close friend, and fellow hunk, Peter Outerbridge), Yannick also finds time to run a gym. Which explains his rather impressive physique.

Dr Julia Ogden (Helene Joy)

Dr Julia Ogden is ambitious, career-minded and ferociously independent. In short, she's a thoroughly modern woman, which is a bit of a problem in the 1890s. Putting up with chauvinist colleagues and disappointed relatives (who wish she'd marry someone and be a good, stay-at-home mother), Julia works as a pathologist and is one of Murdoch's closest allies.

Helene Joy is probably best known for her work in Canada, but she actually hails from Australia. In fact, her big break came in the epic Aussie series Snow River: The McGregor Saga - which helped launch the likes of Guy Pearce and Hugh Jackman. She eventually moved to Canada, where - prior to Murdoch Mysteries - she worked on the children's fantasy series The Secret World of Og. Which, if you've not heard of it, is actually based on one of the most famous Canadian novels of all time and has been called the Canadian version of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Inspector Brackenreid (Thomas Craig)

The polar opposite of the clean cut, intellectually inquisitive Murdoch, Inspector Brackenreid is a gruff, rough cop who believes in cutting corners and using brute force to get the job done. But, while he may sneer at forensic science, he grudgingly accepts that Murdoch's methods can prove invaluable.

You might be surprised when you first clap eyes on Inspector Brackenreid, for he's played by former Coronation Street star Thomas Craig. Whose real name, by the way, is Craig Thompson - he took his "stage name" in homage to one-time Sheffield Wednesday player Tommy Craig. And it was a Tommy he played on Corrie (Tommy Harris, to be exact), in a career that's also included other British staples like Holby City and Heartbeat. But will the Murdoch Mysteries lead to big things across the pond for our Thomas?

Constable Crabtree (Jonny Harris)

Every Holmes needs a Watson, and Murdoch's very own bumbling sidekick is Constable Crabtree. Young and eager to please, Crabtree is frankly in awe of Murdoch and believes forensic science is the way of the future. Saying that, the actual science bit sometimes proves a bit much for the easily befuddled scamp.

The Murdoch Mysteries is a bit of a departure for Jonny Harris, whose career until now has been almost completely rooted in comedy. His big break was a one-man stage show which toured Canada and attracted torrents of acclaim, with one reviewer even calling Harris a "comedy genius". It's no wonder the Murdoch producers were keen to cast him - even going so far as to change the character of Crabtree from a hulking tough guy (as he was originally envisaged) to a vulnerable and sweet-natured sidekick.