The Royal

Filming of the interior scenes of "St. Aiden's" used both The Leeds Studios and St Luke's Hospital, Bradford, the latter being chosen because it had not been updated in many years and retained the appearance of a hospital in the 1960s. Most of the exterior scenes were shot during the summer months at the Red Court building on Holbeck Road, South Cliff, Scarborough, as well as the nearby park area and Holbeck Clock Tower.[1][2][3] The remaining exterior scenes were filmed elsewhere in the North Riding of Yorkshire, including Whitby.

• Julian Ovenden as Dr David Cheriton (series 1–3), a GP and the series' original protagonist.
• Zoie Kennedy as Meryl Taylor (series 1–5), a senior staff nurse and Cheriton's primary love interest.
• Robert Daws as Dr Gordon Ormerod (series 1–8), a GP and anaesthetist who in series 4 married Dr Jill Weatherill (played by Daws's real-life wife). Their only biological child together, Jonathan, a baby on the show, became a lead doctor at the Royal about 40 years later, in The Royal Today
• Amy Robbins as Dr Jill Weatherill (series 1–8), a GP and a staunch promoter of maternal medicine, who in series 4 married Dr Gordon Ormerod (played by Robbins's real-life husband).
• Linda Armstrong as Sister Brigid (series 1–8), a nursing administrator, ward sister and nun (née Aisling Donahue) who lives in a convent.
• Francis Matthews as Dr James "Jim" Alway (series 1) Dr Cheriton's predecessor, seen only briefly.
• Ian Carmichael as T.J. Middleditch (series 1–5, recurring thereafter), Hospital Secretary and Chairman of the Middleditch Trust, which helps to fund the hospital.
• Wendy Craig as Matron (series 1–8), nursing administrator, nicknamed "Toffee" ever since airmen at the RAF Station she served at as a nurse during the Second World War decided that she was "toffee-nosed" (snobbish.stuck up).
• John Axon as Nigel Harper (series 1–4), unpopular administrator for the District Health Authority .
• Michelle Hardwick as Lizzie Hopkirk (series 1–8), receptionist and daughter of the hospital porter Ken Hopkirk; she was married when the series started, but her husband left her for another woman.
• Denis Lill as Mr Rose (series 1–8), a consultant general surgeon often assigned to St Aidan's.
• Andy Wear as Alun Morris (series 1–8), a porter and theatre technician.
• Michael Starke as Ken Hopkirk (series 1–7), St Aidan's head porter and father of Lizzie Hopkirk.
• Polly Maberly as Dr Lucy Klein (series 2–3), a consultant psychologist and a foil for Cheriton.
• Anna Madeley as Samantha Beaumont (series 3–4), a student nurse.
• Paul Fox as Dr Jeff Goodwin (series 3–6), a GP and later, Makori's primary love interest.
• Scott Taylor as Frankie Robinson (series 4–7), an ambulance driver.
• Natalie Anderson as Stella Davenport (series 4–7), a senior staff nurse and Frankie's longtime love interest.
• Amelia Curtis as Catherine Deane (series 5–6), a senior staff nurse.
• Kananu Kirimi as Dr Joan Makori, a GP and a member of Doctors Without Borders (series 5–6)
• Robert Cavanah as Adam Carnegie (series 5–7), hospital secretary.
• Sam Callis as Dr Mike Banner (series 6), a GP, anaesthetist, and sought-after locum physician.
• Kari Corbett as Marian McKaig (series 6–7), a staff nurse.
• Sarah Beck Mather as Susie Dixon (series 6–8), a student nurse.
• Damian O'Hare as Dr Nick Burnett (series 7), a GP recruited by Jill following the departures of Goodwin and Makori.
• Chris Coghill as Bobby Sheridan (series 7), an ambulance driver.
• Gareth Hale as Jack Bell (series 7–8), head porter of St Aidan's.
• Neil McDermott as Dr Ralph Ellis (series 8), a locum GP noted for his forward-thinking approach to medicine.
• Glynis Barber as Jean McAteer (series 8), hospital secretary.
• Lauren Drummond as Faye Clark (series 8), a student nurse.
• Diana May as Carol Selby (series 8), a staff nurse.