Ioan Gruffudd as Horatio Hornblower

Robert Lindsay as Admiral Sir Edward Pellew

Paul McGann as Lieutenant Bush

Lorcan Cranitch as Wolfe

Tony Haygarth as Master Prowse

Julia Sawalha as Maria Mason

Paul Copley as Matthews

Sean Gilder as Styles

Greg Wise as Major Côtard

Ian McElhinney as Captain Hammond

Christian Coulson as Midshipman John 'Jack' Hammond

Ron Cook as Steward James Doughty

Jonathan Forbes as Midshipman Charles Orrock

Jim McManus as Pawnbroker

Barbara Flynn as Mrs. Mason