James Bolam as Jack Ford (1976 -- 77, 81 / Series 1 - 4 / 48 episodes) James Garbutt as Bill Seaton (1976 -- 77 / Series 1 - 3 / 39 episodes) Jean Heywood as Bella Seaton (1976 -- 77 / Series 1 - 3 / 39 episodes) John Nightingale as Tom Seaton (1976 -- 77 / Series 1 - 3 / 39 episodes) Edward Wilson as Billy Seaton (1976 -- 77, 81 / Series 1 - 4 / 35 episodes) Malcolm Terris as Matt Headley (1976 -- 77 / Series 1 - 3 / 34 episodes) Susan Jameson as Jessie Ashton née Seaton (1976 -- 77, 81 / Series 1 - 4 / 30 episodes) Madelaine Newton as Dolly (1976 -- 77 / Series 1 - 3 / 30 episodes) Basil Henson as Sir Horatio Manners (1976 -- 77 / Series 1 - 3 / 25 episodes) Geoffrey Rose as Arthur Ashton (1976 -- 77 / Series 1 - 3 / 18 episodes) Rosalind Bailey as Sarah Headley née Lytton (1977, 81 / Series 2 - 4 / 23 episodes) William Fox as the Duke of Bedlington (1976 -- 77 / Series 2 - 3 / 13 episodes) Lois Baxter as Lady Caroline # 2 (1977, 81 / Series 3 - 4 / 15 episodes)
who played tom in when the boat comes in
John Nightingale