It drew in 9.5million viewers an episode and was a stalwart of Friday night television for 11 series during its tenure on the BBC in the Noughties.However, one of the show’s stars, Robert Lindsay, who played sarcastic and grumpy Ben Harper, has admitted he thought the show would be a flop.The actor, 76, said he was desperate for money and going through a break-up at the time and had no idea it would go on to become a TV juggernaut. The series began in 2000 and was an instant hit with viewers, despite being widely panned by critics it continued to attract audiences across its decade-long run.When asked why he joined the show, Robert shrugged: ‘Oh, I did it for the money. I was going through a break-up, and so I could hardly afford to do theatre, could I? I needed a regular job. I just didn’t expect it to get nine and a half million viewers every Friday…’My Family starred Robert and his on-screen wife Zoe Wanamaker, as well as their children Kris Marshall, Daniela Denby-Ashe and Gabriel Thomson. But when the Harper children flew the nest, the BBC felt it was ‘time to make room for new comedies’ and the show was cut in 2011.Since the axe, the cast have all moved on to different ventures. From ditching acting altogether to starring in Hollywood blockbusters, here’s where the much-loved characters of My Family are now. My Family first hit screens back in 2000 and during its high-time attracted audiences of more then ten million viewers Head of the Harper family, Susan balanced working as a tour guide and later at an art gallery, while being the mother to three children American-British actress Zoe Wanamaker, who played Susan, has starred in a variety of TV shows and films over her long acting careerSusan Harper – Zoe WanamakerHead of the Harper family, Susan balanced working as a tour guide and later at an art gallery, while being the mother to three children.American-British actress Zoe, 77, who played Susan, has starred in a variety of TV shows and films over her long acting career.Back in 2001, she grabbed her broomstick as Rolanda Hooch, a flying coach and Quidditch referee in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.Zoe also featured in Apple TV thriller Criminal Record, ITV’s drama The Man Who Fell To Earth and Killing Eve, to name a few.Donning leather head to toe and a head tattoo, Zoe featured in historical drama Britannia as Queen Antedia from 2017 to 2021. After this, Zoe had roles in Black Ops (2023), The Cleaner (2023), Inside No.9 (2024) and Criminal Record (2024). Most recently, the star played Charlie Hungerford, the mother-in-law of widowed Jim Bergerac in a remake the of crime drama. The second series aired in spring 2026.Last year, Zoe revealed to the Mail’s Richard Eden how she felt the middle-class family story line in My Family ‘would be complex’ to recreate today.’It was about family dynamics – women, men, and couples dealing with children. Everything has changed,’ she added. Ben Harper – Robert Lindsay An unsociable dentist, married to Susan and father to their three children, Ben Harper was played by Robert Lindsay Since My Family, Robert (pictured) has continued his acting career and won some awards along the wayRobert’s role was as an unsociable dentist, married to Susan and father to their three children.Since My Family, the star has continued his acting career and won some awards along the way. He’s currently starring as U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the world premiere of Richard Nelson’s historical play at London’s Hampstead Theatre. The production explores the 1939 meeting between Roosevelt and King George VI.In 2025, he joined the second series of BBC show Sherwood as Franklin Warner after being ‘desperate’ to be in the first. Last year, Robert starred in Channel 4 drama Generation Z as Morgan, a retired man who supplies drugs to youngsters. Before My Family, Robert was in another classic British sitcom – Citizen Smith. It first aired in 1977 and Robert played the role of Wolfie Smith who became known for his catchphrase ‘Power to the people!’However, Robert recently admitted he didn’t take kindly to playing the charismatic working-class revolutionary due to the level of fame it brought with it.He said: ‘I was chased down the street, cornered in supermarkets.’ He quit in 1980 after just three series.But since, Robert has enjoyed a successful career so far and has won a BAFTA, a Tony Award and two Laurence Olivier Awards. He returned to his role in 2023 in a spin-off called Beyond Paradise. Kris has also starred in rom-com classic Love Actually back in 2003 as Colin Frissell, as well as comedy A Few Best Men as Tom. Nick Harper – Kris Marshall Susan and Ben’s eldest child, Nick Harper, was played by Kris Marshall from 2000 to 2005 and was known as being laid-back Since leaving the show, Kris played DI Humphrey Goodman in BBC’s crime drama Death In Paradise from 2014 to 2017Susan and Ben’s eldest child, Nick Harper, was played by Kris Marshall from 2000 to 2005 and was known as being laid-back.Over the course of his time on the show, Nick found himself in various situations.A particularly memorable scene includes a questionable Christmas investment when he bought trees with money loaned from his father to sell the following year. Since leaving the show, Kris played DI Humphrey Goodman in BBC’s crime drama Death In Paradise from 2014 to 2017.He returned to his role in 2023 in a spin-off called Beyond Paradise. The third series aired in 2025, and a fourth series was subsequently commissioned and filmed, with Kris also serving as an executive producer on the show. Before this, his other notable recent work included playing Tom Parker in (2019–2023). Since then, most of his screen work has centred on the Paradise franchise.Kris has also starred in rom-com classic Love Actually back in 2003 as Colin Frissell, as well as comedy A Few Best Men as Tom. Janey Harper – Daniela Denby-Ashe The only daughter of Ben and Susan, Janey Harper was a chaotic whirlwind and was played by Daniela Denby-Ashe Before her role in My Family, Daniela, pictured, played Sarah Hills in EastEnders from 1995 to 1999The only daughter of Ben and Susan, Janey Harper was a chaotic whirlwind and was played by Daniela Denby-Ashe.Janey loved to shop and had a baby at 18 who she named Kenzo, though she originally wanted to call him Prada-Handbag.She has kept a much lower public profile than most of her My Family co-stars. Before her role in My Family, Daniela played Sarah Hills in EastEnders from 1995 to 1999. Since her days as Janey, Daniela has appeared in several shows including Waterloo Road, where she played businesswoman Lorraine Donnegan from 2012 to 2013. She also played Julia Lubas in BBC drama Silent Witness back in 2016.Going back to her sitcom roots, the star more recently featured in two episodes of BBC series, Mum, back in 2019. In a slightly different role to her previous ventures, Daniela narrated Channel 5’s Colin and Justin’s Hotel Hell in 2022.Michael Harper – Gabriel Thomson Youngest child Michael Harper was played by Gabriel Thomson and was seen as the more intelligent sibling Gabriel (pictured) himself left acting to pursue a degree in Philosophy at King’s College London, according to The Sun, and has since starred in short filmsYoungest child Michael Harper was played by Gabriel Thomson and was seen as the more intelligent sibling. The show saw the character grow up and he went from secondary school all the way to series six, before going to university.He largely stepped away from mainstream acting and pursued other interests. Gabriel himself left acting to pursue a degree in Philosophy at King’s College London, according to The Sun, and he has since starred in short films.He later returned to acting on a limited basis. His filmography shows appearances in the film A Little More Flesh (2020) and short films including The Score and Hungry Like the Wolf.He also has a different look to his floppy hair and glasses he sported in My Family – Gabriel’s social media shows him with a shorter cut and stubble. Recent reports indicate that he has become heavily involved in endurance running, charity fundraising, and long-distance challenges.Abi Harper – Siobhan Hayes Ben’s distant relative Abi Harper moved in with the family in series three and was played by Siobhan Hayes Siobhan (pictured) has starred in various other films and TV series since My Family including Horrid Henry: The Movie which aired in 2011 with the actress as Henry’s motherBen’s distant relative Abi Harper moved in with the family in series three and was played by Siobhan Hayes. She is still listed as an active actress, with a career spanning television, radio, and film. Siobhan has starred in various other films and TV series since My Family including Horrid Henry: The Movie which aired in 2011 with the actress as Henry’s mother. She also appeared in ITV’s Crime Stories as Andrea Marshall in 2012, and various episodes of Holby City.