A key ingredient of television drama and comedy is the cast, the ensemble of actors who will perform for the production, usually from a script. This chapter looks at the process of engaging actors and their preparation for the shoot. The management of cast within a production follows two pathways, which run roughly in parallel: analysis and detailing of cast needs and scheduling by the production office; and selection and hiring of cast for roles in the program, their preparation and rehearsal, and finally their performance on camera.

The interpretation of each character in a program is developed by its actor under the guidance and input of the director, a development that doesn't stop until the program is recorded. Early views about the nature of the character and its role in the narrative and themes of the program are exchanged at casting meetings and may form part of the reason for selecting a particular actor for a particular part. The actor then uses the script to develop their interpretation and understanding of the character, which is developed more fully and translated into actions and modes of dialogue delivery at rehearsal. Finally, there may be finetuning of aspects of presentation of the character in the shooting of a scene. This may even occur between one take and the next, as some mannerism or delivery of a line seems able to be varied to better effect.