Two actors portray eighteen Yorkshire villagers, who offer several iterations of their lives depending on whether or not they lit a cigarette at a certain point in time.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
 Sabine AzémaCelia Teasdale / Sylvie Bell / Irene Pridworthy / Rowena Coombes / Josephine Hamilton | Celia Teasdale / Sylvie Bell / Irene Pridworthy / Rowena Coombes / Josephine Hamilton |
 Pierre ArditiToby Teasdale / Miles Coombes / Lionel Hepplewick / Joe Hepplewick | Toby Teasdale / Miles Coombes / Lionel Hepplewick / Joe Hepplewick |
 Peter HudsonNarrator | Narrator |