John Shrapnel was born in Birmingham, the son of Norman and Myfanwy Shrapnel. He was brought up in Stockport and south London, attending City of London School and Cambridge University. He was an original member of the National Youth Theatre and has worked extensively in theatre, particularly the Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre. He lives in Suffolk and London.
Michael Praed was born in Berkeley, England to Derrick and Kay Prince, but spent his early years in Iran because his father worked as an accountant for a petroleum company. Michael was sent back to England for a public school education, which he did not enjoy. He attended the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. As there was already a "Michael Prince" listed in Equity, Michael chose the surname "Praed" from the phone book. He began his career in repertory theatre before moving on to roles in London's West End.
