The mad men and women of Sterling Cooper

Don Draper: (Jon Hamm) Our window to the Madison Avenue world comes courtesy of this sharp-suited, smooth-talking character Photograph: Rex Features

Peggy Olson: (Elisabeth Moss) She began her professional life as Draper's secretary, but after showing a flair for copywriting, Olson is now giving the ad men a run for their money Photograph: BBC/AMC/PR

Pete Campbell: (Vincent Kartheiser) An office junior with high ambitions and a low sense of morals. From black-mailing the boss to seducing a vulnerable co-worker, ethics are not his strong point Photograph: BBC/AMC/PR

Betty Draper: (January Jones) Draper's wife maintains the perfect suburban family home, but the beautiful former-model is frustrated by her mundane existence Photograph: BBC/AMC/PR

Rachel Menken: (Maggie Siff) Menken runs her family department store, and became romantically entangled with Draper after coming to the agency for an ad campaign Photograph: BBC/AMC/PR

Midge Daniels: (Rosemarie DeWitt) Draper's other love interest. She's a Manhattan bohemian with a penchant for Kerouac and Ginsberg Photograph: BBC/AMC/PR

L-R Ken Cosgrove: (Aaron Staton) Account executive, bachelor and aspiring novelist. Harry Crane: (Rich Sommer) This newlywed heads the pioneering television department. Salvatore Romano: (Bryan Batt) Sterling Cooper's handsome Italian art director, gay and in the closet Photograph: BBC/AMC/PR

Roger Sterling: (John Slattery) Draper's friend and a co-partner of the agency, this former Navy man has a reputation for working hard and playing hard, often to excess Photograph: BBC/AMC/PR

Joan Holloway: (Christina Hendricks) The curvaceous office manager, well-versed in the art of applying lipstick. Resident big sister to her female colleagues, and the other woman to the married Roger Sterling Photograph: BBC/AMC/PR