 As each episode of Inside No. 9 features new characters , the writers were able to attract actors who might have been unwilling to commit to an entire series . " Nana 's Party " featured Claire Skinner as Angela , who is hosting a party . Pemberton and Shearsmith lived close to Skinner , but they had not properly met . She was one of several members of the cast of the film Life Is Sweet ( others being Alison Steadman and Jane Horrocks ) who have starred in Inside No. 9 . Skinner enjoyed the " funny " script and her " nice " character . Eve Gordon ( trained at the Nottingham Television Workshop ) starred as Angela 's daughter Katie , and Pemberton starred as Angela 's husband Jim . Pemberton and Shearsmith suggested that Pemberton 's costume made him look like Mr Chow Mein , a Benny Hill character . 
