Jack Ashton

Jack Ashton is a British actor, best known for playing the Reverend Tom Hereward in the BBC television series, Call the Midwife. He also appears as Lenny Sampson in Waterloo Road. On stage, he has performed in A Streetcar Named Desire at the Donmar Warehouse, and as Guy Haines in Strangers on a Train (UK tour). He starred in the 2017 film Instrument of War, based on the true story of Clair Cline, an American prisoner of war.

Early life and education He was born Jack Lewis in Clifton, Bristol. His father was a sculptor and artist, while his mother worked in education.

In 2023, Ashton appeared in the BBC series Waterloo Road as ex-convict Lenny Sampson who is brought in to help fight knife crime among at-risk youth.

Theatre In 2009, Ashton performed in a Donmar Warehouse production of A Streetcar Named Desire as the dead husband of Blanche Dubois, played by Rachel Weisz.

In 2018, he starred in a UK tour of Strangers on a Train, an adaptation of the Patricia Highsmith novel. He played the lead role of Guy Haines, described by The Times as "the classic American good guy, the passionate architect, full of ideals", opposite "spoilt rich boy" Charles Bruno played by Christopher Harper.

Personal life From 2016 to 2023, Ashton was in a relationship with his on-screen co-star Helen George. In September 2017, their daughter Wren Ivy was born. The couple's second daughter Lark, was born in November 2021. They split up in 2023.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2009 Colin Brumby Colin Brumby Short film 2011 Of Mary Bryan Short film 2014 8 Minutes Idle Ian 2016 Donkeys T Short film 2017 Instrument of War Clair Cline 2018 Welcome to Curiosity Sean 2025 Bad Apples Eddy's Dad

Television Year Title Role Notes 2005 Holby City Chris Philips Episode: "More Equal Than Others" 2007 Silent Witness James Fetherton Episode: "Hippocratic Oath, Part 1" 2008 Four Seasons Martin Miniseries; 2 episodes 2009 Mistresses Young Man Episode: "Series 2, Episode 1" 2010 Dappers Ryan Episode: "Proper Job" Holby City Neil Gilligan Episode: "Man with No Name" 2012 Endeavour DC Ian McLeash Episode: "Pilot" 2013 Broadchurch Kevin Green Episode: "Series 1, Episode 2" 2014–2018 Call the Midwife Reverend Tom Hereward Series regular; 35 episodes 2015 Vicious Theo Episode: "Gym" 2016 No Man Left Behind Chris Ryan Episode: "No Man Left Behind" 2020 McDonald & Dodds Jack Valentine Episode: "The Fall of the House of Crockett" 2022 U-Boat Wargamers Karl Dönitz Series regular; 6 episodes 2022–2023 Casualty Angus Knockton Recurring role; 2 episodes 2023 Sister Boniface Mysteries Lewis Garner Episode: "Stage Fright" Waterloo Road Lenny Sampson Recurring role; 2 episodes The Chelsea Detective Toby Hansard Episode: "The Blue Room" 2024 Professor T. Adam Bernard Recurring role; 2 episodes 2025 Lockerbie: A Search for Truth Jonathan Dobson Episode: "Episode 1"

Theatre credits YearTitleRoleVenue Notes 2009 The Homecoming Joey York Theatre Royal, York Twelfth Night Sebastian York Theatre Royal, York A Streetcar Named Desire Young Collector Donmar Warehouse, London Christmas Reloaded Jase Old Red Lion Theatre, London with Papatango Theatre Company 2010 Leopoldville Jonah Devlin Tristan Bates Theatre, London with Papatango Theatre Company 2012 The Guinea Pig Club Hugh Lockhart York Theatre Royal, York 2018 Strangers on a Train Guy Haines Theatre Royal, Brighton & UK tour with Ambassador Theatre Group 2024 Little Women Professor Friedrich Bhaer / John Brooke York Theatre Royal, York