Jason Hughes

Jason Hughes (born 15 December 1970) is a Welsh actor best known for playing Sergeant Ben Jones in the ITV series Midsomer Murders (2005–2013) and for the BBC drama This Life (1996–1997), in which he played lawyer Warren Jones. Hughes has also worked extensively in theatre, including the 1999 re-enactment of Our Country's Good as the Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark.

Early life Hughes was born in Porthcawl, Wales, and spent most of his early childhood there with his family. He is of Welsh and Italian descent. His grandfather, Raldo Carpinini, was the son of an Italian immigrant from Bardi, Emilia-Romagna, who had settled in Ammanford. Hughes' great-grandfather was originally trained to lay train tracks, but eventually began an ice cream business. Hughes' maternal grandfather was a policeman in Porthcawl.

As a teenager, Hughes played both rugby and cricket and had hopes of pursuing sport as a career, playing county cricket until aged 18. He became interested in acting while taking drama classes at a local comprehensive school, and was encouraged by a teacher to apply for the National Youth Theatre of Wales.

In 1987, at the National Youth Theatre of Wales, the 16-year-old Hughes became close friends with Michael Sheen, who lived in the same residence hall. during which time he shared a house with Sheen and Simons. He went on to perform in the 1999 production of Look Back in Anger with Sheen at the National Youth Theatre, and Caligula at the Donmar. Hughes's character Warren was openly gay, which was considered groundbreaking at the time, as it was still rare to see such a prominent, positive portrayal of a gay character on primetime television in the mid-90s. Many young gay men, pleased at seeing their experience represented on-screen, wrote to Hughes about their stories of coming out to their families. The show revolves around two detectives who solve gory and unique murders amongst the tranquil setting of Midsomer County. Hughes was originally told to speak in an English accent as his Welsh accent did not fit the character criteria, but the character's background was then changed, allowing him to use his own Welsh accent. Hughes was aware of the show's repertoire after watching a few episodes and he knew the standards the directors were looking for. He played Cliff in a 1999 production of Look Back in Anger.

The 2015 play, Violence and Son, by Gary Owen is about a Welsh 17-year-old boy whose mother has recently died from cancer. He is forced to live with his biological father, Rick (Jason Hughes). The plot thickens when he meets Jen, a girl who shares his passion for Doctor Who. However, she already has a boyfriend, a rugby player called Jorden.

Hughes played in a band, Butterfly Macqueen, playing guitar and singing backup vocals. The band last performed in Brighton on 12 February 2009 at the opening of the American Music Club.

Personal life Hughes is a father of three children, Molly, Max and Carys. He is married to jewellery-designer Natasha Dahlberg, formerly an actress. 1996, 2002 Casualty Carl Williams, Kev 2 episodes 1997–98 Harry Enfield and Chums Jason 2 episodes 1999 Hang the DJ Brad 2000 Brand Spanking New Show 2 episodes 2003 Waking the Dead Andrew Cross 2 episodes 2004 Mine All Mine Gethin Morris 5 episodes 2005–13, 2017 Midsomer Murders Ben Jones 53 episodes 2009 Coming Up Mark Episode: "Pornography" 2015 Archer Dafydd Episode: "Achub y Morfilod"

Death in Paradise Elliot Taylor Episode: "The Impossible Murder" Three Girls DC Sandy Guthrie 3 episodes 2018 Marcella Vince Whitman 7 episodes 2021 The Pact Max 6 episodes 2024 McDonald & Dodds Clive Saunders Episode: "Wedding Fever" 2025 Beyond Paradise Hugo Digsby Episode: "S3.E4" 2025 Art Detectives Greg Kemp Episode: "S1.E6 Final Bid" 2026 Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards Mick Granger Docudrama film

Theatre A Slice of Saturday Night (1992, Theater Auf Tournee, Germany — tour) Macbeth (1994, Theatre Clwyd) The Unexpected Guest (1994, Theatre Royal, Windsor) Nothing to Pay (1995, Thin Language) Phaedra's Love (1996, Royal Court Theatre — staged reading) Badfinger (1997, Donmar Warehouse) The Illusion (1997, Royal Exchange, Manchester) Snake in the Grass (1997, The Old Vic) The Herbal Bed (1998, Royal Shakespeare Company) A Real Classy Affair (1998, Royal Court Theatre) Violence and Son (Royal Court Theatre Upstairs). Look Back in Anger (1999, Lyttelton Theatre) In Flame (2000, New Ambassador's Theatre) Kiss Me Like You Mean It (2001, Soho Theatre) A Wing and a Prayer (2002, Battersea Arts Centre Studio) Fight for Barbara (2003, Theatre Royal, BathTheatre Royal, Bath) Design for Living (2003, Theatre Royal, Bath) Caligula (2003, Donmar Warehouse) 4.48 Psychosis (2004, Royal Court Theatre and US tour) In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play) (2013, St. James) Our Country's Good (2015, Olivier Theatre) The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? (2017, Theatre Royal Haymarket) On Bear Ridge (2019, The Royal Court Theatre, London) To Kill a Mockingbird (2022, Gielgud Theatre, London) Shed: Exploded View (2024, Royal Exchange Theatre) Nye (2025, Olivier Theatre)

Radio Green Baize Dream (1995) Cadfael: "Dead Man's Ransom" (1995) A Clockwork Orange (1998) Cold Calling (2003) Time for Mrs. Milliner (2003) Bubble (2004) The Guest Before You (2004) School Runs (2006) Inspector Steine (2007) Gite a la Mer (2007) The Pale Horse (2017) Severn (2024)

Audio books Framed (2006) (Audible)