Jason Merrells
Jason Merrells | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jason Scott Merrells 1968 (age 55–56) Epping, Essex, England |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, director, writer, painter |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Spouses | Judith Hurley
(m. 1991; div. 1999)Zerlina Hughes
(m. 2002; div. 2010) |
| Partner | Emma Lowndes (2012–present) |
| Children | 5 |
| Relatives | Simon Merrells (brother) |
Jason Scott Merrells (born 1968) is an English actor, who is best known for his roles in Casualty, Queer as Folk, Cutting It, Waterloo Road and Emmerdale.
Early life and education[edit]
Jason Scott Merrells was born 9 March 1968. He has an elder brother Simon Merrells (born 1965) who is also an actor. Merrells studied at the Buckhurst Hill County High School from 1980 to 1986 and later at the Chichester University, where he studied fine art.[1]
Career[edit]
Merrells got his first role in 1994 with an appearance in the film To Die For, in which he played a small part. However, he soon established himself as a successful television actor with his role as receptionist Matt Hawley in the medical drama Casualty. In 1999 he portrayed Phil Delaney in the television series Queer as Folk. He continued to appear in more prominent roles for years to come including in films such as Do Not Disturb (1999). His television appearances also became more frequent, and he had a recurring appearance as Martin Leach in Clocking Off between 2000 and 2001. However it was his portrayal of stylist Gavin Ferraday in the BBC One television drama series Cutting It that brought him wide notice. This followed with appearances in television shows such as The Afternoon Play, Where the Heart Is and Murder City, and a starring role in the 2005 film The Jealous God.
Merrells announced that he had been cast in the role of headteacher Jack Rimmer in the BBC One school-based drama Waterloo Road, making Merrells one of the original stars of the show appearing in the very first episode. In 2009, Merrells appeared throughout series two of Lark Rise to Candleford as James Dowland.
From 2010 to 2014, Merrells achieved popularity through his role as shrewd businessman Declan Macey in the long-running ITV soap opera Emmerdale. In September 2014, it was announced that Merrells had decided to quit his role after four years on the soap. Declan left the following month, going into hiding after killing his half-nephew Robbie Lawson (Jamie Shelton) and attempting to murder his most recent wife, Charity Macey (Emma Atkins), whom he married earlier in the year. In 2015, Merrells appeared as Stuart Howe in the BBC TV series Death in Paradise episode 4.7. From 2016 onwards, Merrells has portrayed Sir Charles Fraith in Agatha Raisin.[2]
In January 2023, Merrells appeared as DC Stead in the third series of BBC drama Happy Valley for three episodes.[3]
Theatre[edit]
From August to October 2007, Merrells performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company at the Courtyard Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. He played the role of Orsino in William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, or What You Will alongside his brother Simon Merrells who played Antonio. The Merrells brothers then went on to tour in A Comedy of Errors with the Royal Shakespeare Company from October to December 2007.[4] From March to April 2009 he appeared in the Theatre Royal Plymouth and Thelma Hunt production of Measure for Measure as Angelo alongside Alistair McGowan as the Duke.[5] The production transferred to the Almeida Theatre in February 2010. From May to June 2015, he starred as Juror number 8 in Bill Kenwright's touring production of Twelve Angry Men, alongside Andrew Lancel, Gareth David-Lloyd, Denis Lill and Drop the Dead Donkey's Robert Duncan.
In March 2023, Merrells is to star as Frank Galvin in a theatrical adaptation of Barry Reed's 1980 novel The Verdict.[6]
Personal life[edit]
Jason lives part-time in London and spends the rest of his time in the North East of England. He has five children from three relationships.[7]
Filmography[edit]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | To Die For | Nigel | Film |
| 1994–1997 | Casualty | Matt Hawley | Series regular; 70 episodes |
| 1997 | Thief Takers | Steve Lunt | 1 episode |
| The Bill | Richard McAuliffe | 1 episode | |
| 1998 | Verdict | Ben Clayton | 1 episode |
| 1999 | Queer as Folk | Phil Delaney | Supporting role; 3 episodes |
| Do Not Disturb | Chris Mulder | Film | |
| 2000 | Small Time Obsession | Chris | |
| Calling The Wild | Matt | TV short | |
| 2000–2001 | Clocking Off | Martin Leach | Main role; 12 episodes |
| 2000–2002 | Fat Friends | Carl Whittaker/Carl Watkinson | Supporting role; 3 episodes |
| 2002 | A Touch of Frost | Mike Patterson | 2 episodes |
| The Inspector Lynley Mysteries | Steve Shepherd | 1 episode | |
| The Project | Dougie | Television film | |
| 2002–2005 | Cutting It | Gavin Ferraday | Series regular; 25 episodes |
| 2003 | Sweet Medicine | Dr. Nicholas Sweet | Main role; 9 episodes |
| 2005 | The Afternoon Play | John Priestley | Episode: "The Hitch" |
| The Jealous God | Vincent Dungarven | Film | |
| Where The Heart Is | Ryan Saunders | 1 episode | |
| 2006 | Murder City | Mark Drummond | 1 episode |
| 2006–2008 | Waterloo Road | Jack Rimmer | Series regular; 27 episodes |
| 2009 | Lark Rise to Candleford | James Dowland | Main role; 11 episodes |
| 2010 | Marple | Dr. Kerrigan | 1 episode |
| 2010–2014 | Emmerdale | Declan Macey | Series regular; 661 episodes |
| 2015 | Death in Paradise | Stuart Howe | 1 episode |
| Safe House | David Blackwell | 4 episodes | |
| Elsewhere | Travelling Salesman | Short | |
| 2016 | Bumps | Richard | |
| 2016–2022 | Agatha Raisin | Sir Charles Fraith | Main role; 15 episodes |
| 2018 | Midsomer Murders | Paul Taylor | 1 episode |
| Legends of Tomorrow | Various | ||
| 2019 | Jesus: His Life | Pilate | 5 episodes |
| Trick or Treat | Bizzie | Film | |
| 2020 | Endeavour | Martin Gorman | 1 episode |
| 2021 | Finding Alice | Harry Walsh | Supporting role |
| 2023 | Happy Valley | DC Stead | Series 3; 3 episodes[8] |
Awards and nominations[edit]
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 9th National Television Awards | Most Popular Actor | Cutting It | Nominated | [9] |
| 2012 | The British Soap Awards | Villain of the Year | Emmerdale | Nominated | [10] |
| 2014 | 19th National Television Awards | Serial Drama Performance | Nominated | [11] | |
| 2014 | The British Soap Awards | Best Actor | Nominated | [12] | |
| 2014 | Inside Soap Awards | Best Actor | Nominated | [13] | |
| 2015 | 20th National Television Awards | Serial Drama Performance | Nominated | [14] |
References[edit]
- ^ "Chichester, University of". Independent.co.uk. 25 July 2014.
- ^ "Agatha Raisin's Mathew Horne gives season 4 update". Digitalspy.com. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
- ^ Cormack, Morgan (30 January 2023). "Meet the cast of Happy Valley season 3". Radio Times. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
- ^ A Comedy of Errors Archived 12 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Measure for Measure Archived 28 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "The Verdict". The New Wolsey Theatre. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- ^ Palmer, Alun (5 May 2014). "Emmerdale's Declan Macey is getting married but twice divorced actor Jason Merrells is taking it slow". Daily Mirror.
- ^ "Jason Merrells Filmography". Retrieved 6 February 2023.
- ^ "National Television Awards". thecustard.tv. Archived from the original on 17 December 2007. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
- ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (27 February 2012). "British Soap Awards 2012 voting opens, nominations revealed". Digital Spy. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
- ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (17 September 2013). "Corrie, EastEnders, Emmerdale, Hollyoaks stars up for NTAs - full list". Digital Spy. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
- ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (17 March 2014). "British Soap Awards 2014 voting opens, longlist announced". Digital Spy. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
- ^ Dainty, Sophie (29 July 2014). "Inside Soap Awards 2014 longlist revealed". Digital Spy. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
- ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (14 October 2014). "National Television Awards 2015 - Which soap stars made the long list?". Digital Spy. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
External links[edit]
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| National | |
| Artists | |
