# Jason Hughes (actor)
**Jason Hughes** (born 1971) is a Welsh actor best known for playing the lawyer Warren Jones in the BBC drama *This Life* (1996–1997) and Detective Sergeant Ben Jones in the ITV series *Midsomer Murders* (2005–2013).[1](https://latw.org/artist-public-profile/jason-hughes) • [2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/jason-hughes/) He was born in Porthcawl, Wales, and trained at LAMDA in London.[2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/jason-hughes/) • [3](https://www.midsomermurders.org/jasonhughes.htm)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1971, Porthcawl, Wales, UK[2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/jason-hughes/) |
| Breakthrough role | Warren Jones, a young gay lawyer in the BBC2 series *This Life*, 19 episodes, 1996–1997[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0400673) |
| Signature role | Detective Sergeant Ben Jones in *Midsomer Murders*, 2005–2013, credited across over 50 episodes[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0400673) |
| Departure | Left *Midsomer Murders* after 'Schooled in Murder', announced in January 2013, after filming over 50 episodes[3](https://www.midsomermurders.org/jasonhughes.htm) |
| Training | LAMDA; met Michael Sheen at the National Youth Theatre of Wales in 1987[3](https://www.midsomermurders.org/jasonhughes.htm) • [5](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/profiles/how-we-met-jason-hughes-michael-sheen-8914048.html) |
| Family | Married to jewelry designer Natasha Dahlberg since September 2005; three children[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0400673) |
| Stage work | Rick in *Violence and Son* (Royal Court, 2015), Bob Ewell in *To Kill a Mockingbird* (Gielgud Theatre), Archie in *Nye* (National Theatre)[6](https://theartistspartnership.co.uk/artist/jason-hughes/) |
## Early life and training
Hughes grew up in Porthcawl, a coastal town in [South Wales](https://www.edgepedia.org/south-wales), and initially aimed at a sporting career. He described himself as a good rugby and cricket player who played for his county at cricket and went through to the boys' clubs of the Wales squad.[7](https://www.irishnews.com/lifestyle/2018/04/23/news/marcella-star-jason-hughes-on-fitness-fatherhood-and-midsomer-murders-1307528/) A drama teacher at his school turned him toward theater; he has said that without that teacher he would likely have pursued rugby in some form.[7](https://www.irishnews.com/lifestyle/2018/04/23/news/marcella-star-jason-hughes-on-fitness-fatherhood-and-midsomer-murders-1307528/)
In the summer of 1987 he joined the National Youth Theatre of Wales in Cardiff, where he met [Michael Sheen](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-sheen), then 16, who was two years his senior in the company.[5](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/profiles/how-we-met-jason-hughes-michael-sheen-8914048.html) Sheen went on to RADA and Hughes to LAMDA, and the two later shared a house in London with fellow actor Hywel Simons.[5](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/profiles/how-we-met-jason-hughes-michael-sheen-8914048.html) The arts critic Jasper Rees places Hughes within an influential generation of actors who emerged from South Wales in the 1990s; [Ruth Jones](https://www.edgepedia.org/ruth-jones) and [Rob Brydon](https://www.edgepedia.org/rob-brydon) were only a few years above him at school in Porthcawl.[8](https://www.theartsdesk.com/theatre/10-questions-actor-jason-hughes)
## This Life
Hughes's big break came as Warren Jones, one of the young lawyers at the center of the BBC2 drama *This Life*, created by Amy Jenkins. The series followed five rival lawyers sharing a house in [South London](https://www.edgepedia.org/south-london) and ran for 19 episodes from 1996 to 1997.[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0400673) • [9](https://www.midsomermurders.org/thislife.htm) Warren was a gay character, and Hughes, who is heterosexual, prepared by visiting gay bars and clubs on his own to research the role.[10](https://lgbtqcymru.swansea.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Bridgend-LGBTQ-Timeline.pdf)
The series won five major awards, including the [Royal Television Society](https://www.edgepedia.org/royal-television-society)'s award for Best Drama, and made stars of its largely unknown cast.[9](https://www.midsomermurders.org/thislife.htm) In a Welsh LGBTQ+ history collection, Hughes's portrayal is recorded as having drawn letters from young gay men about coming out to their families, with feedback that Hughes described as exceedingly positive.[10](https://lgbtqcymru.swansea.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Bridgend-LGBTQ-Timeline.pdf) He reprised the character in the 2007 reunion special *This Life +10*, directed by Joe Ahearne.[6](https://theartistspartnership.co.uk/artist/jason-hughes/)
## Midsomer Murders
In 2005 Hughes joined *Midsomer Murders* as Detective Sergeant Ben Jones, making his debut in the first episode of series nine, 'The House in the Woods'.[3](https://www.midsomermurders.org/jasonhughes.htm) • [11](https://www.midsomermurders.org/writtenstars2.htm) He starred alongside [John Nettles](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-nettles) for 36 episodes, then continued as the sidekick to [Neil Dudgeon](https://www.edgepedia.org/neil-dudgeon), who took over the lead as DCI John Barnaby, Tom Barnaby's cousin.[11](https://www.midsomermurders.org/writtenstars2.htm)
His 50th appearance came in the episode 'Written in the Stars'; he noted at the time that he joined the series as Nettles was celebrating his own 50th episode.[11](https://www.midsomermurders.org/writtenstars2.htm) In January 2013 it was announced that 'Schooled in Murder' would be his last episode as DS Jones. Hughes said the decision was difficult, called the crew "like a second family", and said he was looking forward to other projects, beginning with pilot season in the United States.[3](https://www.midsomermurders.org/jasonhughes.htm)
The scheduling had taken a physical toll. During filming he got up at 4:30 each morning, traveled by train from Brighton to Gatwick and onward to the set, worked 11-hour days, and got home at about 9:30 at night, for eight or nine months of the year; he has said he experienced burnout and could not keep the routine up any longer.[7](https://www.irishnews.com/lifestyle/2018/04/23/news/marcella-star-jason-hughes-on-fitness-fatherhood-and-midsomer-murders-1307528/) He later reflected that family shaped the decision: "I wanted to be a presence in their lives".[12](https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/life/weekend/midsomer-was-tricky-as-i-wanted-to-be-nearer-home...-i-want-to-be-a-presence-in-my-childrens-lives/a/115003156.html)
Over the run, Hughes described the character's development from an enthusiastic rookie "consumed by his job" to a more mature detective who wanted to emulate Barnaby.[13](https://midsomermurders.org/jasoninterview2010.htm)
## Film and later television
Hughes's film credits include Jake in Chen Kaige's *[Killing Me Softly](https://www.edgepedia.org/killing-me-softly-film)* (2002), Charlie Franklin in *Shooters* (2002), Harry Bruce in *Plain Jane* (2000), Gavin in *House!* (2000), Ralph in *Phoenix Blue* (2001), Collins in *Red Mercury* (2005), Ben Jones in *Dead Long Enough* (2005), Millward in *Crow* (2016), Tony in *We the Kings* (2018), and Aled in *Save the Cinema* (2022).[6](https://theartistspartnership.co.uk/artist/jason-hughes/) • [14](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jason_hughes) On Rotten Tomatoes his highest-rated film is *Save the Cinema* at 73 percent and his lowest *Killing Me Softly* at 0 percent.[14](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jason_hughes)
Television work after *Midsomer* has ranged widely: he played Vince Whitman in the ITV drama *Marcella*, DC Sandy Guthrie in the BBC's acclaimed *Three Girls* (2017), Max in *The Pact* (2021), a voice role as Dafydd in the animated series *Archer*, guest parts in *Death in Paradise*, *[McDonald & Dodds](https://www.edgepedia.org/mcdonald-and-dodds)*, and *Beyond Paradise*, and Greg Kemp in *[Art Detectives](https://www.edgepedia.org/art-detectives-tv-series)* (2025).[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0400673) • [6](https://theartistspartnership.co.uk/artist/jason-hughes/)
## Theatre
Theatre has remained central to his career. Credits listed by his agency include Helicon in *Caligula* at the Donmar Warehouse, Rick in Gary Owen's *Violence and Son* at the Royal Court, Alistair in Alan Ayckbourn's *Way Upstream* at Chichester Festival Theatre, Bob Ewell in *To Kill a Mockingbird* at the Gielgud Theatre, The Captain in *On Bear Ridge*, and Archie in Tim Price's *Nye* at the National Theatre.[6](https://theartistspartnership.co.uk/artist/jason-hughes/)
His stage work with Michael Sheen has been a recurring thread. In a 2013 interview Hughes called appearing with Sheen in *Look Back in Anger* in 1999 "the best thing I ever did", and the two also appeared together in *Caligula* at the Donmar in 2003.[5](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/profiles/how-we-met-jason-hughes-michael-sheen-8914048.html) Hughes's Midsomer contract left no time for theater for seven years, and in 2015 he returned to the stage in *Our Country's Good* at the National Theatre as Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark.[8](https://www.theartsdesk.com/theatre/10-questions-actor-jason-hughes)
## References
1. [Jason Hughes, LA Theatre Works artist profile](https://latw.org/artist-public-profile/jason-hughes)
2. [Jason Hughes, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/jason-hughes/)
3. [Jason Hughes, Midsomer Murders fan site (news pages)](https://www.midsomermurders.org/jasonhughes.htm)
4. [Jason Hughes, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0400673)
5. [How we met: Jason Hughes & Michael Sheen, The Independent (31 October 2013)](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/profiles/how-we-met-jason-hughes-michael-sheen-8914048.html)
6. [Jason Hughes CV, The Artists Partnership](https://theartistspartnership.co.uk/artist/jason-hughes/)
7. [Marcella star Jason Hughes on fitness, fatherhood and Midsomer Murders, The Irish News (23 April 2018)](https://www.irishnews.com/lifestyle/2018/04/23/news/marcella-star-jason-hughes-on-fitness-fatherhood-and-midsomer-murders-1307528/)
8. [10 Questions for Actor Jason Hughes, theartsdesk (24 August 2015)](https://www.theartsdesk.com/theatre/10-questions-actor-jason-hughes)
9. [Jason Hughes – This Life, Midsomer Murders fan site](https://www.midsomermurders.org/thislife.htm)
10. [The Wales LGBTQ+ Timeline Collection (Bridgend LGBTQ Timeline PDF), Swansea University](https://lgbtqcymru.swansea.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Bridgend-LGBTQ-Timeline.pdf)
11. [Written in the Stars – Jason Hughes Interview, Midsomer Murders fan site](https://www.midsomermurders.org/writtenstars2.htm)
12. ['Midsomer was tricky as I wanted to be nearer home...', Belfast Telegraph (21 April 2018)](https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/life/weekend/midsomer-was-tricky-as-i-wanted-to-be-nearer-home...-i-want-to-be-a-presence-in-my-childrens-lives/a/115003156.html)
13. [Jason Hughes Interview – John Nettles' departure from Midsomer, Midsomer Murders fan site (2010)](https://midsomermurders.org/jasoninterview2010.htm)
14. [Jason Hughes, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jason_hughes)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › Welsh actors*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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