# Jason Merrells
**Jason Merrells** (Jason Scott Merrells) is an English actor, director, writer and painter, best known for his television roles as Matt Hawley in *Casualty*, Gavin Ferraday in *Cutting It*, headteacher [Jack Rimmer](https://www.edgepedia.org/jack-rimmer) in *Waterloo Road*, and Declan Macey in the soap opera *Emmerdale*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0581160/bio) Alongside his screen career he works as a visual artist and won the Sky Arts program Celebrity Portrait Artist of the Year in 2022.[2](https://www.jasonmerrells.com/about)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name and birth | Jason Scott Merrells, born 1968 in Essex, England, UK[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0581160/bio) |
| Signature TV roles | Gavin Ferraday in *Cutting It* (2002–2005, 25 episodes); Jack Rimmer in *Waterloo Road* (from 2006); Declan Macey in *Emmerdale* (2010–2014, 619 episodes)[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0581160/) |
| Longest continuous role | Declan Macey in *Emmerdale*, 619 episodes over four years; his departure was announced in September 2014[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0581160/) |
| Art award | Celebrity Portrait Artist of the Year 2022 (Sky Arts), won with a four-hour oil portrait of Noddy Holder[2](https://www.jasonmerrells.com/about) |
| Training | Graduated in Fine Art/Related Arts from Chichester University[2](https://www.jasonmerrells.com/about) |
| Family | Brother of the actor Simon Merrells[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0581160/bio) |
| Directing credits | *Le petit mort* (2008 short), *River City* (2009, 2 episodes), *Fellow Creatures* (2021 short)[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0581160/) |
## Early life and training
Merrells was born in Essex, England, UK.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0581160/bio) He trained originally as an artist: he graduated in Fine Art/Related Arts from Chichester University, and has described how at art school he gravitated toward the drama group because he preferred collaboration to the solitary discipline of painting.[2](https://www.jasonmerrells.com/about) • [4](https://entertainmentsouthwales.wordpress.com/2023/01/20/a-story-of-imperfect-people-doing-a-good-thing-jason-merrells-discusses-the-verdict-at-cardiffs-new-theatre/) Before his first screen role he spent about five years in the fringe theater scene, devising and touring plays.[5](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/arts-and-culture/theatre-and-stage/video-watch-jason-merrells-talk-to-phil-hewittsussexworld-about-happy-valley-and-his-latest-stage-role-4043660)
His brother Simon Merrells is also a professional actor, known among other roles for Officer Griggs in *[London's Burning](https://www.edgepedia.org/londons-burning-tv-series)*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0581160/bio) • [6](https://www.holby.tv/jason-merrells/)
## Television career
**First screen roles.** In 1999 he played Phil Delaney in *Queer as Folk*, and had a recurring role as Martin Leach in *Clocking Off* between 2000 and 2001.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0581160/)*Casualty* proved to be his big break. In a later interview he recalled that before the part he nearly committed to a studio in Brighton selling paintings on the seafront; the *Casualty* role took his career in another direction.[4](https://entertainmentsouthwales.wordpress.com/2023/01/20/a-story-of-imperfect-people-doing-a-good-thing-jason-merrells-discusses-the-verdict-at-cardiffs-new-theatre/)
**Major roles.** His portrayal of stylist Gavin Ferraday in the [BBC One](https://www.edgepedia.org/bbc-one) drama *Cutting It* (2002–2005) brought him wide notice.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0581160/)
From 2010 to 2014 he played the shrewd businessman Declan Macey in the long-running ITV soap *Emmerdale*, credited by IMDb with 619 episodes. In September 2014 it was announced that he had decided to leave the soap after four years; his character departed the following month.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0581160/) He has explained the move by saying he had "an itch to scratch" beyond soap.[7](https://www.whattowatch.com/emmerdale-main/emmerdale-news/ex-emmerdale-star-jason-merrells-soap-is-great-but-i-had-an-itch-to-scratch-74575)
**Later television.** From 2016 onward he portrayed Sir Charles Fraith in *[Agatha Raisin](https://www.edgepedia.org/agatha-raisin-tv-series)*, credited with 15 episodes through 2022.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0581160/) Other credits include David in *Safe House* (2015), Stuart Howe in *Death in Paradise* (2015), Harry in *Finding Alice* (2021), and Pilate in the 2019 series *Jesus: His Life*.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0581160/) In January 2023 he appeared as DC Stead, a police interviewer, in three episodes of the third and final series of the BBC drama *[Happy Valley](https://www.edgepedia.org/happy-valley-tv-series)*; he described his first day, playing his biggest scene opposite James Norton, as "daunting" and noted that the production would not let actors see the specialist police interview training.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0581160/) • [5](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/arts-and-culture/theatre-and-stage/video-watch-jason-merrells-talk-to-phil-hewittsussexworld-about-happy-valley-and-his-latest-stage-role-4043660)
## Theatre work
Merrells has led numerous stage shows, including in the West End.[2](https://www.jasonmerrells.com/about) From August to October 2007 he performed with the [Royal Shakespeare Company](https://www.edgepedia.org/royal-shakespeare-company) at the Courtyard Theatre in [Stratford-upon-Avon](https://www.edgepedia.org/stratford-upon-avon), playing Orsino in *Twelfth Night* alongside his brother Simon, who played Antonio; the brothers then toured in *A Comedy of Errors* with the RSC from October to December 2007.[8](https://www.valeorine.com/reference/jason-merrells) His other stage credits include Angelo in *Measure for Measure* (2009, transferring to the Almeida Theatre in 2010), Bob Phillips in Alan Ayckbourn's *How the Other Half Loves* at the [Theatre Royal Haymarket](https://www.edgepedia.org/theatre-royal-haymarket), and Juror Eight in touring productions of *Twelve Angry Men* in 2015 and again in 2024.[8](https://www.valeorine.com/reference/jason-merrells) • [9](https://www.theguardian.com/film/alec-guinness) From January to July 2023 he starred as lawyer Frank Galvin in a touring stage adaptation of Barry Reed's novel *The Verdict*, the role played by Paul Newman in the 1982 film.[8](https://www.valeorine.com/reference/jason-merrells) • [5](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/arts-and-culture/theatre-and-stage/video-watch-jason-merrells-talk-to-phil-hewittsussexworld-about-happy-valley-and-his-latest-stage-role-4043660) In 2025 he toured as Tom in a new stage adaptation of Paula Hawkins's *The Girl on the Train*.[10](https://www.manchestertheatres.com/news/in-conversation-with-jason-merrells-discussing-the-girl-on-the-train-at-lowry%2C-salford)
## Directing and writing
Merrells has directed for television and short film.[2](https://www.jasonmerrells.com/about) His credits as director include the short film *Le petit mort* (2008), two episodes of the BBC Scotland soap *River City* (2009), and the short *Fellow Creatures* (2021).[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0581160/) *Le petit mort*, which he also wrote, grew out of filming *Waterloo Road* in an old, disused school building: he felt its "shabbily beautiful" architecture was underused by the show's television directors, obtained access for a weekend, and built a story on the premise of an empty school, which developed into a film about a man's life rather than a straightforward ghost story.[11](https://www.exit6filmfestival.com/post/2016/09/23/the-big-interview-with-jason-merrells) He has said that directing became a real passion and that he was happy to invest his own money in the project.[11](https://www.exit6filmfestival.com/post/2016/09/23/the-big-interview-with-jason-merrells)
## Painting
Painting has run alongside his acting throughout his career; he has said that wherever he has lived he has always kept a room, shed, or studio to paint in, and that some of his paintings have appeared in galleries in Brighton.[4](https://entertainmentsouthwales.wordpress.com/2023/01/20/a-story-of-imperfect-people-doing-a-good-thing-jason-merrells-discusses-the-verdict-at-cardiffs-new-theatre/) • [6](https://www.holby.tv/jason-merrells/) In 2022 he won Celebrity Portrait Artist of the Year, broadcast on Sky Arts, with an oil portrait of the musician [Noddy Holder](https://www.edgepedia.org/noddy-holder) painted in four hours.[2](https://www.jasonmerrells.com/about) He works in portrait, print, abstract work, and sculpture, and also paints landscapes and draws still life; his website lists commissions and works for sale.[2](https://www.jasonmerrells.com/about)
## Personal life
IMDb records that he was previously married to Judith Hurley and to Zerlina Hughes, with children from each marriage, and that his brother is the actor Simon Merrells.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0581160/bio) His date of birth is given as 1968 by IMDb and other English-language references, while the TV database TVmaze and the streaming guide Plex list 2 November 1968.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0581160/bio) • [12](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/50154/jason-merrells)
## References
1. [Jason Merrells – Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0581160/bio)
2. [Biography, jasonmerrells.com (official site)](https://www.jasonmerrells.com/about)
3. [Jason Merrells, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0581160/)
4. ["A Story of Imperfect People Doing A Good Thing" – Jason Merrells Discusses The Verdict at Cardiff's New Theatre, Ents South Wales](https://entertainmentsouthwales.wordpress.com/2023/01/20/a-story-of-imperfect-people-doing-a-good-thing-jason-merrells-discusses-the-verdict-at-cardiffs-new-theatre/)
5. [VIDEO: Watch Jason Merrells talk to Phil Hewitt/SussexWorld about Happy Valley and his latest stage role, SussexWorld](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/arts-and-culture/theatre-and-stage/video-watch-jason-merrells-talk-to-phil-hewittsussexworld-about-happy-valley-and-his-latest-stage-role-4043660)
6. [Jason Merrells, holby.tv](https://www.holby.tv/jason-merrells/)
7. [Ex Emmerdale star Jason Merrells: 'Soap is great, but I had an itch to scratch!', What to Watch](https://www.whattowatch.com/emmerdale-main/emmerdale-news/ex-emmerdale-star-jason-merrells-soap-is-great-but-i-had-an-itch-to-scratch-74575)
8. [Jason Merrells, VALÉORINE reference](https://www.valeorine.com/reference/jason-merrells)
9. [Alan Strachan obituary, The Guardian (photo caption on How the Other Half Loves)](https://www.theguardian.com/film/alec-guinness)
10. [In Conversation with Jason Merrells discussing The Girl on the Train at Lowry, Salford, ManchesterTheatres.com](https://www.manchestertheatres.com/news/in-conversation-with-jason-merrells-discussing-the-girl-on-the-train-at-lowry%2C-salford)
11. [Jason Merrells on advice for new actors and directing his first short film, Exit 6 Film Festival](https://www.exit6filmfestival.com/post/2016/09/23/the-big-interview-with-jason-merrells)
12. [Jason Merrells, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/50154/jason-merrells)
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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 › English actors: 2000s onward › Surnames Mc to M*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license