Jason Hughes

Jason Hughes (born 18 December 1971, Porthcawl) 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 appeared in theatre such as the 1999 re-enactment of Our Country’s Good as the Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark

Hughes was born in Porthcawl and spent most of his early childhood there with his family. He is of Italian and Welsh descent. His grandfather, Raldo Carpinini, was the son of an Italian immigrant from northern Italy (Bardi) who came and settled into Ammanford. Hughes’ great-grandfather was originally trained to lay train tracks but eventually began an ice-cream business. Hughes’ maternal grandfather became a policeman in Porthcawl.[2]

Hughes planned to become a sportsman in either rugby or cricket as a teenager but he had to become a lot bigger and lacked the support to become a first class rugby player.[3] When Hughes was 11 or 12 in attended a comprehensive school, he had a teacher who inspired him in his drama classes and encouraged him to apply for the National Youth Theatre of Wales.[1]

His biggest inspirations growing up were Welsh actors Anthony Hopkins and Michael Sheen.[1][4] Hughes studied drama at in the National Youth Theatre of Wales where he met Sheen in the summer of 1987. Hughes and Sheen lived in the same halls of residence where they became close friends.[4] They were both atypical to acting, coming from a sports background and liked music; Hughes had learnt guitar and piano earlier. He also met actors Ruth Jones, Rob Brydon and Hywel Simons; Simons was a School friend of Sheen’s