Jason Merrells
{{short description|English actor}}
{{EngvarB|date=November 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Jason Merrells
| image =
| imagesize =
| birth_name = Jason Scott Merrells
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Epping, Essex, England
| occupation = Actor
| spouse =
| partner =
| relatives = Simon Merrells{{Cite web |date=2007-10-30 |title=Brothers’ double trouble |url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/1796742.brothers-double-trouble/ |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=Bradford Telegraph and Argus |language=en}}
| children = 5
| yearsactive = 1994–present
}}
Jason Scott Merrells is an English actor, known for his roles in Casualty, Queer as Folk, Cutting It, Waterloo Road and Emmerdale.
Early life and education
Merrells was born in Epping, Essex.{{cn|date=December 2024}} His brother Simon Merrells{{Cite web |date=2007-10-30 |title=Brothers’ double trouble |url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/1796742.brothers-double-trouble/ |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=Bradford Telegraph and Argus |language=en}} is also an actor. Merrells studied at Chichester University.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/student/into-university/az-uni-colleges/chichester-university-754692.html|title=Chichester, University of|website=Independent.co.uk|date=25 July 2014}}
Career
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.{{cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a32790904/agatha-raisin-mathew-horne-ashley-jensen-praise/ |title=Agatha Raisin's Mathew Horne gives season 4 update |publisher=Digitalspy.com |date= |accessdate=2022-03-24}}
In January 2023, Merrells appeared as DC Stead in the third series of BBC drama Happy Valley for three episodes.{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/happy-valley-season-3-cast/|title=Meet the cast of Happy Valley season 3|website=Radio Times|last=Cormack|first=Morgan|date=30 January 2023|access-date=6 February 2023}} In 2024, it was announced that he would be reprising his role as Jack Rimmer in the fifteenth series of Waterloo Road.{{cite news |title=Jason Merrells to guest star as Jack Rimmer in the new series of Waterloo Road |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2024/jason-merrells-jack-rimmer-waterloo-road |access-date=12 December 2024 |work=BBC}}
=Theatre=
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.[http://www.britishtheatreguide.info/news/RSCcomedytour.htm A Comedy of Errors] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112155419/http://britishtheatreguide.info/news/RSCcomedytour.htm |date=12 November 2012 }} 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.[http://www.gm.tv/index.cfm?articleid=33473 Measure for Measure] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228213319/http://www.gm.tv/index.cfm?articleid=33473 |date=28 February 2009 }} 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.
From January to July 2023, Merrells starred as Frank Galvin in Middleground Theatre Company’s theatrical adaptation of Barry Reed's 1980 novel The Verdict.{{cite web|url=https://www.wolseytheatre.co.uk/shows/the-verdict/|title=The Verdict|website=The New Wolsey Theatre|access-date=3 January 2023}}
In January 2024, he reprised his role as juror 8 in a stage adaptation of Twelve Angry Men.{{cite web |title=From Emmerdale to ultimate courtroom drama Twelve Angry Men at the Lowry |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/24141062.emmerdale-star-jason-merrells-key-role-twelve-angry-men/ |website=Lancashire Telegraph |access-date=26 June 2024 |language=en |date=24 February 2024}}
In 2025, Jason is set to reprise his role as Jack Rimmer in Waterloo Road Series 15
Personal life
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.{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/emmerdales-declan-macey-getting-married-3500432|title=Emmerdale's Declan Macey is getting married but twice divorced actor Jason Merrells is taking it slow|first=Alun|last=Palmer|website=Daily Mirror|date=5 May 2014}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Film !Role !Notes |
| 1994
| Nigel | |
| 1999
| Mulder | |
| rowspan="2"|2000
| Small Time Obsession | Chris | |
| Calling The Wild
| Matt | Television film |
| 2005
| Vincent | |
| 2015
| Elsewhere | Traveling Salesman | Short film |
| 2016
| Bumps | Richard | Short film |
| 2019
| Bizzie | |
=Television=
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Title !Role !Notes |
| 1994–1997
| Casualty | Matt Hawley | Series regular; 70 episodes |
| rowspan="2"|1997
| Steve Lunt | Episode: "Road Rage" |
| The Bill
| Richard McAuliffe | Episode: "Out" |
| 1998
| Verdict | Ben Clayton | Episode: "The Doctor's Opinion" |
| 1999
| Phil Delaney | Recurring role; 3 episodes |
| 2000–2001
| Martin Leach | Series regular; 12 episodes |
| 2000–2002
| Carl Whittaker (later Watkinson) | Recurring role; 3 episodes |
| rowspan="3"|2002
| Mike Patterson | Episode: "Mistaken Identity" |
| The Inspector Lynley Mysteries
| Steve Shepherd | Episode: "Missing Joseph" |
| The Project
| Dougie | Miniseries; 2 episodes |
| 2002–2005
| Gavin Ferraday | Series regular; 25 episodes |
| 2003
| Dr. Nick Sweet | Series regular; 10 episodes |
| rowspan="2"|2005
| John Priestley | Episode: "The Hitch" |
| Where the Heart Is
| Ryan Saunders | Episode: "In a Perfect World" |
| 2006
| Mark Drummond | Episode: "Wives and Lovers" |
| 2006–2008, 2025–present
| Main role |
| 2009
| James Dowland | Series regular; 11 episodes |
| 2010
| Dr. Kerrigan | Episode: "The Pale Horse" |
| 2010–2014
| Series regular; 622 episodes |
| rowspan="2"|2015
| Stuart Howe | Episode: "She Was Murdered Twice" |
| Safe House
| David Blackwell | Recurring role; 4 episodes |
| 2016–2022
| Sir Charles Fraith | Recurring role; 15 episodes |
| 2018
| Paul Taylor | Episode: "The Ghost of Causton Abbey" |
| 2019
| Pilate | Recurring role; 5 episodes |
| 2020
| Martin Gorman | Episode: "Raga" |
| 2021
| Harry | Series regular; 6 episodes |
| 2023
| DC Stead | Recurring role; 3 episodes |
Awards and nominations
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|0581160}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Merrells, Jason}}
Category:British male soap opera actors
Category:Alumni of the University of Chichester
Category:People educated at Buckhurst Hill County High School
Category:Male actors from Essex
Category:20th-century English male actors