Jason Hughes makes carefully written conversation sound comfortably spoken, and gives an ensemble friendships we believe in. We rate him most highly in This Life, where that quiet skill makes us want to keep listening.
Fi1m perspective
In This Life (1996), Jason Hughes makes Warren's conversation sound as though it belongs to him, rather than to a writer pleased with an observation. The dialogue has several jobs to do, but he does not stop to announce its sharper points. We found the friendships affecting because Hughes, Andrew Lincoln as Egg and Amita Dhiri as Milly made their exchanges sound comfortably spoken. He is good at keeping us interested in the people around him, too. We rate that ability in a drama where so much depends on wanting to hear the next conversation.
Warren Jones, a lawyer, was Hughes's breakthrough role, and his portrayal of a gay man was notably free of fuss. His performance drew personal letters from viewers. That response is worth noting because the performance lets Warren belong to the group without making his presence feel like a lesson. The series does not always manage the same ease: its opening is a little over-arranged. Hughes and his fellow actors help make that a minor reservation.
When he joined Midsomer Murders as detective Ben Jones in 2005, his steadiness found a different use. He remained a regular until 2013, returning as a guest in 2017, and his colleagues included Neil Dudgeon. The grounded manner suits a procedural built to sustain familiar company. It is a sound use of an ensemble actor, though dependable work in a continuing series is not, by itself, a reason to watch every episode.
Television has not been the whole of his work: he played Rick in Gary Owen's Violence and Son (2015) at the Royal Court. Later supporting parts include Marcella, Three Girls and The Pact, alongside continued theatre work. Those credits suggest a broader working life than two familiar characters might imply, but our recommendation rests on what he does with Warren. Start with This Life, and give its slightly busy opening time to settle.
Biography
Jason Hughes is a Welsh actor. He is known for playing lawyer Warren Jones in the BBC drama series This Life (1996–1997) and Detective Sergeant Ben Jones in the ITV series Midsomer Murders (2005–2013, with a return in 2017).
Hughes trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art after joining the National Youth Theatre. His other television credits include roles in Casualty, Waking the Dead, Death in Paradise, Three Girls, The Pact and McDonald & Dodds. He has also appeared in theatre, including the 1999 production of Our Country's Good.
He is married to jewellery designer Natasha Dahlberg, a former actress, and they have three children.
