Jason Hughes

Jason Hughes (born 15 December 1970) 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. Background Hughes was born in Porthcawl, Wales, 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 Bardi, Emilia-Romagna who had settled in Ammanford. Hughes' great-grandfather was originally trained to lay train tracks, but eventually began an ice cream business. Hughes' maternal grandfather was a policeman in Porthcawl. Hughes planned to become a sportsman in either rugby or cricket as a teenager, but he was of small stature and lacked the support to pursue such sports. At age 11 or 12, while taking drama classes at a comprehensive school, he found inspiration in a teacher who encouraged him to apply for the National Youth Theatre of Wales. Hughes was also greatly inspired by Welsh actor Anthony Hopkins. In 1987, at the National Youth Theatre of Wales, the 16-year old Hughes met and became close friends with Michael Sheen, who lived in the same residence hall. They had much in common, as both had come to acting from from a sports background and were musically inclined. Hughes had earlier learnt to play guitar and piano. He also met actors Ruth Jones, Rob Brydon and Hywel Simons; the latter being a school friend of Sheen's.