# Jason Merrells

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. His brother Simon Merrells is also an actor. Merrells studied at Chichester University.

## 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.
In January 2023, Merrells appeared as DC Stead in the third series of BBC drama Happy Valley for three episodes. In 2024, it was announced that he would be reprising his role as Jack Rimmer in the fifteenth series of Waterloo Road.

### 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. 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. 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.
In January 2024, he reprised his role as juror 8 in a stage adaptation of Twelve Angry Men.
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.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1994 | To Die For | Nigel | |
| 1999 | Do Not Disturb | Mulder | |
| 2000 | Small Time Obsession | Chris | |
| 2000 | Calling The Wild | Matt | Television film |
| 2005 | The Jealous God | Vincent | |
| 2015 | Elsewhere | Traveling Salesman | Short film |
| 2016 | Bumps | Richard | Short film |
| 2019 | Trick or Treat | Bizzie | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1994–1997 | Casualty | Matt Hawley | Series regular; 70 episodes |
| 1997 | Thief Takers | Steve Lunt | Episode: "Road Rage" |
| 1997 | The Bill | Richard McAuliffe | Episode: "Out" |
| 1998 | Verdict | Ben Clayton | Episode: "The Doctor's Opinion" |
| 1999 | Queer as Folk | Phil Delaney | Recurring role; 3 episodes |
| 2000–2001 | Clocking Off | Martin Leach | Series regular; 12 episodes |
| 2000–2002 | Fat Friends | Carl Whittaker (later Watkinson) | Recurring role; 3 episodes |
| 2002 | A Touch of Frost | Mike Patterson | Episode: "Mistaken Identity" |
| 2002 | The Inspector Lynley Mysteries | Steve Shepherd | Episode: "Missing Joseph" |
| 2002 | The Project | Dougie | Miniseries; 2 episodes |
| 2002–2005 | Cutting It | Gavin Ferraday | Series regular; 25 episodes |
| 2003 | Sweet Medicine | Dr. Nick Sweet | Series regular; 10 episodes |
| 2005 | The Afternoon Play | John Priestley | Episode: "The Hitch" |
| 2005 | Where the Heart Is | Ryan Saunders | Episode: "In a Perfect World" |
| 2006 | Murder City | Mark Drummond | Episode: "Wives and Lovers" |
| 2006–2008, 2025 | Waterloo Road | Jack Rimmer | Main role |
| 2009 | Lark Rise to Candleford | James Dowland | Series regular; 11 episodes |
| 2010 | Agatha Christie's Marple | Dr. Kerrigan | Episode: "The Pale Horse" |
| 2010–2014 | Emmerdale | Declan Macey | Series regular; 622 episodes |
| 2015 | Death in Paradise | Stuart Howe | Episode: "She Was Murdered Twice" |
| 2015 | Safe House | David Blackwell | Recurring role; 4 episodes |
| 2016–2022 | Agatha Raisin | Sir Charles Fraith | Recurring role; 15 episodes |
| 2018 | Midsomer Murders | Paul Taylor | Episode: "The Ghost of Causton Abbey" |
| 2019 | Jesus: His Life | Pilate | Recurring role; 5 episodes |
| 2020 | Endeavour | Martin Gorman | Episode: "Raga" |
| 2021 | Finding Alice | Harry | Series regular; 6 episodes |
| 2023 | Happy Valley | DC Stead | Recurring role; 3 episodes |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
| 2003 | 9th National Television Awards | Most Popular Actor | Cutting It | Nominated |
| 2012 | The British Soap Awards | Villain of the Year | Emmerdale | Nominated |
| 2014 | 19th National Television Awards | Serial Drama Performance | Emmerdale | Nominated |
| 2014 | The British Soap Awards | Best Actor | Emmerdale | Nominated |
| 2014 | Inside Soap Awards | Best Actor | Emmerdale | Nominated |
| 2015 | 20th National Television Awards | Serial Drama Performance | Emmerdale | Nominated |