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 worked extensively in theatre, including the 1999 re-enactment of Our Country's Good as the Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark.
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Early life
Hughes was born in Porthcawl, Wales, and spent most of his early childhood there with his family. He is of Welsh and Italian 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.
As a teenager, Hughes played both rugby and cricket and had hopes of pursuing sport as a career, playing county cricket until aged 18. He became interested in acting while taking drama classes at a local comprehensive school, and was encouraged by a teacher to apply for the National Youth Theatre of Wales. Hughes was also greatly inspired by Welsh actor Anthony Hopkins.
