Jason Merrells

Jason Scott Merrells (born 2 November 1968 in Epping, Essex) is an English actor, who is best known for his roles as receptionist Matt Hawley in Casualty, stylist Gavin Ferraday in Cutting It, Head Teacher Jack Rimmer in Waterloo Road and Home Farm's owner Declan Macey in Emmerdale. More recently Jason plays the role of David in ITV's Safe House

Early life

Merrells has an elder brother Simon Merrells (born 1965) who is also an actor. Merrells studied at the Buckhurst Hill County High School from 1980 to 1986 and later at the Chichester University, where he studied fine art.

Jason lives part-time in London and spends the rest of his time in the North East of England. He is divorced from his second wife, Zerlina Hughes, with whom he has a son, Jackson, and a daughter; he also has two daughters, Camille and Gina, from his first marriage, to Judith Hurley.

Career