Jack Ashton

Jack Ashton
Born
Jack Lewis
OccupationActor
TelevisionCall the Midwife
PartnerHelen George (2016–2023)
Children2

Jack Ashton is a British actor, best known for playing the Reverend Tom Hereward in the BBC television series, Call the Midwife. He also appears as Lenny Sampson in Waterloo Road. On stage, he has performed in A Streetcar Named Desire at the Donmar Warehouse, and as Guy Haines in Strangers on a Train (UK tour). He starred in the 2017 film Instrument of War, based on the true story of Clair Cline, an American prisoner of war.

Early life and education

Born Jack Lewis in Clifton, Bristol, his father was a sculptor and artist, while his mother worked in education.[1][2] His family, including two sisters, lived briefly in Burnham-on-Sea, but settled in Bedminster, Bristol.[2][1]

He left Bedminster Down School at 16, and studied for a BTEC in performing arts at Filton College.[2] He then attended the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts in London.[2]

A long-time fan of Bristol City football club, he chose his stage name as a tribute to Ashton Gate stadium.[2]

Career

Television

Ashton starred in Call the Midwife from 2014 to 2018.[3] He joined the hit BBC period drama during its third series, playing Reverend Tom Hereward, a Curate in Poplar who works alongside the nuns and nurses of Nonnatus House.[4]

In 2023, Ashton appeared in the BBC series Waterloo Road as ex-convict Lenny Sampson who is brought in to help fight knife crime among at-risk youth.[4]

Other popular television programmes he has appeared in include Sister Boniface Mysteries, Casualty, Endeavour, McDonald & Dodds, and Broadchurch.[4]

Radio

Ashton joined the cast of The Archers in 2023, playing Harry Chilcott.[5]

Theatre

In 2009, Ashton performed in a Donmar Warehouse production of A Streetcar Named Desire as the dead husband of Blanche Dubois, played by Rachel Weisz.[1][6]

In 2018, he starred in a UK tour of Strangers on a Train, an adaptation of the Patricia Highsmith novel.[1][7] He played the lead role of Guy Haines, described by The Times as "the classic American good guy, the passionate architect, full of ideals", opposite "spoilt rich boy" Charles Bruno played by Christopher Harper.[7]

Film

Ashton played the lead role Instrument of War, a 2017 BYUtv film based on the true story of Clair Cline, an American soldier captured by the Nazis who plays a handmade violin he makes out of scrap material he finds in the prisoner-of-war camp.[2] Following a screening at the Heartland Film Festival, Richard Propes of The Independent Critic wrote, "one must give the strongest kudos to Jack Ashton for a performance that captures both the harrowing nature of his surroundings and the seemingly undefeatable human spirit that Cline must've possessed."[8]

Personal life

From 2016 to 2023, Ashton was in a relationship with his on-screen co-star Helen George. In September 2017, their daughter Wren Ivy was born.[9][10][11] The couple's second daughter Lark, was born in November 2021. They split up in 2023.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Armstrong, Stephen (4 February 2019). "Call the Midwife star Jack Ashton on how the show transformed his life". Radio Times. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Pickstock, Heather (9 April 2018). "Call the Midwife star Jack Ashton on how stage name has special link to Bristol City". Bristol Post. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  3. ^ a b Muir, Ellie (16 July 2023). "Call the Midwife's Helen George and Jack Ashton announce split after seven years". The Independent. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  4. ^ a b c Quinn, Angie (23 May 2023). "Call the Midwife's Jack Ashton is worlds away from Reverend Tom Hereward in new Waterloo Road". MyLondon. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  5. ^ The Archers (Podcast Series 2007) - IMDb, retrieved 5 February 2024
  6. ^ Coveney, Michael (29 July 2009). "First Night: A Streetcar Named Desire, Donmar Warehouse, London". The Independent. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  7. ^ a b Treneman, Ann (12 January 2018). "Theatre review: Strangers on a Train at the Theatre Royal, Brighton". The Times. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  8. ^ Propes, Richard. ""Instrument of War" a Narrative Feature Finalist at Heartland Film Fest". The Independent Critic. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  9. ^ "Call The Midwife's Helen George And Jack Ashton Welcome Their Baby Early!". heart.co.uk. Archived from the original on 14 March 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  10. ^ "'Call The Midwife' Star Helen George Has Given Birth To First Child". huffingtonpost.co.uk. 3 September 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  11. ^ "Helen George praises partner Jack Ashton for being a 'hands-on' dad". HOLA. 5 January 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2018.