Ben Aldridge: who is The Long Call actor, is he married, who is his partner and what’s he said about hit ITV series

ITV viewers have been gripped this week as The Long Call delivered some community crime drama.

The four-part drama series is adapted from the novels by Vera writer Anne Cleeves, and stars Ben Aldridge as DI Matthew Venn.

Following Matthew Venn and his husband return to his home community in North Devon, the show sees Venn battle his own private demons while solving an intense murder case.

But where have you seen Ben Aldridge before, and does he have a partner?

Who is Ben Aldridge?

Ben Aldridge is a British actor.

He was born in Exeter, and got his TV breakthrough in Channel 4’s The Devil’s Whore in 2008.

He has gone on to make appearances in various shows, including Lewis, Vera and Pennyworth.

Aldridge also had a particularly memorable role as ‘Ar**hole Guy’ in the critically acclaimed Fleabag.

His most notable role is as Charlies James James alongside Michelle Keegan in Our Girl.

Is Ben Aldridge married?

It is not known whether Ben Aldridge has a partner.

He is a member of the LGBTQ+ community, telling fans on Instagram in June 2020: “The journey to pride was a long one for me.

“I love the LGBTQ+ community and am incredibly proud and thankful to be a part of it.

“So much won. So much more to fight for. #pride.”

What has Ben Aldridge said about The Long Call?

Speaking about the part, Ben told ITV: “I’m delighted to be playing Matthew Venn, a brilliantly unorthodox detective who audiences will see solving a gripping and intricate case, whilst simultaneously surmounting a deeper, more personal mystery within himself.

"It’s a poignant and complex journey of self-discovery and sexual and religious identity, which navigates the tension between pride and shame, and I feel privileged to be bringing it to ITV viewers in The Long Call.”

Speaking about his role in The Long Call to Attitude magazine, he said it felt “really timely to be playing this role so soon after coming out”.

The actor appears alongside Declan Bennett, who plays his husband on the show.

Ben said: “There was something very freeing for me as an actor to be directed by a gay man and to have other queer people on set.

"[Declan Bennett], who plays my husband, and Pearl Mackie, who plays the assistant detective, both identify as queer.

"There was something very refreshing about being in that environment – sets are often actually pretty hetero and macho."

He added: "It’s a real moment of self-discovery for me.

"I felt I was able to connect emotionally with Matthew in a way that I haven’t as deeply with characters I’ve played before."

When is The Long Call on TV?

The Long Call airs on ITV from 25 October to 28 October.

All episodes are available to watch on ITV Hub.

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