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Jay Simpson

Jay Simpson

Actor · Born January 1, 1966 (60) · London, England, UK

Jay Simpson is a prolific English film, television and stage actor. Most recently, he has appeared in Chernobyl and Frontier. Simpson is perhaps best known in television for portraying cockney desk sergeant Ian 'Brookie' Brooke in Foyle's War, and he has also appeared on television in Recovery with David Tennant and Sarah Parish, Hot Money, Bad Crowd, A Touch of Frost, Casualty, Primeval, The Bill, Peep Show, Rome, Ashes to Ashes, Murder in Suburbia and Soundproof. Jay also uses his charm and voice skills as he is the voice of 'The Tree of Temptation' in Big Brother. His films include Hush Your Mouth, The Holiday, Pride and Prejudice and Erik the Viking and the 1988 TV film The Firm with Gary Oldman. He also voiced a major character, Flea, in the 2008 English language DVD re-release of the cult 2006 Norwegian animated film, Free Jimmy, alongside Woody Harrelson and with dialogue written by Simon Pegg. The character of Flea was something of comedy relief in the film, with a character partly inspired by Sean Ryder. In 2008 he appeared alongside Ross Boatman and Roger Lloyd-Pack in Patrick Marber's play Dealer's Choice for a run on the West End. In 2011 he appeared as George Redman in the television film The Suspicions of Mr Whicher for ITV. In 2011, he appeared in "The National Anthem", an episode of the anthology series Black Mirror On 13 April 2012, he appeared as Stretch in the sitcom Not Going Out and appeared in the ITV series Mrs Biggs as one of the great train robbers, Bruce Reynolds.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 1, 1966 (60)
From
London, England, UK
Works as
Actor
Titles
44 on MovieCove · 90 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 29% in 30 days

What are Jay Simpson's films like?

Across their 12 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Survival.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
25%
Survival
23%
Morality
21%
Bonds
13%
Society
10%
Ideas
4%
Power
2%
Grief3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship3 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal2 titles, browse their movies with this themeViolence2 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty2 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 7 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 2 · Serious 0 · Dark 5

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 3 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 2 · Charged 2 · Intense 3

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 2 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 5 · Some laughs 0 · Funny 2

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 3 · Even-paced 4 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 2 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 0

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 2 · Affecting 0 · Heavy 5

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 4 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 1

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
8
Melancholic
5
Contemplative
3
Joyful
3
Absurd
2
Other
10

How their films linger

Thought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet6
  • Ambiguous3

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Jay Simpson's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 36 of their 44 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (16).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Jay Simpson's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

90 credits, 44 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • National Theatre at Home: The Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as Detective

  • Babies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Show 2 episodes · as Ralph

  • The Hack (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Show 7 episodes · as Glenn Vian

  • The Day of the Jackal(2024)

    Show 1 episode · as George Hands

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Blitz(2024)

    as Timothy Ashdown

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • The Critic(2023)

    as Slyfield

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Tuesday(2023)

    as Spike

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Sherbet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Rene

  • National Theatre Live: Othello (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Brabantio / Gratiano

  • A Spy Among Friends(2022)

    Show 3 episodes · as MI6 cabbie

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Pistol (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 4 episodes · as Ron, Steve's Stepdad

  • Sister Boniface Mysteries(2022)

    Show 1 episode · as Alfie Lynch

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Ferryman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Dad

  • Bull(2021)

    as Dave

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Stephen(2021)

    Show 3 episodes · as Peter Birdsall

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • The Nevers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Show 1 episode · as Tunnel Foreman

  • King Gary Christmas Special (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as John The Butcher

  • Small Axe(2020)

    Show 1 episode · as Duty Officer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Enola Holmes(2020)

    as Conductor (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Des(2020)

    Show 3 episodes · as DS Chris Healey

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Sitting in Limbo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Trevor

  • Chernobyl(2019)

    Show 2 episodes · as Perevozchenko

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Brexit(2019)

    as Steve

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • King Gary Pilot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as John The Butcher

  • This Little Death (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Mortimer

  • Terminal(2018)

    as Danny

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • King Gary(2018)

    Show as John the Butcher

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Their Finest(2016)

    as Alf Reynolds

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Rearview (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Johno

  • The 101-Year-Old Man Who Skipped Out on the Bill and Disappeared(2016)

    as Bas

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Cradle to Grave (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 6 episodes · as Ernie

  • The Game(2014)

    Show 2 episodes · as Colin Blakefield

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Hoodies vs. Hooligans(2014)

    as Neil

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Rush(2013)

    as British Journalist

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Run (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Steven

  • The Magnificent Eleven(2013)

    as Rob

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Utopia(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Detective Richmond

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • The Great Train Robbery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Narrator

  • Mrs Biggs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 2 episodes · as Bruce Reynolds

  • Acts of Godfrey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Phil

  • Call the Midwife(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Albert Calthorpe

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Black Mirror(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Gordon · as Rod Senseless

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Comedy Blaps (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as The Pitbull

  • Wild Bill(2011)

    as Det. Harry 'Superspeed' Cotty

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Shifter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Huxley

  • Dreams of a Life(2011)

    as Caretaker

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Age of Heroes(2011)

    as RMP Company Sergeant Major

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • The Murder at Road Hill House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as George Redman

  • Silk(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Russell

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Hattie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Bruce

  • Round Ireland with a Fridge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as London Cabbie

  • Shifty(2008)

    as Trevor

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Mrs In-Betweeny (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Kevin

  • Ashes to Ashes(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Reeks

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Secret Diary of a Call Girl(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Punter

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all shows

  • The Sarah Jane Adventures(2007)

    Show 2 episodes · as Jay

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all shows

  • Recovery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Johnathan

  • Hush Your Mouth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Alan Townsend

  • The Holiday(2006)

    as Limo Driver

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Not Going Out(2006)

    Show 2 episodes · as Stretch

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Pride & Prejudice(2005)

    as Meryton Milliner

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • The I Inside(2004)

    as Morgue Orderly

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Murder in Suburbia(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Photographer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • Wall of Silence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as John Weighill

  • Peep Show(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Foz

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Occasional, Strong (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Steve

  • Foyle's War(2002)

    Show 5 episodes · as Sergeant Ian Brooke · as Sgt Brooke

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Bodily Harm(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Tintin

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all shows

  • Club Le Monde (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Mark

  • Hot Money (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Barry Weller

  • South West 9 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Elf

  • Murphy's Law(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Neil

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Beautiful People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Bigsy

  • Pilgrim's Rest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 6 episodes · as Ronnie

  • The Thin Blue Line (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Baz

  • A Touch of Frost(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Peter Bainbridge

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Heartbeat(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Steve Dempsey

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Erik the Viking(1989)

    as Leif the Lucky

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Firm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Dominic

  • Press Gang (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Archie

  • Death of a Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as John Williams

  • The Moneymen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Other Dealer

  • The Fear (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as Mark

  • Empire State (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Jeff

  • Nobody Here Knows (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Mouth

  • Screen Two (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Dominic · as John Williams

  • Dramarama (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Vincent

  • Black Cab (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Harry

  • Blueberry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Daddy

  • The Present Times (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Clive Westlake

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 89 titles, 85 of them dated from 1983 to 2026; peak year 2005.

Biggest box office

The 101-Year-Old Man Who Skipped Out on the Bill and Disappeared (2016)

$995K worldwide

Highest rated

Foyle's War (2002)

Midcredits 97th

Film career

19832026

Peak 2005 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 3 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1989Screen debut· The Firm

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting89 of 89: 89 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score72nd

By decade

1980s10 · acting1990s5 · acting2000s21 · acting2010s29 · acting2020s20 · acting

Billing

usually 12th · top billed in 0% of 18 roles
8909

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Jay Simpson's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 61st percentile, the median of all 20; across their 7 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 62nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

62ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Approval · how many liked their films

55thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Reach · how many have seen their films

72ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Midcredits score across 44 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up20
  • 50th to 74th14
  • 25th to 49th8
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

24 of their 44 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved10
  • Divisive1
  • Crowd Pleaser24
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed6

Most divisive · actor

The Magnificent Eleven (2013)

95th percentile spread · 58% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Rush (2013)

Midcredits 99th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the acting 72/100 in their films, across 7 reviewed titles; fans 80, detractors 44. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Jay Simpson's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 4 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 58 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity4 titlesmedian 22 · mildMedian of all films: 32
Alcohol & Drugs4 titlesmedian 57 · moderateMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 57 · moderateMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Jay Simpson work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jay Simpson's MovieCove titles; Neil Maskell shares the most, 2.