Line of Duty's Tommy Jessop says he hasn't got a single role since starring in the show

Line of Duty actor Tommy Jessop has revealed he hasn't landed any acting work since he starred in the hit show, which concluded in 2021.

The 38-year-old actor, who has Down's Syndrome, has called for more support for fellow actors in the industry with the condition and asked for casting directors to do more.

Tommy is said to have visited his agent to 'see what the problem was' after receiving zero offers of work following his stint in the Jed Mercurio thriller.

Tommy starred in the BBC's cop drama as Terry Boyle, winning high acclaim with more than 15 million viewers tuning into the show and the final sixth series bringing in record figures.

Tommy's filmmaker brother Will Jessop spoke to the Times, explaining: "When he was in Line of Duty, it felt as if that was an incredible breakthrough. Tommy was at the centre of all the attention.

"We're desperate to live in a world where he no longer has to be the first, where it becomes routine that other people [with Down's syndrome] have the opportunities. The roles that come through [can feel] typecast. Victims, people in hospital beds, people who need support."

Tommy has steadily built up his acting career since he first starred in BBC's Holby City in 2007 before going onto roles in Doctors and Casualty.

He also became the first actor with Down's syndrome to play a leading role in a primetime TV drama when he was cast in the BAFTA-nominated Coming Down The Mountain opposite Nicholas Hoult.

Not only that, but the star is the first professional actor with Down's syndrome to play Hamlet. receiving high praise including from Shakespearean actor Sir Mark Rylance who called Tommy's performance 'phenomenal'.

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Supported by his family, Tommy's career seemed an epic trajectory with brother William commenting: "Tommy can't really tie his own shoelaces, but he can stand on stage and break your heart."

Fellow actor Kit Harrington has pledged support to Tommy, and helped him as he moves towards his dream of one day playing an action superhero with Down's Syndrome.

Speaking in an upcoming BBC special titled Tommy Jessop goes to Hollywood, Kit explained to Tommy: "My cousin, Laurent, has Down's syndrome and I’ve always felt with him that he has abilities that I don’t have, and that people with Down's Syndrome don’t have. I think one of those abilities that he has, that I hope would be part of your superhero, is an empathy.

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"He understands quite often how I’m feeling almost before I know I’m feeling it, which I think is amazing. The time is right for a superhero front and centre that has Down syndrome. I think you have every chance of getting this made. You should do it."

Last year Tommy opened up about how he can be stereotyped because of his Down's Syndrome, as he told Radio 4's Today programme: "Some people think that our lives really are not worth living. They are absolutely wrong."

He also spoke out and praised the Down Syndrome Act, which passed into law last year in April.

The Act aims to improve access to services and the quality of life of people with Down's syndrome, highlighting the support needed for maternity care, education, health and social care and employment as well as other key life areas.

Topics: Line of Duty, BBC, TV and Film

Niamh Spence

Journalist.

@missnspence