James Frederick Grenville Lance (born 29 September 1974) is an English actor, best known for his appearances in a number of British comedy series and as Trent Crimm on the British-American comedy series Ted Lasso, for which he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series in 2022.

Early life Lance was born in Southampton on 29 September 1974 and grew up in Westbury-sub-Mendip, Somerset. He attended the Sylvia Young Theatre School.

Career Lance first started acting in 1988 in two Persil Liquid adverts with British actor Peter Sallis. His appearances in comedy series include Top Buzzer, I'm Alan Partridge, Absolute Power, Spaced, Absolutely Fabulous, Smack the Pony, The Upper Hand, The Book Group, 2point4 Children, Rescue Me, Doc Martin, People Like Us, No Heroics, Toast of London, Saxondale and, most recently, as the recurring character Trent Crimm, a sportswriter at The Independent, on the Apple TV+ series Ted Lasso.

Drama appearances have included Teachers, Boy Meets Girl, The Impressionists, Sensitive Skin, Marple, Being Human, Midsomer Murders, Moving Wallpaper, Black Mirror, The Canterville Ghost and The Famous Five.

Lance has also appeared in the films Late Night Shopping, The Search for John Gissing, Marie Antoinette, Bronson and Bel Ami.

Lance voiced several UK TV commercials for brands such as Maybelline, Wrigley's Extra, the AA and Moneysupermarket.com.

Lance appeared on stage as Miles at the Trafalgar Studios in May 2009 in Marcus Markou's play Ordinary Dreams; Or How to Survive a Meltdown with Flair. He portrayed Eric Idle at the 2009 Edinburgh Festival in a play called Pythonesque by writer Roy Smiles.

Personal life In 2016, Lance married Kate Quilton. Lance and Quilton separated in late 2023 and divorced in early 2026. The couple have a son, born in 2018.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1995 A Fistful of Fingers Grindolini 1998 The Conversation Short film2001 Late Night Shopping Vincent The Search for John Gissing Donny the Janitor Subterrain Kieran It's Not You, It's Me Henry Short film 2004 Call Register Julian Short film 2005 The Lead The Lead Short film 2006 Marie Antoinette Léonard2007 Hard to Swallow Carlos Short film Rubbish Julian Short film 2008 Bronson Phil2009 City Rats Chris Mr. Right Harry2011 Man in Fear Gilchrist Short film Departure Jack Taylor Short film Happy Birthday Jim Jim Short film 2012 Bel Ami François Laroche2013 The Look of Love Carl Snitcher Legendary Doug McConnel 2014 Northern Soul DJ Ray Henderson2015 Swansong Simon Dunton January Laurence 2017 The Bookshop Milo North 2020 Concrete Plans Richard2021 I'm Not in Love Rob's Dad Me, Myself and Di Chris Craven2022 The Mountain The Milk Short film Hounded Hugo Redwick 2023 The Devil Went Down to Islington Nick Kolski2024 Hanging Narrator (voice) Short film The Salt Path Grant 2025 Tinsel Town Spencer

Television Year Title Role Notes 1989 Jackanory Will 4 episodes1991 The Upper Hand Rick McGuire Episode: "The Babysitter" Teenage Health Freak Contestant Episode: "Blast Off!" 1992 Absolutely Fabulous Daniel Episode: "ISO Tank" 1993 Conjugal Rites Boyfriend Episode: "Bedtime Story"1994 Second Thoughts Ian Episode: "She's Leaving Home" Waiting for God Boy in hospital Episode: "Trouble with Men" 1995 The Bill Alexis Vasiliakis Episode: "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" 1996 Family Money Youth TV series 1997 I'm Alan Partridge Ben 5 episodes 1998–1999 2point4 Children Keith 2 episodes1999 People Like Us Mark Episode: "The Estate Agent" Spaced Richard 3 episodes 1999–2002 Smack the Pony 5 episodes 2000 Safe as Houses Man on Estate TV film 2002 Rescue Me Guy 6 episodes2002–2003 The Book Group Lachlan Glendenning / Barney Glendenning 12 episodes Teachers Matt Harvey 14 episodes 2003–2005 Absolute Power Jamie Front 12 episodes 2004 Top Buzzer Sticky 10 episodes 2005–2007 Sensitive Skin Orlando Jackson 7 episodes2006 The Impressionists Bazille Episode: "#1.1" Saxondale Matt Episode: "Cockroaches" Losing It Leo TV film2007 The Afternoon Play Tom Hunter Episode: "The Real Deal" Biffovision Mr. Hugo TV film 2007–2009 Katy Brand's Big Ass Show 15 episodes2008 The Last Enemy Bryan Holland 2 episodes Hotel Babylon Tom Episode: "#3.6" No Heroics Timebomb 6 episodes Marple Dr Geoffrey Thomas Episode: "Murder is Easy" 2008–2009 Moving Wallpaper Tom Warren 18 episodes 2009 Boy Meets Girl Ali 4 episodes 2012 Being Human Kirby 2 episodes2013 Black Mirror Conor Simpson Episode: "The Waldo Moment" Toast of London Martin Aynuss Episode: "Vanity Project"2014 Siblings Rich Episode: "Vet Drugs" Babylon Granger 3 episodes 2015 Midsomer Murders Silas Raven Episode: "The Dagger Club"2016 Houdini & Doyle Barrett Underhill Episode: "Spring-Heel'd Jack" I Want My Wife Back Julian Wolverton 2 episodes Hoff the Record Anton Episode: "The Horror" Mount Pleasant Adam Wyatt 6 episodes2018 Benidorm Angelo Episode: "#10.9" Agatha Raisin Jonny Shawpart Episode: "The Wizard of Evesham" 2019 Doc Martin Nathan Fowler Episode: "Equilibrium" 2020 Pennyworth Jacques Duval Episode: "The Hunted Fox" 2020–2026 Ted Lasso Trent Crimm 23 episodes2021 Murder, They Hope Clive Episode: "The Bunny Trap" The Canterville Ghost Hiram Otis 4 episodes 2022 Fate: The Winx Saga Uncle Arthur Episode: "Your Newfound Popularity" 2023–2024 The Famous Five Uncle Quentin 3 episodes2025 NCIS: Tony & Ziva Archie Episode: "Dark Mirror" Beyond Paradise Terry Finch Episode: "Christmas Special 2025"

Music videos Title Year Artist Role Notes Miss Erotica 2025 Peach PRC "The Guy"

Awards and nominations Year Association Category Project Result Ref. 2021 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Ted Lasso 2022 Online Film & Television Association Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series 2023 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

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