In 2009–10 he starred in three plays directed by Sir Peter Hall.
In 2011 he played Professor Tony Shales in the Channel 4 series Fresh Meat.
Between 2012 and 2016 he played John in four series of the critically acclaimed romantic drama series Last Tango in Halifax.
The programme attracted impressive ratings for BBC One, with the third series posting an average of 7.8 million viewers.Between 2013 and 2015 he appeared as Lieutenant Colonel Phillip Smith in three series of the wartime comedy Bluestone 42, about a British bomb disposal detachment in Afghanistan during Operation Herrick.
He appeared as Dan Miller MP in the BBC political comedy The Thick of It.
He was a main character of the music video "Giant Peach" by Wolf Alice.
He appeared in a variety of roles in Tracey Ullman's Show from 2016.