l He was born in Leeds, and became interested in acting while at university before training at RADA and following his brother, Francis Matthews, into the business.

l Shelley worked in rep before appearing in Richard Attenborough's film of stage hit, Oh! What A Lovely War, and as Donalbain in Roman Polanski's film of Macbeth.

l Shelley appeared extensively with the Royal Shakespeare Company and Royal National Theatre, while appearing in numerous television roles, including Secret Army, Doctor Who and Paradise Postponed. Between 2010 and 2012 Shelley appeared regularly in TV soap, Doctors.

l At Shakespeare's Globe, he played the title role in Julius Caesar, and Antony to Mark Rylance's Cleopatra.

l Shelley played Duncan in Rupert Goold's production of Macbeth, which opened at Chichester Festival Theatre before transferring to the West End and later to Broadway.

l Shelley has a long relationship with the Orange Tree in Richmond, where he last appeared in The Conquering Hero. He toured in Mike Bartlett's contemporary version of Medea, and last year appeared in King Lear at the Theatre Royal, Bath.