Dannydc, I respect your right to have your own opinion on the, indeed very flawed, character of Craig, but there are a few things about the actor that plays him that I wanted to correct 

Guy Burnet appeared in several gay mags and stated clearly that he wouldn't mind playing a gay character months before John Paul even appeared on the scene and almost a year before his own character "turned gay". He even joked that "it must be him" that the writers always wanted to make Craig gay. He talked about people often thinking he is gay & addressed the fact that this made him question his sexuality in his teenage years but that that was dealt with and in the past. Combine that with the tenderness seen in some of the intimate scenes between Craig and John Paul, the real kissing between them (noone can beat Olli and Christian but it's a real contrast to the fake kissing we often see between Kieron and John Paul) and you could hardly say we are confronted with a homophobe here. He was honest about being uncomfortable doing these scenes. Perhaps not the most professional thing to say but then again not really surprising coming from a straight guy. I think people should finally let go of this idea that Guy Burnet is homophobic. 

About being in demand: if you read the goodbye interview Guy did for Digital Spy you'll see he didn't have any illusions about that. His reason for leaving the show was that he'd been working on it since age 18 and wanted to do other things. Live in Mexico, travel to Japan, surf all over Europe (which he did). Hollyoaks makes five episode a week - these people have an awful schedule - he needed a break. 

When he left the show, the producers were so "gutted" that he was leaving, they deliberately left the story open for him to return at any time he wanted. Guy specifically stated he would have loved to see a sunset ending, but that this would only be possible if James left the show, which wasn't going to happen for another year, and he also stated that he would have loved to do some Ferris Bueller's Day Off type of Late Nighter, which was also impossible at the time because the late nighters had been canceled. Now, after the immense success of the show (increased ratings and many prizes), partly due to Guy and James' success, there are going to be late nighters and Guy gets asked back to do exactly those two things he expressed an interest in a year ago. That's hardly "tail between legs". 

On another note: a short film in which Guy acted won first prize in the New York Film Festival last month (or two months ago).  

It's Dublin. Craig studies at Trinity in Dublin. If you managed to miss that watching the show, you might also have missed that during the last week Craig did grow a lot. Took responsibility, chose John Paul and tried to to the right thing by Sarah. Too little too late, yes. Incapable of publicly displaying affection for John Paul, yes. Unwilling to call himself gay, which he had every right to, not every man who has sex with a man is gay - even if in Jake's and John Paul's book they are. Irredeemable? I think not. But there's room for disagreement, I amI sure.

 I hate the way some of these shows portray all women as either weak or slappers and all of them dependent upon the attention of men. I hate the way some of these shows portray bisexuals as sex-crazy promiscuous sluts. Policemen probably hate the way some of these shows portray policemen and firemen probably hate the way some of these shows portray firemen.

But I like the way Hollyoaks, in less than a year's time, has given us a confident, tattood, witty gay guy (Spike), a sporty but emotional and needing-to-be-loved gay guy (John Paul), a confused, scared, and manipulative possibly-gay guy (Craig), a confident gay guy who is closeted because of his religious calling (Kieron),  a rugby-playing overconfident sleezy gay guy (Robin), a white trouser snake gay guy (Jay), a cute but campy, over the top stalker gay guy (Toby) as well as a crossdressing bisexual guy (Kris). And not one of them the stereotypical effeminate accent, floppy hands, too much fake tan, too bright pink tie gay guy one usually sees on soaps. How is that for diversity?

GOOD FOR YOU and good for them. Neither would I. But that doesn't make me love John Paul any less. James Sutton is just too cute...

I saw that episode. I too think that plays into Kieron being outed as a gay priest in a relationship. How that leads to it? Who knows. There could be any number of reasons he has a condom in his wallet.

I am soooo not a fan of Ste. Look...when you walk in the door and your girl is jumping up and down because they have real butter to put on toast...you've failed as a provider. Just saying.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding. I thought they were saying that Guy is back...as far as everybody knows it's for good. His involvement for the late night special is a limited thing...but he's back on the show with no date set for leaving.

1st...the guys involved in the JP story are all emotional. Kieron is a very sensitive person when it comes to showing his emotions. But in his case it's a good thing. JP is also emotional but then look at his age and what he's gone through...plus look what he was raised with - a house full of emotional women and a mother who encouraged him to be open with his feelings.

2nd...JP as a liar...when you fall in love with a closeted person THAT is what happens. It was a closeted person story. JP and Craig's lying was annoying but fascinating because it was exactly like watching real people...one in total love and the other confused. I mean look...the lying in HO is not nearly as interesting as the lying in ATWT -- taking a fake wife, lying to gov't officials, getting a well known town pussy hound to lie about being gay...I mean...that stuff is fantastic, right?

3rd...comparing Kieron to Craig is way too easy. It's similar yet totally different. Father Hobbs is a gay man who felt he had a calling in the church. He's aware of the decision he made and the vow he took. Then JP entered his life. To limit it to some closet case storyline is crazy. Plus, it IS in character for JP to fall for a guy with limitations. He's a character that could exist in my circle of friends...I have friends who always date the same kinds of guys.

Sorry to have to remind you but it kinda was a lot about Sarah. I love John Paul to death, but what John Paul ended up doing to Sarah over that period of time was devastating --- a real friend wouldn't have carried on. She had every right to take the fit that she did (and omg was it a good fit, I could watch the Aftermath clips over and over), but I agree with you in hoping that she has gotten over it and can let Craig be stupid Craig without becoming involved with JP/Craig/Kieron... Can't wait for that triangle to take flight!!!

You make it sound like he is dating a kid that is underage. JP is 19...Father Hobbs is in his mid 20's. That's not a big age difference.

And yes...Craig was worse. Father Hobbs is clear about the fact that he is gay. He's dealing with the fact that he's actually fallen in love and the conflict that is causing in his calling.

Craig was a nightmare and ruined several lives.

Plus...one of the reasons he could be coming back is to provide closure to the story. Guy has stated (as pointed out earlier) that he isn't comfortable playing gay. Maybe this is his chance to come back and get a straight storyline in the long run. He's clearly bisexual...not gay.

Do you, consider yourself a teenager, at 20 years of age? John-Paul is an adult, who's having a consensual affair with another man, because he wants to be in a relationship with him. It's not like Kieron's 'manipulated' (as I've seen that word being used to describe Kieron Hobbs), him into the affair. 

Love me less, but love me a long time - Les Chansons D'Amour

Jason..I'm in agreement with you  

My number one love is for Olli and Christian, but this is fantastic news that Craig is coming back. I'm was a huge fan of the John Paul and Craig relationship, and was one of those fans who petitioned hard for Craig to come back for that Sunset Ending. I gave up folloing John Paul's story when the writers decided to hook him up with a priest and become a full blown hypocrite. It made no sense to me that John Paul left Craig at the airport for being in the closet and then went right back into this same type of a relationship, but only worse because now he's with a practicing Catholic Priest.. And for the record, John Paul is suppose to be 18 years old and Father Kieron is approaching 30. Father Kieron is just so unappealing to me in both character and appearance.

It is well know that John Paul is still deeply in love with Craig, and the writer/producer of the show Bryan Kirkwood has more or less given his world that fans will get the Sunset Ending we have been waiting for. The minute Craig returns to HollyOaks, I tune back in to watch.

1st...I have total understanding of a person dealing with their sexuality...but the thing is that during his run on the show he wasn't dealing with it. You obviously haven't read my other comments or you'd have seen that I liked that aspect of the story...he was a mess. He was a confused mess. But the thing is that he didn't change...at all. And if he does come back a changed person then I think it's unfortunate that the viewers didn't get to see him as he came to terms with things. But then we're getting ahead of ourselves...maybe he'll come back a total mess. We'll see.

2nd...he did ruin lives. People have had to do a lot with themselves to pick up the pieces. People still give JP crap about it and Sarah is still a mess.

3rd...there is nothing wrong with him being bisexual. I was just stating it because you questioned what reason would he have to return. Well...closure with the JP story and a new straight story that he'd be comfortable with.

People are allowed to make mistakes, and can be forgiven if they show true remorse, I agree. But, Craig has made a LOT of mistakes. He was so emotionally manipulative and so selfish. He jerked John Paul around for months, promising one thing and doing another. He built up John Paul's hopes and then dashed them, repeatedly. And even that was better than his earlier behaviour where he was angry and cruel, and blamed JP for ruining everything.

Kieron isn't perfect either. Sometimes he finds it hard to see things from John Paul's perspective. But that's possibly a reaction to the fact that John Paul can be quite opinionated while also having trouble seeing things from another perspective. Kieron is spiritually confused, the same way Craig was sexually confused. But Kieron has never been confused about the need to treat people with respect. And if he makes a mistake, he has the maturity to understand the depth and consequences of his mistakes.

I suppose it is possible for Craig to redeem himself. But I would only be satisfied if he willing to do TONS of grovelling. I want to see Craig truly understand the pain he caused to both Sarah and JP. I would like to see JP being firm and saying that he won't be jerked around anymore, and if Craig wants to be a part of his life he better step up and deliver.

Have you no sympathy, over a young gay man, whom for whatever reason, decided to deny his true self, in the cloister of the Priesthood? A young man, who has unexpectantly found trust, friendship, desire, companionship, AND love with another young man? A man that shares those same feelings for him?

A young man, who's going to decide to choose LOVE for this young man, over his LOVE for being chaste for God? 

Love me less, but love me a long time - Les Chansons D'Amour

Sympathy? SYMPATHY??? Gay or straight or bi, Craig knowingly and willingly played them BOTH. We've seen from Christian on VL that a questioning man can figure himself out without resorting to betrayal and dirty little bits on the side, as Christian broke up with Coco just as he began struggling with his first kiss with Olli. Craig, on the other hand, wanted to ride two horses with one ass... uh uh, i don't think so.

So long as Craig now offers himself, his WHOLE self, to John Paul then he has a chance at winning John Paul over. His chances are best if Kieron can't get himself away from the church, but we've already heard from Kieron that he loves John Paul more than the church. I love how the tables have turned, and now the one who always wanted men who had to choose, will finally have to do some choosing himself... John Paul's going to see it's not so easy.

As for the actor Guy Burnet, I admire his return whether it's from a lack of a job or not. Some actors wouldn't have returned to give the fans what they've been dying for at all. Kudos to him indeed --- we're all excited and dying to see John Paul's biggest life changing story yet!

The road they have taken him down is bisexuality. Criag was his first real gay relationship. Having him come back, still having feelings for JP, and in the long run making his next relationship with a girl could help further an understanding of bisexuality.

Kieron has appeared a few times.

Once he tried to break up a fight between Michaela and Ste and she turned on him saying something like "You are not the person to be talking to me about right or wrong", or something like that. That left him with a loss of words. That was funny.

And of course, the above mentioned condom incident.

...even if they are not in a scene with each other they still include it...

As a bisexual I'm sure you are also aware that many people think that bisexuality is nothing more than the slow train to gayville. This opinion is especially prominent in the gay community. The writers on the show could do a really good storyline on a guy coming to terms with his bisexuality. The reactions of the people around him. Now...on an education level obviously you would not be the person who needs this lesson...and perhaps you won't see it as any form of validation. I can say that one of the the things that my bi friends always comment on is the fact that there are almost no really good bisexual characters on TV. Characters that when they are not in relationships explore both sexes with equal passion on the show.

For JP to return and give closure to his past very popular relationship...come out as a very steady bisexual and then get in a relationship with a woman who fully knows and understands that he likes men also...that could be groundbreaking if done correctly.

And I think the writers will tailor their storyline to the fans. I mean...didn't someone mention earlier that Father Hottie was suppose to be killed off but they kept him because he was so popular?