I don't see why it's worth comparing them. They're two different characters. I can't wait for Nancy to have more in the way of her own storyline but I also love the role she's currently playing in supporting Johnny. She'll get her time to shine eventually.


I agree, he was really great, and I continue to be baffled by people who swear he's a bad actor. I'd be the first to admit that he needs to work on a couple of things but as far as young actors go he's a genuine find for the show and I can see him having a very strong career ahead of him.


That's true, but most of these characters also receive a large amount of negative attention as well. The more popular a character or pairing is perceived to be on here, the more other posters will try to bring them down a few pegs.

OK - I really think Sam is a great actor, but in the recent Gianluca thing he really looked uncomfortable. Those were the driest kisses I've ever seen! He needs to go for it more if he gets a new love interest, otherwise its just not believable

The awkwardness worked in terms of this being his first boyfriend. So.Im still not sure if it was genuine or acted awkwardness. Often with straight male actors, they're happy for the kudos to play gay characters but when it gets to the nitty gritty they get all coy.
You know what you signed up for!
There was that older gay friend of Pauline's a few years ago- the actor took the role but refused to do a gay kiss!

Dry?! Sorry, does a certain amount of saliva need to be involved before it counts as a proper kiss?

The kissing was fine. Johnny isn't meant to be an experienced lover, and he played the awkwardness well. Besides, I thought he looked very into it when they were at the tube station. If I was Luca I wouldn't have been complaining.

I find him pretty bland as a character and don't really understand why people think he's so good looking - he is so baby faced that he looks like he's about 14 or 15.

But I don't think we've seen too much of him - he doesn't grate on me in the way that some soap characters do.

Plenty of young guys of his age look just as "baby-faced", many take time to grow into their looks so it's nothing unusual.

Sam Strike is a young actor learning on the job. He's not the best actor on the show by a mile but he does have on screen charisma helped by the fact that he is good looking. His acting skills will get better in time.

I like his scenes with Nancy best as they seem very natural together. It does seem unfair that Johnny has had so much more screen time than his excellent sister but hopefully this will be put right soon.

Well said, it's summertime, people seems to have northing better to do then slag all the boys from EE.

It's not just Johnny, its the whole clan..Zzzzzzzzzz boring

Because he's gay, it's the same with Ste in Hollyoaks.

He gets screen time and attention because he's gay. Simple as. If he wasn't gay, he wouldn't get half as much screen time and appreciation that he's getting. He is an awful character who moans too much that his mummy doesn't understand him boo freakin hoo, get over yourself lad. He is one of the worst actors on the show and that's saying something, he makes every scene awkward and uncomfortable. If he cries once more, I'm just going to turn over. He is going to turn into a tragic character where nothing goes right in his life, I don't see any likability in him. The love for Johnny is even worse then Christian and Syed...

he is just a silly sausage

Yes, us queers rule the world.

Soon it will be illegal to be straight in soaps.

I wish you would turn over, then we wouldn't be subjected to your borderline homophobic posts on him (as opposed to your blatantly homophobic posts on the General Forum.)

It's obviously not just the fact that he's gay, otherwise characters like Tina, Tosh and Danny before he went would have got the same sort of appreciation. For that matter, so would Ben Mitchell and Steven Beale, who were pretty much derided on here.

Johnny is a well written, sympathetic character played in a very committed way by a talented, fairly inexperienced actor still learning his trade. IMO, the main reason people like Johnny is because his character arc has been realistic and something that many young gay people have been able to relate to. If you don't like his character then fine, I accept that, but don't try to make out that the only reason people on here compliment him is because of the sexuality attributed to him. The reasons are far more complex than that.

I for one look forward to the forthcoming Stan/Phil/Patrick love triangle.

Well said, I don't expect oscar winning performances from the newbies but at least Sam seems dedicated to the role and as you said is improving. Give me Johnny any day over the likes of the goon brothers, Callum monks and even Gus.

I'm glad you are.

I think Phil is a bottom, the tough guy thing is just an act.

Secretly he dresses in a French maid outfit.

Patrick is into naughty nurses, pat showed us the outfit she wore for him.

The question is, who has the better figure for the uniform, Pat or Phil?

Agreed with you until you brought Lorna into it. She's one of the better actresses amongst the teenagers/young adults in the show and she continues to improve with experience.

That's when he's working for Keyser .

It's pretty obvious the only reason why you think he's an awful character is because he's gay. I've seen your posts around.

lol - well put

very nicely put. Ive been impressed with Johnny/Sam since his coming out to his dad back in January. That was very realistic and he has been consistently good IMHO ever since.

Quite.

All this hate Keyser has for Phil has to have a limit and something has got to give.

As they say, there's a thin line between love and hate.