I think they will probably re-characterise Ben upon his return as someone much better adjusted than he was before he went to prison. They've got Dean now, completely damaged from his time inside, so they could take Ben in the opposite direction and show that prison/rehabilitation can actually work successfully for some people. They're presumably bringing Ben back because he's such an important character in terms of who his parents are and his links to the legacy aspect of EE. This is their last real chance to get him 'right', so I expect to see him as a much more decent person, albeit one with the potential to have a dark side when necessary.

As much as I don't like the idea of Johnny getting together with someone like Ben, I think the direction they'll go in is everyone being convinced that Ben is terrible for Johnny, and Ben trying to prove he's changed. Everything about the way that Johnny has been written so far suggests that they want to keep his character as realistic and relatable as possible, so I don't think they'll throw him into a massive sensational relationship purely for the sake of a bit of drama.

I like that idea!

Shirley hates Heather for killing Ben and Linda will worry sick that her precious son is with this guy.

From a drama point of view all of the pieces fit.

I think the reason why Ben will return to square as a reformed character is his desire to be a dad to Lexi .

To be honest it's the only real way I think I'll be able to accept Johnny and Ben getting together. I like the idea of Johnny being able to see that Ben has changed (not that he knew Ben from before, of course, but I'm sure he'll be made aware of the terrible things he did) and Ben wanting to prove himself as a better man, but the Carters opposing it right from the start. It would be nice to see a character like Ben owning up to the mistakes he's made in the past and determined to put them right.

Yes, that's a good point too. They said in that article that was posted on DS just after the Ben reveal that his character would have a "different direction" this time around, so I think this will be the way they do it, by having him return reformed.

Why was it so disgusting? Many of my friends have had their son or daughter bring home their boyfriend/girlfriend and had them stay overnight. Do you really think that they didnt know they were having sex under their roof? This is no different to that. Johnny took his boyfriend into his room and they 'messed about' , thats about all we know. Johnny's dad assumed what went on behind closed doors but at this moment in the programme Linda is still in the dark about the situation.

I think that once Linda knows her precious boy had sex in her home, she will hit the roof. Is that because he is gay or would she feel the same if it was straight sex?

It isn't disgusting, it's just that certain people on here love to slut shame gay men. If it was Lee taking Whitney up to his room for a quickie, nobody would bat an eyelid and they certainly wouldn't be calling him disgusting or easy for doing it. In fact, when he did have sex with Lucy within about ten minutes of meeting her (in the alley beside The Vic no less), I don't remember any comments about it being inappropriate and disgusting.

I hope Luca can come back. I found the two of them so endearing and sweet together. Loved all the awkwardness that naturally happend.

Lovely couple
Hope he comes back

Finally allowed Johnny's sexuality to develop. It's alright saying your gay, but he never did anything and now he has. Actually had something intimate with another boy.

Glad I'm not the only one to think this. The whole storyline, IMHO, is well over the top for the time it is shown in the evening. I may be old and out of touch with the REAL WORLD but in my book it was disgusting. Please don't tell me that this is the way that the media wants to help us heterosexuals to understand gay life - I don't want to understand it and never will.

Just as well we do live in the real world and not within your book. I suspect it's a very ugly, ignorant piece of fiction.

Well she wouldn't let Nancy have that guy stay, so probably the same either way.

I do agree with your post. But what I found most silly about the episode was how Lee and Nancy took the news that their little brother just had had sex and (obv lost his virginity) in his bedroom that very same evening, and even though yes, it's all meant to be normal now, and shown in the same way as any other relationship, I would have thought (and in the real world it would have been a bit more realistic) that Lee may have felt a bit more awkward discussing his brother having sex with another man than if he'd been with a girl, given the fact that Lee is a fairly macho bloke, in the army, and probably wouldn't have had much experience with homosexuality anyway.

I just thought those scenes were all a bit too "right on" and once again a soap opera laying it on thick....

That's why I like Lindas reaction to it, because as much as she isn't hating Johnny obviously, she still feels awkward about it, and I think that generally in most families that would be the case....especially in the beginning

Because whether people want to admit it or not, being gay is slightly different from the norm, and people seeing two men kiss or two women kiss, are always going to bring about differing opinions which wouldn't be there if it were opposite sexes kissing.

Thought Gianluca and Johnny were so cute. Hope they stay together for a while.

BIB - yes, you've got it, in a nutshell.

Cute? Sweet? Endearing? Are you talking about some puppies? You must be watching a very different programme to me.

That says more about you than the show...

There was nothing disgusting about this storyline and as similar straight storylines can be shown at this time in the evening it is only right and proper that similar gay story lines should be treated the same. Your quote: "I don't want to understand it and never will" means that IMHO you are basically homophobic and always will be.

It was the way it was written thought didn't see johnny and his bf for 5/10 minutes after they went into the bedroom the average viewer left us thinking very little to the imagination.

I have seen many scenes with straight couples in bed semi naked and that is seen as acceptable while two guys going into the bedroom and closing the door leaves nothing to the imagination? That is double standards.

Indeed, you can't really complain at what was shown it was extremely tame compared to most soap sex scenes, all that was shown was a couple of kisses.

As for the other points while they hadn't known each other long its not like they just hooked up that night, they had seen each other at the pre pride thing and at pride and been talking on the phone, its just that most of the pride stuff was off screen. So its not that abnormal really, I would have preferred a little more build up though as it did feel a little rushed what with him sodding off back to Italy within three episodes.

When I read absurd comments such as the ones in this thread, it's a reminder as to why it is important that Jonny's story is told. Because it's not just Jonny's story, it's my story too, and thousands of other young gay men who try to live normal lives.

Quite recently I said the exact same line as Jonny, 'I've never kissed a guy in public before' it's important to remember that, unfortunately, young gay people still see this as an issue because of the ignorants of this world who pass comment on such a minor thing.

So what if Jonny and Luca weren't in a committed relationship before having sex? It wasn't a drunken mistake, there was nothing seedy about it. Two young people were brave enough to explore their sexuality. They weren't in an alley way, a club toilet or a seedy hotel, it was somewhere Jonny felt very comfortable. Jonny met Luca at Pride. PRIDE! A place where gay people are liberated and, for me, it's a reminder that I'm not alone, and despite the homophobia I receive, there are others going through the same as me.

I have kissed people that I haven't known for long, and I've probably done a few things I regret, but it's all in the name of exploration. Was I a slut? No. Was it disgusting? No. Am I ashamed? No. Did it lead to a better life where I am more confident in a world where people judge me on my sexual preference? 100%

I do agree that sometimes soaps don't bit the mark with gay representation. In hollyoaks, two gay characters means they get it on by default, and I really disagree with that. But in Jonny Carter we have a realistic portrayal of a young gay man coming to terms with who he is. For me, it's a scary enough prospect, and the comments made on DS at times only confirm that characters like Jonny, and events like Pride, are still important. I appreciate that it is an issue for people, but please don't overlook the effect that such ignorance and prejudice has on young people like me.

Brilliant post, nothing more to add to it.

I am old, I'm very naive, blinkered and narrow minded and if the thought of two men having anal sex turns my stomach then I must be homophobic as well.

In the wise words of Bob Dylan:


I hope that one day you can find it in yourself to stop hating things beyond your control, and embrace life.

No ones asking you to join in are they?