I go hot and cold about Matteo. My main feeling is suspicion. I don't trust him, and I don't like the way his stealing Jac's research (with Guy's help) has been overlooked and ignored. I can't understand how the top brass at Holby would trust him enough to employ him after that.

I also find him rude and extremely unprofessional every time he undermines or disparages Jac and her methods to her staff, and he did that quite a lot in his first couple of episodes.

Occasionally though, and just occasionally, I actually like him.

Again, I agree.

Either he was complicit in the intellectual theft in which case, how would the Board trust him considering the embarrassment and money it cost in announcing the breakthrough and being accused ofstealing it tgen having to come to an 'agreement' with Berlin to share ownership, let alone expect Jac to be okay working with him.

Or, he didn't know in which case you've got to question his intelligence and judgement as why would somebody just hand over unpublished research like that? Especially when it wasn't even their field of medicine?

And if he didn't know, he should have been mortified when he found out but we haven't seen a hint of that or contrition or wish to make it up to Jac. He does just undernlmine her.

Yet everybody behaves as though he is the most wonderful thing ever to grace the Wards.

Didn't much care for the nasty comments about Sacha in his leathers either.

I did think about mentioning those two but I didn't want to bring the thread down! As Holby is trouncing Casualty with it's story lines. Matteo's being pushed at us as the perfect character who's going to tame these wild woman but to a lesser degree than Jacob.

Yes, that's exactly it.

I think that by making them so superficially wonderful we will view them as being worthy of strong women like Connie and Jac but what it seems to boil down to is "taming" them. And that deep diwn, that's what these women want.

Which I find rather insulting and sexist in this day and age.

As I say, I might be jumping ahead on this and have got completely the wrong end of the stick re their intentions for him but that is my gut instinct.

I don't think Matteo is anywhere near as annoying as Jacob!!

He is funny for starters and has depth to him unlike the one dimensional muscle man Jacob.

He may well turn out to be a bad un but for now I am enjoying him.

Oh I agree he is nowhete near as bad as,Jacob and as,I said, I think he'll be quite interesting as a stand alone character.

I just suspect the thought processes behind the character creation and potential romance with Jacare along the same lines as Jacob.

I like Matteo as a person and as a character. I'm not sold on him as a love interest for Jac but then I'm not sure that's actually what he is. There's not really been anything romantic about their interaction, it's simply two strong personalities being put on the same ward and Jac struggling with having her alpha status challenged. I'd prefer it if they did stay clear of romantic entanglements, certainly in the short term, but I'm not going to prejudge something that hasn't happened yet. (If it's even going to? Is there definite information that way or is it just a vibe people are getting?)

I too really hate the constant 'oh he's so beautiful' comments, and even from Sacha, 'is it so wrong for someone to get to know you?'
Get lost guys! Just cos he's pretty and cocky does not make one automatically fancy him.

I'm wondering if this is a way to isolate Jac and perhaps throw some doubt on her suspicions. I'd actually forgotten he was the one to steal/use the research, but clearly she hasn't with her 'I'm going to find out why you're here' remark to him at the end.
I HOPE they dont end up sleeping together.

Oh no!

I saw Liberty Campbell in the cast list and I was wondering who she is. Possibly Serena's ex husband's new wife?

I'm confused about this.

Could be! I didn't think of that

I just realised I am 3 weeks behind on this soap. I guess thats what happens when you watch 10.

Vit's interviews with mags like Inside Soap and Whats on TV in his first week certainly indicated a potential romance with comments like Matteo being romantic and passionate and being fascinated and intrigued by Jac plus loving a challenge with his women and on life.

I'd say there have been indications on screen that there's meant to be a spark over than professional head butting with him seeing her differently to how others see her, asking her to ask him to dance, looking over to see her reaction to his sexy Santa outfit, Sacha going on about Jac letting Matteo in, him being allowed to see her after her operation and with Emma etc.

Could all be misdirection of course but I'd say it is being written as the classic conflict before succumbing to his charms dynamic.

Dont like any interaction for Raf with Essie

I forgot about that I'm not sure if they're two separate incidents but Serena is definitely in 'a bad way', but Bernie will be there to save 'her love'! (Basically the whole of AAU should just move into one giant house!)


Not everyone needs to be 'in love' with another character. I still think that Matteo come's across as a d*ck and I'm blaminging it on Oliver Kent's interference!


Although I don't like everyone paired up I still want Essie to go back with Sacha.

you really made me laugh about the giant house but shouldn't they move in the staff from the other two wards too!! I actually find Matteo quite attractive - much more of a man that Johnny for Jac.
and yes, Essie should be back with Sacha

Oh I agree about not everyone needing to be in love, either yo get it pn or on terms of needing a romantic/sexual story arc in the show.

I'm just saying that is what his interviews and also the interaction so far are suggesting: a will they, won't they romance with Jac. Who has, let's remember, been singke pn screen for over a year sp they probably think is due a new love interest.

I make no secret that I'd rather they'd left her with Jonny off screen, or just have her stay single as many people are fine single for years, unless they could get Luke Roberts back.

That said, as I maintained when Jonny was introduced, I'm a pragmatist and realise in continuing drama, they don't leave characters single for lengthy periods and if actors choose to leave, their onscreen partners have to move on, not stagnate, so I'm willing to give any new love interests a chance, as I did with Jonny adter Joseph.

But, I'm just not feeling any pull with Matteo so far.

I never though Johnny was anything more than a 'quickie' for her, and certainly couldn't see them lasting (or even starting for that matter) as a couple.

Agree about Essie/Sacha; I can't see how anything would work with Raf, but I did like him and Cara.

no-one watching tonight????

How odd.....

So it would seem that Serena's daughter enjoys some of Colombia's finer exports.

not my favourite episode - getting a bit bored with Mr T and Mo and Raf and Essie doesnt interest me either

This will they or won't they business needs to stop. Mo and Mr T need to get it on already! For good this time!