I love James and think he is well played. It will be interesting to see what hold Marnie has over him, as I don't think he is as bad as he seems. I do genuinely think he cares for John Paul.

I wouldn't want to know him in real life but he is a great character.
He reminds me of Dr browning a lot

The actor is amazing. He has managed turn an utter slimeball of a character, one who bribed a 17 year old schoolboy into sex no less, into a compelling and somewhat sympathetic character! That takes talent.

James is my sole reason for watching atm.

Definitely one of Oaks best characters

Same here.
He actually reminds me of Brendan a bit, i think he is the closest character we've had to Brendan anyway.

Yes; the guy who plays him is a good actor, actually- there's lots of inflection and eye movement and he delivers the lines well. I've thought the same- one of the best actors in the programme; really shows up a ** couple** of the others lol

He very good sort of vulnerable anti hero, he can come across as a right prick but then show another side, he definitely has a complexed relationship with Marnie.

I like bad boy - all my favourite characters are bad boys - but for me James doesn't cut it. It looks as if I may be in the minority, but he leaves me cold.

I think James is one of the best members of the cast right now. I'm one of the few who liked him from the start even when he was a right asshole 😜 because James has a certain aura about him that makes him magnetic to watch whether he is manipulating someone or breaking down those barriers.

I do think his scenes with John Paul and his mum this week have been pure gold and really given and the actor chance to shine. Gregory's performances are very nuanced and it says alot that he's managed to get the audience to sympathise with such a slimeball.

I like that we've seen a much more human and compassionate side to his persona this week and Marnies influence has definitely shaped him to become so cold, calculating and guarded. I do think John Paul will be the one to really get under his skin but I hope he has some scenes where we get to see him just be a brother to his siblings.

I do think James (Gregory) will be one to watch this year.

I don't see him as a "bad boy" , for me a bad boy, is boyish and naughty, unconventional and rebellious, warm but with a toughness about him, wild . - James is witty and I do like him and I think the guy that plays him is a good actor but he has a coldness and austerity about him that doesn't say "bad boy" to me, so maybe that's why

I partly agree with you. It may be that we just have a slightly different image of what a 'bad boy' is (though not too dissimilar). I don't warm to him because, from where I'm sitting, he lacks humour, warmth, charm, the kind of dangerous aura that can be exciting. He and his mother are truly horrible people. I can see see that they are trying to tone it down with him now, and it seems to be working for some viewers, but not for me. Not so far anyway.

He is the best actor in the show since Jeremy Sheffield left.

He has humour and charm!

Because a lot of his scenes and storylines are with the dreadfully characterised Marnie it probably makes him look a bit better than he is. Something HO seem to be doing quite well with a lot of their characters at the moment is showing the softer side to their villains and the dark or naughty side to their goody two shoes.

Preach!!!

I do think James can be charming when he wants to be. As for humour, it's not slapstick or claassic one-liners that will have you howling. James hides behind sarcasm and he does have the occasional put down and I do think Gregory plays that well. It's very in line with his character. It works.

I was also going to say, for anyone who is enjoying James as much as I am, it may be worth reading DS latest article on James in the soaps section. Gregory gives some insight into his future development without it being spoilery.

I can't wait for more development of the character.

I saw that article on DS. The OK Magazine article they linked to gave some more information too. Looks like we'll be learning more about James' past and what has made him this way.

There was an interesting shippy bit too. Gregory reckons James has "real feelings" for John Paul and is hoping for the relationship to be explored and developed more, to which I say YAY!

Oh good. There is a genuine connection there and I do think James and JP have a really good chemistry/dynamic so I'd like to see that explored. I think JP could be the making of James.

I'm also interesting in learning more about James's past and getting a deeper understanding of why he's so hostile.

I LOVE James.. he's so handsome and fresh and what a complex character... I thought Fridays episode was heartbreaking.... poor JohnPaul... and poor James.. Marie is a proper Cruella

Will be interesting to see where this leads.

He reminds me of Brendan. A quirky character who has grown into the role and been developed into something more.

I've really warmed to James, I also like his friendship with Joanne. I can't wait to know more about his past.

Yeah he is def the closest to Brendan we have had since the great mr Brady left.

I couldn't stand James at first when he had the indecent proposal with Harry. But they are starting to flesh out his character and showing that there is more to him which is helping me warm to him. The only thing I don't like is his and JP's treatment of Scott, I get Scott is a joke character but the way JP and James look down on him isn't really nice.