I used to really hate James and he used to creep me out. But since it was revealed that Mac abuses him, I can't help but feel sorry for him.

Mac is the reason why James is the person he is today and I'm glad John Paul's supporting James.

What do you think about this stuff with James and Mac?

I was appalled at how Marnie supposedly let her son take all of the blame for the wedding decor incident. Makes me suspect she knew about the abuse but turned a blind eye to hold on to Mac.

Im sure she knew about it or is a very bad actress

Yep, I suspected this even yesterday when James almost told his mum. I think deep down she always knew but was quite happy to see her son take a beating if it meant her being with Mac. She's awful mother and James is going to be devastated when he finds out. I really feel for him.

Gregory is easily the best, if not one of the best, actors on the show.

When he first arrived I wasn't a fan but I've grown to really like him and now he's one of my favourites.
His parents are awful towards him, but I'm happy to see James get a sl that doesn't revolve around JP's love life (I'm neutral towards that couple)

I like James and JP but in more a James fan if im honest. He's my favourite character. What's interesting about James is that he doesn't neccassarily need a love interest. He's interesting all on is own and has lots of sides to him. I think this storyline has the potential to be incredible.

I feel I should, and of course in real life I would, but I find him such an unsympathetic character that it's hard to feel for him.

Oh she's definitely a very bad actress!

Marnie knows about Mac's violent tendencies but for some reason doesn't seem at all bothered by his behaviour

I find James an interesting character, and I have some sympathy for him (not just for having been abused by Mac, but also having the dreadful Marnie as a mother) but I still can't quite work out whether I like him or not!

James has become one of Hollyoaks' best characters currently, he is brilliant and Gregory plays him amazingly. You can't help but feel sorry for him since it was revealed Mac has abused him since he was a young boy and Marnie has obviously manipulated him and turned a blind eye to the abuse in order to hold onto Mac. Marnie seems to not care about James and just uses him and has a hold over him, like she essentially made him break up with JP because she said he would never be able to have a relationship. She also seems to play on Mac's violent behaviour and uses it to her advantage, how anyone can not see it is beyond relief! It's so obvious!

It was surprising to see James report the abuse in tonight's episode, a far cry from the normal Hollyoaks route of the victim being the eternal doormat. Hopefully the rest of the Nightingales will see Mac and Marnie for what they really are, at least Neeta has left Mac now though, really didn't want another Patrick/Maxine type story.

I think Morticia uses Macs violence to control him, saying he needs her cos she can deal with it and other people cant.
She uses James' love for her to control him, and he protects her, shes her rock, she keeps saying that she needs him, so he wont go and will take whatever mac throws at him

Mac is horrid, how can you hurt your own child? why are the family allowing James to be isolated? hes part of the family, Alfie is the one with a different mum yet hes looked after more

I think his father pushing him out of the family meant he had nothing to lose, hes cut off from his mother and his siblings, wasnt welcome at a family meal, for what reason, he was abused and his parents want to hide it

I don't like this story as it seems to have come out of nowhere. Since they have joined the show, Mac has always been portrayed as a great, loving father. Are we supposed to believe that it was all a front? Surely he would have beat one of his other kids in the years since James if he was that bad?

That's not always how abuse works though. There are cases where only one child gets the brunt of it. Plus there is almost a 10 year age gap between James and Nathan. Who knows what he was like back then. James represents a time when Mac was truely horrid and it seems like having James around just stires up those old feelings.

I can't help but wonder why James would move back into the area where his father lives after having presumably escaped the abuse years earlier.

James is the best thing in Oaks right now, and sorry to keep comparing them, but he is the best character since Brendan imo.
I like the Nightingales as a whole, but James is the mist interesting, a diverse character played by a fantastic actor. I adore him.

Yes i am glad Neeta left Mac. I adore Neeta and look forward to her having storylines outside of the Nightingales.

I did wonder at one point if Mac sexually abused James but there really would be a copy of the Brendan storyline, so i do think it is just physical.

His obsessive mother who also abused him, this time mentally wanted mac back, and I guess with all the crime in hollyoaks where better to be a lawyer

True, there are also only 3 in Chester so he is obviously in high demand.

The last lawyer was lovely Jim! I hope James doesn't go the same way as him!

I haven't watched HO for a while bit saw some scenes this week - does James know about JP and Finn?

I'm mixed on this story in the sense that we've explored similar ground with Brendan and that was three years ago, which wasn't so long and while I'm not against storylines being repeated, it is a surprise they chose this one for James too.

Saying that, they're doing a bloody great job with it so far, so I can't fault them there and I do like that we're learning more about what makes James tick as a character.

It's never been addressed on screen. We don't known whether James knows or not!

OK, thanks

I love the character James and John Paul... I loathe the character Neeta and thought Marnie was just ridiculously funny up til now... but I agree with others on here... I suspect she allowed James's cruel treatment to go unpunished ... allowing her to keep Mac ... her son asked her to choose and she chose Mac .... speaks volumes ...

Happy Ending for James and JohnPaul please ... x