I'm a bit confused. If Dean was imprisoned for attacking a police officer, how would the other prisoners know about the rape?

And while Dean raping Linda was horrific it didn't give the other prisoners the right to beat him. Two wrongs don't make a right. Prisons need sorting out so that these things don't happen. It only ends in a vicious cycle with criminals become more hardened/brutalised and then going on to reoffend.

I think maybe it came out because he was being arrested for jumping bail and then obviously hit the police officer.

I was disappointed with that scene. Are they trying to drum it in to us that Dean doesn't think he's done anything wrong? Why are they trying to make us feel sorry for him?

I'd have preferred it if he'd mentioned his time in prison before as well. Remember at Christmas (I think) when he was on the bench with Shirley and he said that he felt so alone? That is the path I want explored. Explain why he is so messed up.

Have the comments that DTC has made n DS in his most recent interview hinted at Matt leaving EE??
Apparently we're "halfway" through the rape sl. It's highly likely the sl will conclude with Dean leaving.
So when do you think that'll be?

I don't know. It's difficult to think of a conclusion that doesn't have Dean leave in some way, but Matt's already filming 2 months over his original contract, so I have no idea what's going on.

Thanks.

I've only just found it - Borgia is on Netflix and it shows off Matt....a lot!!

Happy birthday to Matt!

Despite loathing this storyline I think he's been brave with this storyline and he doesn't get enough credit for it.

Happy Birthday Matt!!!!

Happy birthday to Matt! 28 today!

A belated Happy Birthday to Mr di Angelo! Hope he had a great day xx

Just to add ... I haven't posted in this thread in a while. I've got to be honest and lay my cards on the table, I absolutely hate this storyline and I hate the character of Dean now after what he did to Linda and his lack of remorse for what he did (I never thought I'd hate the character of Dean having been a fan of his in his early days all those years back and having been so happy to hear the announcement he was back over a year ago, but then this storyline happened) ... But wow, what a fab actor Matt is. This storyline demonstrates what a great actor he is. As Sez Babe said, he has been so brave as an actor tackling such a challenging and difficult role. Good on Matt, I say! I never heard of Borgia, I must check it out for sure!

Matt's only in about 12 eps or so (series 2 and 3) but he has some...shall we say different scenes! I'll just say that if you thought you'd seen a lot of Matt when he was swimming in Eastenders, be prepared for a lot more in Borgia!!!

I also agree that I absolutely hate Dean's involvement in this storyline. I was so happy to hear that Dean was going to return, but his character is ruined. The interesting thing is how he still hasn't left....why?

Ooh, I'm definitely going to make it my priority to check out Matt in Borgia, hearing that!! But as well as that, it'll just be good to see Matt playing a role different to Dean, given what Dean's character has turned into lately. It would just be good to see him portraying a different character.

I would have never have thought this time last year that Dean's character would have turned out like this (even before last year was out, as it turned out). I hate his involvement in this storyline too, the only saving grace of it being that it allows Matt's acting ability to shine through. I'm at a loss too as to why Dean is still on the show. We're almost half a year on from the Christmas Day reveal and Dean is still around (I thought he'd have departed fairly fast after the reveal), and still hasn't admitted guilt or shown remorse for what he did to Linda. I'm still thinking there's more to come in this storyline and that we may yet see Dean's comeuppance in time.

He'll be out of the show by the end of the year I'd have thought.

Tptb have messed up Dean twice now really. Such a shame, what a great anti-hero he'd have made this time round.

And it maybe would have all been worth it if this storyline had achieved what it originally set out to do, but I don't think it has and the writing has really deteriorated.

Very poor decision.

I haven't actually watched an episode of Borgia, but I scanned through all of Series 2 and 3 for his name in the credits at the end and watched his scenes. He's in about 12 episodes or so over the two series. I won't spoil it, but I will say that Borgia has some sex scenes and nudity. I'll leave it there. Let me know what you think.

Same here. I had such high hopes for Dean when he arrived back. Leaving the rose on the wall of Pat's house, helping Denise etc. I'm still hoping that Dean's initial time in prison is looked into as I don't otherwise understand why they would include it in the episode where Mick punched him and also the related storyline this time around a few weeks ago. I'm not thinking about this in terms of the Linda storyline, but just in terms of wanting to see that storyline from 7 years ago acknowledged!!!!


I would have thought so, but it depends if and what new contract he's signed. I wish we were told something!

I agree, they've really messed up Dean. Back in 2008, TPTB at least did one good thing with Deano as they made him very interesting just as he left, allowing his second stint to be interesting and intriguing. But no, they made him a rapist.

I also agree that the rape storyline has become so complicated and mixed up, I'm tired of trying the guess what's going to happen.

Ooh, I'm going to do the same as you and look for Matt's scenes in Borgia! Some very kind person has uploaded some scenes to YouTube so I'll have a quick scout. I've had a look at some pics and it looks so strange to see Matt in his regal costume from the era Borgia is set in! I'm sure from your description I'll like what I'll see when I watch the scenes!

I totally agree with you that the very promising start that Dean had with his nice little gestures such as leaving the rose for Pat and his kindness towards Denise has been demolished by the rape storyline. I hope the issues around his time in prison is explored - as you said to bring that storyline from '08 or thereabouts to a close, if anything. If Dean is sticking around for a while, I hope this is explored. I hate, hate, HATE!! though that Dean has been made a rapist. Dean used to be a kind character (until last autumn), now looking at what he has done to poor Linda and the effects of his crime upon her, I just shake my head, I can't believe what a different character he has become, the opposite to the nice Deano I used to like back around 6 or 7 years ago! I can't get over the lack of remorse he has over what he did to Linda.

It is strange to see Matt in that costume, and also with his hair the way it is! I'm not sure if it's a wig or he actually had his hair cut to be like that and then probably styled it differently when he wasn't filming (a bit like Howard in The Big Bang Theory). There's one scene is particular where you see Matt's character and I was like You'll know it when you see it.


Yeh, the worst thing you could have said about Dean the first time around was that he was an idiot but he had a big heart. Now, he's a rapist.

I hate it. Going by what we've seen on screen, I don't think he knows what he did, but even if he is lying I just want that to be shown on screen and for it to not be ambiguous. What exactly are we supposed to be thinking? They are certainly not portraying him as a villain. It's all very strange.

Its nice that Richard Blackwood has said Matt would make an excellent comedian.
I think he's right- Matt has a razor sharp wit the kind where you just make a really good comeback comment without really thinking about it. I've seen him do it before.
Even in his Hustle days his co-stars commented on how Matt's real forte would be comedy.
Matt would be good for a panel show such as Buzzcocks or Sweat the Small Stuff. Im actually surprised he's rarely invited onto shows like that.
Maybe something for the future??

Ooooh where did he say that? I agree, I think Matt is very funny.

You're weird, it's so weird to see Matt with that haircut! I'd never seen that hairstyle on him before. It's that hairstyle where it's like someone put a bowl on their head and cut around it! Maybe it was a wig? Or who knows, maybe he did cut his hair like that, for the sake of art!
Ooh, I look forward to seeing that scene you describe - I think I'll like it by the sounds of it!

Dean definitely was a bit of a dope when he first arrived all those years ago, now he's just a rapist and has destroyed Linda's life so much with his actions. I totally agree with you, it's very weird as to how it's being shown as ambiguous, especially with the scene a few weeks ago where it looked like he was about to confess that he had committed the rape (until someone burst in the door) and then at other times wholeheartedly denying the rape to others. I wonder where the writers are going with this? I agree that it's odd.

All I want now is some progression. We've been treading water pretty much since January with this storyline.

At least he's going to be involved with Shabnam in the upcoming storyline - it will give him something else to be involved in.

Haven't saw any pics of Matt at the soap awards doesm't he normally go? I wonder if he is avoiding things like this because of the rape storyline atm.

Yeh he hasn't put anything on twitter which is unusual. I doubt he'd not go because of it - he went to the NTAs

I totally agree. I have no idea what sort of downfall Dean is going to have (if any) and when. It is good that the Shabnam storyline (where we learned a couple of months ago that she gave birth to Dean's child) is going to be aired soon, rather than just being referred to and not being followed up, so I'm looking forward to seeing how this story plays out.

I thought Dean was quite genuine with Shabnam today. While I was shocked by his behaviour towards Shirley and Buster the other day, I couldn't help feeling sorry for him today, despite everything. As he said, I'm sure he would have stood by Shabnam had she contacted him when she discovered she was pregnant.