| Character Profile | List of appearances |
Craig Dean is the son of Johnno Dean and Frankie Osborne, the brother of Jake and Debbie Dean, and Steph Roach, the half-brother of Brian Bloom and Presley Dean, the foster half-brother of Barry Newton, the adoptive half-brother of Tom Cunningham and Jade Albright, the boyfriend of Hans, and the adoptive father of Matthew-Jesus McQueen.
In his early years on the show, Craig was seen as a comedic character often finding himself in awkward situations, however, Craig showed a more serious side to him when he supported his sister Steph through her epilepsy and when her murderous boyfriend, Niall Rafferty threaten to kill her. Craig's biggest storyline came in 2006 when Craig started questioning his sexuality and fell in love with John Paul McQueen.
Craig's petty behaviour caused him to have feuds with the likes of Darren Osborne and Lee Hunter especially when Craig took a liking to Lee's girlfriend, Abby Davies. As of 2017, Craig is thought to be currently living in Singapore.
Biography[]
2002-2004: Arrival[]
Craig is first seen along with his family in November 2002 when they arrive and join his sister, Steph Dean. When moving to Hollyoaks, he arrived with his mother and father, Frankie and Johnno as well as older brother and sister Jake and Debbie. Craig found himself too settle in very well and seemed much more intelligent then the other teens in and around his age knowing this Craig used this as a way to manipulate teens into getting involved in some of his petty scams.
In May 2003, Craig was under the assumption that his teacher, Sally Hunter called him thick, however, this was not the case as Sally explained she wants to support Craig with his school work and Craig soon starts to fancy Abby Daviesc who also gives Craig the impression that she likes him. However, this is not the case as Abby was using Craig in order to make her boyfriend, Lee Hunter jealous, whom Craig had a somewhat of a feud with.
By 2004, Craig has found himself with a friendship group which involved fellow trouble maker, Justin Burton and Ali Taylor and the three would often wither skive from school or cause trouble and lie to their parents respectively. However, this friendship group would later become sour as The Dean/Burtons find themselves in a neighbouring war later in the year. Craig also has a brief crush on Natalie Osborne. After his sister, Steph was attacked by Toby Mills, however, unknown to Craig and his family that it was Toby, Craig finds himself in a more serious role of supporting Steph along with his family and Craig along with the rest of the Dean's are shocked to learn Toby was not only the serial killer but Steph's attacker. Craig is left heartbroken and often clashes with Jake after his father Johnno leaves his mother, Frankie for another woman. His oldest sister Debbie also leaves in December 2004, after the death of her boyfriend, Dan Hunter.
2005-2006: Moving in with The Osbornes & Relationship to Darlene Taylor[]
By early 2005, Craig along with his sister Steph decide to get their depressed mother, Frankie a new man and after setting her up with several men they eventually set her up with Will Davies. However, this also does not work. Eventually, Craig and Steph see how close Frankie is with Jack and set the two of them up on a date, where this time it works, much to Craig and Steph's delight. However, by July 2005, Craig is taken back when his father, Johnno briefly returns to see the family, however, after discovering that Johnno left and married another woman, Michelle Dean, as well as getting her pregnant, Craig disowns his father, along with Steph. Craig is happy for his mother when she gets engaged to Jack but Craig is often clashing with Jack's older son Darren Osborne, however, he is delighted when his mother marries Jack, by August 2005.
By November 2005, Craig starts to fall for Darlene Taylor after his been supporting her during her brothers, Ali's death. Eventually, Craig and Darlene kiss and begin a relationship and after Darlene is thrown out by her stepmother, Liz Burton, Craig offers her to live with him along with the Deans/Osbornes, which is The Dog in the Pond. However, after months of playing Craig and Darren off each other, Craig finally sees through Darlene's lies and by February 2006, he orders Darlene to leave despite her pleas. Craig, however, still held a grudge towards Darren after Darlene's departure.
2006-2007: Coming Out[]
Atfer months of family issues, Craig later enrolls back into college by September 2006 as he did not get the grades he was in fact hoping for. However, due to the fact Jake had killed Diane Valentine in a hit and run months back in July 2006, Craig is often approached by her youngest grieving son, Sonny Valentine who is always looking for a fight with Craig. However, Craig is then eventually stuck up for by new student, later revealed to be John Paul McQueen and the two quickly become friends and the two then befriend friends, Hannah Ashworth and Sarah Barnes and Craig starts to date Sarah while John Paul starts to date Hannah and the four become a tight bunch of friends but Craig finds himself temporarily facing off with Sarah's jealous ex Rhys Ashworth. Craig is then baffled as to why John Paul suddenly has broken up with Hannah, therefore, Craig pushes for an answer out of John Paul and eventually John Paul tells Craig that his in fact in love with someone else not knowing John Paul in fact meant him. Craig assumes that he meant Sarah and Craig ends up punching John Paul when he sees the two of them dancing. Craig then dumps Sarah afterwards but Craig later apologises for his behaviour and his friendship with John Paul gets back to a good state but after Craig spots Sarah kissing Rhys at Hannah's 18th birthday, Craig is talked too by John Paul and he tells Craig that he is better off without Sarah and ends up confessing that he is in love with Craig. To which Craig is left confused but when John Paul tells him he was just confused and drunk, Craig thinks nothing of it. He then also gives Sarah another chance, despite kissing Rhys.
After Craig and Sarah's friendship goes from strength to strength, the two confess their love during a school dance competition. As the event goes in, Craig becomes more drunk and he opens up to John Paul that he is fine about his best mate being gay, this then leads to Craig drunkenly kissing John Paul, which is seen by Hannah who is no longer still with John Paul, anger and upset. Craig is left shocked when Hannah announces it to the who school during the dance competition and Craig blames John Paul and with the encouragement of Sonny he ends up in a fight with John Paul and this leads Craig to be told by John Paul that their friendship is no more. However, Craig and John Paul, after months of becoming closer and closer, forgive one another and become friends with one another again but Craig is left feeling jealous when John Paul starts to have a new boyfriend with a guy named, Spike. Eventually, Craig's jealously gets the better of him and he pulls up John Paul and asks him if he has still got feelings for him and John Paul tells Craig he does in fact still have feelings for him and Craig also tells John Paul he does also. This leads to the two of them kissing and sleeping together but afterwards Craig calls John Paul a 'faggot' and storms out. Craig then starts to act more impulsively and even to the point he gets violent sexually with Sarah, whom, is left disgusted by Craig's behaviour but soon forgives him. Craig is left unhappy with Sarah's modeling contract that allows her to pose naked with other men, this leads to Craig having several arguments with Sarah. On top of all of this, Craig wants too be with John Paul but Craig is told by John Paul that he does not want to be with someone who is constantly denying their sexuality. In order to try and convince John Paul, Craig sleeps with him again, however, and is again in denial and goes back with Sarah instead. John Paul is furious but Craig tells him that it will always be this way between them.
After asking Sarah to move to Dublin with him, Craig is delighted when she says yes and ends up organising a leaving party which invites their families and friends and during which Craig swiftly leaves and tells John Paul he is in fact in love with him and after confessing his love to John Paul he and John Paul agree to break up with their respective partners. However, even though John Paul breaks up with Spike, Craig backs out of breaking up with Sarah which upsets John Paul and after a brief break up from Sarah, John Paul encourages Craig that they should go public, however, Craig gets back with Sarah and leaves with her quickly, leaving John Paul furious. When Craig returns, John Paul then angerily confronts him over suddenly leaving and calls him out being a coward it's soon revealed that Craig has gotten engaged to Sarah but Craig makes it clear he does not want to marry Sarah to John Paul and the two begin to sleep together with John Pul attempting to talk Craig out of marrying Sarah. Finally. When Frankie throws an engagement party for Craig and Sarah. Craig sleeps with John Paul and the two of them are caught by Sarah, who is shocked and confused by this and all is revealed during the engagement party, Craig's family seem supportive but shocked but Jake and Frankie who thinks Craig was manipulated by John Paul but Craig manages to make peace with Sarah and begins a relationship with John Paul and the two decide to leave to go to Dublin and say a farewell to their families. Jake makes peace with Craig before he departs but John Paul hears Craig saying he is not gay and when John Paul asks Craig to kiss him, Craig refuses to do so, therefore, Craig is left by John Paul to leave for Dublin alone.
2008: Brief Return & Helping Steph[]
Craig returns a year later in September 2008, much to John Paul's shock but also delight. Craig soon opens up too John Paul telling that he couldn't date anyone during his time in Dublin as he could not get over John Paul but Craig is left stunned when Darren reveals to Craig that John Paul is engaged to a priest named, Kieron Hobbs. Craig also expresses his sadness towards his family about Jake's mental health breakdown and the fact he is the supposed murderer of Sean Kennedy. Craig is also left shocked when Kieron commits suicide, however, he was in fact murdered by Niall Rafferty. Craig offers support to John Paul but they both agree not to start a relationship again. Afterwards, Craig bumps into Sarah and Hannah to where he tells Sarah how sorry he is for what he did. Sarah tells Craig they will always be friends and she along with Hannah make peace with Craig and the two women encourage Craig to be with John Paul. Craig catches up with John Paul where he gives John Paul a one way ticket to Dublin and kisses John Paul in public to show he is no longer embarrassed about his relationship with him. John Paul is delighted and he and Craig get on the train together and leave this time happily for Dublin.
Craig, however, again makes another brief return in November 2008, when he meets with his older sister Steph and her in law step son Tom Cunningham. Craig tells Steph he is taking her tone cottage for a break and his giving John Paul time to himself in order for John Paul to process the deaths of Kieron and his sister Tina but things take a hilarious turn when Craig and Steph arrive at the cottage to find out that a guy named Pete, who is a nudist, owns the cottage but after Pete helps them settle, he departs to let Craig and Steph along with Tom, enjoy their stay. However, unaware they have been tracked down by Niall and he spies on Steph, Tom and Craig, along with them are unware of Niall's presence, while Craig and Steph take Tom to play football in an open field. Niall attempts to expose himself but is shocked to see that Craig is also present with them. Later on, Craig ends up leaving for the night with Pete, who has returned to check on things and Pete reveals he is gay but Craig rejects any advances when he tells Pete that he is in love with a guy named John Paul. The next day, Craig and Steph are beside themselves when they discover that Tom has gone missing, currently unaware Niall has taken him, through the night. Later, they finally discover Niall is behind the abduction and tells them he will only give Tom back if Steph meets him, however, when Tom escapes, Niall is furious and sets out to find Steph himself. He ends up riding up Craig and Tom and holds them hostage. At first, Steph goes along with Niall but Carig and Tom are freed and Niall ends up beating up Craig and Craig points out that Steph is terrified of him, to which, Niall kills himself, to Steph's shock. The following day, Craig offers a distraught Steph to move to Dublin, upon on returning to Hollyoaks, but Steph declines. Craig then departs again for the third time to Dublin to help and support John Paul through his own grief, which was also caused by Niall.
Appendices[]
Residences[]
Employment History[]
Background Information[]
- Actor Guy Burnet quit the role of Craig in 2007, with his final scenes airing in September. However, he reprised the role in 2008, appearing in the main show before departing in season 1 of Hollyoaks Later.
Quotes[]