John Stape

Infobox soap character
color=#F0E68C
name = John Stape



caption1 = John Stape in 2007
first =
series=Coronation Street
first= 6 May 2007
last = October 2008
years =
residence =
born = 1978
parents =
siblings =
romances = Fiz Brown
spouse =
children =
occupation = Taxi driver
portrayer = Graeme Hawley

John Stape is a fictional character on the long-running ITV television soap opera, "Coronation Street" portrayed by actor Graeme Hawley. The character first appeared on-screen on 6 May 2007. [ [http://www.itv.com/Soaps/coronationstreet/castandcharacters/qtoz/JohnStape/default.html Coronation Street | Cast & Characters | Q-Z Cast & Characters | John Stape - ITV Soaps] ]

Since the character's initial run on the show, actor Graeme Hawley has since returned as of July 2008 for a second stint as John. [http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/latest/2008/06/18/coronation-street-rosie-s-ex-teacher-love-to-return-89520-20611421/ Coronation Street Rosie's ex-teacher love to return - mirror.co.uk] ]

Background

The characteristics of John are of a caring nature and the tendency to be charming to females. The actor said of his character's personality and success with the female characters of the show is because of his charm: "He's a bit of a charmer and finds it easy to relax with them and be in their company. He has this disarming charm about him. He's a good listener and talks a lot. That's what they like about him, and he has this 'everyman' quality about him." [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a112221/graeme-hawley-john-stape-corrie.html Coronation Street - Interview - Graeme Hawley (John Stape, Corrie) - Digital Spy ] ]

torylines

The character of John Stape was first introduced in May 2007 as a Drama teacher at Weatherfield High. To give him a link to residents of the show it transpired that he was Fiz Brown's ex lover. In a storyline that saw romance blossom between the pair again, Fiz left her then, current partner Kirk Sutherland to be with him. In November that year, he moved in with Fiz and Maria Sutherland on the Street.

John began tutoring Sally Webster for her A-Level in English Literature and she developed a crush on him. Sally eventually told John that she had feelings for him but John made it clear Sally's feelings weren't reciprocated.

In an episode airing on 19 October 2007 he entered into an affair with Rosie Webster, Sally's oldest daughter, who was at the time 16 years old. Based on the relationship with John, she decided to return to Weatherfield High. They were nearly caught several times and they also had sex. In October 2007 The Sun reported that the soap opera would air scenes more 'saucy' scenes between the two characters. [ [http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/article393952.ece Coronation Street | Rosie Webster | Minx has a romp in a lay-by | The Sun |Showbiz|TV ] ] When the characters girlfriend Fiz became suspicious of him when she walked into the local knicker factory with John in a compromising position with Sally. Fiz slapped Sally and told Kevin about what had happened. Fiz got it all wrong though, because John was actually getting something out of Sally's eye at the time. Actor Graeme Hawley was quick to jump to his characters defense stating that there are some instances in real life where teachers take advantage of girls but John isn't an evil predator who has groomed Rosie. [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20071028/ai_n21076539 I was scared to kiss Corrie LOLITA | Sunday Mirror | Find Articles at BNET ] ]

The relationship between John and Rosie lasted until Christmas Day, when due to a present mix-up Rosie's family found out about the affair. As Fiz Brown confronted Sally, believing her to be the culprit, Rosie entered the house carrying the present intended for Fiz. Outside, John was beaten to the floor by an outraged Kevin, who was arrested and kept in custody after the Christmas period. After being released from hospital John decided to go and stay with a mate which Rosie didn't seem that bothered about. Rosie suggested they stop seeing each other to which John responded angrily to ensure that they were obviously through.

John returned several days after Christmas to try and reconcile with Fiz on 6 January 2008. As John leaned in to kiss Fiz, she responded, but when Rosie walked in the pain of John's betrayal came flooding back to her.

British Tabloids were first to pick up on the story that the character would be returning to the soap opera in July 2008. [ [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a94791/jackie-dobbs-john-stape-return-to-corrie.html Soaps - News - Jackie Dobbs, John Stape return to Corrie - Digital Spy ] ] [ [http://primetime.unrealitytv.co.uk/cornation-street-john-staples-returns/ Cornation Street: John Stape Returns - Unreality Primetime ] ]

When the character eventually returned on July 2008 he tried to rekindle his romance with Fiz, she responded by slapping him. In the same episode, character Lloyd Mullaney gave him a job working at Streetcars as a new driver, a job which John had been doing since quitting teaching. [ [http://www.orange.co.uk/entertainment/television/5236.htm?linkfrom=%3C!--linkfromvariable--%3E&link=box_main_pos_3_2_link_2&article=entertainmenthomempuselltop Soap gossip & spoilers| Coronation Street preview | Orange UK ] ] In an episode on 23 July 2008, John waited outside the Underworld for Fiz again, when Rosie Webster saw them, wearing a more revealing dress than usual. When Kevin heard about John taking a job with Streetcars, Kevin went shouting at Lloyd and Eileen. Chesney confronted John, who was talking with Lloyd at the time. Chesney kicked John's taxi and smashed the wingmirror. John then went to confront Rosie and told her to keep out of his life.

John bought Chesney a bike for his birthday, Chesney and Fiz immediately suspected it to be from Cilla, but when Chesney discovered who the extravagant gift was from, he dumped the bike on the street, only for it to be found by Fiz, who told John to never go near her or Chesney again, and told him if he did she would call the police. He and Fiz are now close friends. Their friendship has continued smoothly and John has fixed Fiz's DVD player, but after Chesney had returned from Las Vegas John saw him getting a pasting from criminal-bully Kenzie Judd, John saved Ches from Kenzie and his bullies, but Chesney, instead of being grateful for John saving him told Fiz that John had hit him. When Fiz found John she attacked him before going to ask Kayleigh about what really happened, and forgave John after going out for a drink with him, but when Kevin became wound up they went back to Fiz's where they shared a short kiss, but John, left immediately feeling shaken.

On 5 September 2008, John revealed that his grandmother had only just passed away. Fiz attended with John when he went to the funeral, after she threw a sickie just to comfort him, after a few days, Fiz agreed to give John another chance, however she broke up with him once more after she discovered that he was planning on moving her away to his grandmother's house in the country. On 19 September 2008, John was tipped over the edge when he spotted Rosie kissing her new boyfriend outside a nightclub. Angrily reminded that she was the cause of his misfortune, he bundled her into the back of hs cab, driving at high-speed through the streets of Weatherfield. He condemned her for destroying his relationship and his career, he was later questioned by the police when Rosie went missing a week later.

In October 2008, John was involved in a car smash. Fiz immediately rushed to his bedside and confessed that she couldn't be apart from him and the couple reconciled.

Reception

Some of the viewing public became annoyed at one of the character's main storylines. Actor Graeme Hawley was blasted for his portrayal of the character stating that he gave the teaching profession a bad name. Hawley explained that: "I’m not popular with the profession. Mind you, I think it goes on a lot." [ [http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/soaps/article1457625.ece Corrie star's rap from teachers | The Sun |Showbiz|TV|Soaps ] ]

The actor was asked if he was heckled a lot in real life by the viewing public during an interview with British Entertainment and Media website Digitalspy on which Graeme had to say:

References

External links

* [http://www.itv.com/Soaps/coronationstreet/castandcharacters/qtoz/JohnStape/default.html John Stape at ITV Soaps]