- Craig Valentine
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Dr. Craig Valentine 
Renato Bartolomei as Craig in 2007. Shortland Street character Portrayed by Renato Bartolomei Introduced by Harriet Crampton Duration 2004-2008 First appearance 24 May 2004
episode 2973Last appearance 2 September 2008
episode 4072Classification Past; Regular Profile Occupation Head of ED at Shortland Street
(2004-2008)Family Wife Paula Valentine (1985–1992) Brothers Brett Valentine Sons Jake Valentine Daughters Scarlett Valentine
Kelly Piper (possibly)Dr. Craig Valentine is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He was portrayed by Renato Bartolomei for four years from May 2004 to September 2008.
The character arrived in mid 2004 as the father of established character Scarlett (Nicole Thomson), in what was to become a new family unit for the soap. The character would embark in a steamy on again/off again relationship with the hugely popular Sarah Potts (Amanda Billing) in a romance storyline that lasted four years. The characters final storyline saw Craig investigate dodgy pills from pharmaceutical company, Scott Spear, which resulted in his murder by hired thugs. His relationships often stemmed from his kind but overly protective personality, with a hugely cemented friendship with Chris Warner (Michael Galvin) and a long running relationship with the feisty Alice Piper (Toni Potter).
The character was largely popular winning runner up in the Throng Shortland Street Fan Awards 2006 for "Favourite Male Character". The Shortland Street fanbase were disappointed when the character was murdered, with fans reporting shock as late as 2009. The gruesome death scene received several complaints and a warning from the Broadcasting Standards Authority.
Contents
Character
Departure
Barolomei decided to quit the soap in 2008, saying; "It was a very difficult decision, from an actor's point of view it's not very often that you have the security that a job like Shortland Street provides. But after four and a half years I longed for a degree of anonymity again. I'm a very private person, and given what I do for a job, the spectre of Shortland Street will invariably take that away from you."[1] The character was killed off in a dramatic gang storyline. Bartolomei said of the storyline; "It's all a bit of fun and it's nice to see the characters away from the normal hospital setting and involved in something a little bit different" and of the conclusion to Sarah and Craig's romance; "That does get revisited but not in a stereotypical way. There is a great deal of resolution at the end for everyone concerned."[2]
Storylines
2004-2008
Craig arrives to the show in May 2004 after his daughter Scarlett (Nicole Thomson) is called in to the school for being a bad influence on Tash (Michelle Stewart). Tash's step father Victor Kahu (Calvin Tuteao) is disgusted by Craig and is shocked when CEO Chris Warner (Michael Galvin) announces Craig as the new head of ED. Craig opposes to the hiring of Sarah Potts (Amanda Billing) and is shocked when she is hired to work alongside him. In December 2004, Craig's ex wife Paula (Vivian Bell) arrives to town and tries to get onside with Scarlett and Jake (Callum Gittins). It is revealed Paula left Craig for his brother Brett (Colin Moy). Craig fears Scarlett may be Brett's daughter and thus may have inherited his heart disease, however it is not the case. Brett dies while in Ferndale and Craig finally forgives his brother.
In 2005 Craig and Sarah have a bring fling which does not last and Craig starts to date the beautiful Huia Samuels (Nicola Kawana). Craig however shows bitterness when Sarah announces she is to marry Andrew Solomon (Paolo Rotondo). The two share a kiss before the marriage which soon ends. Scarlett got on well with Huia and she eventually moved in. At the end of the year, Craig fare welled Jake as he left to live with Paula in Australia.
In 2006 cracks started to show in Craig and Huia's relationship and Craig decided to spend time overseas. Upon return, he announced it was over and he returned to Sarah. However once again Craig's anger came out on top and he cheated on Sarah with Huia, impregnating her. The devastated Sarah moved onto Huia's cousin, TK Samuels (Benjamin Mitchell). Sarah agreed to raise the child but Huia was murdered in a horrific carbomb. A depressed Craig decided what he truely wanted and professed his love to Sarah, only for her to turn him down in favour of TK.
In 2007 Craig started an unusual relationship with much younger partygirl Alice Piper (Toni Potter) but again announced his love before Sarah and TK's wedding, however he realized how much Sarah loved TK and drove Sarah to the wedding himself. This proved too much for Craig however and he was found fighting for his life after suffering a heart attack at the post wedding function. Scarlett fled the country after attempting to murder Hunter McKay (Lee Donoghue) and Craig found himself being cared for by partner Alice.
In 2008 Craig nearly murders Joey (Johnny Barker) after discovering he is the Ferndale Strangler and kidnapper of Alice. He struggles to cope with Alice's post traumatic depression but realizes his love for her, proposing. However after learning she cheated with Guy Warner (Craig Parker), he breaks it off. Scarlett returns for her trial, only to be acquitted and move back to Australia again. He begins to notice suspicious information about Pharmaceutical company Scott Spear and leaves Shortland Street for a job there. He again professes his love for Sarah. However after learning about many murders that Scott Spear caused, several hitmen are hired to murder Craig, hitting him off the road, beating him then setting him alight in his car.
A memorial service is held for Craig, with most of the hospital staff attending. The ceremony ends with a song sung by Sarah highlighting his personality.
Reception
The character was landed with the label of a "heart throb",[2] severely embarrassing Bartolomei.[1] The actor received a nomination for "Best Actor" for his work throughout 2008 in the New Zealand TV Guide Best on the Boox Awards.[3] Craig was mentioned numerous times in the Throng Shortland Street Fan Awards in December 2006, placing runner up in numerous categories, inluding; "Favourite male character",[4] "Favourite Couple" (for his pairing with Sarah Potts),[4] "Favourite Moment" (again for his relationship with Sarah),[4] "Most Romantic Moment" (again with Sarah)[4] and "Biggest Letdown" (once again with Sarah).[4] Craig did however win the award for "Dodgiest Moment", after he slept with Alice's mother Fran.[4]
In the 2008 awards, Craig was runner up for "Most Missed Character", losing to Toni Warner.[5] His death received the award for "Biggest Letdown".[5] Fans were still in shock over the death as late as 2009, with fans notably mentioning Craig's death as a shock and a letdown in the 2009 fan awards.[6]
Following Craig's gruesome and violent death scene, which saw the character beaten with a baseball bat then set alight, Shortland Street received its second ever warning from the Broadcasting Standards Authority following several complaints. The warning was given as; "The theme was likely to frighten and disturb child viewers, particularly because the violence - which included easily accessible weapons such as baseball bats - was realistic in the sense that it could happen in New Zealand."[7]
References
- ^ a b New Idea | Renato Bartolomei: Why I wanted Craig Valentine dead | October 2008
- ^ a b New Zealand TV guide | Shock ahead for Shorty fans | August 2008
- ^ "18 Best on the Box nominations". South Pacific Pictures. February 2009. http://www.southpacificpictures.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=98. Retrieved October 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f "Shortland Street Fan Awards Winners - 2006". Throng. December 2006. http://www.throng.co.nz/shortland-street/shortland-street-fan-award-winners-2006. Retrieved October 2011.
- ^ a b "85000 votes determine Shortland Street fan awards winners". Throng. December 2008. http://www.throng.co.nz/shortland-street/85000-votes-determine-2008-shortland-street-fan-award-winners. Retrieved October 2011.
- ^ "Shortland Street fan awards winners 2009". Throng. December 2009. http://www.throng.co.nz/shortland-street/shortland-street-fan-award-winners-2009. Retrieved October 2011.
- ^ "Shortland St in trouble with BSA again". Otago Daily Times. January 2009. http://www.odt.co.nz/38529/shortland-st-in-trouble-with-bsa-again. Retrieved October 2011.
Shortland Street Characters Chris Warner · Rachel McKenna · Jonathan McKenna · Harry Warner · Vinnie Kruse · Sarah Potts · Daniel Potts · TK Samuels · Callum McKay · Hunter McKay · Luke Durville · Brooke Freeman · Gabrielle Jacobs · Maxwell Avia · Nicole Miller · Wendy Cooper · Ula Levi · Vasa Levi · Phoenix Raynor · Evan Cooper · Jasmine Cooper · Bella Cooper · Murray Cooper · Roimata Ngatai · Jill Kingsbury · Zlata Waldheim
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