Craig Valentine
Encyclopedia
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
.
(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.
's mother Fran.
In the 2008 awards, Craig was runner up for "Most Missed Character", losing to Toni Warner
. His death received the award for "Biggest Letdown". 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.
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."
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Shortland Street
Shortland Street
Shortland Street is a New Zealand prime-time soap opera, first broadcast on Television New Zealand's TV2 on 25 May 1992. It is the country's longest-running drama and soap opera, being broadcast continuously for over 4500 episodes and 19 years, and is one of the most watched television programs in...
. He was portrayed by Renato Bartolomei
Renato Bartolomei
Renato Bartolomei was born in Australia of Italian descent.Starting his acting career in Australia, he is now a prominent actor in New Zealand, who had a prominent role as Craig Valentine in Shortland Street....
for four years from May 2004 to September 2008.
The character arrived in mid 2004 as the father of established character Scarlett
Scarlett Valentine
Scarlotta Valentine but known as Scarlett Valentine is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was portrayed from 2004 to 2008 by Nicole Thomson.-Arrival in Ferndale:...
(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
Amanda Billing
Amanda Billing is best known for her role as Doctor Sarah Potts on New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street.-Biography:...
) 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
Chris Warner
Dr. Christopher "Chris" Warner is a fictional character and current main protagonist on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He is portrayed by Michael Galvin. He is the only original character to still be on the show....
(Michael Galvin
Michael Galvin
Michael Galvin is a New Zealand actor, singer and playwright, well known for his role as Dr. Chris Warner on the soap opera Shortland Street, a character he has played almost continuously since the shows debut in 1992.-Early life:...
) and a long running relationship with the feisty Alice Piper
Alice Piper
Alison "Alice" Piper was a fictional character in the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was played by actress Toni Potter.Alice worked as a nurse at Shortland Street Hospital in the Emergency Department...
(Toni Potter
Toni Potter
Toni Potter is a New Zealand actress, best known for her role on New Zealand medical drama Shortland Street.-Early life:Toni grew up with her sister, mother and father who was in the army in Papakura, Waiouru and Upper Hutt...
).
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
Broadcasting Standards Authority
The Broadcasting Standards Authority is a New Zealand Crown Entity created by the Broadcasting Act 1989 to develop and uphold standards of broadcasting for radio, free-to-air and pay television.The main functions of the BSA are:...
.
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." 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."2004-2008
Craig arrives to the show in May 2004 after his daughter ScarlettScarlett Valentine
Scarlotta Valentine but known as Scarlett Valentine is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was portrayed from 2004 to 2008 by Nicole Thomson.-Arrival in Ferndale:...
(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
Calvin Tuteao
Calvin Tuteao is a New Zealand actor who has appeared in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Once Were Warriors, Shortland Street and Xena: Warrior Princess....
) is disgusted by Craig and is shocked when CEO Chris Warner
Chris Warner
Dr. Christopher "Chris" Warner is a fictional character and current main protagonist on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He is portrayed by Michael Galvin. He is the only original character to still be on the show....
(Michael Galvin
Michael Galvin
Michael Galvin is a New Zealand actor, singer and playwright, well known for his role as Dr. Chris Warner on the soap opera Shortland Street, a character he has played almost continuously since the shows debut in 1992.-Early life:...
) announces Craig as the new head of ED. Craig opposes to the hiring of Sarah Potts (Amanda Billing
Amanda Billing
Amanda Billing is best known for her role as Doctor Sarah Potts on New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street.-Biography:...
) 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
Huia Samuels
Huia Samuels is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was portrayed by Nicola Kawana and appeared for 18 months from early 2005 to late 2006....
(Nicola Kawana
Nicola Kawana
Nicola Kawana, is best known for playing Huia Samuels on the longest running New Zealand television series Shortland Street. Other roles include Mercy Peak, Jackson's Wharf and Lollie in The Man Who Lost His Head....
). Craig however shows bitterness when Sarah announces she is to marry Andrew Solomon
Andrew Solomon
Andrew Solomon is a New York-born bisexual writer on politics, culture, and psychiatry who lives in New York and London. He has written for publications such as the New York Times, The New Yorker, and Artforum, on topics including depression, Soviet artists, the cultural rebirth of Afghanistan,...
(Paolo Rotondo
Paolo Rotondo
Paolo Rotondo is an actor who has made appearances in several New Zealand-based TV shows and films. He also has experience in writing and directing films.-Personal life:...
). 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
TK Samuels
Te Koha 'TK' Samuels is a fictional character in New Zealand's longest running soap opera Shortland Street, played by actor Benjamin Mitchell since early 2006.-2006-:...
(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
Alice Piper
Alison "Alice" Piper was a fictional character in the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was played by actress Toni Potter.Alice worked as a nurse at Shortland Street Hospital in the Emergency Department...
(Toni Potter
Toni Potter
Toni Potter is a New Zealand actress, best known for her role on New Zealand medical drama Shortland Street.-Early life:Toni grew up with her sister, mother and father who was in the army in Papakura, Waiouru and Upper Hutt...
) 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
Hunter McKay
Hunter McKay is a fictional character in the TVNZ soap opera Shortland Street. He has been portrayed by Lee Donoghue since he first appeared in December 2006 as part of a new family unit consisting of parents Callum McKay and Justine Jones and younger sister Sophie McKay .The character is gifted...
(Lee Donoghue) and Craig found himself being cared for by partner Alice.
In 2008 Craig nearly murders Joey
Joey Henderson
Joseph James "Joey" Henderson was a fictional character that appeared on New Zealand's longest running soap opera Shortland Street, and was the soap's first serial killer. Although always a suspect, the audience did not learn Joey was the killer until December 2007...
(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
Guy Warner
Guy Warner is a fictional character in the long running New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He was portrayed by Craig Parker in a guest role in 1992 before returning as core cast from 1993 to 1996...
(Craig Parker
Craig Parker
Craig Parker is a New Zealand actor who was based in the United Kingdom for some time, but now resides in New Zealand. His grandfather moved from Edinburgh, Scotland to Fiji when he was stationed during his years of service in the British Army...
), 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", severely embarrassing Bartolomei. The actor received a nomination for "Best Actor" for his work throughout 2008 in the New Zealand TV Guide Best on the Boox Awards. 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", "Favourite Couple" (for his pairing with Sarah Potts), "Favourite Moment" (again for his relationship with Sarah), "Most Romantic Moment" (again with Sarah) and "Biggest Letdown" (once again with Sarah). Craig did however win the award for "Dodgiest Moment", after he slept with AliceAlice Piper
Alison "Alice" Piper was a fictional character in the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was played by actress Toni Potter.Alice worked as a nurse at Shortland Street Hospital in the Emergency Department...
's mother Fran.
In the 2008 awards, Craig was runner up for "Most Missed Character", losing to Toni Warner
Toni Warner
Antoinette "Toni" Warner was a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street...
. His death received the award for "Biggest Letdown". 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.
Following Craig's gruesome and violent death scene, which saw the character beaten with a baseball bat then set alight, Shortland Street
Shortland Street
Shortland Street is a New Zealand prime-time soap opera, first broadcast on Television New Zealand's TV2 on 25 May 1992. It is the country's longest-running drama and soap opera, being broadcast continuously for over 4500 episodes and 19 years, and is one of the most watched television programs in...
received its second ever warning from the Broadcasting Standards Authority
Broadcasting Standards Authority
The Broadcasting Standards Authority is a New Zealand Crown Entity created by the Broadcasting Act 1989 to develop and uphold standards of broadcasting for radio, free-to-air and pay television.The main functions of the BSA are:...
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."