Characterisation Finnegan has described James as a character who likes his own way. His philosophy is that should he see something he wants, then he will get it. James does not like romantic relationships and prefers to keep things more casual. Waring described James as a suave and very mysterious man. She told Laura Morgan of
All About Soap that James overhears Cindy talking to
Tony Hutchinson (
Nick Pickard) about committing bigamy and he offers her legal assistance. Sophie Dainty from
Digital Spy reported that James would begin to target
Mac Nightingale (
David Easter) in a new scheme. He asks Cindy to cause trouble for Mac and attempt to gain control of his assets. In January 2016, it was publicised that James is a member of the Nightingale family, a group of characters
Hollyoaks introduced in October 2015.
Lysette Anthony had been cast as the family matriarch
Marnie Nightingale. It was revealed that James was working with Marnie to scheme against his own father, Mac. He then convinces Cindy to try and gain an equal share of Mac's pub, The Dog. She tries to gain leverage over Mac, but James' sister
Ellie Nightingale (
Sophie Porley) discovers false divorce documents and threatens Cindy with legal action. The arrival of James and Marnie was done with the intention to introduce a darker side to the Nightingale family. Jared Garfield (who plays sibling
Nathan Nightingale) told Digital Spy's Daniel Kilkelly that James and Marnie came in and had "really shaken things up". Garfield later told an
Inside Soap reporter that James and Marnie helped to explain the family history of the Nightingale.
Scamming the Hutchinson family Writers devised a new scam storyline for the character during his second month on-screen. With the help of Marnie, James plans to con
Tony (
Nick Pickard) and
Diane Hutchinson (
Alex Fletcher) out of their restaurant, "The Hutch". When Diane's nephew
Scott Drinkwell (
Ross Adams) causes The Hutch to lose money on a catering job, James and Marnie decide to use his error to their advantage. James begins to fool Scott into believing he is attracted to him in order to use Scott to undermine the business. His manipulation is successful and writers played Scott willing to do anything to impress the duo. Marnie then convinces Scott to set fire to The Hutch and claim the insurance money. She calls the police so Scott will get caught committing arson and in turn make Tony likely to sell. But
John Paul McQueen (
James Sutton) realises what is happening and helps Scott escape before they arrive. As the plans involving Scott fail, James then decides to manipulate local gay couple Harry and Ste who have become homeless and financially broke. Harry is Tony's son and he decides to use him in his plot to take over The Hutch. Harry decides to challenge James' scheming by creating his own fake kidnapping scam which could leave James in trouble with authorities. He gives Tony and Diane a job. Ste takes Harry's scam seriously and reports James to the police for kidnap. Ste and Harry were a popular partnership with viewers and sometimes referred to by the
portmanteau "Starry". Despite this some viewers on social media contacted the actor voicing their support for a relationship between James and Harry. They even created their own couple name of "Jarry". Finnegan said "it's slightly perverse, but it's been quite funny."
Affair with John Paul McQueen Scott later enters into a relationship with John Paul. But when John Paul dumps Scott for keeping secrets, James immediately begins to pay John Paul attention and convinces him to spend the day with him. He then charms John Paul and they sleep together. Adams told Charlotte Tutton of
OK! that he hoped Scott and John Paul could repair their relationship, but it would be difficult because James has turned his attentions to John Paul. The actor added that James' addition to their relationship throws a "cat amongst the pigeons". Sutton told Duncan Lindsay from
Metro that James is a "strong and powerful" character. He wants John Paul and gains power over him because John Paul finds it hard to resist an attractive man. The actor added John Paul "feels like he wants to be around this dangerous and exciting character – but then you have poor Scott following him around like a lost puppy!" James' ex-boyfriend
Carter (Amron Adams) arrives in the village and asks James to join him for dinner to discuss him joining his new law firm. Carter informs him that his girlfriend
Lara (Hannah Warren Green) will be there. John Paul cancels his plans with Scott to attend the lunch. He impresses James' friends and the meeting goes well. But Scott catches them and they argue publicly, embarrassing James. Rather than attempt to save his relationship, John Paul follows James home for an argument which leads to the pair sleeping together.
Hollyoaks writers also developed a friendship with fellow "dastardly" character
Joanne Cardsley (
Rachel Leskovac) during the storyline. James explains his intentions to snare John Paul from Scott and she reveals her plan to steal
Mercedes McQueen's (
Jennifer Metcalfe) fiancé
Joe Roscoe (
Ayden Callaghan). Finnegan told Charlotte Tutton from
OK! magazine that James views the bet as a "good excuse" to pursue John Paul without having to acknowledge his true feelings. The prospect of a relationship with him terrifies James.
Historical abuse The show developed a topical storyline focusing on historical physical abuse. It featured the revelation that James had been violently beaten as a child by his father Mac. James then confides in John Paul that Mac would often beat him in secret when he was a child. The show developed the storyline with the support of child welfare charity
NSPCC. Peter Wanless from the organisation said that he hoped the "powerful and emotional storyline" featuring James would give people the confidence to seek support. He believed that all too often victims blamed themselves for the violence, but James' age would help to show that it is never too late to confront the issue. Wanless added that James' behaviour showed how abuse can affect people their entire lives. ==Reception==