They had invested time in Lachlan's relationship with Chloe Richards (Kristy Wright) and wanted to replace the character.

His exit storyline played out James departing Summer Bay after realising that Chloe does not love him.

James appears in an episode (played by Sam Meikle) in which he helps his brother Lachlan (Richard Grieve) hide a family secret from his girlfriend Shannon Reed (Isla Fisher).

He told Jason Herbison from Inside Soap that "the purpose of my character was to come in and marry the girl who was having my brother's baby.

"[2] Piccirilli was modelling in London when he submitted a screen test videotape to series producer Russell Webb.

[3] Herbison reported that producers initiated the return because Piccirilli had proved a "big hit" for the show.

[4] A writer from the serial's official website said that an upper-class upbringing, James is an "easygoing and likeable" person.

[5] As Inside Soap's Herbison wrote, James had been insistent that he only wanted to support Chloe; but he ends up declaring his love.

[7] The actor said told Annette Dasey from Inside Soap that he sympathised with James because he had been through a similar experience.

Wright told Steven Murphy from Inside Soap that Chloe's decision to marry James was a mistake.

Wright said that the shock from James stopping the ceremony to confront her about her locket nearly kills her character with humiliation.

[12] James exit storyline depicted him leaving Summer Bay when he realised that Chloe did not love him.

The actor was happy with James' material because he got to do "some good dramatic stuff", despite only filming for eighteen months.

On the day of the wedding, James begins to have doubts as Chloe admits she still loves Lachie, and he leaves her at the altar but returns and they marry.

However, The marriage quickly begins to show signs of strain when James wants a child of his own with Chloe but she is against the idea.

He also enjoys romantic attention from Danielle McCarthy (Claire Parradine) and nurse Juliette Bellati (Nicole Nabout).

He lets Danielle down gently but is surprised to discover a gift for his 30th birthday left by Juliette who is revealed to be his secret admirer.

Five years later, following Chloe's death in a car crash caused by Jesse McGregor (Ben Unwin), James returns to Summer Bay in the middle of a custody battle between Diana and Irene Roberts (Lynne McGranger) over Olivia.