Julie Matthews (Hollyoaks)

In 1997, Buckfield left Hollyoaks and her departure storyline featured Julie jilting Tony on their wedding day.

She reprised the role in 2002 and writers transformed Julie's good girl persona into a archetypical soap bitch with conniving tendencies.

Writers also developed a rivalry between Julie and Tony's girlfriend, Izzy Cornwell (Elize du Toit).

[7] A writer from the official Hollyoaks website described Julie as having a "fearsome no-nonsense attitude" and also branded her "conniving" character.

[8][9] Writers paired Julie in a relationship storyline with Tony Hutchinson (Nick Pickard), which was developed during the first month of Hollyoaks episodes.

[10] Buckfield stated that the process of developing their romance was "bizarre" because she was friends with Pickard before joining Hollyoaks.

"[1] She told Anne Adams from Evening Herald that Julie and Tony's relationship is supposed to be "light-hearted" and she viewed them as "a bit of a comedy couple."

[3] The scene occurs following Jude Cunningham (Davinia Taylor) and Ruth Osborne (Terri Dwyer) giving Tony a make-over, which makes Julie have a "jealous fit" and end their engagement.

[13] Writers continued their on/off relationship with Tony breaking-up with Julie after witnessing her kiss her motorcycle instructor, Bruce.

Writers featured the bickering duo dividing the video shop in half to continue working alongside each other.

Filming took place during warm weather, which he believed was great for the episode but not for the cast dressed in wedding attire.

[4][21] Producers asked Buckfield to return and she accepted because she loved Liverpool and had "such a good time" during her first stint.

[6] Buckfield revealed that the filming schedule was busier than that of her original stint, since the show broadcast more episodes per week.

Buckfield told a BBC reporter that Julie was originally portrayed as "very girl next door" but upon her return she is "a bit of a bitch".

A writer from the show's official website stated "the combination of Julie's fearsome no-nonsense attitude and Tony's nose for business has already made for a potent mix.

[22] Another of Julie main aims is to ruin Tony's relationship with his girlfriend, Izzy Cornwell (Elize du Toit).

Julie begins to manipulate Tony, suggesting Izzy and Ben Davies' (Marcus Patric) friendship is more than platonic.

du Toit told an Inside Soap reporter that "Izzy definitely feels a bit threatened because Julie and Tony used to be engaged.

"[7] She added that Tony just carries on "pretending that there's absolutely nothing wrong with the situation" and fails to understand Izzy's worries.

[7] A Hollyoaks reporter added that "the battle of wits and whimsy between Izzy and Julie has become steadily more intense over the last couple of weeks.

du Toit added that Izzy's plan fails because "Tony sees straight through her and isn't jealous at all...

"[26] The story reached a conclusion when Tony proposes marriage to both Julie and Izzy, which are driven by confusion and wanting to keep the peace.

[30] Tina decides to invite Tony's ex-girlfriends including Julie, Izzy and Tessie Thompson (Sian Gibson).

Cooper told Katy Moon from Inside Soap that Jacqui is "furious" by the arrival of Tony's former love interests.

[4] Julie's return scene occurs following Ste Hay (Kieron Richardson) making plea video to find Tony, who has gone missing.

[4] Of her return, Buckfield told Daniel Mansfield from The Hunts Post that "it was lovely to go back after all these years and see the cast, especially Nick Pickard who has always been a good friend.

"[32][33] A writer from Kent Evening Post assessed that life was "bleak" for Tony after finding out Julie was unfaithful.

"[34] Geoffrey Phillips from Evening Standard wrote that "Julie doubts Tony's powers of self-restraint as their wedding day looms.

[37] A critic from Reading Evening Post chose Julie and Sarah Andersen's (Anna Martland) pancake race scenes as the newspaper's "pick of the day" feature.

[4] The Hunts Post's Mansfield assessed that upon her return Julie "was in the thick of things again" with Tony and "viewers were delighted to see her back.