Writers used the character to manipulate Katie Rogers (Diane Burke) and Terry Sullivan (Brian Regan) into joining his cult.

Hartney received a mixed reaction from the public which ranged from hate mail and verbal abuse to fans requesting to join Simon's cult.

Hartney said Susan Wallace from the Sandwell Evening News that "I thought it seemed really poignant, really ironic - as though I was supposed to be acting and not studying.

[6] Hartney told Stephanie Bell from Sunday Life that "at first there was nothing to suggest a sinister side to Simon, I saw him as Mr Nice Guy, a bit of a drip, a boring boy with nothing dynamic about his personality.

[6] Hartney soon found it easy getting into character, explaining "as soon as I put on his awful check shirts and his disgusting baggy jeans...

"[5] Hartney told Richard Arnold (Inside Soap) that Simon is an "absolute control freak", a "megalomaniac" who "loves power" and wants others to "look up to him and respect his beliefs.

Hartney explained that Simon justifies his behaviour buy claiming that "he needs his strength and Stamina to look after the group and keep the devil at bay.

"[11] Simon's stories were similar to the real life events of American cult leader David Koresh and the Waco siege.

"[4] Burke told Josephine Monroe from Inside Soap that writers chose the correct character in for Simon to target.

Burke herself could not believe some of the things Katie was agreeing to do for Simon; but cults were more frequently reported on in news and she thought that added realism.

[6] Caroline had stayed with the cult despite "appalling treatment" and now Katie is being treated similarly as Simon attempts to force her into having sex with Terry.

Hartney believed that his character genuinely wanted to protect his "flock" and sees Barry as a bad influence on Terry.

Despite his initial reluctance, Terry soon proved easy prey for Simon after the death of his wife Sue (Annie Miles) and son Danny.

Tony Purnell from the Daily Mirror assessed that "Simon Howe's cherubic smile, curly hair and bright eyes make him every mother's ideal.

They wrote that "Simon is so obvious that he wouldn't earn a penny as a second-hand car salesman, but he's fooling people on the Close."

"[17] Gareth McLean writing for The Guardian stated that Simon's cult storyline was an example of Brookside failing to portray everyday life scenarios.

"[21] Jill Todd from TVTimes profiled the character stating "religious leader Simon in Brookside is power-crazed, deeply sinister and dangerous - and his recruits worship him.

They added that Simon and Beth Jordache (Anna Friel) are "larger-than-life, emblematic figures whose significance has outgrown even Brookside."

[22] Inside Soap's Monroe profiled the character's gall stating "most men have a good line in chat-up when it comes to getting a girl into bed, but Brookside's Simon Howe takes the biscuit!

"[14] Lorna Hughes from the Liverpool Echo said that "religious fanatic Simon is best known for holding Barry Grant hostage and bringing his cult to Brookside Close - blowing up part of it in the process."

[23] Peter Grant from the publication branded him "sadistic Simon" who ran a "wacky religious cult" and was a "contender for creep of the year".

[12] Another reporter from The Observer profiled the character, stating that "the Close's own David Koresh, he is the leader of a Christian cult which has turned one of the houses into its church.

Referencing the cult story, Lawson wrote "Simon, the petrol pump attendant, has revealed himself to be the Risen Christ and established a sinister religious and sexual sect in a semi-detached.

"[28] A writer from Soaplife stated that "not content shocking the soap-watching world with a lesbian affair, the Brookside scriptwriters decided to spice things up even more with strange cult happenings.

"[29] Dominic Moffitt from the Liverpool Echo named Simon a "charismatic cult leader" whose stories were some of the show's most shocking moments.

[30] Moffitt stated that Simon's "dramatic, violent, and sex-crazed cult was full to the brim with so many shocking storylines we couldn't pick one on its own.

[30] Dick Godfrey from The Journal called it a "bizarre cult" and Simon a "Messiah" who lead Katie and Terry "up the garden path towards salvation".

[31] Graham Young from the Sandwell Evening Mail said that Simon's cult were "religious nutters" but it was "a commendably original soap story.

"[2] Stephanie Bell from Sunday Life branded the character "smooth-talking Simon" who transformed from "Mr-Nice-Guy" to "Mr Nasty" to become a "depraved" and "sinister leader of Brookside's weird religious sect".

[6] Francesca Babb from All About Soap included Simon's "cult classic" storyline in their "most memorable moments" of Brookside feature.