Some little birdie tells me that today's a special day and I have to say that I've been tortured coerced bullied bribed asked ever so nicely if I'd mark the occasion somehow.

So I thought 'Why not?!'. After all, DS forum users campaigned relentlessly for months to secure the Sunset Ending (SE) that John Paul McQueen (James Sutton) and Craig Dean (Guy Burnet) quite rightly deserved.

So how did the SE come about? How did the story develop?

Like you all need telling. But in a nutshell...

6 September, 2006 - the date that John Paul first met Craig on our television screens.

With John Paul as best mate and Sarah Barnes (Loui Batley) - wannabe model and fellow student - as his girlfriend, things were looking up for Craig. However, an 18th birthday party took an unexpected turn when John Paul confessed to a stunned Craig that his feelings for him ran deeper than just friendship.

A confused Craig maintained that they were only mates, but a drunken kiss between the pair resulted in John Paul finally admitting that he was gay and finding himself a boyfriend in Spike (Tom Vaughan). As a result, Craig was forced to slowly admit that he had reciprocal feelings for John Paul.

An intense four-month affair ensued and was eventually exposed in true soap style at Craig and Sarah's engagement party. Forced to choose between John Paul and Sarah, Craig chose John Paul. However, his inability to be open about their relationship led to John Paul ending it at Liverpool airport, leaving Craig to fly off to Dublin alone.

Fast forward a year and Craig's return to the village saw John Paul on the verge of breaking up with his fiancé and former priest Kieron Hobbs (Jake Hendriks) to get back with Craig.

Their reunion, however, was marred by Niall's brutal murder of Kieron but in the end, John Paul decided to follow his mum's advice and not waste his life wondering about the things that he hadn't done.

19 September, 2008 - the date that John Paul ran off to Dublin to begin a new life with his one true love, Craig.

That said, here are two of the most iconic clips from the story:





I still love that escalator scene.

I digress...

A few weeks ago, I managed to bag a copy of the SE script and so I thought I'd drop in a couple of the most notable lines from the episode here.

§ JP: I really loved him, Mum. Just... (vulnerable)... not like I love Craig, it's different.

§ The train doors close. A whistle sounds. JP springs onto the platform, dodging passengers... But he's too late. The train pulls away. JP's frustrated. JP curses himself, helpless, as the train disappears out of the station. Then... He stops. Something has taken his eye. Standing on the opposite platform, still waiting for his train, is an oblivious Craig. Their eyes meet. Craig stares at JP, motionless. JP, on the wrong platform, starts to run.

§ JP: Craig, you've got no idea how much you've hurt me... so I just wanted to say to you, before you walk out of my life forever, that... I wouldn't have missed any of it for the world.

§ JP: I don't know how we keep finding ourselves here, I really don't... but the one thing that I do know, the one thing I'm sure of is that I love you... I really love you.

§ Craig: I love you, JP McQueen.

And on that note, here's that moment in video:



Credit must go to Bryan Kirkwood for immersing himself in the whole crazy experience and listening to the fans. Without him, the story would never have happened. Oh, and of course the McDean fans!



Happy Sunset Ending Anniversary Day, McDeaners.