Will Jai tell Nell that he loves her?
WHEN HE REALISES SHE’S ABOUT TO LEAVE, JAI MUST ADMIT HOW HE FEELS…
It’s clear that Jai’s feelings for Nell are stronger than ever this week, when he’s delighted after she tells him that she’s arranged a meeting about tracking down her daughter Rosie.
However, Jai’s joy turns to pain after Nell overhears a conversation between him and Moira, and – assuming the worst about her and Jai’s friendship – decides to leave the village. Horrified at the prospect of losing her, Jai tries to convince Nell how much he cares… but can he do so before it’s too late?
“Jai has been trying to suppress what he feels for
Nell because he wants to be honourable, but his true feelings are coming out now,” admits Chris Bisson, who plays Jai. “He and Nell have developed a bond after spending so much time together, and they have a lot in common because of their issues with drugs. Jai won’t forgot his late girlfriend Holly, or his feelings for her, but he’s aware that he needs to move on with his life.”
Nell’s admission that her baby daughter was taken away for adoption while she was in the depths of her drugs hell has resonated with Jai, since he lost custody of son Archie as a result of his own problems. So at the start of the week, he’s thrilled that Nell may have a chance to see Rosie again.
Shortly afterwards, he takes the opportunity to open up to Holly’s mum, Moira, about his closeness to Nell – but what Nell hears looks set to wreck their friendship forever.
“Nell isn’t there for the full conversation, so she misunderstands what Jai is saying,” sighs Chris. “If she had heard the whole thing, she’d know that Jai was just being very open with Moira. As she was Holly’s mother, he felt compelled to explain himself, because he doesn’t want Moira to think that what he felt for Holly has changed since he met Nell.”
Jai is devastated when he finds Nell packing her bags, and realises he has precious little time to convince her not to go. And if he really does want her to stay, now would be the perfect moment for him to confess just how much she means to him…
“Jai has been on a long, uphill struggle trying to centre himself again following his addiction and Holly’s death,” shares Chris. “I really think he’s getting there now – and he finds a strength in Nell. If you were a friend of Jai’s, you might worry about him getting involved with a recovering drug addict after everything
he’s been through – but he’d be very resistant to the idea of staying away from Nell.
“He’s found their friendship highly therapeutic, but I think his feelings for Nell run deeper than simply helping her out with her problems…”