Jonathan Gordon-Davies

Jonathan Gordon-Davies is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, played by Steven Pinner. The character debuted on-screen during the episode broadcast on 6 April 1987. Pinner was cast in the series after a period of unemployment and he credited the role as being his saviour from depression. Jonathan is characterised as an upper class solicitor from a wealthy family in London. Writers created Jonathan alongside his fiancée Laura Wright (Jane Cunliffe). Together they represented the young urban professionals (yuppies) of 1980/1990s British society. The two characters move into number nine Brookside Close, the house previously occupied by similar upper class character Heather Haversham (Amanda Burton). Writers created a wedding story for them, which was broadcast on 11 August 1987 and commemorated the 500th episode of Brookside. Jonathan was portrayed at odds with his interfering father-in-law Geoff Wright (Arthur Kelly). He would invite himself into Jonathan's home and perform DIY home improvements to Jonathan's chagrin. His faulty repair of a light switch causes Laura to electrocute herself and fall down some stairs. The story formed Cunliffe's departure from the series after less than one year on-screen. Laura was killed off in January 1988, but writers decided to develop Jonathan's character further.

He gained housemates and friends when Terry Sullivan (Brian Regan) and later Sue Harper (Annie Miles) move in with him. Jennifer Calvert was introduced as Jonathan's new love interest, Canadian national Cheryl Boyanowsky. Producers spared no expense at creating an international love affair between the two. They filmed their first meeting in Austria, on-screen depicted as a skiing trip. Cheryl later visits Jonathan in Liverpool before returning to Canada. Producers then ordered production to commence in the Canadian city Vancouver to further develop their romance. Pinner enjoyed portraying Jonathan's travels and Cheryl returns to England to live with Jonathan. However, writers marred their romance with tension caused by their housemates Sue and Terry. Their relationship culminated following Calvert's departure and by 1990, Jonathan was portrayed as restless in his life. The character's final stories included Terry accusing him of having an affair with Sue and selling his solicitors partnership. Pinner made his departure from the series in 1990 and Jonathan moves to London with his new lover Helen Massey (Colette Stevenson). Pinner's final appearance as Jonathan was broadcast on 31 October 1990.

Casting Pinner joined the cast of Brookside in 1987. He was introduced alongside Jane Cunliffe, who plays his fiancée Laura Wright, and they debuted on-screen during episodes broadcast April 1987. Pinner received the role after a prolonged period of unemployment. Not working caused him to become depressed and he moved back in with his parents in Bournemouth. After a few weeks of being home, Pinner secured the role of Jonathan. Pinner attended an interview about the role in London and within a week he had received the role, attended costume fittings and began filming for the role. he told a reporter from Daily Echo that he recalled feeling he had done well in his audition and after that "it all happened very quickly".

Jonathan was introduced alongside his partner, Laura, and the two characters planned to marry. Cunliffe had already been cast as Laura when Pinner auditioned for Jonathan. He was required to act out domestic style scenes and casting directors were satisfied the two were a good match to work together. Pinner believed that he and Cunliffe fitted into the established cast well, adding that "they are a great bunch of people; both Jane and myself were made welcome." Pinner's debut appearance as Jonathan occurred during the Monday episode broadcast on 6 April 1987.

Development Characterisation and marriage Brookside creator Phil Redmond (pictured) characterised Jonathan as a solicitor, attracted to the profession's social status and an appealing salary.Jonathan is characterised as an upper class male, working as a solicitor. Upon his arrival, he works for an "established and highly respectable practice" in Liverpool. Pinner's accent differs slightly to Jonathan's with his being less upper class sounding. Redmond stated that unlike Jonathan, Laura has a greater social conscience. He added "it is at this point that her ideals begin to differ from those Jonathan abides by." Writers quickly developed their relationship and the two characters were married just months after their introduction. Producers also used their wedding to celebrate the show's 500th episode, which was broadcast on 11 August 1987. Jonathan gave Laura an unusual wedding gift when he presented her with a forty-foot inflatable gorilla. She is hospitalised and remains in a coma for three months. He told Knight that he recalled filming Laura's hospital scenes for six week began to wear him down as an actor. There they meet Donna Gibson (Dianne Michaels) and her friend Cheryl Boyanowsky (Jennifer Calvert), who are both from Canada. The cast and crew made their Canadian base at the Pan Pacific hotel in Canada Place. The house fire accident was written with similar circumstances to the accident that had previously killed Laura. Jonathan was not home to protect his lover and both women had been using the bathroom. Writers used Sue and Terry to create conflict between conflict between Cheryl and Jonathan. Sue gets pregnant with Martin Howes' (Andrew Hall) baby, Cheryl learns the truth but agrees to keep her secret. Jonathan notices tension between the pair and guesses that Martin is the father. Jonathan blames Sue for Cheryl's departure and threatens to reveal her secrets. Cheryl arranges for her items to be sent to her. Jonathan notices that the removal firm use an address in Manchester and he tracks her down. Jonathan convinces Cheryl to reconcile but Calvert was due to leave Brookside. In the 1994 book, Phil Redmond's Brookside - Life in the Close, it was revealed that Jonathan was still living in London. It was also detailed that Jonathan and Helen had married off-screen and had two children together.

Reception Mike Hrano from TVTimes branded Jonathan a "decisive go-getter" type of character. In April 1993, writers of Inside Soap featured Laura's death and Jonathan's grief in their readers' "favourite soap memory" write up, which also praised Pinner's portrayal of Jonathan. In May 1996, Inside Soap reporters included Laura's death in their "golden moment in soap" feature. Of Jonathan and Laura, they stated that "before the arrival of the Farnhams, the Gordon-Davies held the title of resident yuppies." They added that their arrival shocked the other residents of Brookside Close and described their house as a "posh pad with sponged walls and cane furniture." A writer from Soap branded Jonathan a luckless character whose life was ruined by moving to Brookside Close. They added that "he understandably left the district." Francesca Babb from All About Soap included Laura's death and Jonathan becoming widowed in their "most memorable moments" of Brookside feature. She added that the couple's "happiness wasn't to be" and Jonathan "faced a future alone". In the book, "The Guinness Book of Classic British TV", it was noted that while Jonathan and Laura's marriage lasted longer than others, their "union was doomed" and ended in an unconventional manner.