EastEnders star Matthew James-Bailey’s ‘scandalous’ new role is worlds away from evil Craig

He may look a bit menacing but I’d rather spend time with Jeremy than Craig (Picture: Lime Pictures/BBC) You may recognise him as sinister detective, grooming pervert, head-smashed-in Craig Ingram in EastEnders. Or perhaps you’re more familiar with him as all round decent guy, resident goofball, wedding car jam Ethan Williams in Hollyoaks. If you’re a proper soap fan, like me, you will know Matthew James-Bailey from both. But as Craig lies potentially dead on a Walford bathroom floor having been clunked over the head by true Mitchell, Amy (Ellie Dadd), Matthew is already telling me about his very different new role – one that is actually available to watch now! The popular actor stars as Jeremy in Make Me a Match, a 60 episode vertical comedy drama. For the uninitiated (god, where have you BEEN?), is a scripted series is created, filmed, and formatted to be watched on a smartphone in portrait mode – an emerging trend for the young folk like me (*cough*). To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The perfect relationship might be a stretch (Picture: Lime Pictures) It’s billed as ‘scandalous, charming and delightfully messy’ – but enough about me. The twist-filled new series follows a matchmaker whose most personal assignment sparks an unexpected forbidden romance and you can access it now on the app epis. Roseberry and Lime Media have united to put together the unique drama. ‘Bumbling fool’ Jeremy is one of the lead characters, involved in a seemingly perfect relationship with partner Stevie (played by Hayley Sheen) – but there’s more to it than meets the eye. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. I needed more information, so I hit up pal of Metro and all round decent chap Matthew for the gossip. ‘Jeremy certainly has his own way of doing things. Whether that’s morally right or wrong…’ he teased to me, leaving me to draw my own conclusions. I’m putting my bets on wrong. ‘One of the things I love most about acting is getting to explore completely different personalities. Having played Ethan in Hollyoaks as this goofy loveable rouge to possibly one of the most evil men in the country with Craig in EastEnders, it’s been really refreshing to step into Jeremy’s Lawyer world. Jeremy and Stevie – happy ever after? Unlikely, there are 60 micro eps to fill! (Picture: Lime Pictures) Jeremy is a respite from the horrors of evil EastEnders villain Craig (Picture: BBC) ‘There’s something quite fun about playing a character where you can really lean into the heightened emotions and drama of the story. With Jeremy, I’ve had the opportunity to explore this man who’s desperate to hang onto his relationship but also trying to balance out his professional life and as an actor it’s been a lot of fun and definitely a lot lighter than Craig. ‘Hopefully audiences will enjoy watching Jeremy bumble around this world.’ Like Matthew’s stints in Hollyoaks and EastEnders, Make Me A Match is very much an ensemble piece, pulling together other actors and TV personalities such as Liam Byrne, Love Island favourite Molly Grace Marsh, and Chloe Veitch of Too Hot To Handle fame. TV actors Scott Coker, Kit Williams, Christine Walsh, and Rebecca Campora make up the roster. So how is Matthew selling it? ‘I think viewers should prepare themselves for a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. ‘One of the brilliant things about Make Me a Match is that just when you think you’ve figured out where the story is heading, something else comes along to completely throw you off. ‘There’s plenty of drama, some unexpected moments, and definitely a few situations that’ll have people shouting at their phones. ‘I don’t want to spoil anything because I think half the fun is watching everything unfold, but I’d say don’t get too comfortable with your first impressions of anyone.’ In a nutshell... Set against the glamorous and fiercely competitive world of elite matchmaking, Make Me a Match follows ambitious dating expert Stevie Miller, whose carefully curated life begins to unravel when she takes on her most personal assignment yet: fulfilling her late best friend’s final wish by helping her grieving husband find love again. But as Stevie guides Adam back into the dating world, an unexpected attraction threatens to upend everything — her career, her seemingly perfect relationship and her loyalty to the woman they both loved. With professional rivalries, buried feelings and scandalous secrets complicating the search for true love, Stevie must decide whether following her heart is worth risking everything she’s worked to build. Blending sharp comedy, emotional romance and irresistible twists, Make Me a Match delivers a modern love story about grief, ambition, friendship and second chances, told through the fast-paced, cliffhanger-driven format of vertical television. The format of vertical viewing is relatively new but emerging as extremely popular. But, as Matthew explains, there are a lot of differences to filming for it – ones that he excitingly embraces. ‘It’s actually quite a different experience! Coming from shows like Hollyoaks and EastEnders, you’re used to working in a very established television format, whereas vertical dramas are almost an entirely different beast,’ he explained. ‘Everything is much more intimate because you’re filming specifically for a phone screen. The framing is tighter, the pacing is quicker, and every little expression can carry so much more weight. There’s nowhere to hide really! ‘What I love about it is that the storytelling is incredibly fast-paced. You’re constantly moving from one dramatic moment to the next, which is great fun as an actor. It definitely keeps you on your toes. Scandal, twists and chaos are promised (Picture: Lime Pictures) Let’s hope Jeremy fares better than mashed Hollyoaks groom Ethan (Picture: Lime Pictures) ‘I think it’s really exciting to be part of a format that’s changing how audiences consume drama.’ With very clear and infectious enthusiasm, he added: ‘Genuinely, I think people will be surprised by how quickly they get hooked. ‘We’re so used to watching things on our phones now, whether that’s TikTok, Instagram or YouTube, so having a fully scripted drama designed specifically for that experience feels like quite a natural progression. ‘The episodes are short, the storytelling is punchy, and there’s almost always something happening that makes you want to watch the next one. It’s dangerously easy to tell yourself you’re only going to watch one episode and suddenly realise you’ve watched ten and you’ve got your snacks all over your bed. ‘I think there’s sometimes a misconception that because something is filmed vertically or designed for a phone, it’s somehow less of a production than traditional television. But there’s a huge amount of work, creativity and talent that goes into making these shows and I was so lucky to work with those amazing talents on Make me a Match. ‘Ultimately, good storytelling is good storytelling, regardless of whether you’re watching it on a television or holding it in your hand. ‘Honestly, just give it a go!’ You heard the man. You can access Make Me A Match on your devices via the microdrama app epis. 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