Paul Lambert
DOB: 3rd August, 1974
Marital status: Separated from Jonny Foster
Address: Victoria Cottage
Occupation: Barman
First arrived
September 2004. Paul is the nephew of pub landlord Diane Blackstock and when he arrived the villagers didn’t really know what to make of him, especially with his flighty mother Val being a complete contrast to her sister.
Character reference
Paul had a difficult upbringing. By the age of 10 he was his mother’s protector and that hasn’t changed for he’s always getting her out of trouble. Paul is gay, which is something that he has always known and accepted, although others around him found it difficult at first, particularly his father, Rodney Blackstock. Paul’s alter ego is his drag act ‘Thelma Louise’, but she hasn’t been out for a while now.
Love life
Love was the last thing Paul was looking for when he arrived in the village as he was nursing a broken heart following his split with Enzo after a nine-year relationship. But when he caught the eye of local binman, Ivan Jones, neither of them could control their feelings. Both men struggled with the relationship as Ivan wanted to keep it a secret as no one in the village knew he was bisexual. After many ups and downs it looked like Paul and Ivan had finally found happiness – until Nicola stepped in and tried it on with Ivan. The binman never forgave Paul’s lack of trust in him and he moved to South America.
Paul became friendly with bisexual lawyer Grayson Sinclair after rescuing him from being gay-bashed in a local park. Paul then also bonded with Grayson's paranoid wife, Perdy, and the two became firm friends. It was clear Grayson had developed an interest in Paul, but nothing happened between them.
Paul then started dating Home Farm farrier Jonny Foster, a friend of Perdy's. Jonny eventually proposed to Paul and he accepted, although it was obvious he had cold feet about the 'marriage' from day one. When Perdy was sectioned after her evil mother-in-law made it look like she had lost her mind, Paul was there to comfort Grayson and the pair ended up sleeping together. But Paul was devastated when Grayson told him it meant nothing and would go no further. Paul made a tearful confession to Jonny, who, after much soulsearching, decided to forgive him. They were married on 3rd March 2008.
But it wasn't meant to last. Jonny found out that Katie, who was carrying Perdy and Grayson's child, planned on keeping the baby from Grayson. Jonny told Paul what he knew and when Grayson guessed what Katie was up to, Jonny assumed Paul had broken his confidence and warned the lawyer. Their trust was broken and Jonny realised that Grayson would always be between them. Jonny left Paul and the village and has since filed for a divorce.
Memorable moment
- When his mother told him that ‘Uncle’ Rodney was in fact his father at Diane’s wedding to Jack.
- When Paul finally gave in to temptation and slept with Grayson.
What next for Paul?
Paul is single again after his relationship with bisexual Grayson Sinclair ruined his civil partnership with Jonny Foster. Will he find love again any time soon?
About the actor
Mathew Bose used to be a model but turned to acting, winning his first role at the age of 23. Along with Emmerdale, Mathew has also starred in Cutting It, Silent Witness and Coupling. Mathew has also taken to the stage, appearing in, among others, A Song at Twilight at the Gielgud Theatre.
