Steph's relationships were a focal point of many reviews. The "Daily Mirror" Nicola Methven and Polly Hudson found a 2004 love triangle between Steph, her sister Debbie and love interest Dan Hunter (Andrew McNair) "surprising compelling". Grace Dent of "The Guardian" observed of her failed engagement to Fernando: "With the best will in the world, I don't feel that marriage was ever going to last". Dent had previously named Steph singing the Sugababes' "About You Now" at Max's funeral one of her four favourite soap moments of 2008. Roz Laws of the "Sunday Mercury" felt there was "plenty of chemistry" between Steph and Gilly.