During his time on the programme, Charlie gradually became the show's main antagonist after being transpired to have a narcissistic, manipulative and despicable streak. This became evident during most of the character's story arc, which saw Charlie spark a relationship local landlady Shelley Unwin (Sally Lindsay) - whom he ends up mistreating, up to the point where he clashes with her interfering mother Bev (Susie Blake), before she eventually jilts him at their wedding. He then went on to proceed in forming a close friendship with his colleague Jason Grimshaw (Ryan Thomas); instigate a feud with Shelley's ex-husband Peter Barlow (Chris Gascoyne) after assaulting him; embark on an affair with Jason's girlfriend Maria Sutherland (Samia Smith); attempt to drown local teenager David Platt (Jack P. Shepherd) in retribution for the latter trying to blackmail him; and repeatedly clashes with Maria's best friend Claire Peacock (Julia Haworth) over his antagonistic nature.