Matt Musgrove

Matt Musgrove is a fictional character from the British soap operas Brookside and Hollyoaks, played by Kristian Ealey. The character debuted on-screen in Brookside, during the episode broadcast on 11 November 1998. Ealey was cast into the Musgrove family during a series of fast-paced auditions. The Musgroves are an Irish family that consist of several characters and move into Brookside Close. Matt is characterised as a crafty and money-orientated, but is often shown as a kind-hearted character. Matt's initial storylines feature him sharing scenes with the show's teenage characters. Writers created a comedy partnership between Matt and Bosko and together they create a series of money making scams. Citrine originally auditioned to play Matt and impressed producers, so they created the role of Bosko especially for him. In 1999, the Brookside's new producer Paul Marquess decided to write out the entire Murgrove family and change their storylines dramatically. Ealey was hired by Hollyoaks, which was produced by Mersey Television who also produced Brookside. This allowed Matt's character to transition into an entirely different soap opera, which was considered a first for the soap genre in the United Kingdom.