Name: Vincent Alexandrou Patterson Jr.
Actors: Carlo Teodorowych & Jack Monger, Max Theoharis & Marcus Spinetti, Jack Riddle, Harry & James Roberts, Nicholas & Cameron Stevens, Cooper Scott, Felix Dean
Episodes: 3190 - present
Parents: Vincent Patterson, Leah Patterson-Baker, Dan Baker (step-father)
Siblings: Ryan Baker (step-brother)
Poor VJ Patterson didn't have the best start in life as his father Vinnie was arrested just moments after he was born. His mother Leah began raising him alone, with help from his father's ex-cellmate Jesse McGregor. It was Jesse who acted as a father figure to young VJ when, at six months old, it was discovered he had a problem with his hearing and needed a cochlear implant operation, to repair it. On his first birthday VJ was watching a video of his father dressed as a clown when Leah received a call to say that Vinnie had died in prison on the day he was due to be released.
With his mother Leah acting as a surrogate mother for Sally Fletcher and Flynn Saunders and moving on and later splitting with Jesse, VJ spent an awful lot of time with grandmother Stella in The City or Colleen at The Caravan Park. He seemingly slept through a siege in his house when his mother and The Bay residents were held hostage by crazed Sarah Lewis and gained a new father figure when his mother got together with Dan Baker.
On his second birthday VJ was delighted to receive a surprise visit from a a giant, friendly bear. A letter left by 'the bear' revealed that it was in fact his father Vinnie, not dead but in witness protection who had come to say goodbye. With his mother Leah choosing not to follow Vinnie into witness Protection she began to forge a new life with Dan. VJ soon gained a step brother in the run up to Leah and Dan's wedding, when Dan's troublesome son Ryan arrived. Things were thrown into further disarray when Ryan's equally troublesome mother, Amanda arrived on the scene but neither of them succeeded in preventing the wedding and VJ getting a new Dad.
Leah's new relationship was not without problems though when step-father Dan got into debt through gambling and VJ's life was threatened. Leah and Dan split up and Dan began drinking, even going so far as to be drunk in charge of VJ. A curious VJ drank the remnents of alcohol while in Dan's house with Dan asleep and promptly collapsed. He was rushed to hospital but survived and although initially furious, his Mum eventually forgave step-dad Dan and they became a family once more.
With Dan back at The Patterson House and Ryan and VJ's cousin Drew living at the house full time, VJ got his first experience of a proper family. He and Ryan regulary played with Drew and he established a close bond with Dan. His Uncle Alex returned to the bay and spent a lot of time minding VJ but when VJ found a lot of tablets in his backpack and nearly took them, he was only just stopped in time. Unknown to VJ they were illegal drugs and Alex was sent away in disgrace.
He was upset when Ryan chose to go back and live with his Mum in the city following Dan's job offer in America but it was nothing compared to how upset he was hen he found out Dan had died in an abseiling accident. Ryan and Amanda returned for the funeral and VJ and Ryan shard a touching moment in bed with Leah where she told them they were still a family.
In the aftermath of Dan's death, VJ hung around a lot with Miles. His mother though wasn't keen on VJ spending so much time with Miles and stopped him from seeing him. VJ ran away from her while in the Den but turned up safe and well at Miles house. Leah allowed him to see Miles again but after Miles forged a relationship with Kirsty she changed her mind. VJ rebelled and began giving his mother a lot of grief.
At the nippers he misbehaved so badly that she took him home and later when Colleen was minding him he ran away and got trapped in a storm drain. Jai rescued him but Annie was trapped trying to help him and VJ was made to feel very guilty. He had a heart to heart with Leah and confided that he missed Dan. She agreed to let him spend time with Miles again and they started going on regular fishing trips.
He caught Bridget snooping in this mother's things but bought her lie about wanting to organise a surprise for Leah. He did let Rachel in on the secret though after she asked him if Leah had mentioned anything.
He was kidnapped by Brian Lawler in an attempt to get hold of Leah's money. He almost escaped twice, the first time on his own and the second time when his mum arrived to rescue him but Brian managed to keep hold of him both times. He was finally rescued after a police chase and reunited with his mother.
When he heard that Leah was dating again he began playing up for Leah, causing her to stop dating George. Meanwhile he complained that he had nobody to practice soccer with until Roman offered to help. He was devastated to learn that Leah and Roman were dating because Roman was his friend but he came round after Roman was injured in an accident.
Whilst spending time with Miles he discovered a severed hand in the sand and was traumatised. He recovered after a chat with Roman.**He was less enamoured with Gardy, who scared him with a story about playing football with severed heads. He seemed to get on well with Robert Robertson, who fed him a story about being given an alliterative name because he wanted to be a superhero.
VJ began acting in a moody manner and didn't seem to have any friends to hang out with. He threw a water bomb at a car containing Miles and Ruby when they stopped for him at a zebra crossing and although he escaped Miles realised he was responsible when he recognised his bag at the Diner. Leah gave him a serve but didn't notice bruises on his leg. Having also disabled the parental guidance on the computers at the Diner, allowing customers to access adult sites, VJ admitted he was being bullied by older boys. When Miles was attacked after sticking up for him, Romeo persuaded him to stand up to his tormentors and VJ revealed his bully, Riley, was responsible. However, Miles' attempt to handle the situation led to him being charged with assault. VJ was ignored by the other boys at school, so much that Leah considered moving him. After a newspaper article portrayed Miles as the villain of the piece, VJ angrily confronted Riley and threw his bag into the sea. He then overheard Riley's dad shouting at him for getting his mobile phone wet and told Miles, Leah and Alf, which led to the charges being dropped.
VJ was slightly bemused when he listened in on Charlie discussing her and Angelo's relationship with Leah and was initially unhappy to hear that Leah was dating Elijah, aware that her relationships tended to end in misery, but Elijah's stories of school humiliation soon won him round, as did a game of football. He was shocked when he overheard Leah and Elijah discussing Vinnie's relatively recent death, angry to know that Leah had kept the fact he was alive from him. He asked to speak to Elijah, who told him how Vinnie had spoken of him often before he died, helping him understand the situation. He spent days repeatedly watching the video Vinnie had made for him before going to prison and when Elijah suggested taking him and Leah to Vinnie's grave VJ readily agreed. The road trip caused the three of them to bond and gave VJ a sense of closure.
VJ was pleased when Elijah offered to take his class spelunking but the trip was a disaster as the caves were declared unsafe because of the rain and then their bus was stolen. The class took refuge in a barn, unaware there was a gas leak inside, and had all passed out before Miles found them and got them into fresh air. Afterwards, Leah and Elijah decided to cheer him up by holding an "I Almost Died But I Didn't" party. VJ was unfazed by the news that Leah and Elijah were getting married and seemed to cope with Lijuan and Song's visit equally well, even if he did end up having to wear earplugs to cope with their snoring.