Jake Valentine is the son of Craig Valentine, the Head of Shortland Street's Emergency Department. 

Intelligent and confident, Jake is successful at just about anything he tries, and as a consequence he doesn't try very hard at anything. His good-looks have already made an impact on the girls at his new school Ferndale High, but Jake has other ideas. 

He's determined to help make the world a better place - this means taking some time out from school, but Jake figures he knows all the stuff school has to teach him. 

Jake's mother left him, his father and his quiet sister Scarlett when Jake was six.  He never understood why - or forgave his father who he blamed for driving her away, although meeting his mother Paula at Christmas went some way towards cementing a new understanding with Craig. 

In 2005, Jake's time was rather occupied with newcomer Claire Solomon, wayward sister of ex hospital CEO Andrew. Claire challenged Jake to do things he would normally never do and for the first time, he started to get into trouble, serious trouble.

It took him a while and a lot of heart ache, but dumping Claire is probably the smartest move he's made so far. His plans to go to university in 2006 could see a new maturity emerge in Jake. Craig's little boy is finally growing up.