insight in to Tony's character that we don't get in Hollyoaks, and I actually found myself feeling for a character that is normally written to be deliberately irritating". Another critic for Inside Soap felt Hollyoaks was back to a high standard before adding that "Tony Hutchinson has been on fine comedy form following the disastrous transformation of his garden by 'Charlie Dimmock'". Inside Soaps Lucy said that "You've got to feel sorry for Hollyoaks's Tony Hutchinson ... Give the man a break!" Following Tony's relationship with Mandy becoming troubled. Lucy's colleague Sam also reviewed the storyline saying: "Feel sorry for Tony? Oh get over it! He deserves everything he's got coming to him. What is Mandy doing with him anyway? He's far too old, a total fuddy duddy, and has had the same naff hairstyle for seven years!" While reflecting on "some of soap's more memorable business ideas", an Inside Soap writer, on Tony's business ideas, said: "Tony Hutchinson, is not so much the king of money-making schemes - more of an old skin-flint ... he came up with the idea of recycling all his guest's used water ... When his recycling racket was discovered, his claims that it was just an innovative method of being environmentally friendly wouldn't wash - we all knew it was just his cheap-skate way of reducing his water bill! However, to this day his roses continue to bloom strangely well". Inside Soap critic Sam expressed disinterest in a storyline in which Tony and Ruth kiss, questioning if they have "gone back in time or something?" Merle Brown of the Daily Record bemoaned the lack of realism in Tony's storylines saying: "why on earth would Izzy go out with Tony? Yes, she's slightly irritating, but in the real world would a man like Tony honestly have a constant stream of girlfriends?" During the Enjoy The Ride storyline, Inside Soaps Sarah said "there are standout performances from some of my all-time favourite Hollyoaks stars" which she said included Pickard. Hollyoak's series producer Jo Hallows described Tony as a "fantastic" character and opined that Pickard had made the role his own. She went on to say that Tony is "easy to write for, because you can throw any story at him, both serious and frivolous, and you know that Nick will make a good job of it. He'll make you laugh and he'll also make you cry".