 He plans to travel to Australia to try to rebuild his relationship with Jonny, but his mother Val Pollard lies and tells him that Rodney has a heart condition, hoping to stop him leaving while Lily gets in touch with Jonny and arranges a meeting between him and Paul.While they both love each other, Paul tells Jonny he cannot leave Emmerdale because of his father's condition.However, on the day Jonny is due to fly out, Paul finds out his mother was lying and leaves for Australia

On 3 March 2008, Paul and Jonny made British television history by becoming the first couple on a primetime soap opera to enter a civil partnership since the Civil Partnership Act 2004 came into force on 5 December 2005.