Tug is characterised as a "bad boy" teenager. Tempany Deckert who plays Selina Roberts described Tug as a "rough renegade" who had lost his way but "finally got back on the straight and narrow with the help of various foster parents". A writer from the show's official website described Tug as a "hardened, streetwise tough kid, who lived up to his nickname". Bancks told Monroe of "TVTimes" that he thought Tug "had a much harder time" in life because the writers decided upon a "such a silly name". Lisa Anthony from "BIG!" magazine reported that Tug would go "b-for-bonkers" at his headteacher Donald Fisher (Norman Coburn), burn his tie and walk out of the school. Bancks told Anthony that he sympathised with Tug because "everyone has problems at school" and added that he did not go to "the lengths" that Tug did. Bacnks explained to Ally Oliver from "Inside Soap" that Tug's persona changed through the writing. He "liked" the character when he first began portraying Tug's journey. "He was pretty tortured, but the writers softened him up a lot and it's difficult to play against the script your given." While interviewed by "Soap's" Angie Taylor, the actor described Tug as being a character who "has to be tough and able to stand up for himself". But at the same time Tug remains likeable and sometimes he can be "very unlikeable". Bancks opined that there is always a need for a bad guy in certain parts of storylines. The fact that Tug's personality had mellowed was viewed as a positive change of character by Bancks. He explained to Taylor that it helped him play Tug and stated "I do like him and I like playing him because he's so far removed from myself. I can relate to the character - otherwise I wouldn't be able to play him - but he's very different to me." Towards the end of Tug's tenure, Bancks had transformed a "troubled" character into a popular one that appealed to teenagers. Bancks opined that Tug's backstory was responsible for developing the connection with viewers; more so with those who had a difficult upbringing empathised with Tug. His mother conducted an affair and abandoned him with an alcoholic father who constantly disappointed him. Bancks concluded that "so many things have gone wrong for Tug that he's lost his self-confidence".