''
Home and Away
''Home and Away'' (often abbreviated as ''H&A'') is an Australian television soap opera. It was created by Alan Bateman and commenced broadcast on the Seven Network on 17 January 1988. Bateman came up with the concept of the show during a trip ...
'' is an Australian television soap opera. It was first broadcast on the
Seven Network
The Seven Network (commonly known as Channel Seven or simply Seven) is a major Australian commercial free-to-air Television broadcasting in Australia, television network. It is owned by Seven West Media, Seven West Media Limited, and is one of ...
on 17 January 1988. The following is a list of characters that first appeared in that year, by order of first appearance. They were all introduced by the show's executive producer
Alan Bateman
William Alan Bateman (19 June 1936 – 18 August 2012) was an Australian film producer and television screenwriter, producer and director best known as the creator and original executive producer of the soap opera '' Home and Away'', the ser ...
who oversaw the serial before being succeeded by series producer Des Monaghan whose episodes first began airing in November. Sixteen of the original eighteen regular characters debuted in the pilot episode. The Fletcher family consisting of
Frank Morgan
Francis Phillip Wuppermann (June 1, 1890 – September 18, 1949), known professionally as Frank Morgan, was an American character actor. He was best known for his appearances in films starting in the silent era in 1916, and then numerous soun ...
,
Tom and
Pippa Fletcher
Philippa "Pippa" Ross (also Fletcher) is a fictional character from the Australian television soap opera '' Home and Away''. Actress Vanessa Downing originated the role and made her debut during the pilot episode broadcast on 17 January 1988. Dow ...
,
Carly Morris
Carly Lucini (also Morris) is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera ''Home and Away'', played by actress Sharyn Hodgson. She was one of the soap's original female protagonists, appearing as one of the Fletchers' foster children in ...
,
Steven Matheson
Steven Matheson is a character (arts), fictional character from the Australian Seven Network, Channel Seven soap opera ''Home and Away'', played by Adam Willits. Steven was created by Alan Bateman as one of the serial's original characters and h ...
,
Sally Keating
Sally Louise Fletcher (also Copeland and Keating) is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera ''Home and Away'', played by Kate Ritchie. She made her first screen appearance during the serial's pilot episode, which was broadcast on 17 ...
and
Lynn Davenport
''Home and Away'' is an Australian television soap opera. It was first broadcast on the Seven Network on 17 January 1988. The following is a list of characters that first appeared in that year, by order of first appearance. They were all introdu ...
were introduced first. Summer Bay residents
Alf Stewart,
Floss
Free and open-source software (FOSS) is a term used to refer to groups of software consisting of both free software and open-source software where anyone is freely licensed to use, copy, study, and change the software in any way, and the source ...
and
Neville McPhee
'' Home and Away'' is an Australian television soap opera. It was first broadcast on the Seven Network on 17 January 1988. The following is a list of characters that first appeared in that year, by order of first appearance. They were all introd ...
,
Bobby Simpson,
Donald Fisher
Donald George Fisher (September 3, 1928 – September 27, 2009) was an American billionaire businessman and philanthropist. He co-founded The Gap Inc. clothing stores with his wife Doris F. Fisher.
Early life and education
Fisher was born i ...
,
Ailsa Hogan,
Martin Dibble,
Lance Smart
Lance Smart is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera ''Home and Away'', played by Peter Vroom. Vroom appeared from the pilot episode as one of the serial's original characters. Lance is characterised a "slow witted ...
and
Matt Wilson also made their debuts. They were soon joined by Alf's daughter
Roo
Roo is a fictional character created in 1926 by A. A. Milne and first featured in the book ''Winnie-the-Pooh''. He is a young kangaroo (known as a joey) and his mother is Kanga. Like most other Pooh characters, Roo is based on a stuffed toy an ...
and sister,
Celia. In March,
Lyn Collingwood
Lyn Collingwood (born 6 September 1936, Sydney), credited also as Lynn Collingwood, is an Australian actress.
Biography
Collingwood was born IN Sydney, New South Wales in 1936, and did not start a career in the arts until later in life, she ...
arrived as Lance's mother,
Colleen. The same month,
Liddy Clark began playing
Kerry Barlow
''Home and Away'' is an Australian television soap opera. It was first broadcast on the Seven Network on 17 January 1988. The following is a list of characters that first appeared in that year, by order of first appearance. They were all introdu ...
and Amanda Newman-Phillips joined the cast as
Narelle Smart
Narelle Smart is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera ''Home and Away'', played by Amanda Newman-Phillips. Narelle debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 25 March 1988, but left the show just over six months ...
. In April, Gerry Sont began playing
Brett Macklin
''Home and Away'' is an Australian television soap opera. It was first broadcast on the Seven Network on 17 January 1988. The following is a list of characters that first appeared in that year, by order of first appearance. They were all introdu ...
, a love interest for Roo. Barbara Stephens and
Cornelia Frances
Cornelia Frances Zulver, OAM (7 April 1941 – 28 May 2018), credited professionally as Cornelia Frances, was an English-Australian actress. After starting her career in small cameos in films in her native England, she became best known for her ...
arrived in June as Alf's other sisters
Barbara Stewart Barbara Stewart may refer to:
* Barbara Stewart (composer) (1941–2011), American composer and musician
* Barbara Stewart (politician)
Barbara Joy Stewart (born 1952) is a former New Zealand politician. She is a member of the New Zealand First ...
and
Morag Bellingham
Morag Buckton (also Stewart and Bellingham) QC is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera ''Home and Away'', played by Cornelia Frances. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 7 June 1988. She appeared u ...
, respectively. July saw Simon Kay enter as Donald and Barbara's son
Alan Fisher Alan Fisher may refer to:
* Alan Fisher (broadcast journalist)
Alan Fisher is a Scottish broadcast journalist and war correspondent.
For many years he worked at GMTV, but now works for international news channel Al Jazeera English, where he is ...
. Gavin Harrison began playing
Revhead in August and was soon followed by
John Morris as
Philip Matheson
''Home and Away'' is an Australian television soap opera. It was first broadcast on the Seven Network on 17 January 1988. The following is a list of characters that first appeared in that year, by order of first appearance. They were all introdu ...
. That month saw the serial's first birth
Christopher Fletcher, son of the established Tom and Pippa. Another birth occurred in September,
Martha Stewart
Martha Helen Stewart (, ; born August 3, 1941) is an American retail businesswoman, writer, and television personality. As founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, she gained success through a variety of business ventures, encompassing pub ...
, daughter of Roo and Brett.
Sandie Lillingston
Sandra Lillingston is an Australian actress active between 1984 and 1997.
Career
Lillingston appeared as a presenter in a short 1983 documentary ''One Last Chance'' on the probation system in South Australia. Her first acting role was as the ...
joined the cast in the same episode as Brett's sister,
Stacey and in November, George Leppard guested as
Al Simpson.
Frank Morgan
Frank Morgan played by
Alex Papps
Alex Papps (born 11 February 1969) is an Australian actor, television host, writer and singer.
Early life
Papps, who is of Greek descent, was born in 1969, his parents where both amateur theatre directors. He attended Belgrave Kindergarten Up ...
debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 17 January 1988 and appeared until 1989. Frank was the first character to appear,
[ although a Police officer (Bruce Venables) spoke the first piece of dialogue.] Frank was played by Bradley Pilato in the scene, which was set in 1978 as a young Frank tries to escape from the Police officer.
Papps' casting was announced ahead of the series debut. In 1991, Papps reprised the role for four weeks. Papps also returned for guest appearances in 2000 and 2002 respectively. Eamonn McCusker of The Digital Fix said that Frank was a "decent-but-dim sort of man" and thought that Frank made a habit of walking down the aisle. Papps was still recognised as Frank in public despite mainly playing the role in his teenage years.
Tom Fletcher
Tom Fletcher played by Roger Oakley
Roger Oakley (born 21 August 1943) is a New Zealand actor and theatre director noted for his performances in television serials, mini-series, feature and television films. He is also active as a theatre performer, director and voice-over. Oakle ...
debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 17 January 1988. Ruth Deller of television website Lowculture
lowculture.co.uk is a UK television website founded in January 2003 by Paul Lang, who currently works as the art director of ''Doctor Who Adventures''.
Purpose
The website sought to celebrate popular television shows, especially 'low brow televis ...
described patriarch Tom "One of the nicest dad characters in soap, ever". The Soap Show called Tom the "first patriarch of ''Home and Away''."
Pippa Fletcher
Pippa Ross, played by Vanessa Downing
Vanessa Downing (born 5 May 1958) is an Australian actress and singer, voice artist and lawyer
Downing was appearing with singing group ''The Madrigals'', an acapella group who were performing at the Sydney Opera House, when she was given ...
made her first appearance in on 17 January 1988 in the serial's pilot. Downing left the serial in 1990 and Debra Lawrance
Debra Lawrance (born 1 January 1957) is an Australian actress.
She is best known for her role on '' Home and Away'', as Pippa Ross, which she played from 1990 to 1998, and has made a number of return appearances as the character, the most re ...
took over the role from until 1998 and has subsequently returned to guest star. In 1997, Lawrance quit the role and Pippa departed in 1998. Pippa was placed sixth in ''TV Week
''TV Week'' is a weekly Australian magazine that provides television program listings information and highlights, as well as television-related news.
Content ranges from previews for upcoming storylines of popular television programs, particu ...
's'' list of the "Top 10 Aussie TV mums".
Sally Fletcher
Sally Louise Fletcher played by Kate Ritchie
Katherine Leigh Ritchie is an Australian actress, radio presenter and children's author, she remains best known for her long-running role as original character Sally Fletcher on the television soap opera '' Home and Away'', for which she won tw ...
made her first appearance in the Pilot episode airing on 17 January 1988, departed on 3 April 2008, returned on 15 July 2013 and departed again on 5 September 2013 Ritchie auditioned for the role of Sally in front of executive producer John Holmes in 1987. Her audition scene was all about strawberry jam and Sally's imaginary friend Milco. Ritchie has won various awards for her role as Sally including Most Popular Actress awards in 2006, 2007 and 2008 at The Logie Awards and Most Popular Personality.
Steven Matheson
Steven Matheson played by Adam Willits
Adam Charles Willits (born 18 February 1972) is an Australians, Australian former actor, best known for being an original cast member of the television soap opera ''Home and Away'' as foster child Steven Matheson from 1988 to 1991. In 1995, Wil ...
made his first appearance on 17 January 1988 in the serial's pilot. Willits departed in 1991 but returned in 1995 as a regular and remained until 1996 and has made sporadic guest appearances from 1997 to 2008. Willits was offered the role of Steven in 1987 .[ Oram 1989, p.97.]
Willits described Steven's development as slow because he remained "a bit of a dork". He added that Steven was destined for "exciting things". A columnist for ''Inside Soap
''Inside Soap'' is a weekly magazine published in the United Kingdom, released every Tuesday. It covers current and future storylines in soap operas in the United Kingdom, including '' Coronation Street'', ''Doctors'', ''EastEnders'', ''Emmerdal ...
'' said "once the school swat and a bit of a square, he grew up into a egghead who couldn't get a girl. Duller than one of Alf Stewart's bowling club cheese and wine parties, quiet Steven Matheson seemed destined to stay single." Of his return in 1995, they opined Steven no longer had trouble finding a partner but had a "problem" finding one his own age.
Carly Morris
Carly Morris, played by Sharyn Hodgson
Sharyn Hodgson (born 25 August 1968) is an Australian former actress, best known as an original character in TV serial ''Home and Away'' playing troubled teenager Carly Morris (later Luccini), she has subsequently returned to the role guest app ...
made her first appearance on 17 January 1988 in the serial's pilot episode. Hogdson left the serial in 1991 but returned for guest spots in 1997, 2000, 2002 and 2008. Her character Carly's rape was a key factor in the serial's rise in ratings. and was heralded as "very brave territory for a prime-time soap". Hodgson defended the storyline, saying "In ''Home and Away'' we show life as it really happens. It's not irresponsible to show attacks, unwanted pregnancies or people turning to alcohol. It's realistic and it shows we are confronting these problems. The thing about having a foster family as the main characters is that they do have trauma in their lives. Seeing how they cope must help people". Hodgson researched the storyline by calling the Rape Crisis Centre, reading articles and watching documentaries.
Lynn Davenport
Lynn Davenport played by Helena Bozich, made her first appearance on 17 January 1988 in the serial's pilot and departed on 25 August 1988.
Bozich auditioned for the role of Lynn while attending the Johnny Young Talent School. While filming for the series, the actress had a tutor to help her complete her school certificate. In the ''Home and Away Annual'' written by Melanie J Clayden, she describes Lynn as being a "mistake" from birth and could never do any right where her parents were concerned.[ Lynn had run away from home several times due to the tension and arguments between her parents. Lynn was soon placed in care but ran away again and as a result the child services decided to send her to a foster home. Lynn was placed in the care of Pippa (Vanessa Downing) and Tom Fletcher (Roger Oakley); who were experienced in dealing with difficult children.][ J Clayden 1989, p.52.] Lynn was later written out of the series as Bozich took a fifteen-week break. The serial's producer Alan Bateman
William Alan Bateman (19 June 1936 – 18 August 2012) was an Australian film producer and television screenwriter, producer and director best known as the creator and original executive producer of the soap opera '' Home and Away'', the ser ...
said that the character would have a "very dramatic return". Bateman told a reporter from ''Sunday Mail TV Plus'' that a large cast meant that some characters such as Lynn needed to be "rested".
Lynn is the youngest of Barry Barry may refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Barry (name), including lists of people with the given name, nickname or surname, as well as fictional characters with the given name
* Dancing Barry, stage name of Barry Richards (born c. 19 ...
(Michael Caton
Michael Caton (born 21 July 1943) is an Australian television, film and stage actor, comedian and television host, best known for playing Uncle Harry in the Australian television series ''The Sullivans'', Darryl Kerrigan in 1997's low-budget hi ...
) and Julie
Julie may refer to:
* Julie (given name), a list of people and fictional characters with the name
Film and television
* ''Julie'' (1956 film), an American film noir starring Doris Day
* ''Julie'' (1975 film), a Hindi film by K. S. Sethumadhava ...
's (Olivia Brown) seven children. The Davenports treated Lynn so badly that she was put into a children's home at the age of 10, where she befriended Sally (Kate Ritchie). Both Lynn and Sally were fostered by Pippa and Tom Fletcher and the family move to Summer Bay. Lynn runs away from home after Eric, the family's pet dog dies after being poisoned. She hides out on a farm and where befriends an autistic Greek boy, Nico Pappas (Nicholas Papademetriou
Nicholas Papademetriou is an Australian actor of Greek Cypriot descent with many television, film and theatre credits. He is a graduate of Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. He has had an extensive career in film and television sinc ...
) who lives with his grandmother. After Lynn is found and the locals accuse Nico of kidnapping her, she is quick to rise to his defence. After Carly Morris (Sharyn Hodgson) is raped and Nico is institutionalised for attacking Donald Fisher (Norman Coburn), Lynn who is a Christian begins to lose her faith in god but later regains it. Barry visits Lynn at the Fletchers and Lynn thinks she may able to go home. However, Carly overhears a conversation between Barry, Tom and Pippa where Barry reveals he and Julie do not have enough time for her but cannot tell Lynn the truth. Several months later, Julie makes a televised appeal for Lynn to return home and she does. Lynn returns shortly after Pippa gives birth to a new-born son, Christopher
Christopher is the English language, English version of a Europe-wide name derived from the Greek language, Greek name Χριστόφορος (''Christophoros'' or ''Christoforos''). The constituent parts are Χριστός (''Christós''), "Jesus ...
(Ashleigh Bell-Weir).
Alf Stewart
Alf Stewart portrayed by Ray Meagher
Raymond Francis Meagher (born 4 July 1944) is an Australian actor, who has appeared in Australian film and television since the mid-1970s. He is notable as the longest continuing performer in an Australian television role, portraying Alf Stewa ...
. The character debuted on-screen during the serial's pilot episode on 17 January 1988. Meagher is the only remaining original cast member still present. Meagher holds a Guinness World Record
''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a reference book published annually, listing world ...
as the longest-serving actor in an Australian serial for portraying Alf since 1988. As of 2011 he is the only remaining original cast member still present. In 2010 Meagher took a break from ''Home and Away'', so he could travel to London to star in the West End production of ''Priscilla Queen of the Desert
''The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert'' is a 1994 Australian road comedy film written and directed by Stephan Elliott. The plot follows two drag queens, played by Hugo Weaving and Guy Pearce, and a transgender woman, played by Tere ...
'' Hampshire
Hampshire (, ; abbreviated to Hants) is a ceremonial county, ceremonial and non-metropolitan county, non-metropolitan counties of England, county in western South East England on the coast of the English Channel. Home to two major English citi ...
culture website Get Hampshire branded Alf a "legendary misery-guts".[ They also said he is commonly known for his use of declining Australian slang with sayings such as "flamin' mongrel".] For his portrayal of Alf, Meagher was nominated for Most Popular Actor at the 2008 Digital Spy Soap Awards
Digital Spy (DS) is a British-based entertainment, television and film website and brand and is the largest digital property at Hearst UK. Since its launch in 1999, Digital Spy has focused on entertainment news related to television programmes, ...
. In 2010, Meagher won the Gold Logie
The Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television, commonly referred to simply as the Gold Logie, is an award presented annually at the Australian Logie Awards.
The Gold Logie was first awarded at the 2nd Annual TV We ...
at the Logie Awards
The Logie Awards (officially the TV Week Logie Awards; colloquially known as The Logies) is an annual gathering to celebrate Australian television, sponsored and organised by the magazine ''TV Week''. The first ceremony was held in 1959 as the ...
.
Neville McPhee
Neville McPhee, played by Frank Lloyd
Frank William George Lloyd (2 February 1886 – 10 August 1960) was a British-born American film director, actor, scriptwriter, and producer. He was among the founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and was its president ...
, first appeared on 17 January 1988 and departed on 10 March 1989. Neville and his wife Floss
Free and open-source software (FOSS) is a term used to refer to groups of software consisting of both free software and open-source software where anyone is freely licensed to use, copy, study, and change the software in any way, and the source ...
(Sheila Kennelly
Sheila Kennelly (born 28 December 1936Willingham, Margot "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Australian Showbiz"Oram, James "Home and Away" Behind the Scene's'' published by Angus and Robertson also credited as Sheila Kenneally, is a British-born ...
) were described as a "funny old pair". Neville and Floss are retired cicus performers who live in their Gypsy Caravan in the Summer Bay Caravan park. They welcome the arrival of The Fletcher Family who have arrive from the city and purchase Summer Bay house and caravan park from Alf Stewart and take over the running of the park, unbeknownst to them Neville is covering for street kid Bobby Simpson ( Nicolle Dickson) who is hiding on suspicion of burglary by keeping her hidden in a disused van. His wife Floss, who is a fortune teller warns Neville about Bobby as she senses and tells him that Bobby may cause the death of one of the Fletchers. Neville dismisses this and continues befriending Bobby. When his bagpipes are destroyed, Neville blames Lance Smart
Lance Smart is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera ''Home and Away'', played by Peter Vroom. Vroom appeared from the pilot episode as one of the serial's original characters. Lance is characterised a "slow witted ...
(Peter Vroom) and Martin Dibble (Craig Thomson) but the real culprit is Sally Keating
Sally Louise Fletcher (also Copeland and Keating) is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera ''Home and Away'', played by Kate Ritchie. She made her first screen appearance during the serial's pilot episode, which was broadcast on 17 ...
(Kate Ritchie
Katherine Leigh Ritchie is an Australian actress, radio presenter and children's author, she remains best known for her long-running role as original character Sally Fletcher on the television soap opera '' Home and Away'', for which she won tw ...
), who cut the bagpipe open to let "Mr. Haggis" – a creature Neville told her about- out of the pipe. Floss begins to miss their son, Scott (Peter Ford) and decides to go the city to visit him, Neville refuses to talk to Scott as relations are sour. After Floss learns Scott is overseas and has a son, Ben
Ben is frequently used as a shortened version of the given names Benjamin, Benedict, Bennett or Benson, and is also a given name in its own right.
Ben (in he, בֶּן, ''son of'') forms part of Hebrew surnames, e.g. Abraham ben Abraham ( he, ...
(Justin Rosniak
Justin Rosniak (born 11 May 1977) is an Australian television and film actor, best known for his appearances in the television series '' Packed to the Rafters'', ''Police Rescue'', ''Squinters'' and ''Mr Inbetween''.
Career
Rosniak appeared ...
), she begins posing as a nanny. Neville warns her against this but Floss continues. When Floss brings Ben to Summer Bay, she and Neville are forced to reveal their identities as his grandparents. Ben tells them he wants to live in Summer Bay with them after staying with them for several days. Scott arrives at the caravan park and angrily retrieves Ben. Neville and Floss follow him back to the city and camp out on his lawn, refusing to leave until he speaks to them. In the end, they are forced to leave, breaking Ben's heart. After seeing how upset Floss is on Mother's Day, Neville returns to the city and chastises Scott for not visiting or at least calling Floss. Scott reluctantly agrees and brings his wife Anna
Anna may refer to:
People Surname and given name
* Anna (name)
Mononym
* Anna the Prophetess, in the Gospel of Luke
* Anna (wife of Artabasdos) (fl. 715–773)
* Anna (daughter of Boris I) (9th–10th century)
* Anna (Anisia) (fl. 1218 to 12 ...
(Kate Turner) and Ben to spend the day on the beach with Neville and Floss and the family put the past behind them.
Neville receives an offer from his old ringmaster who gives him job back and he and Floss decide to leave the bay. The McPhees try to make a quiet exit by leaving a note on their caravan and they drive off. The car breaks down and the Fletchers find them and give them an emotional goodbye. They later send a telegram to Carly Morris
Carly Lucini (also Morris) is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera ''Home and Away'', played by actress Sharyn Hodgson. She was one of the soap's original female protagonists, appearing as one of the Fletchers' foster children in ...
(Sharyn Hodgson
Sharyn Hodgson (born 25 August 1968) is an Australian former actress, best known as an original character in TV serial ''Home and Away'' playing troubled teenager Carly Morris (later Luccini), she has subsequently returned to the role guest app ...
) and Ben Lucini
Benito "Ben" Lucini is a fictional character from the Australian television soap opera '' Home and Away'', played by Julian McMahon. The character made his first screen appearance on 27 February 1990. McMahon wanted to appear in another prime-time ...
(Julian McMahon
Julian Dana William McMahon (born 27 July 1968) is an Australian actor, former model, and the son of a former Prime Minister of Australia, Sir William McMahon. He is best known for his roles as Detective John Grant in '' Profiler'', Cole Turn ...
) on their wedding day. When Floss returns to Summer Bay in 2000, ahead of Sally's wedding to Kieran Fletcher (Spencer McLaren
Spencer McLaren (born 28 February 1973, Sydney) is an Australian theatre actor and television actor. The 1999 NIDA graduate is most well known for his starring role on the Australian television drama, ''The Secret Life of Us'', as Richie Blake; ...
), she tells her Neville died four years earlier after leading a happy and full life.
Floss McPhee
Floss McPhee, played by Sheila Kennelly
Sheila Kennelly (born 28 December 1936Willingham, Margot "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Australian Showbiz"Oram, James "Home and Away" Behind the Scene's'' published by Angus and Robertson also credited as Sheila Kenneally, is a British-born ...
first appeared on 17 January 1988 and departed on 10 March 1989. She made return guest appearances between 2000 and 2008.
Kennelly received a fan letter from a viewer in Queensland who had read she lived on a farm in the Hunter Region
The Hunter Region, also commonly known as the Hunter Valley, is a region of New South Wales, Australia, extending from approximately to north of Sydney. It contains the Hunter River and its tributaries with highland areas to the north and so ...
. The letter arrived in less than a week. Floss and her husband Neville were described by Lucy Clark of ''The Sun-Herald
''The Sun-Herald'' is an Australian newspaper published in tabloid or compact format on Sundays in Sydney by Nine Publishing. It is the Sunday counterpart of ''The Sydney Morning Herald''. In the 6 months to September 2005, ''The Sun-Herald' ...
'' as "A Funny Old Pair".
Bobby Simpson
Bobby Simpson, portrayed by Nicolle Dickson first appeared on 17 January 1988 and remained in the series until 1993. Dickson was awarded the Most Popular New Talent at the 1989 Logie Awards for her portrayal of Bobby. and was nominated in the category of "Most Popular Actress" at the 1991 Logie Awards. A columnist for ''Inside Soap
''Inside Soap'' is a weekly magazine published in the United Kingdom, released every Tuesday. It covers current and future storylines in soap operas in the United Kingdom, including '' Coronation Street'', ''Doctors'', ''EastEnders'', ''Emmerdal ...
'' described Bobby as a "tearaway" who eventually became the "pillar of the community".
Donald Fisher
Donald Fisher, played by Norman Coburn
Norman Coburn (born 6 March 1937) is an Australian former actor best known for his television serial and soap opera roles. He started his early career in theatre, film and television in the United Kingdom in the late 1950s.
Coburn became famous ...
made his first appearance on 17 January 1988. Coburn's long-running portrayal of Fisher earned him a place in the 2002 Guinness World Records
''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a reference book published annually, listing world ...
alongside cast mates Ray Meagher and Kate Ritchie.
Ailsa Stewart
Ailsa Stewart played by Judy Nunn
Judith Anne Nunn ( AM) (born 1945 in Perth, Western Australia), (also published under the pen name of Judy Bernard-Waite), is an Australian fiction author, former theatre and television actress and radio and television screenwriter. Nunn was a ...
made her first appearance on 17 January 1988 and remained in the serial until 2000. The character has been described as a "much-loved maternal disciplinarian".
Martin Dibble
Martin Dibble portrayed by Craig Thomson, made his first on-screen appearance on 17 January 1988, the show's pilot episode and left the show on 3 April 1990. Thomson landed the role after appearing in a soft drink advertisement. Robyn Harvey from ''The Sydney Morning Herald
''The Sydney Morning Herald'' (''SMH'') is a daily compact newspaper published in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and owned by Nine. Founded in 1831 as the ''Sydney Herald'', the ''Herald'' is the oldest continuously published newspaper ...
'' opined that Martin was just "a big dag". A columnist '' Daily Record'' branded Martin and Lance Smart the "thickest characters ever to grace soapland" by a columnist from the '' Daily Record''.
Lance Smart
Lance Smart, portrayed by Peter Vroom made his first appearance on 17 January 1988 and departed on 11 April 1990. Vroom made subsequent returns throughout the 2000s.
Lucy Clark of ''The Sun-Herald
''The Sun-Herald'' is an Australian newspaper published in tabloid or compact format on Sundays in Sydney by Nine Publishing. It is the Sunday counterpart of ''The Sydney Morning Herald''. In the 6 months to September 2005, ''The Sun-Herald' ...
'' described Lance and Martin as "Two surfie blokes who are thick as two short planks". Clive Hopwood wrote in his book ''Home and Away Special'' that Lance lacked enough intelligence that he had "difficulty knowing which way round to sit on a bicycle.[ Hopwood 1990, p.46.]
Matt Wilson
Matt Wilson played by Greg Benson, made his first appearance on 17 January 1988.
Benson was initially credited as "Surfer" in the serial's pilot episode before joining the show on an episodic basis as Matt.[ Oram 1989, p.125.] Clive Hopwood praised Benson for his portrayal of Matt saying it was "Natural" and no surprise that he took to the role "like a duck or, rather a lifeguard, to water.
Roo Stewart
Roo Stewart originally played by Justine Clarke
Justine Clarke (born 16 November 1971) is an Australian actress, singer, musician, author and television host. She has been acting since the age of seven and has appeared in some of Australia's best-known TV shows. She is best known as a presen ...
, currently played by Georgie Parker
Georgina Parker (born 16 December 1964) is an Australian television soap actress and has also appeared in film and theatre. She is a double Gold Logie winner, best known for her acting roles in Australian soap operas; as Lucy Gardiner (later T ...
, made her first on-screen appearance on 20 January 1988. Clarke originally auditioned for the roles of Carly Morris
Carly Lucini (also Morris) is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera ''Home and Away'', played by actress Sharyn Hodgson. She was one of the soap's original female protagonists, appearing as one of the Fletchers' foster children in ...
, Lynn Davenport
''Home and Away'' is an Australian television soap opera. It was first broadcast on the Seven Network on 17 January 1988. The following is a list of characters that first appeared in that year, by order of first appearance. They were all introdu ...
and Bobby Simpson; but was unsuccessful each time. The producers later invited Clarke to audition for the role of Roo, which she won. Clarke told a reporter from ''TV Life'' that she was "really pleased" because she though Roo was a "great character". Ausculture named Roo fifth on their Top Ten Aussie Soap Villains list. They called Roo "evil" for trying to break up Alf's relationship with Ailsa, lying to and trying to marry Frank, leaving him at the altar and later having an affair with him. Andrew Mercado described Roo as Alf Stewart's (Ray Meagher
Raymond Francis Meagher (born 4 July 1944) is an Australian actor, who has appeared in Australian film and television since the mid-1970s. He is notable as the longest continuing performer in an Australian television role, portraying Alf Stewa ...
) "Minxy teenage daughter" in his book, ''Super Aussie soaps: behind the scenes of Australia's best loved TV shows''.
Celia Stewart
Celia Stewart played by Fiona Spence made her first on-screen appearance on 26 January 1988 and remained until 20 April 1990, following Spence's decision to leave. Spence reprised her role as Celia in 2005 for the serial's 4000th episode based around Alf Stewart's (Ray Meagher
Raymond Francis Meagher (born 4 July 1944) is an Australian actor, who has appeared in Australian film and television since the mid-1970s. He is notable as the longest continuing performer in an Australian television role, portraying Alf Stewa ...
) 60th birthday. In 2012, Spence's management announced that she had reprised her role and returned to ''Home and Away''. Celia is described as a "gossip" and a "busybody" . Andrew Mercado wrote in his book, ''Super Aussie Soaps'', that she was a "prudish" character. Spence herself, described Celia as "very vulnerable".[ Oram 1989, p.111.]
Colleen Smart
Colleen Smart, played by Lyn Collingwood
Lyn Collingwood (born 6 September 1936, Sydney), credited also as Lynn Collingwood, is an Australian actress.
Biography
Collingwood was born IN Sydney, New South Wales in 1936, and did not start a career in the arts until later in life, she ...
, made her first appearance on 7 March 1988 and departed 23 May 2012. Colleen was introduced into the serial as a recurring character in 1988 until 1989. Colleen mainly served as a source of comic relief
Comic relief is the inclusion of a humorous character, scene, or witty dialogue in an otherwise serious work, often to relieve tension.
Definition
Comic relief usually means a releasing of emotional or other tension resulting from a comic episo ...
and acted as the busybody type character. Colleen was reintroduced again in 1999 with Collingwood reprising the role. Collingwood was nominated at the 2007 ''Inside Soap'' Awards in the category of "Funniest Performance" for her portrayal of Colleen.
Kerry Barlow
Kerry Barlow, played by Liddy Clark, debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 9 March 1988 and remained until 15 April 1988.
When ''Home and Away'' started gaining viewers over the evening news airing on a rival channel, the Seven Network planned ways to keep the viewers interested.[ In the book ''Home and Away: Behind the Scenes''; James Oram said that "special episodes" were promoted via "intensive campaigns" on the channel, with the most successful being a domestic violence storyline which featured Kerry.][ The character becomes a victim to her husband, Sam Barlow's (Jeff Truman) alcohol-fuelled anger. The storyline aired at a time when the Australian government published a report detailing that one in five nationals thought it was okay to beat women. Clark felt "appalled" while portraying the issue. She told Oram that she found playing Kerry "a very frightening experience".][ The actress had never played a victim before and she found it so distressing that she ruled out playing a similar role in the future. She said that it was "important to note" that her character was beat up as a result of Sam drinking to excess. Clark added her belief that alcohol was one of the main contributors to domestic violence.][ Oram 1989, p.123.]
Kerry is Sam's wife and the mother of their daughter Sandra (Catherine McColl-Jones). When Sam is demoted at work, he takes his frustrations out on Kerry and Sandra physically, resulting in both being hospitalised. Kerry is then used by Sam to hold Sandra prisoner in her room. Kerry helps Sandra escape and she contacts Sergeant Bob Barnett (Rob Baxter) who tries to apprehend Sam. Sam disarms Barnett and takes his gun, holding him and Kerry hostage. Tom Fletcher
Thomas Michael Fletcher (born 17 July 1985) is an English singer, musician, songwriter, composer, author and vlogger. He is one of the lead vocalists and rhythm guitarist of English pop rock band McFly, in addition to being the group's founder ...
(Roger Oakley
Roger Oakley (born 21 August 1943) is a New Zealand actor and theatre director noted for his performances in television serials, mini-series, feature and television films. He is also active as a theatre performer, director and voice-over. Oakle ...
), Steven Matheson
Steven Matheson is a character (arts), fictional character from the Australian Seven Network, Channel Seven soap opera ''Home and Away'', played by Adam Willits. Steven was created by Alan Bateman as one of the serial's original characters and h ...
(Adam Willits
Adam Charles Willits (born 18 February 1972) is an Australians, Australian former actor, best known for being an original cast member of the television soap opera ''Home and Away'' as foster child Steven Matheson from 1988 to 1991. In 1995, Wil ...
) and Ailsa Hogan (Judy Nunn
Judith Anne Nunn ( AM) (born 1945 in Perth, Western Australia), (also published under the pen name of Judy Bernard-Waite), is an Australian fiction author, former theatre and television actress and radio and television screenwriter. Nunn was a ...
) arrive. Tom tries to disarm Sam after he points the gun at Sandra but Kerry is killed in the process. She was the first person to die on Home and Away
Narelle Smart
Narelle Smart played by Amanda Newman-Phillips, debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 25 March 1988. Newman-Phillip's role garnered her recognition as one of the most famous soap stars in the United Kingdom and she was tipped by her agent to replace Kylie Minogue
Kylie Ann Minogue (; born 28 May 1968) is an Australian singer, songwriter and actress. She is the highest-selling female Australian artist of all time, having sold over 80 million records worldwide. She has been recognised for reinve ...
of ''Neighbours
''Neighbours'' is an Australian television soap opera, which has aired since 18 March 1985. It was created by television executive Reg Watson. The Seven Network commissioned the show following the success of Watson's earlier soap '' Sons an ...
'' as the "number one" soap star.
Brett Macklin
Brett Macklin played by Gerry Sont made his first appearance on-screen during the episode airing on 11 April 1988. Sont returned to filming in 2005 and was involved in a storyline with the character of Josie Russell (Laurie Foell
Laurie Foell (born Laurence Foel on 10 February 1968) is an Argentinian-born Australian actress. She is best known for her portrayal of both Angela "Angie" Russell and her cousin Josie, in the successful Australian television soap opera ''Ho ...
).
Brett begins dating Roo Stewart
Ruth "Roo" Stewart (also Morgan) is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera '' Home and Away'', played by Justine Clarke from 1988 to 1989. The character made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 20 January 19 ...
(Justine Clarke
Justine Clarke (born 16 November 1971) is an Australian actress, singer, musician, author and television host. She has been acting since the age of seven and has appeared in some of Australia's best-known TV shows. She is best known as a presen ...
) after her father Alf Stewart (Ray Meagher
Raymond Francis Meagher (born 4 July 1944) is an Australian actor, who has appeared in Australian film and television since the mid-1970s. He is notable as the longest continuing performer in an Australian television role, portraying Alf Stewa ...
) sends her to Boarding School in Sydney. When Frank Morgan
Francis Phillip Wuppermann (June 1, 1890 – September 18, 1949), known professionally as Frank Morgan, was an American character actor. He was best known for his appearances in films starting in the silent era in 1916, and then numerous soun ...
(Alex Papps
Alex Papps (born 11 February 1969) is an Australian actor, television host, writer and singer.
Early life
Papps, who is of Greek descent, was born in 1969, his parents where both amateur theatre directors. He attended Belgrave Kindergarten Up ...
) arrives to visit Roo, he sees Brett and punches him. Brett soon learns Roo is pregnant and tells her to have an abortion but she refuses and runs away. Brett later learns of Roo's plan to convince Frank to marry her and pass the child off as his. Brett then tells Roo that a recent case of the mumps has left him infertile and conspires with her aunt Morag Bellingham
Morag Buckton (also Stewart and Bellingham) QC is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera ''Home and Away'', played by Cornelia Frances. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 7 June 1988. She appeared u ...
(Cornelia Frances
Cornelia Frances Zulver, OAM (7 April 1941 – 28 May 2018), credited professionally as Cornelia Frances, was an English-Australian actress. After starting her career in small cameos in films in her native England, she became best known for her ...
) to get custody of the child. In the aftermath of Frank and Roo's failed wedding, Brett and Morag try to convince Roo to surrender custody to him but she lies and tells them she aborted the child. Brett then involves his lawyers and provokes the ire of Alf, who punches him just before a discussion at Morag's house. Brett agrees to call off legal proceedings if he is a part of the child's life. Morag hosts a dinner party and Brett tries to get Alf and his sister Celia Stewart ( Fiona Spence) onside with a business proposition for an investment into a development his family are planning. Brett offers Frank a job and he accepts. Frank then does some digging to expose evidence Brett's resort development of being a fraud. Brett then causes problems between Alf and Ailsa. Bobby Simpson ( Nicolle Dickson) publicly humiliates Brett in revenge by accepting a date but getting together with Frank.
Brett conspires with Roo to fake her labour but her contractions begin for real. Brett's father Gordon
Gordon may refer to:
People
* Gordon (given name), a masculine given name, including list of persons and fictional characters
* Gordon (surname), the surname
* Gordon (slave), escaped to a Union Army camp during the U.S. Civil War
* Clan Gordon, ...
(Ron Haddrick
Ronald Norman Haddrick (9 April 1929 – 11 February 2020) was an Australian actor, cricketer, narrator and presenter. In 2012, he received the Actors Equity Lifetime Achievement Award for his long and distinguished career in media, spanning s ...
) arrives when the baby is born but refuses to have anything with the child because she is female and berates Brett. Brett falls into a depression after being cut off by Gordon and books into the Caravan Park. His sister, Stacey (Sandie Lillingston
Sandra Lillingston is an Australian actress active between 1984 and 1997.
Career
Lillingston appeared as a presenter in a short 1983 documentary ''One Last Chance'' on the probation system in South Australia. Her first acting role was as the ...
) arrives to take over the business. Brett then decides he wants custody of his daughter Martha MacKenzie
Martha MacKenzie (also Stewart and Holden) is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera '' Home and Away'', played by Jodi Gordon. Martha made her first on-screen appearance on 8 September 1988. She was originally played ...
(Burcin Kapkin) and blackmails Roo into handing her over by threatening to stop the development meaning, Alf and every other investor in the Bay will lose their money. Roo reluctantly complies. Brett then grabs Martha and flees to Melbourne
Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...
with Stacey and Philip Matheson
''Home and Away'' is an Australian television soap opera. It was first broadcast on the Seven Network on 17 January 1988. The following is a list of characters that first appeared in that year, by order of first appearance. They were all introdu ...
( John Morris) in hot pursuit. Philip tries to stop Brett but he slams his hand in the car door causing permanent damage. While on the run, Brett struggles to cope with Martha and is forced to take her to a hospital. The police are called and Martha is returned to Roo. Brett and Roo decide neither of them are capable of raising the child and agree to put Martha up for adoption.
Brett tries to apologise to Phillip but he refuses to accept his apology. Brett then contemplates suicide but is stopped by Jeff Samuels
''Home and Away'' is an Australian television soap opera. It was first broadcast on the Seven Network on 17 January 1988. The following is a list of characters that first appeared in that year, by order of first appearance. They were all introdu ...
(Alex Petersons). After a long chat with Stacey, he decides to leave. Brett resurfaces when Martha, now 18 years old, tries to get in contact with him after rejecting an earlier attempt. Brett becomes involved with Josie romantically and professionally to develop a new resort on the Caravan Park. Brett is unaware Josie is working to bring down his shady dealings and when he realises, he tries to kill her by shoving her off a cliff and he is arrested as a result.
Morag Bellingham
Morag Bellingham played by Cornelia Frances
Cornelia Frances Zulver, OAM (7 April 1941 – 28 May 2018), credited professionally as Cornelia Frances, was an English-Australian actress. After starting her career in small cameos in films in her native England, she became best known for her ...
made her first on-screen appearance on 7 June 1988. Frances has played the role of Morag on a recurrent basis over twenty-three years Emily Dunn writing for ''The Sydney Morning Herald
''The Sydney Morning Herald'' (''SMH'') is a daily compact newspaper published in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and owned by Nine. Founded in 1831 as the ''Sydney Herald'', the ''Herald'' is the oldest continuously published newspaper ...
'' branded Morag a "fearsome judge". The ''Sunday Mercury
''Sunday Mercury'' is a Sunday tabloid published in Birmingham, UK, and now owned by Reach plc.
The first edition was published on 29 December 1918. The first editor was John Turner Fearon (1869–1937), who left the Dublin-based ''Freeman's ...
'' branded her as "the frightening Morag". Whilst the '' Sunday Mail'' call her a "tough lawyer". Keily Oakes writing for the BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
In his book, ''Super Aussie Soaps'', Andrew Mercado describes Morag as the "snooty sister" out of the Stewart siblings.
). Barbara Stephens originated the role in 1988 and returned in 1989.
briefly took over the role when the character returned to the serial. In 2005 as a part of Alf's 60th birthday celebrations, Stephens reprised the role.
Ann Fay portrayed a younger Barbara in flashbacks in 1989. In 2010, in a flashback to Alf's childhood, a young Barbara was portrayed by Charlie Wynne.
Barbara is first seen on the phone to ex-husband Donald, to say she will be attending of the wedding of her niece
). Barbara is unable to attend as Alan is involved in a surfing accident. The following week, Barbara arrives in Summer Bay and announces she has landed a job at the local High School where Donald works, much to his chagrin. They clash over various issues. They eventually make peace and Donald invites Barbara to dinner, but she assumes he is only trying to get back together with her and leaves again. More arguments ensue as Barbara enrols Alan into year twelve, and then reveals to Donald he has an inoperable Brain tumour. After Alan's misbehaviour becomes too much, Barbara throws him out but forgives him when he tries to build bridges with those he has hurt. When Alan dies, Barbara and Donald continue clashing but make their peace. Barbara leaves for the city and tells Donald part of her will always love him. In early 1989,
) confronts Barbara assuming she is her biological mother and asks why she gave her away. Barbara tells her she is not her real mother. Several years later Barbara returns to the bay at the same time Donald is experiencing strange things happening at home. It emerges that Barbara is trying to kill him to obtain his life savings. Rebecca (now played by
) discovers the truth and Barbara is arrested and later committed to a mental institution. Alf shortly disowns her but they reconcile when she returns for his sixtieth birthday party in 2005.
Alan Donald Fisher, played by Simon Kay, debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 4 July 1988. In the book ''Home and Away: Behind the Scenes''; James Oram describes Alan as a "confused adolescent who wanted nothing more than the love and respect of his father".