Friday, September 6, 2013

Dossiers on all the characters from Neighbours

Note: I am only covering the racers in the game.

Also, I'm copying all these things from Wikipedia, because I'm too lazy and whatnot.

Scott Robinson


Scott Robinson, the game's sole playable character, was originally played by Darius Perkins when the character debuted. When the show moved from Seven to their rival network Ten, he was replaced by Jason Donovan due to lack of reliability on the set.

Jason Donovan would later go on to be one of British music's biggest teen heart-throbs of the late '80s, thanks in part to music moguls/producers Stock/Aitken/Waterman. This song was his first of a handful of singles.

Background


Scott was born to Jim and Anne Robinson in 1968, as their third child. At the age of seven, Scott gained a baby sister, Lucy, but lost his mother while she gave birth. Helen Daniels, Scott's grandmother helped Jim raise Scott and his other siblings.

1985-1989


Scott was close friends with neighbor Danny Ramsay.

In early 1986 Scott noticed someone breaking into Number 24, the house next door to his. On challenging the intruder he received a punch for his troubles. Madge Mitchell came upon the scene to discover it was her daughter Charlene, who hadn't seen Scott since they were children. Also in early 1986 Scott befriended another new neighbor, Mike Young (Guy Pearce).

Scott and Charlene began dating and went through a few teething problems. They subsequently became engaged much to the chagrin of their respective parents Jim and Madge. Helen acted as a mediator and pointed out that Jim and Anne had been roughly Scott and Charlene's age when they got married. Jane Harris starts to help Scott with his HSC retakes, but they become close and kiss. Charlene wants nothing to do with either of them upon finding out. Jane eventually convinces Charlene to give Scott another chance.

On 1 July 1987, Scott and Charlene were married. A year later, Charlene got an apprenticeship in Brisbane and was forced to make the difficult choice of leaving Erinsborough. Scott stayed on at Number 24 and followed Charlene a year later when he got a transfer to a Queensland newspaper. Neither Scott nor Charlene were seen again in the series after their departures for Queensland. It was reported that Scott and Charlene later had two children, a son Daniel and daughter named Madison.

Charlene Mitchell
(Charlene Robinson)


Charlene Robinson (née Mitchell) was played by none other than Kylie Minogue, who would go on to great success as a singer throughout the late '80s and beyond. She and Scott would prove to be enduring characters in the show's legacy. The Mitchells and the Robinsons had feuded for years, but when they married, it attracted 20 million viewers in the UK alone. This song would be her first single and would be her ticket out of the show and into an even bigger music/show business career.

Background


Charlene Mitchell was born in Coffs Harbour to Fred and Madge Mitchell in 1969 and she is the younger sister of Henry. Charlene grew up into a rebellious tomboy who was the apple of her father's eye. Charlene often visited her uncle Max Ramsay and his family in Erinsborough and she became friends Scott Robinson. Charlene lost her virginity to her boyfriend Greg Davis and she fell pregnant, but Charlene made the decision to have an abortion. Her parents divorced after Fred had an affair with a younger woman, Susan Cole, and Madge decided to move to Ramsay Street. Charlene stayed behind in Coff's Harbour, but when she and her father began to fight, she decided to move to Erinsborough.

1986–88


On her arrival in Ramsay Street, Charlene found no one at home and she decided to climb through a window. Scott Robinson mistook her for a robber and tried to stop her and Charlene punched him. Once Scott realized his mistake, he and Charlene remembered their mutual attraction towards each other. Charlene then moved in with Madge at No. 24 and she and Scott began dating. As their relationship continued, Scott put pressure on Charlene to have sex with him and when she agreed, they booked a room at Lassiter's hotel. Charlene then decided to tell Scott about her first sexual relationship with Greg back home. Scott was upset that it wasn't going to be Charlene's first time and left the hotel, leaving Charlene upset. After he talked through his problems with his older brother, Paul, Scott apologized to Charlene.

When Charlene came home with a newborn baby, she claimed it was hers. Madge was shocked and hurt that Charlene had hid the pregnancy from her and so was Scott. Madge then got used to the idea of being a grandmother, however, Charlene revealed that the baby, Sam, was actually her half-brother. Charlene had agreed to care for the baby, after Fred walked out on Susan. Madge felt sorry for Susan and Sam and invited them to live with her and Charlene. Scott and Mike Young decided to record a music demo to send to various record producers and Scott asked Charlene to do backing vocals. Scott wasn't happy when the record producer, Molly Meldrum arrived in Ramsay Street looking to sign Charlene. Charlene agreed to go and see if she liked the recording industry, but when she got to the studios she realized she wasn't interested and decided to complete Year 12 instead. Scott later came to realize that he had been jealous of Charlene's talent and apologized to her.

During a split from Scott, Charlene began dating Warren Murphy. Charlene and Warren started to drink and stay out late at parties, Madge argued with Charlene and told her to pack her bags and leave. Charlene moved into a caravan by Lassiter's lake, but the caravan later went up in flames. Scott and Paul saved Charlene and she got back together with Scott and returned home to Madge. After completing her exams, Charlene chose to become a mechanic, but found it difficult to get an apprenticeship in Erinsborough. Max found her one in Brisbane and Madge tried to get Charlene to take the opportunity. However, Charlene knew that taking the job would mean leaving Scott behind, but she eventually chose to take the job. When it came for her to leave, Charlene realized she couldn't leave Scott and decided to stay. Soon after, Charlene's was offered an apprenticeship by Rob Lewis at his garage.

Charlene and Scott decided they wanted to move in together, but Madge and Scott's father, Jim were against the idea and tried to stop them. Scott's grandmother, Helen Daniels and Charlene's brother, Henry supported the couple and tried to get Madge and Jim to change their minds. Scott then decided that the only way he and Charlene could be together was through marriage. One day at the garage, Scott interrupted Charlene and asked her to marry him. Charlene immediately said yes and they became engaged. Madge and Jim gave them their blessings and Jim gave Charlene his late wife's gold cross and chain. Charlene was happy when Henry and Madge gave her the wedding dress she had longed for, but couldn't afford. Charlene and Scott finally married in a fairytale ceremony surrounded by family and friends. The couple moved in with Madge and Henry, but found it hard to make ends meet and Charlene was forced to work at the Coffee Shop to help support them. The couple's marriage faced a problem when Scott kissed Charlene's best friend, Jane Harris. Jane told Charlene about the kiss and Charlene angrily threw Scott out of the house. They separated for a month, during which various family members tried to get the couple reconciled. Finally, Charlene and Scott got back together and Charlene even forgave Jane.

Charlene then found herself attracted to her driving instructor, Steve Fisher. After passing her test, Charlene kissed Steve and began to spend more time with him. However, Charlene confessed to Scott about the kiss and he moved out of their room. They eventually made up and decided to look for their own place. Charlene's grandfather Dan visited the couple and told them he had bought a house for them in Brisbane. Charlene and Scott were happy and began making plans to move up north, but Scott was not able to get a transfer from his job and didn't want to risk losing out on his dream of being a journalist. The couple then decided that Charlene should go to Brisbane, while Scott waited for a transfer. Charlene said a sad goodbye to her family and friends and drove out of Ramsay Street for a new start in Brisbane with Scott joining her a year later. A few years later, it was announced that Charlene had given birth to a son, Daniel and a daughter, Madison.

Mike Young


Mike Young was played by Guy Pearce. He got the role by writing letters for auditions to several television companies, and Grundy Television (who owned Neighbours at the time) picked him up. After his Year 12 exam, he debuted right when the show debuted on Ten.

He recently played King Edward VIII in The King's Speech.

Background


Mike and his mother, Barbara, lived in fear of being beaten and abused by Mike's father, David, throughout Mike's young life. This meant Mike grew up into a lonely, quiet young man who did not socialise much until he began attending Erinsborough High School and becomes good friends with Charlene Mitchell (Kylie Minogue) and Scott Robinson.

Through his friendship with Scott, Mike comes to Ramsay Street and befriends Scott's neighbour, Daphne Clarke, who cares for him, later giving him a part-time job at her coffee shop. Mike opens up to Daphne and Des about his problems at home with his father and Daphne tries to get Mike and Barbara away from David. However, Barbara is too scared of her husband and she does not want to leave, but Mike is determined to go and moves in with Des and Daphne when they offer to become his legal guardians. Mike briefly dates Scott's cousin Nikki Dennison, but he later falls for Jane Harris when she moves in with her grandmother, Nell Mangel). Jane falls for Mike straight away, but it takes a while before Mike realizes his feelings due to Jane's plain image. Helen Daniels and Daphne give her a makeover for a school dance, which consists of replacing her glasses with contacts, a new haircut and makeup. Mike likes her new image and they begin dating. Mrs Mangel is not happy that her granddaughter is dating Mike and when she receives letters about Mike's reputation with other girls, Mrs Mangel stops Jane from seeing him. Daphne eventually catches school bully, Sue Parker, posting the letters and Sue explains that she is jealous of Mike and Jane's relationship. Mrs Mangel then lets Jane and Mike continue dating. When Nikki returns to Ramsay Street, Mike helps comfort her when she discovers her mother is ill, leading Jane to become jealous of their friendship. Mike becomes jealous when Shane Ramsay shows an attraction to Jane, but she tells Mike that he is the only one for her.

Following their final exams, Jane focuses on her modelling career and Mike decides to become a teacher. As they are leading separate lives, Jane and Mike split up amicably and remain friends. Not long after, Daphne is killed in a car crash and Mike is left feeling guilty as he had not been around for a few weeks. Mike is angry and upset and he finds the two men who had crashed into Daphne's car. He attacks them and is later arrested. When Mike finishes university, he gets a job teaching Maths at Erinsborough High. Mike becomes close to one of his students, Jessie Ross, who admits that she has an abusive father too. Mike confronts her father and becomes close to Jessie, even sharing a kiss with her. The principal sees them together and suspends Mike, who decides to leave Erinsborough for a while.

On his return, Mike finds Des and Jane have forged a strong friendship. Mike becomes moody as he settles back in. When Jenny Owens comes to see him, it is revealed that Mike and Jenny took a ride on his motorbike and had an accident. Jenny fell from the bike and was left paralyzed and using a wheelchair for the rest of her life. Mike blames himself for Jenny's condition and could not bring himself to accept that the event was an accident. Jenny eventually convinces him that it was not his fault. At the same time, Des and Jane begin dating and Mike is disgusted with the both of them. He refuses to accept the relationship and leaves Erinsborough again. He returns in the middle of Des and Jane's engagement party and he interrupts it. Mike eventually accepts that Des and Jane love each other and gives them his blessing. Mike begins to feel like there is not much left for him in Erinsborough and when he hears that his mother had been in a plane crash, and with his father long dead, Mike decides to leave Ramsay Street and join her to help her recovery.

Matt Robinson


Matt was portrayed by Ashley Paske. His role as Matt Robinson on Neighbours is perhaps his best known work. He is now a voice actor.

Backstory


Matt was born in Adelaide in 1972, the product of a love affair between Hilary Robinson and Barry Dwyer. When Barry left Hilary, she subsequently adopted Matt out to a family friend, Margaret Williams. Hilary spent most of Matt's life watching him grow up from afar and found it difficult, so she would visit her family in Erinsborough as often she could. 17 years later, after finding out the truth Matt came to Erinsborough along with Hilary, in order to get to know his birth mother a bit better.

1989-1991


Matt arrives at Number 30 with Hilary, initially as a house guest and surprises Sharon Davies, who is staying there, who was expecting him to be much older and stuffier. Matt quickly makes friends with Sharon and her boyfriend, Nick Page (Mark Stevens). Matt later attends Erinsborough High and agrees to help Nick out in a skateboarding competition against Nick's nemesis, Bruce Zadro.

When Hilary mentions Matt's father in a conversation, Matt, knowing that Hilary is his biological mother, presses her further and she reveals that she had given him up for adoption because she was young at the time. When Sharon begins to get suspicious, Hilary tries to keep Matt's identity secret from her and the rest of the Neighbours. Matt urges Hilary to tell the truth, but she is adamant she will not.

Matt has enough and threatens to return to Adelaide, Hilary thinks he is bluffing and tells him she won't be emotionally blackmailed. Matt is serious and only when he mentions it at the engagement party of Des Clarke and Jane Harris, Hilary reveals the truth to everyone that Matt is her son. Shortly after, Matt decides to change his surname to Robinson.

After losing in a practice quiz, it is revealed Matt is dyslexic. Matt's teacher Mike Young agrees to help him with his studies.

When Toby Mangel and Tiffany "Lochy" McLachlan discover a house they believe to be haunted, Matt scoffs but when Lochy runs into the house, he follows her to find the "ghost" is teenage run away Lee Maloney.

Matt and Lee become friends and he offers for her to stay with him, Hilary and Sharon at Number 30 and Hilary's neighbour, Kerry Bishop lends Lee some spare clothes. When Hilary returns home to discover Lee in a towel and jumps to conclusions about Lee and Matt. Matt quickly invents a story that Lee is an old friend from Adelaide whose belongings were lost on the bus. Once the truth emerges about the lie, Hilary is quick to throw Lee out but grudgingly relents when Matt asks her to let Lee stay.

After an argument, Matt kisses Lee and they begin dating. Over Christmas 1989, Matt goes home to spend Christmas with his adoptive parents. On his return, he is suspicious of Nick and Lee spending so much time together. Nick assures him they're just friends and they spent a lot of time together while Matt and most of their friends were away.

Matt's decision to drop out of school and become an apprentice mechanic for Hilary's cousin, Jim is met with initial reservation from Hilary but after realizing it is what Matt wants to do, she gives him her blessing. Barry Dwyer, Matt's biological father arrives in Erinsborough and Matt meets him at Lassiter's. Matt and Barry have a conversation and Matt decides he doesn't want to complicate things further as he's happy with Hilary and his adoptive parents.

After Hilary moves back to Adelaide, Matt and Lee move into a flat but quickly leave when the landlord begins hassling Lee. They begins squatting at the emptied Number 30. After Jim finally catches the couple, he comes up with a solution; Matt stay at Number 26 and Lee at Number 28. On the day of Nick's departure for London, Lee disappears leaving Matt a letter.

Matt's 18th birthday approaches and he is no mood to celebrate, but after Kerry and her husband, Joe Mangel have a talk with him, he feels better and later he receives another letter from Lee, telling him about her new job up North. After an argument with Jim, who is having marital difficulties with his wife Beverly, Matt moves in with Des and Melanie Pearson at Number 28.

When Gemma Ramsay arrives to stay with her aunt, Madge Bishop, Matt falls for her and they begin dating. Madge is opposed as Gemma is in her final year of school, but the couple continue seeing each other. After Des sells Number 28 to the Willis family, Matt moves in with Joe and supports him when Kerry is shot dead during a protest. Shortly after Kerry's funeral, Matt shocks Gemma with his revelation that he was in love with Kerry but knew nothing could come of it as she was Joe's wife. Gemma is stunned but understanding, much to Matt's surprise.

At the end of 1990, Matt and Gemma are involved in a serious motorcycle accident when Matt swerves to avoid a reversing lorry. Both are taken to hospital, Matt escapes with stitches in his leg, a bruised arm and mild concussion, while Gemma is told she may lose a leg. Tom Ramsay, Gemma's father blames Matt for the accident and tells him to keep away from Gemma. Matt and Tom eventually build bridges before Tom leaves for Brisbane.

Gemma's boyfriend, Aidan Devlin arrives back in Erinborough, with the intention to win her back. Matt is annoyed by this and punches Aidan. Matt and Gemma then break up and Matt leaves Erinsborough to take care of Hilary's house in Adelaide. Matt later sends Melanie a postcard to say he is enjoying himself in Adelaide.

Bronwyn Davies


Bronwyn was played by Rachel Friend. She had an acting career that lasted a few years before she switched to journalism in 1991.

Storylines


Bronwyn was born in Narrabri, N.S.W. She has a sister named Sharon and shares romances with several boys at Erinsborough High School, including Henry Ramsay. During an argument, she accidentally pushes him Henry Ramsay down some steps. Believing him unconscious, Bronwyn rushes to his side and cried. Shortly after, Henry proposes to Bronwyn, but Gordon Davies tries to talk Bronwyn out of marrying Henry, whom he dislikes. Bronwyn assures Henry that they would marry in time. The relationship finally breaks down after an affair with Mike Young. Eventually she decided to marry Henry and moved to New Zealand.

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