Adam Willis (Neighbours)

Last updated

Adam Willis
Neighbours character
Adam Willis (Neighbours).jpg
Portrayed byIan Williams
Duration1990–1991
First appearance9 August 1990
Last appearance13 September 1991
Classification Former; regular
Introduced by Don Battye
In-universe information
OccupationMedical student
Chauffeur
Labourer
Doctor
Family Willis
Father Doug Willis
Mother Pam Willis
BrothersJohn Willis
Brad Willis
Sisters Gaby Willis
Cody Willis
Wife Gemma Ramsay
Daughters Roxy Willis
Grandfathers Bert Willis
Seamus Beresford
Grandmothers Moina Beresford
Aunts Faye Hudson
First cousins Cameron Hudson

Adam Willis is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours , played by Ian Williams. He made his first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 9 August 1990. Williams was cast in the role in early 1990, but did not start filming until June because he had work commitments to another television project. News outlets claimed producers cast Williams to replace former fan-favourite cast members, a claim the actor found insulting.

Contents

He is introduced as the eldest child of Doug (Terence Donovan) and Pam Willis (Sue Jones). He is characterised as a studious medical student who does not want to follow his father's example of working on a building site. He is Pam's favourite child and she has high hopes for his medical career. Writers devised romance stories for the character alongside fellow newly introduced characters Caroline Alessi (Gillian Blakeney) and Gemma Ramsay (Beth Buchanan). Williams liked his role in the show but had issues with Adam's naivety.

Casting

Williams was signed up to appear in the show in early 1990 but did not know exact details about his character. In April that year writers were still working on stories for the character. Williams was filming a role in Bony , another Grundy production. He was scheduled to begin filming in June once Bony had finished production. Dani Rogers from TV Week reported that Williams had been touted in the media as the actor to fill the void left by the departures of Guy Pearce and Craig McLachlan. Williams said that he felt "insulted" to think of such comparisons. He told Rogers that "I'm not anybody's clone. I want to bring some individuality to my role." [1] He later told James Gibley from Fast Forward that "I joined Neighbours because they wanted a tall, handsome, young man. That's me." [2]

Development

Adam is the eldest son of Doug (Terence Donovan) and Pam Willis (Sue Jones). Anthony Hayward wrote in his book "The who's who of soap operas" that Adam was Pam's favourite child because "in her eyes he can do no wrong". [3] Adam grew up in an era where the building trade was suffering a decline. He decided he did not want to live a life of uncertainty and chooses to pursue a career in law. But he found it dull and thus quit and tried out various jobs before leaving for Europe. When he arrives in Erinsborough he is studying medicine and he puts his "heart and soul" into it because he finds it "interesting and challenging". [3] Josephine Monroe, author of Neighbours: The First 10 Years stated that "Adam was bright and it was clear that he would one day flee the nest." [4] Adam was portrayed as the show's naive medical student. Williams explained that he felt similar to his character as they both loved their families, but he was not impressed with Adam's naivety. [5] Williams told Diana Peters from BIG! magazine that family is important to Adam. He added that "Adam has a more macabre sense of humour than i do." [6]

To help subsidise his living he takes a job as a chauffeur. [3] Williams liked playing a chauffeur and he recalled it created Adam's "funniest" ever Neighbours scenes. [2] Pam soon convinces him to move into the family home. Hayward described an awkward dynamic between Adam and Pam. He stated "she finds it difficult to understand his macabre sense of humour, something he shares with other medical students. To them, it is a means of survival." [3] Pam worked as a nurse and was often anxious over her son completing his studies. She helped him by sharing her own experiences in the profession to discredit any pretensions he had about the career. [7] Adam's relationship with his father differed. Doug is not as supportive towards him than Pam. He doubts his son's ability to finish his studies because he would often quit jobs. Hayward observed that Doug was closest to Brad (Scott Michaelson) because of his basketball skills. [8] Williams said the part appealed to him as it was flexible and Adam's humour kept him "fired up." [5] Williams enjoyed working with Donovan on their character's story because he liked his co-stars energy on-set. [9] Adam appeared in the series at the same time as Amelia Frid, who plays his on-screen sister Cody Willis. Williams told Caroline Westbrook from TV Hits that he missed working with Frid when she left because they had built a brother and sister type relationship off-screen too. [9]

Writers devised a romance storyline for the character involving Caroline Alessi (Gillian Blakeney). Monroe assessed that there was "a certain disparity between her high-flying income and his student grant" but Adam's "genuine charm and cute looks" attracted Caroline to Adam. [4] Williams told Darren Devlyn (TV Week) that their romance is "certainly not of the storybook variety." Viewers had already been expecting a romance to develop between Caroline and much older character Jim Robinson (Alan Dale). [10] Writers pitched Adam and Jim against one another in a fight for Caroline's affections. Williams explained that their feud leads to a "huge confrontation" which also upsets respected neighbour and his employer Helen Daniels (Anne Haddy). She is not impressed that Adam has caused trouble for her son. Prior to Caroline, Williams believed that the only thing his character took seriously was his medical studies. [10] But he makes every effort to win Caroline's love. But Adam and Jim take completely different approaches to impress her. The actor stated "I love the fact Adam has no pretence. Adam wears his heart on his sleeve, while Jim wears his on his bank balance trying to impress with flashy dinners and flowers." He concluded that he wanted to stay on the show longer because he believed Adam had "a lot of growing to do". [10] Caroline eventually decides to be with Jim rather than Adam. [4]

Writers later paired Adam with Gemma Ramsay (Beth Buchanan). Di Stanley from TV Extra reported that the character would experience problems with Gemma following his condoning of Ryan McLachlan's (Richard Norton) drug use. Stanley revealed that Gemma would pay him a "stormy visit" in retaliation. [11] Adam left the series in 1991, and he was reunited with Gemma in Newcastle. Of their reunion, Monroe wrote "like many other Ramsay Street teenagers, Adam and Gemma confounded the odds by making a go of things." [4] Williams' departure occurred during a revamp of Neighbours following a decline in ratings. Network Ten's executive John Holmes devised the changes; he introduced new characters and helped to write out Adam, Gemma and six other characters. Holmes believed the show had become "tired" and that the cast changes would rejuvenate the show. [12]

Williams wanted to pursue theatre work instead of television. Producers of the rival soap opera Home and Away then offered him a role in their show, which he turned down. He added that he was never a fan of soap operas but was glad he chose to appear in Neighbours. [13] In April 1992, Williams spoke about his departure and told TV Hits' Westbrook that did not regret leaving the role. He also revealed that he felt that appearing in Neighbours took away his privacy off-set. [9] Adam's final episode was broadcast in Australia the night before he debuted on-screen in the United Kingdom. [9] In 2019, it was revealed that Adam and Gemma had married and had a child Roxy Willis (Zima Anderson), who was then introduced into the series. [14]

Storylines

Adam is the eldest child of Doug and Pam. When his parents and his younger sister Cody decide to move to a smaller house in Ramsay Street, Adam opts to move with them as living on his own will be expensive as he is a medical student. The family move into Number 28 and Adam soon takes a job working for as a chauffeur for Helen's limousine company Home James.

Adam soon falls for Caroline but she is involved with Jim. Adam competes with Jim to win Caroline's affections which culminates in Adam injuring Jim during basketball practice, which fails to impress Caroline. After Jim and Caroline break up, Caroline realises she is attracted to Adam and they begin dating. However, Adam's struggle with expenses in his student lifestyle leave him feeling inferior; and as a result he and Caroline split but remain good friends. After struggling at university, Adam decides he wants to give up medicine and drops out to join Doug on his building site. Doug, however isn't convinced and engineers a plan to make Adam's time on the site miserable so he will return to medicine. The plan is successful and Adam returns to university to pursue his degree, much to Pam's delight.

Ryan starts taking sedatives and Adam defends him because his university friends take them. This angers Gemma who confronts him. Adam later develops feelings for Gemma who is reluctant to commit to him after her failed relationship with Glen Donnelly (Richard Huggett). She soon realises she has feelings for him too and they begin a relationship. Several months into their romance Gemma receives a job offer in Newcastle at an animal sanctuary and she leaves. Adam follows her one month later and transfers to a university nearby. He completes his studies and becomes a doctor. Adam and Gemma become engaged, marry and later have a daughter, Roxy. When Gemma returns to the street to visit Roxy in 2019, she mentions that she and Adam have separated and in the process of divorce.

Reception

The BBC said Adam's most notable moment was "Chauffeuring a Lassiter’s client while wearing a toga." [15] During a feature on the show, Anna Pickard from The Guardian tried to choose the characters she would be most starstruck by if she met them. She said "It would have to be the Willis family. All of them. Pam, Doug, Adam, Gaby, Brad and Cody". [16] Adam was named a "soap swot" by an Inside Soap columnist. They said, "Although bright, Adam's career as a student wasn't plain sailing". [17] Diana Peters from BIG! magazine opined that Adam filled the show's "mad-cap" and "concerned doctor" role. [6] James Gibley from Fast Forward stated "he's also a bit like that doctor they used to have in Neighbours... that Dr Gibbons fellow." [2]

Related Research Articles

The Robinson family are a fictional family from the Australian television soap opera Neighbours. The family were created by Reg Watson and introduced in the first episode of the serial, broadcast on 18 March 1985. The family initially consisted of Jim Robinson, his mother-in-law Helen Daniels, and his four children Paul Robinson, Julie Martin, Scott Robinson, and Lucy Robinson. The Robinsons have one of the largest and most complex family trees in the show's history.

Jim Robinson (<i>Neighbours</i>) Australian soap opera character

Jim Robinson is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Alan Dale. Jim was created by Reg Watson as one of Neighbours' twelve original characters. He made his on-screen debut in the soap's first episode, which was broadcast on 18 March 1985. Jim was the patriarch of the Robinson family. Dale departed the show in 1993 after falling out with the producers over pay and his character was killed off on 29 April 1993. Dale filmed some scenes for the serial in September 2018, which aired on 25 December 2018 and 25 March 2019.

Matt Robinson (<i>Neighbours</i>) Soap opera character

Matthew "Matt" Robinson is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Ashley Paske. He made his first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 22 May 1989. Paske secured the role after Neighbours' broadcaster, Network Ten wanted him to remain on their network after they cancelled the show Richmond Hill, which he had appeared in. Matt was introduced during a time Neighbours producers were creating new characters to rejuvenate the show. Matt was created by a team of several writers headed by Ray Kolle. They wanted to include a teenager unlike the others previously portrayed in the show. Producers also needed to fill the void met with the departure of popular character Scott Robinson, with Matt debuting a couple episodes after Scott departed. Kolle branded Matt a "cool" yet "remote" character who is "disinclined to be involved" with others. They also created a backstory in which he is revealed to be the long lost son of Hilary Robinson. Writers implemented a dyslexia story for Matt and they used this to create further issues between Matt and Hilary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hilary Robinson</span> Soap opera character

Hilary Robinson is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Anne Scott-Pendlebury. The character first appeared on-screen during the episode broadcast on 25 June 1987. Hilary departed the show on 28 February 1990, following Scott-Pendlebury's decision to quit in 1989. Scott-Pendlebury reprised her role in 2005 for the serial's 20th anniversary episode, and again in February 2015 ahead of the 30th anniversary. Writers established that Hilary is back living in Erinsborough, so she could continue to make sporadic appearances until 2018, and returned again in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marco Alessi</span> Soap opera character

Marco Alessi is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Felice Arena. He made his first screen appearance as Marco during the episode broadcast on 5 May 1992. Marco was the first character introduced from the show's new Alessi family. He joined cousins and established characters Caroline Alessi and Christina Robinson in Ramsay Street. His parents Benito and Cathy Alessi with sibling Rick Alessi soon followed. Arena was happy to portray an Italian character because it resembled himself - noting that characters of a different ethnicity were rare on the show.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gaby Willis</span> Soap opera character

Gaby Willis is a fictional character from the Australian television soap opera Neighbours, played by Rachel Blakely. The show's casting director spotted Blakely on the cover of a magazine and asked her to audition for the role of Gaby. Blakely received the part and she was introduced to the show during a period of roller-coaster ratings. She made her first appearance during the episode broadcast on 12 August 1991. Gaby was introduced as the eldest daughter of Doug and Pam Willis. She comes to Erinsborough after taking a business course in Japan. Gaby is characterised as beautiful, intelligent and the apple of her father's eye. She also has a temper, leading Blakely to call her fiery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pam Willis</span> Fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours

Pam Willis is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Sue Jones. Pam was introduced by executive producer Don Battye as the matriarch of the newly introduced Willis family. Jones initially turned down an offer to appear in the show, before changing her mind. She was cast as Pam after a screen test. She made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 6 August 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gemma Ramsay</span> Fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours

Gemma Ramsay is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Beth Buchanan. She made her first appearance during the episode broadcast on 20 June 1990. The actress was not sure about a long-term commitment to the serial and initially signed a six-month contract. Buchanan was one of the casting directors top choices to join Neighbours during a cast revamp and efforts to rejuvenate the show during the early 1990s. Gemma was introduced as Madge Bishop's niece. She moves to Erinsborough to live with her aunt, following her mother's death. She is portrayed as intelligent, care free, independent, and someone who will stand up for her friends.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glen Donnelly</span> Fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours

Glen Donnelly is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Richard Huggett. The actor joined the cast shortly after leaving E Street, and he relocated from Sydney to Melbourne, where the show is filmed. He made his first appearance during the episode broadcast on 7 December 1990. Glen was introduced as the secret son of series regular Jim Robinson. He came to Erinsborough to meet his father and to ask for money to pay for his mother's funeral.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan McLachlan</span> Fictional character in the Australian television series Neighbours

Ryan McLachlan is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Richard Norton. He made his first appearance on 15 February 1990 and remained on the show until 21 March 1991.

Josh Anderson (<i>Neighbours</i>) Fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours

Josh Anderson is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Jeremy Angerson. He first appeared on-screen in the episode airing on 5 February 1990. He arrives in Erinsborough following his father's relocation to the area. Producers hired Angerson because they were increasing the size of the male cast. Josh is characterised as academically bright and good at chemistry. Angerson has described Josh as "naïve and a bit unpredictable" and "honest". During his tenure Josh helped to form the show's group of teenage characters consisting of himself, Todd Landers, Melissa Jarrett and Cody Willis. Other stories included a relationship with Phoebe Bright, the issue of temporary blindness and Josh becoming a stripper. The latter storyline challenged Angerson who felt nervous portraying a stripper. He later described filming Josh's stripping scenes as "pretty horrendous" and an "horrific experience".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cody Willis</span> Fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours

Cody Willis is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, originally played by Amelia Frid. She made her first on-screen appearance on 24 November 1989. The character departed in 1991, but returned in 1993 with Peta Brady in the role. Cody was last seen on-screen on 29 March 1996, following her death.

The Willis family are a fictional family from the Australian soap opera Neighbours. They were introduced by Don Battye in 1989, but left screens in 1996, before being reintroduced in 2013. The first family member to be seen on-screen was Brad Willis, who appeared in a guest capacity from October 1989, and then his sister Cody from November. The family became a more permanent fixture with the arrival of patriarch Doug Willis and his wife Pam, who moved onto Ramsay Street the following year. Cody was the last family member to regularly appear in the show until her on-screen death in 1996, which brought Pam back briefly to bury her daughter.

The Ramsay family is a fictional family from the Australian soap opera Neighbours. The family were one of three central families created by Reg Watson and introduced in the first episode of Neighbours in March 1985. Watson wanted the Ramsays to be humorous and rougher than the Robinson family. Ramsay Street, a cul-de-sac which is the central setting of the series, is named after the family. In 2001, the last Ramsay, Madge, departed the series. Eight years later, a new generation of the Ramsay family was introduced.

Brad Willis (<i>Neighbours</i>) Fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours

Brad Willis is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours. He made his first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 31 October 1989. The character was initially played by Benjamin Mitchell, before Scott Michaelson took over the role two years later. Brad was re-introduced alongside his sister, Gaby, during a period of roller coaster ratings for the show. Michaelson revealed that as soon as he learnt he had won the role of Brad, he went surfing five days in a row, as he knew he was going to be busy over the upcoming months. Michaelson signed a new twelve-month contract with Neighbours in October 1992 and a year later, he announced he would be leaving the soap. Michaelson filmed his final scenes in November and departed on 15 December 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doug Willis</span> Fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours

Douglas "Doug" Willis is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Terence Donovan. Doug was introduced by executive producer Don Battye as the patriarch of the newly introduced Willis family. Donovan explained that being part of "a loving family" was one of the main reasons he accepted the role. He said he was happy to stay around for as long as the producers wanted him. Donovan made his first screen appearance as Doug during the episode broadcast on 18 July 1990.

Guy Carpenter is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Andrew Williams. The actor was initially hesitant about joining the show, as he had been about to secure a record contract. He made his first screen appearance on 10 September 1991. A few months later, Williams decided to leave Neighbours as he felt unfulfilled by the role. He also wanted more time to pursue his music career. Guy departed on 27 March 1992. Williams reprised his role for one episode as part of the show's 30th anniversary on 18 March 2015.

References

  1. ↑ Rogers, Dani (7 April 1990). "Horror star signs for Neighbours!". TV Week . (Southdown Press): 29.
  2. 1 2 3 Gilbey, James (23–30 October 1991). "Would the real Jase stand up, please!". Fast Forward (43). (BBC Magazines): 16.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Hayward 1991, p.161.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Monroe 1996, p.55.
  5. 1 2 Neighbours: The Official Annual 1992. Hamlyn. 1991. p. 58. ISBN   978-0-600-57311-1.
  6. 1 2 Peters, Diana (25 September – 8 October 1991). "Mr nice guy!". BIG! (39). (EMAP): 4.
  7. ↑ Hayward 1991, p.163.
  8. ↑ Hayward 1991, p.162.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Westbrook, Caroline (April 1992). "Ian Williams he gets mobbed at airports!". TV Hits (32). (Attic Futura UK): 9.
  10. 1 2 3 Devlyn, Darren (29 September 1990). "The heat goes on". TV Week . (Southdown Press): 29.
  11. ↑ Stanley, Di (4 November 1990). "Soaps". Sunday Sun: TV Extra . (Trinity Mirror): 11.
  12. ↑ Camp, Chrissie (11 May 1991). "The Great Ramsay St Shake-up!". TV Week . No. 45. (Southdown Press). pp. 6–7.
  13. ↑ "Adam leaves Neighbours". Inside Soap (2). (Attic Futura UK): 45. October 1992.
  14. ↑ "All About Gemma". Soap World (321). (nextmedia): 37. June 2019.
  15. ↑ "Character: Adam Willis". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 7 March 2006. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  16. ↑ Pickard, Anna (18 October 2005). "The perfect blend". The Guardian . Archived from the original on 14 October 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  17. ↑ "Soap's swots". Inside Soap (3). (Attic Futura UK): 11. December 1992.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.