Jo Parrish

Last updated
Jo Parrish
Blue Heelers character
Jane Allsop.jpg
First appearance"Hello Goodbye"
18 August 1999 (1999-08-18)
Last appearance"End Of Innocence"
6 July 2004 (2004-07-06)
Portrayed by Jane Allsop
In-universe information
OccupationConstable
Senior Constable
FamilyBev Parrish (mother)
Jeff Parrish (father)

Jo Parrish is a fictional character from the Australian television police drama Blue Heelers , played by Jane Allsop. She made her first appearance during the sixth season episode "Hello Goodbye", broadcast on 18 August 1999. The character left in the eleventh season on 6 July 2004, after being killed in an explosion. She was the seventh longest serving character behind Tom Croydon, Chris Riley, P.J. Hasham, Ben Stewart, Maggie Doyle and Nick Schultz

Contents

Casting

Jane Allsop auditioned for the role of Dash McKinley in 1995, but the role was given to Tasma Walton. She made a guest appearance in the series a year later. [1] In 1999, Allsop was cast as Jo, Dash's replacement following Walton's decision to leave the series. [1] Allsop spent a number of weeks carrying out research for the role, which included visits to the Victoria Police Academy and police stations in St Kilda and Shepparton. [1]

Development

Jo is a police constable from the city who transfers to Mount Thomas. Jo is described as "the type of person who only opens her mouth to change feet" and she has earned the nickname "Perish Parrish". [1] She quickly gains the ire of Ben Stewart (Paul Bishop), and the friendship and affection of Constable Jack Lawson (Rupert Reid). [1] The character's first day on the job is marred by a civil action brought against her by a shoplifter, who accuses her of assault and false arrest. An internal inquiry is also launched against her, as there is doubt about whether she used correct police procedure. Senior Sergeant Tom Croydon (John Wood) is left "even more dismayed" when Jo messes up the staff lunches and strikes his car. [1] A Sydney Morning Herald reporter commented that it was "an inauspicious introduction to Mount Thomas" for the character and thought things would get worse before getting better for her. [1]

Storylines

Jo is initially portrayed as a very stubborn and sometimes even pig-headed young woman. She does, however, mature over the course of the series. She is good friends with Constable Jack Lawson and his replacement, Constable Evan Jones (Ditch Davey). She also gets on well with Senior Constable Maggie Doyle (Lisa McCune) before Maggie is shot dead. Jo initially dislikes the new sergeant who arrives after Maggie's death, Tess Gallagher (Caroline Craig), however, the two later become friends. Jo is later promoted to Senior Constable. Jo has a relationship with P. J. Hasham (Martin Sacks), who she becomes engaged to. The relationship ends when Jo feels that P. J. will not get over the death of his former fiancée, Maggie. When the Mount Thomas station is bombed, Jo dies alongside Clancy Freeman (Michael Isaacs).

Reception

For her portrayal of Jo, Allsop won the Logie Award for Most Popular New Female Talent in 2000. [2] She was nominated in the Most Popular Actress category in 2005. [3]

A reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald observed that Allsop's casting as Jo helped to "fill the rebel-without-a-clue void" left by Walton's departure. [1]

Related Research Articles

<i>Blue Heelers</i> Australian police drama series

Blue Heelers is an Australian police drama series that was produced by Southern Star Group and ran for 12 years on the Seven Network, from 1994 to 2006. Although based around the policing of the town, the series generally depicted the everyday lives and relationships of the residents of Mount Thomas, a fictional small town in Victoria. The series was one of the highest-rated and most-awarded programs in the history of Australian television, having won 5 Logie awards, it is equal as the most awarded show in Logies history with The Don Lane Show. It is also noted for its two main stars Lisa McCune, a four-time recipient of the Gold Logie, and John Wood, who also won Gold.

Tasma Walton Australian actress

Tasma Walton is an Australian television and film actress.

Jane Allsop Australian actress

Jane Claire Allsop is an Australian actress, best known for her role as Jo Parrish on Blue Heelers.

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Dash McKinley

Deirdre Elaine "Dash" McKinley is a fictional character from the Australian drama series Blue Heelers, played by Tasma Walton. She made her first appearance in "The Kremin Factor", which was broadcast on 18 June 1996. One of her major storylines occurred during the 1998 season, when she was diagnosed with cancer. Dash was the youngest of nine children. She had a kind personality but a big mouth. She and her family always seemed to be the first to know the town's gossip and everyone's business. The character departed on 28 July 1999. She is the eleventh longest serving character after Tom Croydon, Chris Riley, P.J. Hasham, Maggie Doyle, Ben Stewart, Nick Schultz, Jo Parrish, Evan Jones, Adam Cooper and Tess Gallagher.

Jack Lawson (Blue Heelers)

Jack Lawson is a fictional character from Australia's police series, Blue Heelers. He came into the show in 1999 and was taken off in 2001, his character arrested for murder.

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<i>Blue Heelers</i> (season 1) Season of television series

The first season of the Australian police-drama Blue Heelers premiered on the Seven Network on 10 September 1993 and aired on Tuesday nights at 7:30 PM. The 45-episode season concluded on 22 November 1994. The show was a success, and by the end of its 45-episode first season the PJ-Maggie shippers had quickly amassed. It had an average rating of 2.5 Million and going to 3.5 million at its peak.

The third season of the Australian police-drama Blue Heelers premiered on the Seven Network on 12 February 1996 and aired on Monday nights, and later Tuesday nights, at 8:30 PM. The 42-episode season concluded 26 November 1996.

The fourth season of the Australian police-drama Blue Heelers premiered on the Seven Network on 10 February 1997 and aired on Tuesday nights at 8:30 PM. The 42-episode season concluded 25 November 1997.

<i>Blue Heelers</i> (season 5) Season of television series

The fifth season of the Australian police-drama Blue Heelers premiered on the Seven Network on 24 February 1998 and aired on Wednesday nights at 8:30 PM. The 41-episode season concluded 25 November 1998.

The sixth season of the Australian police-drama Blue Heelers premiered on the Seven Network on 10 February 1999 and aired on Wednesday nights at 8:30 PM. The 42-episode season concluded 24 November 1999.

The seventh season of the Australian police-drama Blue Heelers premiered on the Seven Network on 9 February 2000 and aired on Wednesday nights at 8:30 pm. The 41-episode season concluded 22 November 2000.

The eighth season of the Australian police-drama Blue Heelers premiered on the Seven Network on 21 February 2001 and aired on Wednesday nights at 8:30 PM. The 42-episode season concluded 28 November 2001.

The ninth season of the Australian police-drama Blue Heelers premiered on the Seven Network on 13 February 2002 and aired on Wednesday nights at 8:30 pm. The 40-episode season concluded 20 November 2002.

The tenth season of the Australian police-drama Blue Heelers premiered on the Seven Network on 12 February 2003 and aired on Wednesday nights at 8:30 PM. The 42-episode season concluded 26 November 2003.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Jane digs in her heels". The Sydney Morning Herald . 15 August 1999. p. 235. Retrieved 13 January 2020– via Newspapers.com. Lock-green.svg
  2. ↑ Beaumont, Lucy (4 May 2006). "What's the value of a Logie?". The Age . Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  3. ↑ "Logie line-up". The Sydney Morning Herald . 4 April 2005. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
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