| Max Hoyland | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Neighbours character | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Portrayed by | Stephen Lovatt | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Duration | 2002–2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| First appearance | 22 August 2002 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Last appearance | 16 February 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Classification | Former; regular | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Introduced by | Stanley Walsh | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Max Hoyland is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours , played by Stephen Lovatt. He made his first appearance on 22 August 2002 and departed on 16 February 2007.
After his last appearance in 2007, Lovatt said that he did not know if he would be coming back to Neighbours. [1] However, he said that he would "consider any offer from its producers", but thought that characters like Max usually go for good. [1]
Network Ten describe Max stating: "Max always looked out for his little sister and cultivated a stern sense of responsibility." Describing his likeness to his mother Rosie Hoyland (Maggie Millar), they add: "Both headstrong and idealistic, they rub up against tradition and authority the wrong way and frequently find themselves taking opposite stances on big issues." [2] Tom Adair writing for The Age , has described his character as simply "decency personified". [3]
The character's mother, Rosie Hoyland, and children Boyd Hoyland (Kyal Marsh) and Summer Hoyland (Marisa Siketa) were introduced in early 2002. Max's whereabouts were initially unknown, as he left the family following the death of his wife to long QT syndrome. [4] Lovett said that Max "turns up out of the blue – it's a complete surprise to Rosie and the kids". [4] After learning that Summer has the same heart condition as his late wife, Max wants to "take on his fatherly responsibilities again." [4] He appears reluctant to talk about why he abandoned his children, but Lovett thought that viewers would see that his wife's death has had a big impact on him. He knows she was too young to die, so he is worried about Summer having the same condition. Max does not receive a warm welcome from Rosie and Boyd, so Max is determined to reconnect with them and moves into Number 32 Ramsay Street. [4] Lovett added, "Max knows that he's got a lot of making up to do as far as the kids are concerned. But he tends to overcompensate and it all ends up kind of backfiring on him!" [4]
Producers established a romantic relationship with Stephanie Scully (Carla Bonner). The pair were shown getting closer following Max's arrival, but Steph becomes convinced that Max is actually attracted to her workmate Joanne Blair (Nell Feeney), after she sees them talking. [5] She thinks they are planning a date, but Joanne is just asking for Max's advice about the right cricket bat for her son. Steph then decides to go on a date with Joanne's nephew Dennis. [5]
Their relationship later fails after Max runs away to a new family. Bonner said that their marriage was over because "It's been very badly damaged and a part of her feels that her husband doesn't know her at all, and doesn't trust her." Steph is "hurt" and sees "no way back from here". [6]
Max follows his children Boyd and Summer Hoyland to Erinsborough, where he reconnects with them and his mother, Rosie Hoyland. He buys into Lou Carpenter's (Tom Oliver) pub, Lou's Place. He later rents Number 32. Max has a relationship with Steph Scully and they eventually marry. When the pub burns down in a fire at the Lassiter's complex, Max goes into partnership with his sister, Izzy Hoyland (Natalie Bassingthwaite) in the newly built Scarlet bar. Their father Bobby Hoyland (Andrew McFarlane) returns to see him and Izzy, and Max initially does not want anything to do with him, but later warms to him. However, Bobby leaves again. Max and Steph plan to adopt a baby girl from Kayla Thomas (Virginia Ryan), a teenager that wants to give up her unborn child, but Kayla eventually decides to raise the baby with her boyfriend and the baby's biological father Anthony Johnson (Adam Hunter). On Max's 40th birthday, he learns that Steph is pregnant with their first child. Steph develops breast cancer and decides to forgo treatment to protect the baby, causing tension between herself and Max. Steph gives birth to their son Charlie Hoyland (Aaron Aulsebrook-Walker).
While rescuing Katya Kinski (Dichen Lachman), Max accidentally kills Cameron Robinson (Hunter), who he believes to be his twin brother Robert Robinson (also Hunter) when he strikes him with his car. Cameron's father Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis) is inconsolable with grief and prepares to shoot Max, but Lyn Scully (Janet Andrewartha) stops him. Max begins to come to terms with killing Cameron but Paul's daughter Elle Robinson (Pippa Black) cannot stand seeing him getting on with his life, and begins gaslighting him. First Elle steals his football tickets, plays further mind games involving Charlie, and forges his signature, lumbering him with excess alcohol at the bar. Max hires a private investigator and Elle is caught, but the investigator is paid off by her. Max then admits himself to a hospital and begins to lose his grip on reality and sees visions of his family telling him he is insane. Max walks out of hospital and disappears for a while. He leaves a note for the family with Stingray Timmins (Ben Nicholas) who is passed out. Max later contacts the family via the Salvation Army and agrees to move on.
Max returns to stand trial for killing Cameron. Robert is put on the stand to give evidence, but Paul bursts in, screaming at the judge that Robert is unfit to testify. Max's lawyer Toadfish Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney) proves that Robert is aggressive. Max is given an eight-year prison sentence, which is suspended for five. After realising that his marriage to Steph is not going to work out, Max decides to return to the oil rigs at Sale, two hours from Melbourne. When Steph is sent to prison, Max gains full custody of Charlie and they move to Fiji. He later marries Philippa Hoyland (Wendy Bos) off-screen.
Max became a popular character with some viewers. [7] Robin Oliver writing for The Sydney Morning Herald opined he was compelled to watch Max and Steph's wedding, describing it as 20 minutes of "good fun". [8] Brian Courtis of The Sunday Age and The Sun-Herald also chose their wedding as their "Pick of the day". [9] [10] Fergus Sheil of The Age said chose Max as the standout character from the episode airing on 21 April 2005, however was unimpressed by the lack of scientific knowledge in the episode. He quipped that Max "deserves a Logie" for his "attempts" to awaken a comatose Boyd, by withholding the outcome of a football match. [11]
Michael Idato writing for The Sydney Morning Herald disliked Max and described his appearance stating: "Max who, for the record, looks young enough to be hanging out with the gang rather than claiming fatherhood to at least two of them is dealing with the precociously slappable Summer and the hormonally simmering Boyd." [12] In 2015, a writer for Tvnz.co.nz included Max in their list of the top 30 Neighbours characters. Praising him, they stated "One of the most memorable father figures, Max was headstrong and loyal, an all-round 'good guy' with a desire to protect his loved ones." [13]
Stephanie Scully is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Carla Bonner. She made her first screen appearance during the episode that was broadcast on 20 October 1999. Following Bonner's decision to quit the show after eleven years, Steph departed on 24 November 2010. In November 2012, it was announced that Bonner would be reprising the role for a two-month guest stint and Steph returned on 15 April 2013. Bonner reprised the role permanently in July 2015 and made her on-screen return on 2 October 2015. On 17 May 2018, it was confirmed that Bonner would be departing the show imminently and Steph made her final appearance on 7 June 2018. Bonner made a cameo in the show's final episode broadcast on 28 July 2022.
Lucinda "Elle" Robinson is a fictional character from the Australian television soap opera Neighbours, played by Pippa Black. The character made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 19 September 2005. She was introduced as the daughter of established characters Paul and Gail Robinson.
Gail Lewis is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Fiona Corke. She made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 11 March 1987. Corke left the role in 1989, but made appearances in 2005, 2006 and 2007. She reprised the role in 2019, as Gail returns to Erinsborough to meet her granddaughter.
Boyd Hoyland is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Kyal Marsh. He made his first on-screen appearance on 5 June 2002. In 2007, Marsh quit the serial and his character departed on 3 August 2007 along with Stephanie McIntosh's character Sky.
Summer Hoyland is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Jordy Lucas. She made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 20 May 2002. The character was originally played by Marisa Siketa from her arrival to her departure in 2005 and her subsequent returns in 2006 and 2007. In October 2009, it was announced that the character was to return to the show. Siketa auditioned for her previous role, but producers felt the character had evolved too much. They decided to cast Lucas instead after she came to their attention during Dolly magazine's "Neighbours Next Big Stars" competition. Summer returned on 11 February 2010. Lucas announced her departure from Neighbours in September 2012 and Summer departed on 10 January 2013. Lucas reprised the role on 30 November 2023.
Isabelle "Izzy" Hoyland is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Natalie Bassingthwaighte. She made her first appearance during the episode broadcast on 1 September 2003. Izzy was introduced as Max Hoyland's younger sister. The character departed in 2006, following Bassingthwaighte's decision to focus on her music career. However, in March 2007, Bassingthwaighte made a brief return to film a few episodes set in London. The character was well received by critics and viewers and Bassingthwaighte earned three Logie Award nominations for her role. In October 2017, Bassingthwaighte reprised the role for a guest appearance and she returned on 12 February 2018 until 20 March 2018. She reprised the role again on 21 July 2022 for the serial's then final episodes.
Jack Scully is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Jay Bunyan. He made his first on-screen appearance on 17 April 2001. The character was initially played by Paul Pantano in a guest role. When he returned in 2002, Bunyan had taken over the role. Jack is the first son of Joe and Lyn Scully. He departed on 8 December 2004, with a further appearance on 11 January 2005.
Katya Kinski is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Dichen Lachman. She made her first on-screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 12 December 2005. Lachman originally auditioned for the role of Elle Robinson. But producers asked her to play Katya instead. Katya is characterised as a "bitchy nasty person" with a "dark past". She arrives in Erinsborough to visit her terminally-ill father Alex before he died. She reunites with her younger siblings Rachel and Zeke Kinski. Katya feuds with Susan Kennedy and Karl Kennedy over custody of her siblings. Lachman believed that her flawed character disliked Susan to justify her own failings as a sister.
Stuart Parker is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Blair McDonough. He made his first appearance during the episode broadcast on 13 December 2001. Stuart lived with Toadfish Rebecchi and Connor O'Neill at number 30, during which time the house became known as "The House of Trouser". Stuart's storylines included becoming a policeman, temporarily losing his eyesight, joining a cult, which almost cost him his friendships, and marrying Sindi Watts. Stuart departed on 5 April 2006 after McDonough quit to pursue other projects. The actor reprised the role for three episodes from 13 February until 15 February 2018. Stu made an unannounced cameo appearance in the final episode on 28 July 2022.
Lyn Scully is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Janet Andrewartha. The character made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 20 October 1999, along with her family and remained a prominent feature within the show until late 2006. Andrewartha reprised her role for a brief return in 2008 and then returned permanently in August 2009. Lyn departed again on 26 May 2011, so Andrewartha could pursue new acting opportunities. She reprised the role again in 2016, 2017 and 2019.
Janae Timmins is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Eliza Taylor-Cotter. She made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 4 April 2005. The character was created by executive producer Ric Pellizzeri as part of the new Timmins family, joining the established character Stingray Timmins. Janae is characterised as a feisty character who is unafraid of physical confrontation. She has low self-esteem due to her father Kim Timmins being absent during her childhood. Janae is featured in various storylines including having her drink spiked with rohypnol, an HIV scare and the victim of an attempted sexual assault.
"The plane crash" is a storyline from the Australian television soap opera Neighbours that began on 24 October 2005 when an aeroplane, carrying several characters, crashed in Bass Strait after a bomb was detonated during the journey. The storyline aired as part of the show's 20th anniversary and would be the catalyst for several major storylines that aired the following year. "The plane crash" also saw the departures of three established characters: David, Liljana and Serena Bishop. The actors' departures had been announced in May 2005, but it was not confirmed they would depart during "The plane crash" until their last scenes aired.