Robinson family | |
---|---|
Neighbours family | |
First appearance | 18 March 1985 |
Created by | Reg Watson |
Introduced by | Reg Watson (1985) Ric Pellizzeri (2004) |
Duration | 1985–1999, 2004– |
Spin-offs | Neighbours: The Robinsons – A Family in Crisis (1989) |
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 (Alan Dale), his mother-in-law Helen Daniels (Anne Haddy), and his four children Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis), Julie Martin (Vikki Blanche), Scott Robinson (Darius Perkins), and Lucy Robinson (Kylie Flinker; Sasha Close; Melissa Bell). The Robinsons have one of the largest and most complex family trees in the show's history.
The Robinson family was one of three central families introduced to viewers when Neighbours began in 1985, created by the show's creator and executive producer Reg Watson. [1] Watson said the idea for Neighbours began with the Robinsons – a widower and four children. He wanted a mother-in-law to live with them, and decided that she would be supportive instead of interfering, as television viewers had come to expect. [2] Of how the Robinson family came to be created, Watson said "I thought how interesting it would be to have a family where the children could ask their parents anything and get an honest answer." [3]
The Robinsons are made up of several different family groups that have married together. These are the original Robinsons, the Daniels, the Martins, the Dennisons, the Simpsons and the Duncans. The Robinsons live in the fictitious Melbourne suburb of Erinsborough and have roots leading back to the 1800s in that area. The family have always lived in Ramsay Street, the land once owned by former Mayor "Black" Jack Ramsay. [4]
Number 26 was the home of the Robinson family from the show's beginning until Jim Robinson's death in 1993. [5] The house was then owned by Jim's mother-in-law, Helen Daniels, who lived with various family members and lodgers, until her on-screen death in 1997. Following the departure of Helen's former son-in-law Philip Martin and his family in late 1999, Number 26 is home to the Scully family. [6] In 2013, Jim's son Paul buys the house from Lyn Scully (Janet Andrewartha). He rents it to Sheila Canning (Colette Mann) until late 2015 when she buys it from him.
Bought by Paul on behalf of the Daniels Corporation in 1986, it becomes the second family home after he marries Gail Lewis in June 1987. [7] Paul rents the house to Caroline and Christina Alessi, before moving back in when he marries Christina. Following their departures, Paul rents the house to Christina's uncle and aunt, who live there with their sons. [7] It was briefly rented to the Lim family, before Paul sells it to Cheryl Stark (Caroline Gillmer). [7] In 2005, following the character's return to Erinsbourough, he buys the house from Valda Sheergold and lives there until 2013. The set then underwent a makeover in time for the reintroduction of the Willis family, who move in when Terese Willis' (Rebekah Elmaloglou) Lassiters employment deal includes the house as accommodation. [8] Paul moves back into the house to live with Terese in 2019.
Paul and his new wife Terry Inglis (Maxine Klibingaitis) were the first known occupants of Number 30. Paul moves back to Number 26 after Terry shoots him in the living room. [9] Matt and his mother Hilary live in the house between 1989 and 1990.
Members of the Robinson family have lived in every house in the street at one point or another. Matt Robinson (Ashley Paske) alone lived in Number 26, Number 28, Number 30 and Number 32 during his years in the show.
Stefan Dennis departed the series in 1992 and moved to the UK. His character, Paul Robinson, moved to the United States, a rather open-ended departure. Dennis returned in 1993 for the 2000th episode celebrations and to close the book on the character. In the week he appeared in the show, Paul set up Philip Martin, his brother-in-law, to make it look like he was defrauding Lassiters, the hotel Paul owns. After the police began investigating, Paul's conscience got the better of him. He wrote a letter that cleared Phil of all wrongdoing and escaped the country after saying goodbye to Helen. This was intended to be the character's final appearance and to this day many fans regard it as being completely out of character for Paul. In the finale of the 2004 season, Paul returned to the area and re-established the Robinson family in Neighbours.[ citation needed ]
Following Dennis' return to the serial in 2004, the Robinson lineage was greatly expanded on. On 19 September 2005, Paul's daughter, Elle Robinson (Pippa Black), was introduced as one of three of Paul and Gail Robinson's (Fiona Corke) children, who were all born off-screen in 1989. [10] During the pregnancy and following Paul and Gail's divorce, she moves to Tasmania, where she raises Elle, Robert Robinson (Adam Hunter) and Cameron Robinson (also Hunter). [11] [12] Elle's brothers were both introduced on 28 March 2006. Robert and Cameron's storyline sees Cameron killed in the crossfire of Robert's attempt to kill his father, who he had grown "withdrawn and isolated – and deeply resentful" of for leaving him and his siblings during their youth. [13] Upon arriving in Erinsborough, Robert commits identity fraud by pretending to be Cameron, [13] which eventually leads to Cameron's death, as he is "bumped off" by Max Hoyland (Stephen Lovatt). [11] After killing three members of Neighbours' Bishop family and attempting to kill Paul twice, Robert is sent to prison. [13] Pippa Black decided to bow out of the serial in 2009. [14] Two years later, Neighbours producers approached Jordan Patrick Smith to play the role of Paul's other son, Andrew Robinson, who was born on-screen in 1991. [15] Smith agreed and joined the serial's regular cast on a two year contract, which was renewed once it expired. [16]
In February 2009, Kate Ramsay (Ashleigh Brewer), Harry Ramsay (Will Moore) and Sophie Ramsay (Kaiya Jones) were introduced as a new generation of the Ramsay family. It then emerged on-screen that Anne Robinson had an affair with married man Max Ramsay (Francis Bell), and they had an illegitimate child named Jill Ramsay (Perri Cummings). Kate, Harry and Sophie's mother. [17] Jill's existence was kept quiet due to the feud between the Robinsons and Ramsays. [17] Although Jill soon dies from a hit and run, the new Ramsay characters gave Paul additional family for him to appear alongside. [18] When asked about his connection to the Robinson and Ramsay families, Moore explained, "At first I thought 'Oh my God, am I supposed to do something special?' Everyone said 'Your character's Harry Ramsay? Like Ramsay Street?' So I have those connections, but I got used to playing it after a while. It's pretty cool to be playing a part that has so much history and it's cool that we're related to so many of the original characters – Anne Robinson and Max Ramsay had an affair and had our mum." [19]
2014 saw the introduction of powercouple Scott and Charlene Robinson's (Kylie Minogue) son, Daniel Robinson (Tim Phillipps). [20] The character was created in 1992, but first appeared in 2014. [21] Dennis, who played the only remaining Robinson character in the show at the time, supervised and assisted producers with auditions. [22] Phillips planned on staying a part of the cast until at least 2017, [23] but producers decided to write his character out with his newly wedded wife, Imogen Willis (Ariel Kaplan), [24] but not before Sarah Ellen made her debut as Daniel's sister, Madison, a character first referenced in 1995. [25]
In 2015, a storyline saw Paul falsely diagnosed with cancer, which pushes him to find his estranged daughter, Amy Williams, who was previously played by Nicolette Minster and Sheridan Compagnino in 1988 and 1992 respectively. [26] It was announced in May 2015 that Zoe Cramond had passed auditions and would be playing Amy on a regular basis. [26] Daniel Kilkelly of Digital Spy also revealed that Amy would be bringing her son, Jimmy Williams (Darcy Tadich), to Erinsborough, giving Paul his first grandchild. [26] Of the family expansion, Dennis joked, "What, I'm grandfather? How did that happen? I guess if you stick around long enough, that's the next step, although the one consolation - Alan Fletcher was a grandpa before me." [26] Around this time, Melissa Bell reprised her role as Lucy Robinson in a storyline that sees her and Chris Pappas (James Mason) agree to have a daughter, who they name Annie Robinson-Pappas (Gracie Helen Vine). [27]
Amy begins helping twins David (Takaya Honda) and Leo Tanaka (Tim Kano) find their father and develops a romantic relationship with Leo. [28] Amy and Leo break up and reunite a number of times before finally agreeing to a real relationship in 2017. [28] Kim Tanaka (Jenny Young) eventually reveals to Paul that Leo and David are his kids due to a pregnancy in 1985 caused by Paul and Kim having sex in the Erins Burrow Motel. [29] The news reaches Amy and Leo before they have sex. [29] The moment was named "awkward… horrible… mortifying." [30] Dennis, Cramond, Kano, Honda and Young were all aware of the outcome for the storyline when it began. [31] Of his role, Kano stated a few years later that acting as Leo "doesn't feel like work at all." [32]
Paul discovers that he has a granddaughter named Harlow Robinson (Jemma Donovan) when he and David visit Robert in prison. [33] Harlow explains to her family that Robert and her mother met in Tasmania, but Harlow was raised in London. [33] Donnovan explained, "I am so happy and very honoured to be a part of a series which has been enjoyed by generations." [34] Donovan's real life father played Harlow's great uncle, Scott. [34] Jemma Donovan's connection to the Robinson family was named "an unexpected surprise." [34]
David and his husband, Aaron Brennan (Matt Wilson), begin researching surrogacy in 2020 in order for them to have a child. They decide to get an egg donor from Canada, but newcomer Nicolette Stone (Charlotte Chimes) offers to be the egg donor and surrogate mother after careful consideration. [35] Chimes described that Nicolette planned on being a "fun aunty" in the child's life. [35] To the disappointment of Paul, [35] who he and Nicolette do not get along well, David and Aaron begin the surrogacy process and Nicolette falls pregnant in 2021. This paves the way for Kano's reprisal as Leo, who departed the soap two years prior. [32] Leo becomes suspicious of Nicolette's attachment to the child, so he buys a local business as a reason to stay in Erinsborough. [32] Kano stated, "He finds a reason to stick around in Erinsborough, so that he can keep an eye on things. However, then as the storyline goes on, you start to see that Leo has a few skeletons in his closet that will come into play as well." [32] Additionally, he commented, "That's why I was really drawn to this storyline, and to coming back to Neighbours." [32]
Nicolette begins seeing the child as her own, experiences issues with David, Aaron and her own partner, which forces her to flee Erinsborough pregnant [36] with Britney Barnes (Montana Cox), who is also pregnant. Paul tracks Nicolette down in Erinsborough and pays her [37] to give up David's daughter, Isla Tanaka-Brennan (Axelle Austin; Mary Finn), but Nicolette instead gives up Britney's daughter, Abigail (Mary Finn; Axelle Austin; Juliet Basaraba). [38] It turns out that Abigail is actually Britney and Leo's daughter, [38] who was concepted when Britney and Leo were dating in New York. [38] Honda explained, "This story was plotted a long time ago. Back in December 2019, I knew about this storyline – although it actually wasn't with Nicolette. I won't go into who it originally was, but it originally wasn't her. I'd been told that this would be my big storyline for this year, but it ended fairly differently. The idea of a surrogate coming in and then ultimately running off, taking the baby with them, was something I knew about quite a long time ago." [39] David, Aaron and Nicolette eventually agree to a three-way custody split, whilst Leo grapples with fatherhood after Britney is killed. [40]
In 2022, Kiri Durant (Gemma Bird Matheson) was introduced as the daughter of Glen Donnelly (Richard Huggett). [41] Kiri is unaware that she is related to Glen, believing that her mother, Barbara Durant (Wendy Mocke), and her stepfather, Alan Durant, are her true parents. [42]
In 1991, Lucy Robinson returned to Ramsay Street. In the time she had been away, Jim's illegitimate son Glen Donnelly had showed up and revealed his existence to Jim. After living together for months, the attraction between Lucy and Glen resulted in a kiss. Though their relationship was short and mostly implied, the BBC cut the plot and edited the episodes around it. [11] However, UKTV Gold re-aired these episode in 1998 with the plot remaining intact.
A second near-incest storyline was featured in 2007, when Elle Robinson fell in love with Oliver Barnes (David Hoflin), and they had sex, shortly before Oliver was informed by his mother that Paul was really his father. Had this been true, this would have been the furthest an incest storyline had gone in the show's history. However, the claim was disproved by a DNA test soon after.
A third incest storyline aired in 2017, featuring the romantic relationship Amy and Leo. Paul manages to stop them from consummating their relationship in time. [43]
When Stefan Dennis returned to the show in 2004, most of his storylines stemmed from the fraud storyline and displayed him as a morally corrupt, hate-filled villain. Since his return, Paul has murdered Gus Cleary (Ben Barrack), set fire to and destroyed the Lassiters complex, attempted to sell Ramsay Street to American developers to turn it into a shopping centre, been a homewrecker to the Bishop family and eventually lost his leg in a fall. A possible explanation has been offered for this behaviour: a brain tumour, which Elle believes may be responsible for everything bad he has ever done. After the tumour was removed, Paul lost 20 years worth of his memory.
Although he attempted to redeem himself, Paul was shown to have a repetitive streak of meddling in his children's relationships. In 2017, Kim Tanaka revealed to him that he had two more children with her. He has since had a somewhat tumultuous relationship with David and Leo, meddling in their respective relationships, as well as those of his Amy's. He has also been variously criticised by his family members for his dodgy dealings with Mannix Foster (Sam Webb) and others including Victor Cleary (Richard Sutherland), the brother of Gus, and the role it played in his niece Kate Ramsay's (Ashleigh Brewer) death. These actions have accumulated for the character countless enemies including Mark Brennan (Scott McGregor), Chloe Brennan (April Rose Pengilly), Gary Canning (Damien Richardson), Pierce Greyson (Tim Robards), Hendrix Greyson (Ben Turland) and Nicolette Stone (Charlotte Chimes).
Jim's mother-in-law, Helen Daniels, is also considered a member of the family.
In her 1994 book The Neighbours Programme Guide, Josephine Monroe wrote "In the nine years that Neighbours has been going, each member of this remarkable family has endured enough trauma to put most people into an early grave! It seems these Robinson folk have invincibility running through their veins." [45] In 2003, Inside Soap ran a poll asking which soap families were the most loved and loathed of all time. The Robinson's came third with 16% of the vote to find the most loved family of the 1980s, behind the Watts from EastEnders and the Ewings from Dallas . [46] They were also voted the third most loathed family of that decade, receiving 11% of the vote. [46] Roz Golds from The Birmingham Post called the Robinson family "the original heart of the show." [3] Joe Julians of the Radio Times said the Robinsons "take no prisoners" and described the 2020 incarnation of the family as "ruthless, but strong and independent with a taste for romance, even if it doesn't always work out." [47]
Ramsay Street is the fictional cul-de-sac in which the characters of the Australian soap opera Neighbours live. The street is set in the equally fictional Melbourne suburb of Erinsborough. Neighbours storylines primarily centre on the residents of the street, which was named after Jack Ramsay, the grandfather of original character Max Ramsay. A blackjack game between Jack and Sam Robinson determined whose name the street would be named after. Only six houses on the street are featured on a regular basis; numbers 22 to 32. Number 34 was featured for the only time in 2018. The cul-de-sac is at the end of a long street and the rest of the houses are on the other side of the main road which bisects it. The street behind Ramsay Street is named Mirrabooka Drive. A storyline within the show saw the name of the street nearly changed to Ramsbottom Street. Harold Bishop led a protest against it and won.
Erinsborough is a fictional suburb of Melbourne, Australia, where the soap opera Neighbours is set, focusing on the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work there. Neighbours primarily centres on the residents of Ramsay Street and other Erinsborough locations, such as The Waterhole, Harold's Café, Lassiters Hotel, Erinsborough High School and Erinsborough Hospital. Erinsborough is a loose anagram of Neighbours.
Paul Robinson is a fictional character from the Australian television soap opera Neighbours, a long-running serial drama about social life in the fictional Melbourne suburb of Erinsborough. He is played by Stefan Dennis. Paul was created by producer Reg Watson as one of Neighbours' original characters. He debuted in the first episode of the show broadcast on 18 March 1985 and is one of two remaining original cast members, alongside his sister Lucy. Paul appeared on a regular basis until 1992 when Dennis quit Neighbours to pursue work elsewhere. He reprised the role for a guest appearance in 1993. Dennis returned to the show full-time in 2004 and has since remained in the role. Dennis viewed his decision to leave Neighbours as a mistake.
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 from 2015 until 2023.
Clive Gibbons is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Geoff Paine. Paine was spotted by the Reg Grundy Organisation and offered the role of Clive. He made his first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 21 January 1986. Clive's storylines included running a gorillagram agency, setting up a gardening business, saving Lucy Robinson's life and falling in love with Susan Cole. Paine decided not to renew his contract, as he feared being typecast and felt the role was no longer believable. He departed Neighbours on 27 February 1987, but made a brief return in 1989. Paine reprised the role 28 years later, and Clive returned on a semi-regular basis from 9 March 2017. He was reintroduced as the chief operating officer of Erinsborough Hospital. Paine felt that Clive had matured during his time away from Erinsborough, but said his "cheeky side" would still appear every so often. He was restored to the series' main cast in July 2020 and appeared in the final episode of the original run of Neighbours on 28 July 2022.
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.
Amy Williams is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Zoe Cramond. The character was originally played by child actress Nicolette Minster in 1988, while Sheridan Compagnino took over the role for Amy's reappearance in 1992. In May 2015, it was announced Amy would be returning to Neighbours and Cramond was cast in the role. She made her first screen appearance as Amy on 2 June 2015. Amy is the eldest child of Paul Robinson.
David Tanaka is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Takaya Honda. He made his first appearance in the main show during the episode broadcast on 21 September 2016. The character was introduced alongside his twin brother Leo Tanaka, and they arrive in Erinsborough to find their long-lost biological father. The show's producer had planned their stories out six months in advance and was excited about the prospect of them joining the series. Both Honda and Kano auditioned for both roles and were later awarded their respective parts. David is characterised as the more self-conscious and socially awkward of the Tanaka twins, but he is career minded and confident in his role as a doctor.
Leo Tanaka is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Tim Kano. He made his first appearance in the main show during the episode broadcast on 22 September 2016. The character was introduced alongside his twin brother David Tanaka, and they arrive in Erinsborough to find their long-lost biological father. Both Kano and Honda auditioned for both Tanaka roles and were later awarded their respective parts. The show's producer Jason Herbison had planned their stories months in advance. The shows writing team meticulously researched the show's history to find a way to introduce the two characters into the show's long-standing Robinson family. Leo and David's search ended in the revelation that the show's villainous character, Paul Robinson was their father.
Dipika 'Dipi' Rebecchi is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Sharon Johal. She made her first appearance during the episode broadcast on 24 April 2017. Johal originally auditioned for the role of Dipi's younger sister Mishti Sharma. Actress Scarlett Vas secured the role and producers changed Dipi to better suit Johal. Dipi is part of the extended Rebecchi family introduced into Neighbours, joining established regular character Toadfish Rebecchi. She is married to Shane Rebecchi and they move to Erinsborough with their two daughters Yashvi and Kirsha Rebecchi. She soon becomes the new owner of Harold's café.
Harlow Robinson is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Jemma Donovan. Harlow is introduced as an extension of the Robinson family, the secret daughter of Robert Robinson and the granddaughter of Paul Robinson. Donovan is also the real life daughter of Jason Donovan, who played Harlow's great uncle, Scott. Donovan auditioned for the role after a four-year break from acting and successfully got the role of Harlow, which producers then slightly tweaked to suit her. Donovan's casting announcement was made in March when she began filming, and she debuted on screens on 15 July 2019. Harlow is described as head strong, sensible and clever, and Donovan revealed that she liked her character. Donovan's co-star, Dennis, also explained that the character had some reservations about her new secret family initially. Harlow's early storylines involve a feud with Roxy Willis and a reunion with her mother, Prudence Wallace. Harlow's introduction was described as similar to Donovan's story of moving from London to Melbourne.
Roxy Willis is a fictional character from the Australian television soap opera Neighbours, played by Zima Anderson. Anderson secured the role two years after relocating to Melbourne in the hope that she might win a part on the show. She felt that she was able to bring her own experience of moving from a regional town to the suburbs to the role. Her future co-star Jemma Donovan also auditioned for Roxy, before she was cast as Harlow Robinson. Roxy was initially billed as being a relative of established character Terese Willis, before it was revealed that she is the daughter of Terese's former brother-in-law Adam Willis and his wife Gemma Ramsay, whose actress Beth Buchanan reprised her role to facilitate Roxy's arrival. Anderson made her first appearance as Roxy during the episode broadcast on 29 April 2019.
Nicolette Stone is a fictional character from the Australian television soap opera Neighbours, played by Charlotte Chimes and Hannah Monson. She made her first appearance during the episode broadcast on 15 July 2020. Chimes auditioned for the role at a time she felt creatively fulfilled owing to her work on another series. Despite her nonchalant approach, Chimes was invited to a second audition, which the then Sydney based actress had to perform over video-tape due to the COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions imposed in Australia. Chimes was successful and assumed the role of Nicolette, who writers created as the daughter of the heritage character, Jane Harris. From her introduction, Nicolette was portrayed as "straight talking" and "brash", unafraid to hurt other character's feelings. Nicolette is a lesbian and is confident with being open about her sexuality. Writers often used Nicolette's characterisation in her storylines. Writers created a fractured backstory between Nicolette and Jane, owed to Jane's request that Nicolette conceal her sexuality from her opinionated grandmother. Nicolette's early stories commonly featured her and Jane's journey to reconciliation. Writers further explored Nicolette's backstory with the introduction of her friend Audrey Hamilton, who had helped Nicolette commit fraud.