Charlie Thorpe (character)

Neighbours

Company type	Television series
Industry	Television soap opera
Founded	March 18, 1985 (1985-03-18)
Founder	Reg Watson
Headquarters	Australia

Neighbours is a long-running Australian soap opera created by Reg Watson, which premiered on 18 March 1985. This section outlines the characters introduced during 1999, all introduced under the leadership of executive producer Stanley Walsh. The series' fifteenth season commenced on 18 January 1999. Notable introductions included Bess O'Brien, mother to the existing character Sarah Beaumont, arriving in February; Peter Hannay in May; Martin Chester joining in July; alongside Daniel Fitzgerald, Teabag Teasdale, and Teresa Bell in September. October brought the arrival of Charlie Thorpe and the entire Scully family: parents Joe and Lyn, with their daughters Stephanie, Felicity, and Michelle.

Bess O'Brien

Bess O'Brien, played by Diana McLean, made her first appearance on 8 February 1999. She is introduced as Sarah Beaumont’s (Nicola Charles) mother and an environmental activist who had prioritized her campaigning work over raising her children. Bess arrives in Erinsborough aiming to rebuild her relationship with Sarah, despite their history being marked by neglect.

While staying, Bess offers support to Sarah through various personal and career obstacles, including intervening to assist Sarah’s appeal after she lost her job. She also forms friendships with residents like Susan Kennedy (Jackie Woodburne) and plays a role in organizing local fundraising events. Although there is initial friction—Sarah harbors resentment towards Bess for her earlier absence—the two eventually reconcile following candid conversations and shared moments.

Bess prolongs her visit after receiving an invitation to a conference but opts to stay longer to aid Sarah. Additionally, she helps facilitate a connection between Sarah and Bess’s acquaintance Peter Hannay (Nick Carrafa). Despite missing the wedding due to a flight delay, Bess’s involvement signifies an important step in repairing familial bonds and reinforcing Sarah’s support network.

Peter Hannay

Peter Hannay, enacted by Nick Carrafa, appeared for the first time on 17 May 1999. Carrafa had previously been seen in Neighbours portraying Tony Romeo back in 1987. Peter was introduced as a romantic partner for the established character Sarah Beaumont (Nicola Charles), with Carrafa contracted for a twelve-week guest stint. Their introduction stemmed from Peter’s acquaintance with Sarah’s mother, which led to their meeting and blossoming relationship.

Following a swift romance, Peter and Sarah became engaged. Despite Sarah's unresolved feelings for Karl Kennedy (Alan Fletcher), they wed a month later. Shortly before departing Erinsborough for life abroad on 13 July 1999, Peter nearly witnessed Sarah sharing a farewell kiss with Karl. In 2013, Charles disclosed that Sarah and Peter had two children but were no longer together.

Carrafa briefly returned to the role in November 2016 for an unexpected reappearance. Peter came back to Erinsborough to collect his son Angus Beaumont-Hannay (Jai Waetford) and take him back to Sydney. Angus was upset due to Peter's absence during a recent difficult period, but they managed to reconcile. Peter expressed gratitude towards Karl and Susan for looking after Angus and revealed he would be based in Sydney due to employment with the Flying Doctors.

A contributor from Inside Soap described Peter as "dashing" and "hunky," while another commentator expressed hope that he would "finally heal Sarah's broken heart."

Martin Chester

Martin Chester, brought to life by Gil Tucker, made his first appearance on 29 July 1999. As an old acquaintance of Karl (Alan Fletcher) and Susan Kennedy (Jackie Woodburne), Martin reestablished ties upon arriving in the community. He invited Susan to dinner, which created unease since Karl was unaware of any marital difficulties. Woodburne explained that Susan’s attraction to Martin arose from feeling neglected in her marriage, though she ultimately chose to remain faithful. The existing friendship between Tucker and Woodburne from Cop Shop contributed to their convincing on-screen chemistry.

Martin had been a university companion and bandmate of Karl’s in The Right Prescription, and he had briefly dated Susan in the past. Following his separation from his wife and during Susan’s healing from Karl’s infidelity, Martin and Susan grew closer. He revealed his love for her while Karl was away. Although Karl was eager to reconnect with Martin, Martin intended to depart for Alice Springs, and Susan later confessed to Karl that she had been tempted by Martin.

Daniel Fitzgerald

Daniel "Dan" Fitzgerald, portrayed by Brett Tucker, entered the show on 1 September 1999 as a secondary school teacher. His primary narrative involved a romantic connection with housemate Tess Bell (Krista Vendy). Tess secretly liked Dan but felt hurt when he dated Steph Scully (Carla Bonner). After revealing her feelings, Dan admitted he felt the same but was reluctant due to Tess’s marital status. Dan eventually moved out to pursue their relationship further. Vendy expressed uncertainty about the storyline's future since Tucker was not a permanent cast member.

Tucker returned as Dan in 2007 when Neighbours shifted focus back to character-driven stories and family themes; Dan took on a counselling position at the school. Michael Lallo of The Age commented that Tucker boosted the program’s "hunk quotient" through this role.

Teabag Teasdale

John "Teabag" Teasdale, enacted by Nathan Phillips, first appeared on 3 September 1999. At the time a drama student, Phillips initially played a minor part but was later signed for a two-month stint. Tony Johnston described Teabag as the series’ temporary "resident bad boy," notorious for stirring trouble. Phillips has mentioned he remains recognized chiefly for this character.

Teabag becomes friends with Hannah Martin (Rebecca Ritters), Paul McClain (Jansen Spencer), and Tad Reeves (Jonathon Dutton) after they transform a local plot into a BMX track. He supports Tad’s BMX film project and impresses Hannah with his biking talents, even giving her an old bicycle as a gift. When Hannah’s family plans to relocate, Teabag offers her accommodation in his shared house. Paul confronts Teabag about his increasing closeness to Hannah, leading to a physical fight.

Teabag boasts about local thefts and admits breaking into Billy Kennedy's (Jesse Spencer) workshop. Upon learning this, Billy reports Teabag to authorities, prompting Hannah to distance herself and move away. In retaliation, Teabag harasses Paul, Tad, and the Bishop family—disrupting their café operations and sending unwanted deliveries. Paul and Tad respond by damaging Teabag’s bike and property but stop after police intervention. On Hannah’s final school day, Teabag presents her with a bracelet and ceases his harassment.

Teresa Bell

Teresa "Tess" Bell, brought to life by Krista Vendy, made her first appearance on 17 September 1999. Vendy earned the part through her agency after undergoing three auditions, ultimately surpassing two other contenders. Initially conceived as Tamsin Flynn, a barmaid, the character was reimagined as Teresa, a 24-year-old married English teacher who relocated to Erinsborough seeking independence and took a position at the local high school. Although married, Tess found herself attracted to her flatmate Daniel Fitzgerald (Brett Tucker). Gina Leros of The Sun-Herald recognized Vendy as a standout emerging talent on Neighbours in 2000.

Charlie Thorpe

Charlie Thorpe, portrayed by Katrina Baylis, entered the storyline on 8 October 1999. After a swift romantic involvement with fellow student Toadfish Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney), Charlie surprised him by proposing marriage. Moloney noted that Toadie agreed despite some doubts, partly influenced by being emotionally vulnerable and intrigued by Charlie’s assertiveness. Baylis characterized Charlie as unpredictable—combining sweetness with cunning—and disclosed that her main agenda was to obtain residency since her work visa was nearing expiration.

Their encounter began when Toadie accidentally picked up the wrong dog from the pound; Charlie approached him while walking the correct dog, Bob. She claimed to be studying law in London and revealed that her ex-boyfriend Rupert still resided with her. After tensions with Toadie's housemates over her presence escalated, Charlie moved out but later reconciled with Toadie, leading them to cohabit. Charlie then proposed marriage, which Toadie eventually accepted. However, upon discovering she was not a genuine student and intended to marry solely for visa purposes—confirmed by warnings from Rupert and a love letter—Toadie confronted her. Subsequently, Charlie left his life for good.

Joe Scully

Joe Scully, enacted by Shane Connor, debuted on 20 October 1999. Connor was invited to audition and accepted partly due to the opportunity to work alongside Janet Andrewartha (Lyn Scully). Signed initially for three years with options for extension, Joe was depicted as a builder with a tough demeanor who paid little heed to others' opinions. Author Andrew Mercado described him as a character who was "permanently missing-in-action."

Lyn Scully

Lynette "Lyn" Scully, played by Janet Andrewartha, also appeared for the first time on 20 October 1999. Andrewartha pursued a role based in Melbourne to remain near her children and secured the part following a screen test. Lyn faced challenges related to self-esteem and belonging, which created strain in her marriage with Joe. Her mix of vulnerability and determination struck a chord with audiences, symbolizing endurance amid personal and professional hardships.

Stephanie Scully

Stephanie Jo "Steph" Scully, portrayed by Carla Bonner, premiered on 20 October 1999. Originally cast actress Emma Roche departed after three weeks, leading to Bonner’s successful casting through auditions. As the eldest of the Scully siblings, Steph was recognized as a tomboy and straightforward individual known for her unique style and close friendships, notably with Libby Kennedy. She earned the distinction of viewers' favorite Neighbours character in polls conducted by Newsround (2002) and Yahoo! (2010).

Felicity Scully

Felicity Jane "Flick" Scully, portrayed by Holly Valance, made her first appearance on 20 October 1999. Valance had minimal prior audition experience before landing this role and was informed of her casting three months afterwards. She expressed that joining the show was a lifelong aspiration, having admired it since she was young. Cast at age sixteen, slightly older than her character, Felicity was depicted as "a committed feminist" with a strong sense of social responsibility. Valance received a nomination for Most Popular New Female Talent at the 2000 Logie Award.

Michelle Scully

Michelle Scully, played by Kate Keltie, also debuted on 20 October 1999. Keltie was thirteen when she took on the role, a bit older than Michelle's age. The character was portrayed as imaginative and somewhat pampered, yet intelligent and resolute. Keltie described Michelle as spirited with a rich imagination, frequently spinning believable tales. The character shared a close bond with her father and quickly developed an affection for neighbour Paul McClain (Jansen Spencer).

Additional Characters

Duration	Character	Actor	Role Description
19 January–6 May	Jade Cleary	Talia Krape	Jade expresses romantic interest in Paul McClain during the absence of his girlfriend Hannah Martin.
19 January–3 February	Gary O'Neil	Kevin Hopkins	Gary arrives in Ramsay Street to visit Anne Wilkinson, claiming to be the great nephew of Lily Madigan. He challenges Anne's claim to Lily’s property but loses in court; Anne subsequently leases it.
19 January–9 March	George Caruana	Greg Ross	George, a Uni FM radio host, sparks controversy by criticizing the local high school and threatening to fabricate stories, which leads to his removal from the station.
26 January	Brenda Samuels	Pixie Jones	Joel Samuels’ mother arrives from Tasmania following his accident. Their strained relationship is apparent, but after witnessing community support for Joel, she returns home.
29 January–16 February	Andy Sisson	Martin Copping	A homeless street musician who clashes with Karl Kennedy during Salvation Army volunteer work; refuses association after Karl defends Andy’s busking spot.
3–26 February 2001	Cluney Webb	Cecilia Specht	Physiotherapist at Erinsborough Hospital assisting Joel Samuels with knee rehabilitation and later treating Lou Carpenter’s back problems.
24 February–26 October	Allie Bentley	Jade Butler	Friend of Hannah Martin, initially interested in Tad Reeves and later in Paul McClain.
10–18 March	Alita Zagarnauskas	Annabel Mounsey	Friend of Ruth Wilkinson, appointed Vice-Principal at Erinsborough High amidst concerns over potential conflicts of interest.
24 March–20 July	Jemma Acton	Jessica Gower	University peer of Lance Wilkinson, dates Joel Samuels casually, and organizes the "Single and Suffering" Ball event.
31 March–28 June	Vincenzo Coletti	Tasos Petousis	Owner of a restaurant who employs Anne Wilkinson as a waitress; sends her for training after poor initial performance; shares a brief romantic moment witnessed by Anne’s boyfriend.
31 March 1999 – 14 March 2000	Damien Smith	John Ridley	Airline colleague and partner of Amy Greenwood; their relationship results in marriage and a child. Later reveals divorce due to Damien’s homosexuality.
8 April–12 July 2001	Frances Nagel	Judith Roberts	Eden University librarian who befriends Harold Bishop; their friendship ends due to tensions involving Harold’s foster son.
18 May–16 September 2002	Ron Kirk	John Orcsik	Father of Drew Kirk residing in Oakey.
18 May–20 March 2001	Rose Kirk	Diana Greentree
18 May–16 September 2002, 7 March 2018	Dougal Kirk	Michael Barallon / Steven Bahnsen / Brandon Burns	Younger brother of Drew Kirk; initially antagonistic but later moves in with Drew and Libby Kennedy. After Drew’s death, Dougal struggles with guilt but eventually reconciles with Drew’s son Ben Kirk, offering him an apprenticeship.
24 May	Ruby Hanson	Leyden Brewer	Newborn daughter of Ray and Shelley Hanson; delivered at a Rodeo Ball event in Oakey.
7 June–11 November	Barry Reeves	Fred Barker	Tad Reeves’ father; informs Tad about his parents’ separation and later reveals Tad is adopted.
10 June–6 July	Chloris Mott	Lise Rodgers	Assistant at a bridal shop involved in a dispute over dress purchases with Sarah Beaumont and Amy Greenwood.
17 June–24 February 2000	Julia Burrows	Rhian Skirving / Ruth Callum	Meets Lance Wilkinson during fruit-picking work; they date briefly before Julia ends things upon realizing Lance is rebounding from another relationship.
23 June–24 September	Becky Niedermyer	Diane Viduka	Year twelve student whom Tad Reeves attempts to impress by organizing a concert that ultimately fails due to technical difficulties.
24 June–3 August	Megan Townsend	Allison Byrne	Dates Lance Wilkinson as part of a bet but develops genuine feelings; relationship ends when Lance discovers the truth.
24 June–6 April 2000	Gordon Collins	Chris Waters	Client of Philip Martin who introduces him to an exclusive club but ends their association after learning Philip was indirectly involved in Lou Carpenter’s tax issues.
9 July–17 January 2000	Kate Johns	Fiona Harris	Nurse at Erinsborough Hospital; friend of Sarah Beaumont; attends Sarah’s hen party and treats Drew Kirk following an accident.
12–13 July	Trent Rushworth	Christopher Lee	Friend of Peter Hannay; serves as best man at Peter and Sarah Beaumont’s wedding.
20–27 July	Rachel Ball	Pip Sallabank	University student and friend of Megan Townsend involved in the bet concerning Lance Wilkinson.
9 August–10 November	David "Fanto" Hodges	Daniel Dinnen	Art student interested in Anne Wilkinson; their relationship ends due to Fanto’s questionable conduct.
16 August–15 March 2000	Craig Harrison	Stephen Macklin	Disorderly patron at Lou’s place who ignores warnings and is removed by staff.
18 August–7 June 2002	Maurie Ryan	Neil Fletcher	Builder employing Billy Kennedy; known for unsafe practices causing apprentice injury and legal threats. Later works for Joe Scully amid disputes over union membership and concerns about his wife's medical malpractice.
23 August–27 September	Sam Rodgers	Matthew Albert	Apprentice on Maurie Ryan’s construction site subjected to unsafe conditions resulting in injury; Billy Kennedy intervenes leading to Maurie’s arrest.
31 August–11 November	Desi Grant	Katherine McLean	Daughter of Portia Grant; manages Grease Monkeys restaurant competing against Lassiter’s Coffee Shop, resulting in rivalry that ends after unfair labor practices are exposed.
6 September–26 July 2001	Ralph Walker	Paul Collins	Police officer involved in various local incidents including youth arrests, traffic accidents, theft investigations, and community disputes.
8 September–29 April 2002	Cindy Lipman	Natasha Pincus	Photographer responsible for nude calendar featuring Joel Samuels and later promotional photos for Lassiter’s hotel guests.
28 September–26 June 2000	Viv Garnett	Emma Buckland	Nurse at Erinsborough Hospital caring for patients including injured apprentices and accident victims.
29 September	Steve Formosa	Cameron Knight	Stripper who unsuccessfully auditions for Natalie Rigby’s entertainment group; offers encouragement to Joel Samuels upon leaving.
29 September–20 October	Natalie Rigby	Nicki Paull	Employer who hires Joel Samuels as a barman; maintains a complicated relationship complicated by disapproval from her son Liam.
4–15 October	Liam Rigby	Damien Bodie
11 October 1999 –30 April 2007	Lindsay Hall	Glenn Hunt	Salvation Army volunteer providing support to Harold Bishop through personal losses and spiritual challenges over several years.
27 October1999 –2 February2001   |'\'Roy "Stanno" Stanley\'\'\'   |'\'Cameron Douglas\'\'   |'Biker acquaintance of Stephanie Scully.'
'2-3 November'	'Katie Freeman'	'Nikki Visser'	'Prospective Ramsay Street tenant whose strict habits alienate housemates leading to departure.'
'4 November-5 June2002'	'Bianca Nugent'	'Jane Harber'	'Friend of Michelle Scully involved in school conflicts; rescued after accident; final appearance includes teasing Boyd Hoyland.'
'9 November'	'Kurt Hodges'	'Paul Glen'	'Father of David Hodges involved in warehouse tenancy issues.'
'10 November-5 September2000'	'Tim Harrison'	'Tom Budge'	'Student working under Desi Grant at Grease Monkeys; reports poor labor conditions.'
'15 November'	'Rupert Coburn'	'Craig Blumeris'	'Brief romantic involvement with Charlie Thorpe causing complications involving Toadfish Rebecchi.'
'23 November-27 January2000'	'Chas Hancock'	'Don Hirst'	'Local councillor interviewed by Libby Kennedy; mayoral appointment rumors dispelled.'

References

• Johnston, Tony. Neighbours: Two Decades on Ramsay Street. News Custom Publishing, 2005. ISBN 978-1-876176-78-5
• Mercado, Andrew. Super Aussie Soaps. Pluto Press Australia, 2004. ISBN 978-1-86403-191-1

External links

• Characters and cast on the Official Australian Neighbours site
• Characters and cast via the Official UK Neighbours platform
• Characters and cast listed on the Internet Movie Database