Luke Handley
Luke Handley | |
|---|---|
| Occupation(s) | Fictional character; pizza delivery person, timeshare seller, police trainee, teacher trainee |
| Years active | 1995–1996, 2005 |
| Known for | Character on Neighbours |
Luke Handley is a fictional persona featured in the Australian soap opera Neighbours, portrayed by actor Bernard Curry. His first appearance was broadcast on 7 March 1995. Significant plotlines for the character involved romantic relationships with Libby Kennedy and Danni Stark, experiencing a mental breakdown, and confronting a cancer diagnosis. Curry departed from the series in December 1996 but made a comeback in 2005 to celebrate the show's 20th anniversary.
Casting
The announcement of Curry joining Neighbours was made in TV Week on 4 March 1995, coinciding with Network Ten's efforts to refresh the series. Curry expressed excitement about his new role, viewing it as a valuable step in his acting career despite widespread industry doubts regarding soap operas. He planned to remain on the show for approximately one year to avoid professional stagnation. His debut episode aired on 7 March 1995.
Introduction and Characterisation
Luke was introduced as the younger sibling of Jen Handley (Alyce Platt), sharing a family history marked by the loss of their sister. He arrives on Ramsay Street aiming for a new beginning. Portrayed as "easygoing" with an engaging charm and notably "big blue eyes," Luke quickly gained popularity among both residents and female characters, earning a reputation as a "heart-throb," a label Curry himself minimized.
Having recently graduated from university, Luke faced difficulties securing employment and took up a job delivering pizzas. He moved into a shared house with his housemates Serendipity Gottlieb (Raelee Hill) and Mark Gottlieb (Bruce Samazan), occupying the room formerly used by Rick Alessi.
Libby Kennedy
Soon after settling in Erinsborough, Luke develops an attraction toward his neighbour Libby Kennedy (Kym Valentine). Given that Libby is still attending school, Luke initially resists her romantic advances. However, after Libby photographs him, she becomes more openly affectionate, leading to them dating. Libby becomes deeply infatuated, but her parents express concern, suspecting Luke might be exploiting her youth. Ultimately, Luke decides to end their relationship due to perceiving no long-term potential, leaving Libby heartbroken.
Serendipity Gottlieb
When Luke faces harassment at The Coffee Shop, his housemate Serendipity Gottlieb steps in to assist him, resulting in a kiss and an intimate encounter. This event marks a turning point in their relationship. While Ren is confident about her feelings for Luke, he finds commitment challenging due to unresolved grief over his sister’s passing.
Their fluctuating relationship leads to Luke proposing marriage to Ren. After an accident renders Ren's brother Mark comatose, Luke provides her with strong emotional support, which deepens their connection. Although Ren is eager to accept his proposal, she requests time to think it over.
During this time, Curry discovered that his contract would not be extended and that his character would be written out of the series. On-screen, Luke accepts an English teaching position in Japan and invites Ren to accompany him, hinting at plans to marry abroad. Hill’s character was also written out concurrently. Nevertheless, producers invited Curry back seven weeks later; upon his return, Luke reveals that he and Ren ended their relationship while in Japan.
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
The character is diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma during a four-month narrative arc that explores his diagnosis and subsequent treatment. To prepare for this storyline, Curry investigated how serious illnesses affect individuals of his age, focusing on both the physical challenges and the social dynamics involved. He visited camps catering to seriously ill children to gain firsthand insight, discovering that many participants disliked pity and preferred to be treated normally. Within the plot, Luke undergoes chemotherapy and chooses to shave his head beforehand to avoid eliciting sympathy. Curry insisted on performing the head-shaving scene himself and intended to let his hair grow back afterward.
Departure
In August 1996, Curry revealed his decision to leave Neighbours in order to seek new opportunities, despite several significant story arcs still forthcoming. He wrapped up filming in October, having portrayed the character for just over a year. In 2005, Curry returned briefly as Luke for a guest appearance in the show's 20th anniversary special titled "Friends for Twenty Years".
Storylines
Luke follows his sister Jen to Ramsay Street and takes up residence with Mark Gottlieb and Mark’s sister, Serendipity. He secures employment at The Holy Roll and catches the eye of Libby Kennedy, who involves him in her photography projects. Although Luke feels attracted to Libby, he holds back due to their age gap. After Karl Kennedy observes Libby kissing Luke, he cautions Luke to keep his distance. Subsequently, Luke shifts his interest toward Serendipity; they attempt a romantic relationship but ultimately remain friends. When Mark falls into a coma, Luke proposes marriage to Serendipity, who accepts. However, when offered an English teaching position in Japan, they decide to relocate there together.
Several months later, Billy Kennedy (Jesse Spencer) overhears unusual noises from the community bus, revealing Luke’s return from Japan. Luke agrees to meet Karl, who quickly realizes that Luke is experiencing a breakdown following difficulties with Serendipity. Luke stays with the Robinson family while recovering. When Jen returns, Luke moves in with her and takes a job selling timeshares. He meets Kimberley Stevens (Rebecca Macauley), a police officer; their relationship ends after Kimberley leads a stakeout during which Cody Willis (Peta Brady) is tragically shot dead. Following this event, Luke decides to pursue a career in law enforcement and begins police training.
After undergoing a standard medical examination, Luke receives a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and starts chemotherapy treatment, shaving his head as part of the process. He experiences emotional fluctuations and briefly halts treatment but regains optimism after meeting Charlie Moyes (Damien Bodie), a terminally ill child at camp.
With support from Debbie Martin (Marnie Reece-Wilmore) and Danni Stark (Eliza Szonert), Luke moves in with them. Feeling overwhelmed by Debbie’s attention, he grows closer to Danni, who struggles with coping with his illness. Debbie attempts unsuccessfully to rekindle their relationship. When Luke’s cancer enters remission, he strives to rebuild his life but encounters setbacks during job interviews. Danni departs for a six-month fashion opportunity in Malaysia. Meanwhile, Luke provides emotional support to Joanna Hartman (Emma Harrison), Catherine O'Brien (Radha Mitchell), and Sarah Beaumont (Nicola Charles) and delivers a school presentation about surviving cancer. Encouraged by Susan Kennedy (Jackie Woodburne), he contemplates pursuing teacher training.
Upon discovering that Danni has contracted malaria, Luke travels to Malaysia where they settle together and he completes his police training.
Reception
For his role as Luke, Curry earned a nomination for Best Actor at the 1997 Inside Soap Awards, while the storyline involving Non-Hodgkin lymphoma was also up for Most Dramatic Storyline. A writer from the BBC's Neighbours highlighted a memorable scene where Luke pretended to be Sarah Beaumont's partner during an encounter with her former boyfriend. Matthew Clifton of Heckler Spray ranked Luke among "The Best Ever Mid-90s Neighbours Characters," characterizing him as largely unremarkable except for a casual return from Japan that stood out. Jason Herbison from Inside Soap described the relationship between Luke and Ren as "the most turbulent romance on Ramsay Street." When the lymphoma narrative commenced, The Daily Telegraph observed the series' move towards more serious themes, expressing hope that this signaled a resurgence in quality.