Max Crawford (Neighbours)

Brendan Bell
Occupation	Lawyer
Known for	Character in Neighbours

Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell, brought to life by Blair Venn, made his first appearance on 19 January 2000. Brendan is a lawyer wed to Teresa Bell (Krista Vendy), a high school educator, whom he consistently subjects to both physical and psychological abuse. Although Teresa demonstrates resilience, Brendan's dominance gradually erodes her self-esteem, as he regards her more as a trophy, influenced by their age gap and his professional success. When the Kennedy family offers Teresa shelter, she chooses to escape Brendan's control.

Brendan strives to mend their relationship, persuading Teresa that he has reformed after completing anger management sessions. He reintegrates into her life, winning some trust through controlled behavior and thoughtful acts such as preparing meals. Nevertheless, Teresa remains wary because Brendan conceals a possessive and darker temperament. His instability peaks when, furious over Teresa’s social engagements, he recklessly drives in heavy rain and collides with Libby Kennedy (Kym Valentine) and Stephanie Scully (Carla Bonner).

After the crash, Brendan is hospitalized and faces legal charges. He pleads for Teresa’s forgiveness but soon suffers a fatal heart attack caused by an unnoticed internal injury.

Dee Bliss

Dione "Dee" Bliss, portrayed by Madeleine West, was introduced on 3 February 2000. Originally a law student, West shifted her focus to acting upon securing the role, deferring her academic pursuits. Dee's character quickly gained popularity, leading to West securing a regular contract with the show. Jim Schembri from The Age labeled Dee as "Ramsay Street's reigning blonde beauty." In 2001, West earned a nomination for the Most Popular New Female Talent Logie Award for her portrayal.

Sheena Wilson

Sheena Wilson, enacted by Zoe Stark, first appeared on 10 August 2000. As a nurse at Erinsborough Hospital, Sheena was introduced as a close friend of Dee Bliss (Madeleine West) and became romantically linked with Toadfish Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney). She played a key role in medical situations such as Lou Carpenter’s back injury and Lyn Scully’s labor. Dee attempted to match Sheena with Lance Wilkinson and Toadie; ultimately, Sheena dated Toadie but their relationship ended when Toadie disclosed that Sheena’s mother, Rhonda, had behaved inappropriately towards him.

Later on, Sheena accused Martin Cook (Tony Bonner) of discrimination after he refused her participation in a workshop, which led to her feeling isolated at work. Her allegations were substantiated when Dee also reported harassment from Martin.

In the following years, Sheena provided care for patients like Boyd Hoyland during critical health incidents and managed psychiatric cases including Max Hoyland’s treatment. At her high school reunion, she confronted conflicts involving Sindi Watts and Stuart Parker, underscoring interpersonal drama relevant to her narrative. Her role expanded into psychiatric nursing where she facilitated Max Hoyland’s recovery and discharge process.

Gino Esposito

Gino Esposito, initially portrayed by Claude Stevens before being recast with Shane McNamara, debuted on 11 August 2000. Gino worked as the hairdresser running the local salon. His character was openly gay and involved in a relationship with Aaron Barkley (Stewart Adam). Script producer Luke Devenish characterized Gino as a humorous yet positive gay stereotype reminiscent of Mr Humphries from Are You Being Served?. One storyline featured Gino temporarily moving in with Harold Bishop, which sparked jealousy from Lou Carpenter and added complexity to the classic love triangle scenario.

Allana Truman

Allana Truman (originally Dorothy Truman), played by Josephine Clark, made her first appearance on 29 September 2000 with an initial three-month guest role. Clark had previously appeared in the series as Jamie-Lee Duggan in 1997. Allana was depicted as an eccentric student and became romantically involved with Lance Wilkinson (Andrew Bibby), their bond strengthened by a mutual enthusiasm for science fiction.

Their relationship sparked at a sci-fi convention where Allana set Lance a series of seven challenges to win her affection. These included tracking down a rare television episode, photographing a retired actor, collaborating with friends to create a sci-fi film, deciphering enigmatic symbols, persuading Libby Kennedy to publish an article about UFOs, and formally presenting the article. The final challenge involved obtaining a fragment of a crashed satellite; unable to secure an authentic piece, Lance crafted a credible replica, which impressed Allana and led to their becoming a couple.

Allana’s peculiar conduct prompted curiosity about her personal life. She disclosed living with her mother Jeannie Truman (Libby Stone), who was overprotective due to illness. Her sister Clementine (Melanie Lockman) revealed that Allana had changed her birth name from Dorothy. Jeannie disapproved of Allana's relationship with Lance, fearing she would lose her daughter’s companionship. Under this pressure, Allana initially ended the relationship but later sought Lance’s assistance to break free from her mother’s control. They planned a trip to the United States to attend sci-fi conventions but encountered financial difficulties. Lance gained recognition on a radio quiz show but exposed the producers’ cheating live when Allana felt threatened. Ultimately, Allana and Lance departed Erinsborough and went on to organize their own sci-fi convention.

Emily Hancock

Emily Hancock, portrayed by Isabella Oldham, first appeared on 11 October 2000. She returned with her family in 2001 to fill the void left by several departing main characters. The Hancock family was presented as a vibrant and fun-loving Australian household. By 2002, the entire family was written out of Neighbours. Emily’s most prominent storyline involved discovering a love letter from Toadie addressed to her mother, Maggie Hancock. A reviewer from the Herald Sun referred to Emily as the "adorable daughter" in the family.

During Maggie’s absence, Emily and her brother Leo were briefly cared for by Karl and Susan Kennedy before relocating with their family to Ramsay Street. Emily faced typical childhood experiences, such as losing her cherished doll Lizzie; she and Leo attempted to retrieve it from a local shop without informing their parents. When removal workers accidentally delivered an incorrect box to the Hancocks’ home, Emily took a pair of earrings but later confessed to losing them after being accused of theft.

Family tensions escalated when Leo blamed Emily for their difficulties, prompting her to run away and become unintentionally trapped on a bus overnight. A search involving Leo and the police led to her safe recovery. Emily also pretended to have ear pain that was eventually diagnosed by Karl Kennedy as dental discomfort.

Emily mentioned an imaginary friend named Madge, which resonated with Harold Bishop’s memories of his late wife. Before leaving Erinsborough due to financial struggles, Emily read an emotional letter from Toadfish Rebecchi expressing his feelings for Maggie. On their final day in town, Emily went missing but was found bidding farewell to Madge in a neighbor’s garden.

Leo Hancock

Leo Hancock, brought to life by Anthony Hammer, made his first appearance on 11 October 2000. Originally portrayed by Josh Jay, Leo was reintroduced alongside his family the following year to replace six departing regular characters. The Hancock family, consisting of five vibrant members, was crafted as a down-to-earth, fun-loving Australian household. By 2002, the entire family was phased out of Neighbours.

Before settling with their family on Ramsay Street, Leo and his sister Emily (Isabella Oldham) were briefly under the care of Karl (Alan Fletcher) and Susan Kennedy (Jackie Woodburne). One of Leo’s early storylines involved him going missing and later being found at the local pub where his brother Matt was employed. During their parents’ vacation, Leo’s friend Aleks Rama (Dean Ali) stayed with the family, a plan arranged by Leo himself.

Leo grappled with feelings of guilt over the tragic death of his sister Francesca, blaming himself for leaving a pool gate open that led to her drowning. He sought comfort from Dee Bliss (Madeleine West), who supported him through this difficult time. At Erinsborough High, Leo was subjected to bullying by P.E. teacher Dean Hearn (Jason Buckley). After Evan witnessed the mistreatment and reported it to principal Susan Kennedy, Dean resigned following an incident that injured Leo.

At home, tensions arose when Leo began writing and selling essays to classmates to fund break-dancing lessons. While initially forbidden by his parents, Evan eventually acknowledged Leo’s talent and permitted him to join a dance crew. Alongside Michelle Scully (Kate Keltie), Leo discovered an undocumented immigrant named Gregori (Peter Prenga), whom they kept hidden until authorities became involved.

When Leo’s dance team qualified for the finals in Adelaide, Evan denied him permission to attend. The crew then tried to raise money independently, which caused friction within the family. After Matt crashed during a drag race and went into hiding, Leo supported him by providing food until Matt surrendered to the police. The legal expenses led Evan and Maggie to sell their home and relocate the family to Albury.

A BBC Neighbours reviewer highlighted Leo’s pivotal moment as "keeping his brother's whereabouts a secret after the car accident."

Darcy Tyler

Darcy Tyler, played by Mark Raffety, first appeared on 15 November 2000. As Susan Kennedy’s nephew and a medical professional, Darcy frequently stirred up difficulties for the Kennedy family. Raffety characterized Darcy as a multifaceted individual whose storyline evolved over three years. His portrayal earned nominations for Best Newcomer and Best Bad Boy at the Inside Soap Awards.

Larry Woodhouse

Larry "Woody" Woodhouse, portrayed by Andrew Curry, debuted on 24 November 2000 as a recurring figure until 2002, with a brief return in 2010. Woody worked as both a mechanic and bouncer and was Stephanie Scully’s former boyfriend who had served time for handling stolen goods. After his release from prison, Woody became entangled in witness protection due to threats from criminal contacts. He invited Steph to join him, but following a car accident believed to have been fatal, he vanished.

Woody later reappeared, cautioning Steph about Mitch Foster, another ex-convict she was involved with romantically. Despite Woody’s proposal and efforts to rekindle their relationship, Steph ultimately decided to move forward without either man. In 2010, Woody made an unexpected comeback, offering Steph an escape from her burdens amid personal challenges.

Woody’s narrative explores themes of crime, loyalty, and redemption within the Erinsborough community. His return during Steph’s struggle with postnatal depression reintroduced aspects of their shared biker past, influencing her emotional wellbeing and relationships.

A BBC writer identified Woody’s most memorable moment as his dramatic return after being presumed dead. The Sunday Mercury labeled him a "bad boy biker," underscoring his rebellious image within the series' storyline.

Others

Date(s)	Character	Actor	Details
27 January 2000 – 7 August 2003	Cecile Bliss	Molly McCaffrey	Cecile, the younger sibling of Dee Bliss, arrives on Ramsay Street in search of Joel Samuels. She intimidates Michelle Scully at Erinsborough High, causing injury and suspension. Cecile participates as a bridesmaid at Dee's wedding and attends her funeral. In 2017, a woman claiming to be Dee states that Cecile died a year earlier due to a bicycle accident; Mark Brennan verifies this through DNA from a medical trial Cecile was involved in. The woman is later unmasked as an impostor named Andrea Somers.
3–16 February	Vanessa Bradshaw	Julieanne Tait	Vanessa, a friend of Dee Bliss and fashion designer, dines with Joel Samuels and Toadfish Rebecchi, who pretend to be a footballer and lawyer. Once their true identities are revealed, Vanessa and Dee accumulate an unaffordable bill during their double date.
11 February–5 April	Greg Mast	Roy Thompson	Carpenter Greg offers Billy Kennedy an apprenticeship in Queensland. After some hesitation, Billy accepts. Later, Greg sends Billy to collect cedar wood but instead encounters Anne Wilkinson visiting Queensland.
25 February–17 April	Ivan Hart	Erik Donnison	Ivan manages the A Good Hair Day salon at Lassiter's but engages in dubious business dealings, prompting Lyn Scully to cover staff wages herself. After Ivan flees due to gambling debts, Lyn convinces his wife Katrina to keep the salon running using her savings.
2 March–6 April	Carrie Clark	Vanessa Rossini	Carrie betrays Dee Bliss by engaging in an affair with her boyfriend Joel Samuels.
3 March–2 June	Merridy Jackson	Suzi Cato	Teacher Merridy interacts with Lou Carpenter over school-related issues. They briefly date before Merridy accepts a position in the Northern Territory; Lou visits her but realizes their relationship has no future.
20 March–7 June	Simone King	Denise Briskin	Simone flirts with Paul McClain and dates Tad Reeves, causing friction. Paul ultimately ends the relationship due to arising conflicts.
22 March–21 February 2001	Minnie Kirk	Marion Heathfield	Minnie, Drew Kirk’s great aunt, visits Erinsborough to meet Libby Kennedy and later attends Drew and Libby's wedding.
10 April 2000, 29 July–7 August 2003	Magda Bliss	Marilyn O'Donnell June Jones	Magda is the mother of Cecile and Dee Bliss. She questions Michelle Scully about bullying accusations involving Cecile. Magda attends Dee's wedding and funeral; it is revealed in 2017 that she died in a car accident ten years earlier.
13–24 April	Rachel Jones	Kim Trengove	Tad Reeves meets Rachel at an adoption support group; she is initially suspected to be his birth mother but is not.
18 April–9 May	Connie O'Rourke	Val Jellay	Connie visits Lyn Scully’s family during financial hardship before departing to give them space. She later suffers a stroke and passes away; family tensions arise over adoption secrets but are eventually resolved.
18 April–15 October 2003	Henry O'Rourke	Bud Tingwell	Connie’s husband and adoptive father of Lyn Scully; involved in family disputes over adoption revelations.
27 April	Janet Kirk	Roberta Connelly	Drew Kirk’s aunt visits Libby Kennedy; shares stories about the family quilt during preparations for Drew and Libby's wedding.
5 May–6 June	Sean Edwards	Daniel Collopy	Sean secretly dates Felicity Scully due to concerns about their age difference. After conflicts with her father Joe Scully, their relationship ends following misunderstandings.
9 May	Shanti Pandya	Menik Gooneratne	Traveller Shanti stays at a hostel managed by Toadfish Rebecchi and others; impressed by Joel Samuels but confused about the hostel's closure.
15 May–7 July	Rachel Bailey	Carolyn Bock	Tad Reeves’s birth mother who gave him up for adoption; their strained reunion concludes with Rachel’s death months later.
16 May–25 July	Glenda Ryan	Bronwyn Di Cecco	Wife of Maurie Ryan; experiences a cancer misdiagnosis leading to a malpractice claim against Karl Kennedy which is ultimately dropped.
29 May–30 November	Stephen Bailey	Dean Murphy Kevin Hopkins	Husband of Rachel Bailey who informs Tad Reeves of Rachel’s death and their son Tim’s need for a bone marrow transplant; Tad agrees to assist.
29 May–24 October	Jasmine Bailey	Chantelle Davies Chloe Ellison	Daughter of Rachel and Stephen Bailey; Tim's sister involved in family health matters.
29 May–26 January 2001	Tim Bailey	Carl Lennie Darcy Bonser	Son of Rachel and Stephen Bailey; requires bone marrow transplant successfully performed with Tad Reeves as donor.
12 June	Dylan Ryan	Nicholas Colla	Son of Maurie and Glenda Ryan; appears when dropped off at school by his father.
14–29 June	Bernie Samuels	Sean Scully	Joel Samuels’s father visits Melbourne; flirts with Dee Bliss causing tension with Joel; ultimately accepts their imperfect relationship before leaving.
29 June–17 July	Wendy Baker	Patsy Martin	Arrives amid Harold Bishop’s robbery accusation linked to her partner Alfie Doherty; blackmails Harold before disappearing when exposed; later clears Harold's name after Alfie’s arrest.
6 July–4 August	Damon Gaffney	Richard Morgan	Suffers from agoraphobia following family tragedy; forms bond with Michelle Scully who assists him in seeking counseling after he helps her during a dog attack.
6 July–7 August	Pete Redman	Frank Raco	Postman admired by Felicity Scully; involved in prank letters orchestrated by Paul McClain and Tad Reeves; reveals he is married, ending Felicity’s crush.
11 July–2 August	Max Crawford	Simon Gleeson	Dee Bliss's ex-boyfriend returns from abroad; causes jealousy with Joel Samuels but moves on after securing new employment.
24 July–24 November	Cheyenne Rivers	Angelique Meunier	Dates Paul McClain while belittling Felicity Scully; negatively influences Paul leading to strained relationships; sent away by father Gareth Rivers after shoplifting incident.
4 August–13 June 2002	Doula Tsobanopoulos	Katherine Halliday	Nightclub owner who hires Tad Reeves as a DJ but underpays him; later implicated in identity theft involving Tad's passport.
7 August	Ari Tsobanopoulos	Campbell Smith	Brother of Doula Tsobanopoulos delivering Hemisfear T-shirts to Tad Reeves.
15 August–11 September	Lisa Ryan	Tania Lunson	Daughter of Maurie Ryan impressed by Lance Wilkinson standing up to her father; Lance admits limitations after skydiving suggestion.
25 August	Dorothy Rivers	Marita Wilcox	Mother of Cheyenne Rivers and community fundraiser who hosts charity events involving local youth.
28 August–12 September	Gareth Rivers	Serge De Nardo	Father of Cheyenne Rivers active on school committee; attempts to influence funding for curriculum but faces community opposition; sends Cheyenne away after shoplifting incident.
29 September–25 October	Patsy Edis	Anne Maloney	Nanny employed by Lou Carpenter who attempts theft but is stopped by Joe Scully.
31 October–27 March 2001	Colin Rogers	John Tarle	Student obsessed with Felicity Scully who plants a bomb at school to impress her; arrested after escalating stalking behavior.
1–24 November	Mick Scully	Andy Anderson	Joe Scully’s brother struggles with laziness and family duties before reconciling with wife Di. Later involved in accident requiring Joe's help.
3 November–5 October 2001	Pat Miller	Matt Norman	Football coach engaged in bullying and steroid dealing confronted by Karl Kennedy and Paul McClain leading to team conflicts.
24 November–22 January 2001	Tina Nguyen	Kim Nguyen	Pregnant woman delivered by Joe Scully during bushfire emergency; names son Joseph and appoints Joe as godfather.
"27 November–22 January"	Joseph Nguyen	Joshua Ten
28 November	Hunq Nguyen	Ferdinand Hoang
5 December–12 February 2001	"Clementine Truman"	Melanie Lockman	Older sister of Allana Truman who encourages Toadfish Rebecchi to fight for his radio position after being dismissed for controversial segments educating students on saving money.
6 December–13 February 2001	Kev Kelly	Frank Kennedy	Jewel thief incarcerated at Warrinor Prison who coerces Larry Woodhouse into criminal acts before being killed during drug deal dispute.