Merridy Jackson

Neighbours characters introduced in 2000

Industry	Television
Founded	2000

Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell, brought to life by Blair Venn, made his debut on 19 January 2000. Brendan is a lawyer wed to Teresa Bell (Krista Vendy), a high school educator, whose marriage is marred by his physical and psychological abuse. Although Teresa demonstrates resilience, her self-esteem diminishes under Brendan's dominance; he is older, accomplished, and treats her more as a possession than a partner. When the Kennedy family extends their support to Teresa, she ultimately chooses to leave Brendan.

In an attempt to mend their relationship, Brendan persuades Teresa that he has reformed by attending anger management sessions and steering clear of conflicts. He gradually re-enters her life, rebuilding her trust. Nevertheless, Brendan conceals a darker facet of his personality marked by jealousy and dissociative tendencies. His erratic conduct reaches a climax when he speeds through rain in search of Teresa, resulting in a collision with Libby Kennedy and Stephanie Scully.

Following the crash, Brendan faces legal repercussions and seeks Teresa’s forgiveness. Shortly thereafter, an internal injury triggers a fatal heart attack, bringing his narrative to a close.

Dee Bliss

Dione "Dee" Bliss, portrayed by Madeleine West, first appeared on 3 February 2000. West, originally studying law, secured this role soon after obtaining representation and postponed her academic pursuits upon casting. Due to Dee's popularity, producers elevated her to a regular cast member with a contract. Jim Schembri from The Age referred to Dee as "Ramsay Street's reigning blonde beauty." In 2001, West earned a nomination for the Most Popular New Female Talent at the Logie Awards for this performance.

Sheena Wilson

Sheena Wilson, enacted by Zoe Stark, made her first appearance on 10 August 2000. As a nurse at Erinsborough Hospital, she was both a friend to Dee Bliss and a romantic interest for Toadfish Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney). Their relationship dissolved after Toadie disclosed that Sheena’s mother Rhonda had attempted to seduce him. Sheena later accused Martin Cook of discrimination after being rejected for a workshop spot; her allegations were substantiated when Dee also experienced harassment.

Sheena played a supportive role for patients such as Lou Carpenter and Lyn Scully and was central to storylines involving Boyd Hoyland’s coma and Max Hoyland’s psychiatric care. At her high school reunion, she confronted workplace conflicts involving Sindi Watts and Stuart Parker. Subsequently transferred to the psychiatric ward, Sheena aided in Max Hoyland’s treatment until his sudden disappearance.

Gino Esposito

Gino Esposito, initially portrayed by Claude Stevens before being recast with Shane McNamara, debuted on 11 August 2000. Gino worked as a hairdresser managing the neighborhood salon and was depicted as a gay man in a relationship with Aaron Barkley. Script producer Luke Devenish described Gino as a humorous yet positive gay character reminiscent of Mr Humphries from Are You Being Served?. During his brief cohabitation with Harold Bishop, Gino found himself involved in a love triangle that included Lou Carpenter, adding layers to his storyline.

Allana Truman

Allana Truman (originally Dorothy Truman), played by Josephine Clark, first appeared on 29 September 2000 under a guest contract lasting three months. Clark had previously appeared in the series in 1997 as another character. Allana was portrayed as an eccentric student who became romantically linked with Lance Wilkinson; both shared an enthusiasm for science fiction.

Their meeting occurred at a sci-fi convention where Allana challenged Lance to complete seven tasks before dating her: obtaining a rare TV episode, photographing a retired actor, producing a sci-fi film, decoding symbols, and persuading a newspaper to publish an article about UFOs. Their efforts led to the start of their relationship.

However, Allana’s unconventional behavior caused concern when she revealed living under the control of her possessive mother Jeannie, who opposed their relationship. After succumbing to pressure and ending things with Lance, Allana recognized her error and sought his assistance to escape her mother's dominance. They planned trips to US sci-fi conventions but struggled financially. Lance gained fame on a radio quiz show but exposed the producers’ cheating live on air after Allana threatened to leave him. Eventually, Allana and Lance departed Erinsborough together and organized their own sci-fi convention.

Emily Hancock

Emily Hancock, brought to life by Isabella Oldham, made her first appearance on 11 October 2000. She returned to the series in 2001 alongside her family, the five-member Hancock household, which was introduced to replace characters who had recently left. The Hancocks were portrayed as an energetic and quintessential Australian family but were eventually written out of Neighbours in 2002. A BBC commentator highlighted Emily’s significant moment when she uncovered a love letter from Toadie addressed to her mother, Maggie. Jackie Brygel from the Herald Sun referred to Emily as the "adorable daughter" during the family's initial introduction.

Before settling on Ramsay Street with their family, Emily and her brother Leo were temporarily looked after by Karl and Susan Kennedy while their mother was away. One of Emily’s story arcs involved losing her cherished doll, Lizzie, which she and Leo attempted to retrieve from a local store without informing their parents. When caught, their mother Maggie stepped in, restoring the doll to Emily but reprimanding them for acting behind her back. Another plot saw Emily taking earrings from a box mistakenly delivered to them, which led to accusations of theft that she eventually confessed to.

Family tensions escalated when Leo blamed Emily for some household problems, prompting her to run away and unintentionally spend a night on a bus. After a police search, she was found and reunited with her family. Later, Emily faked ear pain that Karl diagnosed as dental-related discomfort. She also mentioned an imaginary companion named Madge, referencing Harold Bishop’s late wife. Emily read a touching letter from Toadfish Rebecchi revealing his feelings for Maggie. Due to financial struggles, the Hancocks had to leave Erinsborough; on their last day, Emily briefly disappeared but was discovered bidding farewell to Madge in the garden of Number 24.

Leo Hancock

Leo Hancock, portrayed by Anthony Hammer, first appeared on 11 October 2000. Initially played by Josh Jay, Leo returned with his family the following year as part of the five-member Hancock family introduced to replace departing characters. The Hancocks were depicted as a lively and relatable Australian family unit before being written out of Neighbours in 2002.

Alongside his sister Emily (Isabella Oldham), Leo was temporarily cared for by Karl (Alan Fletcher) and Susan Kennedy (Jackie Woodburne) before joining his parents on Ramsay Street. Early narratives included Leo going missing and later being found at the local pub, illustrating his integration into the community. His friend Aleks Rama (Dean Ali) was introduced as staying with the family during their parents’ absence.

A pivotal storyline explored Leo’s struggle with guilt over his sister Francesca’s death, influencing his character growth and interactions, particularly with Dee Bliss (Madeleine West). At school, Leo experienced bullying from P.E. teacher Dean Hearn (Jason Buckley), which led to intervention by his parents and the principal, emphasizing themes of family support and school conflict resolution.

Leo demonstrated entrepreneurial spirit by writing essays for classmates in exchange for money, which he used to pay for break-dancing lessons. Although initially forbidden by his parents, they eventually supported him after witnessing his talent firsthand. This culminated in Leo participating in a regional break-dancing contest and joining a dance crew.

Additional storylines featured Leo and Michelle Scully (Kate Keltie) providing shelter to an undocumented immigrant named Gregori (Peter Prenga), addressing social issues within the show’s narrative. The family’s financial pressures increased following Matt’s legal problems after a drag racing incident, forcing them to sell their home and move to Albury.

A memorable moment for Leo involved concealing his brother’s location following an accident, highlighting themes of familial loyalty and endurance.

Darcy Tyler

Darcy Tyler, brought to life by Mark Raffety, made his first appearance on 15 November 2000. As a medical professional and the nephew of Susan Kennedy, Darcy was cast as an antagonist who frequently stirred difficulties for the Kennedy family. Raffety highlighted that the role allowed for substantial character evolution over a three-year span. His portrayal garnered nominations in the categories of Best Newcomer and Best Bad Boy at the Inside Soap Awards.

Larry Woodhouse

Larry "Woody" Woodhouse, portrayed by Andrew Curry, entered the series on 24 November 2000 as a recurring figure until 2002, with a brief return in 2010. Woody was introduced as Stephanie Scully’s former boyfriend, who had lost contact following imprisonment for handling stolen goods. Upon release, he was coerced into criminal activity through blackmail but later testified against his oppressor, which resulted in his placement under witness protection. He invited Steph to join him in protection, but she declined due to her family responsibilities.

Woody’s notable reappearance in 2010 involved reconnecting with Steph, providing her with a temporary escape from her familial duties amid personal challenges. Although no romantic relationship was rekindled, his presence underscored a time prior to Steph’s commitment to her family.

His storyline featured intricate dealings with criminal elements and witness protection protocols, influencing both the Scully family dynamics and Steph’s individual journey. Woody’s return coincided with Steph’s struggle with postnatal depression, during which he reintroduced her to their previous lifestyle, causing concern among her relatives.

The BBC characterized Woody’s pivotal moment as "Returning from the dead! Turning up on the Scully doorstep after Steph thought he'd been killed in a car explosion." Meanwhile, the Sunday Mercury dubbed him a "bad boy biker," emphasizing his rebellious persona within the show.

Others

Date(s)	Character	Actor	Details
27 January 2000 – 7 August 2003	Cecile Bliss	Molly McCaffrey	Cecile, younger sister to Dee Bliss, arrives in Ramsay Street searching for Joel Samuels. She bullies Michelle Scully at school, resulting in an altercation where Michelle sustains a broken arm. Cecile serves as a bridesmaid at Dee's wedding and attends her funeral. In 2017, it is disclosed that Cecile died a year earlier in a motorcycle accident, confirming that an impostor had been posing as Dee.
3–16 February	Vanessa Bradshaw	Julieanne Tait	Vanessa, a friend of Dee Bliss and fashion designer, meets Joel Samuels and Toadfish Rebecchi during a double date event. They accumulate charges that the men cannot cover after their true identities are revealed.
11 February–5 April	Greg Mast	Roy Thompson	Carpenter Greg offers Billy Kennedy an apprenticeship opportunity in Queensland. After initial reluctance, Billy accepts and is sent to collect cedar wood, where he encounters Anne Wilkinson.
25 February–17 April	Ivan Hart	Erik Donnison	Ivan operates the A Good Hair Day salon employing dubious practices that leave Lyn Scully financially liable. Following Ivan's flight due to gambling debts, Lyn convinces his wife to maintain the business 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 dates Lou Carpenter but departs for a position in the Northern Territory. Lou admits his feelings before her departure; they later acknowledge their relationship lacks future potential.
20 March–7 June	Simone King	Denise Briskin	Simone flirts with Paul McClain and becomes involved with Tad Reeves, creating tension between them. Paul ends their relationship following disputes with Tad.
22 March–21 February 2001	Minnie Kirk	Marion Heathfield	Drew Kirk's great aunt Minnie visits Erinsborough, mistakenly assuming Drew and Libby Kennedy are engaged; she later attends their wedding.
10 April 2000, 29 July–7 August 2003	Magda Bliss	Marilyn O'Donnell June Jones	Mother of Dee and Cecile Bliss; visits Lyn Scully concerning bullying involving Cecile. Attends Dee's wedding and funeral. It is revealed in 2017 that Magda died ten years prior in a car accident.
13–24 April	Rachel Jones	Kim Trengove	Tad Reeves meets Rachel at an adoption group; initially suspects she might be his biological mother but learns otherwise. Rachel hopes to reunite with her son before passing away.
18 April–9 May	Connie O'Rourke	Val Jellay	Connie and Henry visit Lyn Scully's family during financial hardships. Connie dies following a stroke; family disputes over adoption secrets arise but are eventually resolved.
18 April–15 October 2003	Henry O'Rourke	Bud Tingwell
27 April	Janet Kirk	Roberta Connelly	Drew Kirk's aunt Janet meets Libby Kennedy and shares stories about the family quilt.
5 May–6 June	Sean Edwards	Daniel Collopy	Sean secretly dates Felicity Scully despite their age difference. After conflicts with her father Joe Scully, they separate and later recognize their incompatibility.
9 May	Shanti Pandya	Menik Gooneratne	Traveller Shanti briefly stays at a hostel managed by Toadfish Rebecchi and others; impressed by Joel Samuels but confused when the hostel closes.
15 May–7 July	Rachel Bailey	Carolyn Bock	Tad Reeves’ biological mother who gave him up for adoption; their reunion is difficult. Rachel later dies, with her husband Stephen informing Tad.
16 May–25 July	Glenda Ryan	Bronwyn Di Cecco	Glenda visits Karl Kennedy suspecting cancer recurrence; after misdiagnosis leads to malpractice litigation initiated by husband Maurie Ryan, she withdraws the case to protect Karl’s reputation.
29 May–30 November	Stephen Bailey	Dean Murphy Kevin Hopkins	Husband of Rachel Bailey who informs Tad Reeves of Rachel’s death and seeks assistance for their son Tim’s bone marrow transplant.
29 May–24 October	Jasmine Bailey	Chantelle Davies Chloe Ellison
29 May–26 January 2001	Tim Bailey

Tim Bailey suffers from a critical illness requiring a bone marrow transplant; Tad Reeves acts as a compatible donor facilitating Tim’s recovery.

Date(s)	Character	Actor	-	12 June	Dylan Ryan	Nicholas Colla	-	14–29 June	Bernie Samuels	Sean Scully	-	29 June–17 July	Wendy Baker	Patsy Martin	-	6 July–4 August	Damon Gaffney	Richard Morgan	-	6 July–7 August	Pete Redman	Frank Raco	-	11 July–2 August	Max Crawford	Simon Gleeson	-	24 July–24 November	Cheyenne Rivers	Angelique Meunier	-	4 August–13 June 2002	Doula Tsobanopoulos	Katherine Halliday	-	7 August	Ari Tsobanopoulos	Campbell Smith	-	15 August–11 September	Lisa Ryan	Tania Lunson	-	25 August	Dorothy Rivers	Marita Wilcox	-	28 August–12 September	Gareth Rivers	Serge De Nardo	-	29 September–25 October	Patsy Edis	Anne Maloney	-	31 October–27 March 2001	Colin Rogers	John Tarle	-	1–24 November	Mick Scully	Andy Anderson	-	3 November–5 October 2001	Pat Miller	Matt Norman	-	24 November–22 January 2001	Tina Nguyen	Kim Nguyen	Pregnant woman assisted by Joe Scully during labor amid bushfire threat; names son Joseph and appoints Joe as godfather. |-		Joseph Nguyen	Joshua Ten	-	28 November	Hunq Nguyen	Ferdinand Hoang	-	5 December–12 February 2001	Clementine Truman	Melanie Lockman	-	6 December–13 February 2001	Kev Kelly	Frank Kennedy	} External links Cast and characters on the Official Australian Neighbours website Cast and characters on the Official UK Neighbours website Cast and characters at the Internet Movie Database