List of Neighbours characters introduced in 2018
Neighbours is an Australian television soap opera. It was first broadcast on 18 March 1985 and currently airs on digital channel 10 Peach. The following is a list of characters that appeared in the show in 2018, by order of first appearance. All characters are introduced by the shows executive producer Jason Herbison. The 34th season of Neighbours began airing from 8 January 2018. Mick Allsop was introduced during the same month, while Rafael Humphreys made his debut in February. March saw the arrival of Chloe Brennan. [|Bea Nilsson] made her first appearance in May. Jemima Davies-Smythe began appearing from September, while Nance Sluggett, [|Pierce Greyson], Andrew Rodwell and Heather Schilling made their first appearances in October. Valerie Grundy, Delaney Renshaw, Regina Grundy, and Shaun Watkins appeared in December.
Mick Allsop
Mick Allsop, played by comedian Joel Creasey, made his first appearance on 30 January 2018. Creasey's casting was confirmed by Anna Byrne of the Herald Sun in October 2017. Of appearing in the show, Creasey commented, "That was fun because it was a soap opera. It was very over the top, and they were like 'Yes! More!' They're all so nice out at Neighbours. I had a blast doing it." Creasey described Mick as "a new gay in town with a backstory", and "a bit of a misunderstood stalker". Executive producer Jason Herbison praised Creasey's "hilarious" performance and added that his character could return in a recurring capacity in the future. Creasey reprised the role for scenes filmed at Sydney Mardi Gras in 2019. His appearance aired on 28 February 2020. The following year, Creasey reprised the role and returned to the Neighbours set in July 2021 for filming. Creasey commented that it was "a larger role" this time, adding "It's been great because I had my own legendary soap stars on tap each day for advice." His return aired on 3 November 2021. Alice Penwill from Inside Soap wrote that she was "secretly enjoying Mick's hilarious hotel antics!"Mick comes to Harold's Café for a coffee, where Aaron Brennan recognises him as his stalker from his time in dance troupe Rough Trade. Rory Zemiro later claims that Mick has trashed his motel room, before approaching him at the Erinsbrough Backpackers' for a talk. Mick overhears Elly Conway and Paige Smith discussing Rough Trade and he introduces himself. He tells them that he is a big fan of Rory and not Aaron, as they were led to believe. He also tells them that he and Rory used to have sex, while Rory was dating Aaron. Two years later, during Sydney Mardi Gras, Mick sees Aaron and his partner David Tanaka taking a selfie together and photobombs them. Mick tells them that he recognised Aaron's walk and followed them, before asking what their plans are. Aaron and David then run off down the street and hide from Mick.
The following year, Mick is hired as the front desk manager at Lassiters Hotel and states that he prefers to be called Michel now. He briefly recognises Chloe Brennan's surname, before going on a tour of the hotel with Harlow Robinson. Mick later sees Chloe with Aaron and he ducks behind a bush to avoid him. When Mick asks Harlow to organise a birthday celebration for him, she asks him why he applied for a job in a hotel when he has no previous experience. Chloe then confronts Mick about asking a guest to cover up on their way to the pool, but Harlow saves him by saying that he meant for the guest to cover themselves in sunscreen. Mick later tells Chloe about his ideas for redecorating the outdoor areas in a jungle theme, but Chloe tells him that she would prefer him to learn the basics of his job first. Mick later enters Amy Greenwood's apartment while drunk and tells her that he was given the wrong key. He also notices some medicated STD cream on the kitchen bench. Amy soon realises that Mick is squatting in the apartments and took the master key from reception. She threatens to tell Chloe, who has been gathering evidence of Mick's indiscretions, and he counters by threatening to reveal that she has crabs. Mick suggests several ways to improve the hotel, but Chloe tells him that he needs to tone down his ideas. Mick then tries to convince Toadfish Rebecchi to turn his office into a Santa's grotto, before he runs into David, who asks whether he is after Aaron. Mick assures him that Aaron is not his type anymore and that he wants to keep their history a secret. Chloe later confronts him about stalking Aaron, having learned who he is. Mick wears a crab costume to the Lassiters Christmas party amidst a potential crabs outbreak at the hotel, which attracts the attentions of Amy, Chloe and manager Terese Willis. Hotel owner Paul Robinson eventually tells Mick to change, while Amy tells him to stop him shaming her.
When Chloe and Harlow ask Amy for information about the issue at Lassiters, Amy assumes Mick has told them about her having crabs, so she tells them about him squatting at the apartments. Mick then publicly announces that Amy and her boyfriends Ned Willis and Levi Canning are responsible for spreading the crabs at the hotel, which later turns out to be bed bugs. After being fired, Mick attempts to take a bag of toiletries and stationary from the hotel, but is caught by Chloe and Harlow on the way out. A couple of weeks later, Kyle Canning hires Mick as his and Roxy Willis' wedding planner. Roxy is set to fire Mick, until he shows her a mood board he has worked on, which seems to match the couple's personalities. Roxy is still unsure, but is convinced to keep Mick on when he demonstrates that he knows her better than she thinks and tells her that he can pull anything together quickly. Mick later discusses his new job with Karl Kennedy and hires him to be the wedding singer. Mick's arrangements fall through and Kyle and Roxy's friends and family sort out the venue together. Months later, Terese and Chloe arrange a meeting with fashion designer Montana Marcel's assistant and are surprised when Mick turns up. He asks for a massage and a cocktail while Terese and Chloe try to explain their pitch for Montana's Fashion Week. He eventually agrees to arrange a meeting with Montana for them. Mick gives Terese, Chloe and Leo Tanaka some suggestions to impress Montana, including adding tiki torches, gladioli, and an ice sculpture to the potential locations for the runways. He accompanies Montana on her visit and it emerges all the things Mick suggested remind Montana of being jilted by her fiancé. Chloe realises that Mick set them up and confronts him, but he wishes her good luck proving it. Mick visits Aaron at the hospital, after an unsuccessful date with porter Dean Covey. He tells Aaron that Dean would not stop talking about David and came to warn Aaron. Mick later finds Montana entertaining Leo and she threatens to fire him for sabotaging the Lassiters pitch. He says that it was just a test and Montana tells him that it is lucky he makes her laugh, before asking him to leave them alone.
Rafael Humphreys
Rafael Humphreys, played by Ryan Thomas, made his first appearance on 12 February 2018. The character and Thomas's casting details were announced on 12 October 2017. Unconfirmed reports of his casting were previously published in early September 2017. Thomas explained that he was on holiday when his agent contacted him about the role. After speaking with a producer, he accepted the part as the character was different to those he had played before. He added "I grew up watching the show so to get the chance to join the cast is amazing". Johnathon Hughes of Radio Times observed that Thomas's casting was "a canny coup" for the show, as a well known soap actor would please British viewers. Thomas finished filming his guest stint during the week commencing 20 November 2017.Rafael was initially billed as being "a mysterious loner with dark secrets", who comes to Erinsborough to confront an incident from his past. Greg Barnett, the commissioning editor at Channel 5, described Thomas as "the perfect handsome devil", whose arrival would bring "darker times" to an established character. Thomas was photographed with actors Olympia Valance and Andrew Morley on set, leading Hughes to speculate that Rafael may be involved with their characters Paige Smith and Jack Callahan. He was also pictured filming scenes with Matt Wilson, who plays Aaron Brennan. Publicity photos later showed Rafael with scars covering his back and it was revealed that he is set to target Paul Robinson in a revenge storyline.
Rafael visits the Lassiters Complex amid a 90s fancy dress party. He goes to The Waterhole and watches Paul Robinson from afar. After noticing that Paul has left his penthouse key card behind, Rafael takes it and lets himself into the penthouse. He watches on while Paul sleeps. Rafael checks into the Erinsborough Backpackers, and later enquires about a staff wanted poster in the pub. Sheila Canning gives him a trial shift. He befriends David Tanaka after helping out with his mixed up meal order, and Sheila is impressed enough to hire him. Rafael asks Sheila about Paul and learns he owns a new housing development called Robinson Heights. David tries to flirt with Rafael and later asks him out for a drink. Rafael tells David that he was born in the UK, but spent a lot of time in South America as that is where his mother was born. Sheila lets Rafael know that David is Paul's son, so he cuts the date short and leaves. Rafael reports Robinson Heights for unsafe work practices. Mishti Sharma catches Rafael breaking into the building site and he asks her to charge Paul with murder. He explains that his mother died during a fire in a factory owned by Paul. He gleaned from his mother's diary that the factory was unsafe, so he blames Paul for her death. Mishti later tells Rafael that she has been unable to find anything to support his claim, and there is nothing she can do.
Rafael apologises to David and asks him out on another date. David invites Rafael to spend the evening with him at Paul's penthouse, where he is babysitting Gabriel Smith. When David goes to check on Gabe, Rafael finds a folder on Robinson Heights and photographs the documentation, including a page about a reimbursement scheme for the former residents, which he then sends to the West Waratah Star newspaper. The paper runs a story about the housing development ripping off pensioners, and Rafael assures David that he did not say anything. Rafael tries to talk to Jayden Warley about the safety at Robinson Heights and is overheard by Jayden's mother Sue Parker, who wants to know why Rafael is asking questions about Paul's interests. They plot to cause an accident at the site. Paul invites Rafael to a family celebration. When he is alone with David, Rafael shows him his scars and they have sex. Jayden reveals to Rafael that he has been sabotaging the Robinson Heights site for weeks on his mother's orders. Rafael contacts Sue to call off their arrangement, but as he reaches the site, he finds David's brother Leo Tanaka trapped under a fallen concrete slab. Rafael starts to call an ambulance, but leaves when Mark Brennan comes across the scene.
Aaron Brennan questions Rafael about Jayden, but Rafael says he does not know him and accuses Aaron of being jealous of his relationship with David. Rafael later catches Aaron going through his belongings and Aaron asks him why he has Sue Parker's business card. Aaron knows that Sue hates Paul and believes Rafael is dating David to get to Paul. Aaron follows Rafael outside and grabs his shirt, which rips and exposes Rafael's scars. Rafael, Sue and Jayden are questioned by the police and Rafael admits to his involvement in the accident at the building site. Paul bails Rafael out and tells him that he does not recall Rafael's mother or the fire, but vows to find out what happened. Rafael assures David that his feelings for him are real despite what has happened. Leo meets with Paul's old business partner Dakota Davies in London and she later sends him a USB stick containing a document in which she admits to start the factory fire to claim the insurance. Rafael apologises to Paul, who offers to pay his $10,000 fine. Rafael decides to return to the UK to find Dakota. Before he leaves, he tells David to consider giving Aaron another chance.