List of Home and Away characters introduced in 1988


Home and Away is an Australian television soap opera. It was first broadcast on the Seven Network on 17 January 1988. The following is a list of characters that first appeared in that year, by order of first appearance. They were all introduced by the show's executive producer Alan Bateman who oversaw the serial before being succeeded by series producer Des Monaghan whose episodes first began airing in November. Sixteen of the original eighteen regular characters debuted in the pilot episode. The Fletcher family consisting of Frank Morgan, Tom and Pippa Fletcher, Carly Morris, Steven Matheson, Sally Keating and Lynn Davenport were introduced first. Summer Bay residents Alf Stewart, Floss and Neville McPhee, Bobby Simpson, Donald Fisher, Ailsa Hogan, Martin Dibble, Lance Smart and Matt Wilson also made their debuts. They were soon joined by Alf's daughter Roo and sister, Celia. In March, Lyn Collingwood arrived as Lance's mother, Colleen. The same month, Liddy Clark began playing Kerry Barlow and Amanda Newman-Phillips joined the cast as Narelle Smart. In April, Gerry Sont began playing Brett Macklin, a love interest for Roo. Barbara Stephens and Cornelia Frances arrived in June as Alf's other sisters [|Barbara Stewart] and Morag Bellingham, respectively. July saw Simon Kay enter as Donald and Barbara's son [|Alan Fisher]. Gavin Harrison began playing [|Revhead] in August and was soon followed by John Morris as Philip Matheson. That month saw the serial's first birth [|Christopher Fletcher], son of the established Tom and Pippa. Another birth occurred in September, Martha Stewart, daughter of Roo and Brett. Sandie Lillingston joined the cast in the same episode as Brett's sister, [|Stacey]. Gary Samuels debuted in October and in November, George Leppard guested as [|Al Simpson].

Frank Morgan

Frank Morgan, played by Alex Papps, debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 17 January 1988 and appeared until 1989. Frank was the first character to appear, although a Police officer spoke the first piece of dialogue. Frank was played by Bradley Pilato in the scene, which was set in 1978 as a young Frank tries to escape from the Police officer.
Papps' casting was announced ahead of the series debut. In 1991, Papps reprised the role for four weeks. Papps also returned for guest appearances in 2000 and 2002 respectively. Eamonn McCusker of The Digital Fix said that Frank was a "decent-but-dim sort of man" and thought that Frank made a habit of walking down the aisle. Papps was still recognised as Frank in public despite mainly playing the role in his teenage years.

Tom Fletcher

Tom Fletcher, played by Roger Oakley, debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 17 January 1988. Ruth Deller of television website Lowculture described patriarch Tom "One of the nicest dad characters in soap, ever". The Soap Show called Tom the "first patriarch of Home and Away."

Pippa Fletcher

Pippa Ross, played by Vanessa Downing, made her first appearance in on 17 January 1988 in the serial's pilot. Downing left the serial in 1990 and Debra Lawrance took over the role from then until 1998 and has subsequently returned to guest star. In 1997, Lawrance quit the role and Pippa departed in 1998. Pippa was placed sixth in TV Week's list of the "Top 10 Aussie TV mums".

Sally Fletcher

Sally Louise Fletcher, played by Kate Ritchie, made her first appearance in the Pilot episode airing on 17 January 1988, departed on 3 April 2008, returned on 15 July 2013 and departed again on 5 September 2013 Ritchie auditioned for the role of Sally in front of executive producer John Holmes in 1987. Her audition scene was all about strawberry jam and Sally's imaginary friend Milco. Ritchie has won various awards for her role as Sally including Most Popular Actress awards in 2006, 2007 and 2008 at The Logie Awards and Most Popular Personality.

Steven Matheson

Steven Matheson, played by Adam Willits, made his first appearance on 17 January 1988 in the serial's pilot. Willits departed in 1991 but returned in 1995 as a regular and remained until 1996 and has made sporadic guest appearances from 1997 to 2008. Willits was offered the role of Steven in 1987.
Willits described Steven's development as slow because he remained "a bit of a dork". He added that Steven was destined for "exciting things". A columnist for Inside Soap said "once the school swat and a bit of a square, he grew up into a egghead who couldn't get a girl. Duller than one of Alf Stewart's bowling club cheese and wine parties, quiet Steven Matheson seemed destined to stay single." Of his return in 1995, they opined Steven no longer had trouble finding a partner but had a "problem" finding one his own age.

Carly Morris

Carly Morris, played by Sharyn Hodgson, made her first appearance on 17 January 1988 in the serial's pilot episode. Hogdson left the serial in 1991 but returned for guest spots in 1997, 2000, 2002 and 2008. Her character Carly's rape was a key factor in the serial's rise in ratings. and was heralded as "very brave territory for a prime-time soap". Hodgson defended the storyline, saying "In Home and Away we show life as it really happens. It's not irresponsible to show attacks, unwanted pregnancies or people turning to alcohol. It's realistic and it shows we are confronting these problems. The thing about having a foster family as the main characters is that they do have trauma in their lives. Seeing how they cope must help people". Hodgson researched the storyline by calling the Rape Crisis Centre, reading articles and watching documentaries.

Lynn Davenport

Lynn Davenport, played by Helena Bozich, made her first appearance on 17 January 1988 in the serial's pilot and departed on 25 August 1988.
Bozich auditioned for the role of Lynn while attending the Johnny Young Talent School. While filming for the series, the actress had a tutor to help her complete her school certificate. In the Home and Away Annual written by Melanie J Clayden, she describes Lynn as being a "mistake" from birth and could never do any right where her parents were concerned. Lynn had run away from home several times due to the tension and arguments between her parents. Lynn was soon placed in care but ran away again and as a result the child services decided to send her to a foster home. Lynn was placed in the care of Pippa and Tom Fletcher ; who were experienced in dealing with difficult children. Lynn was later written out of the series as Bozich took a fifteen-week break. The serial's producer Alan Bateman said that the character would have a "very dramatic return". Bateman told a reporter from Sunday Mail TV Plus that a large cast meant that some characters such as Lynn needed to be "rested".
Lynn is the youngest of [|Barry] and Julie's seven children. The Davenports treated Lynn so badly that she was put into a children's home at the age of 10, where she befriended Sally. Both Lynn and Sally were fostered by Pippa and Tom Fletcher and the family move to Summer Bay. Lynn runs away from home after Eric, the family's pet dog dies after being poisoned. She hides out on a farm and where befriends an autistic Greek boy, [|Nico Pappas] who lives with his grandmother. After Lynn is found and the locals accuse Nico of kidnapping her, she is quick to rise to his defence. After Carly Morris is raped and Nico is institutionalised for attacking Donald Fisher, Lynn who is a Christian begins to lose her faith in God but later regains it. Barry visits Lynn at the Fletchers and Lynn thinks she may able to go home. However, Carly overhears a conversation between Barry, Tom and Pippa where Barry reveals he and [|Julie] do not have enough time for her but cannot tell Lynn the truth. Several months later, Julie makes a televised appeal for Lynn to return home and she does. Lynn returns shortly after Pippa gives birth to a new-born son, [|Christopher].

Alf Stewart

Alf Stewart portrayed by Ray Meagher. The character debuted on-screen during the serial's pilot episode on 17 January 1988. Meagher is the only remaining original cast member still present. Meagher holds a Guinness World Record as the longest-serving actor in an Australian serial for portraying Alf since 1988. As of 2011 he is the only remaining original cast member still present. In 2010 Meagher took a break from Home and Away, so he could travel to London to star in the West End production of Priscilla Queen of the Desert Hampshire culture website Get Hampshire branded Alf a "legendary misery-guts". They also said he is commonly known for his use of declining Australian slang with sayings such as "flamin' mongrel". For his portrayal of Alf, Meagher was nominated for Most Popular Actor at the 2008 Digital Spy Soap Awards. In 2010, Meagher won the Gold Logie at the Logie Awards.

Neville McPhee

Neville McPhee, played by Frank Lloyd, first appeared on 17 January 1988 and departed on 10 March 1989. Neville and his wife Floss were described as a "funny old pair". Neville and Floss are retired cicus performers who live in their Gypsy Caravan in the Summer Bay Caravan park. They welcome the arrival of The Fletcher Family who have arrive from the city and purchase Summer Bay house and caravan park from Alf Stewart and take over the running of the park, unbeknownst to them Neville is covering for street kid Bobby Simpson who is hiding on suspicion of burglary by keeping her hidden in a disused van. His wife Floss, who is a fortune teller warns Neville about Bobby as she senses and tells him that Bobby may cause the death of one of the Fletchers. Neville dismisses this and continues befriending Bobby. When his bagpipes are destroyed, Neville blames Lance Smart and Martin Dibble but the real culprit is Sally Keating, who cut the bagpipe open to let "Mr. Haggis" – a creature Neville told her about- out of the pipe. Floss begins to miss their son, [|Scott] and decides to go the city to visit him, Neville refuses to talk to Scott as relations are sour. After Floss learns Scott is overseas and has a son, [|Ben], she begins posing as a nanny. Neville warns her against this but Floss continues. When Floss brings Ben to Summer Bay, she and Neville are forced to reveal their identities as his grandparents. Ben tells them he wants to live in Summer Bay with them after staying with them for several days. Scott arrives at the caravan park and angrily retrieves Ben. Neville and Floss follow him back to the city and camp out on his lawn, refusing to leave until he speaks to them. In the end, they are forced to leave, breaking Ben's heart. After seeing how upset Floss is on Mother's Day, Neville returns to the city and chastises Scott for not visiting or at least calling Floss. Scott reluctantly agrees and brings his wife [|Anna] and Ben to spend the day on the beach with Neville and Floss and the family put the past behind them.
Neville receives an offer from his old ringmaster who gives him job back and he and Floss decide to leave the bay. The McPhees try to make a quiet exit by leaving a note on their caravan and they drive off. The car breaks down and the Fletchers find them and give them an emotional goodbye. They later send a telegram to Carly Morris and Ben Lucini on their wedding day. When Floss returns to Summer Bay in 2000, ahead of Sally's wedding to Kieran Fletcher, she tells her Neville died four years earlier after leading a happy and full life.