Brody Morgan
Brody Morgan is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, played by Jackson Heywood. The actor had previously appeared in the show as Lachie Cladwell in 2009. During the audition process, Heywood was paired up with several different actors until the producers found the right combination for the Morgan family. Heywood began filming his first scenes in December 2015. He made his first appearance as Brody during the episode broadcast on 7 June 2016.
Brody was introduced to the show along with his three siblings; Tori Morgan, Justin Morgan and Mason Morgan. The family received immediate comparisons to the show's popular Braxton brothers. Brody is a passionate and ambitious chef. He is also portrayed as being loyal, smart, and occasionally pessimistic. For the first few weeks after their arrival, Brody and his siblings concealed the fact that they were in witness protection. They were later held hostage by their parents' killer and involved in a plane crash, which left Brody badly injured. Brody was originally created to be a gay character but the storyline was blocked by Seven Network. Jeannie Woods was introduced as a love interest for Brody in late 2016.
The character became the focus of the show's first storyline about ice addiction, which was a prevalent issue in Australia at the time. Series producer Lucy Addario implemented the storyline, as she felt the show could no longer ignore it. Heywood carried out extensive research, so his portrayal of Brody would be as accurate as possible. Brody uses ice to help him cope with the pressures of running a restaurant. He soon gets into debt with his dealer, leading to major consequences for himself and his family. While recovering from his addiction, Brody begins a relationship with Bay newcomer Ziggy Astoni, whom he later marries. The marriage ends when Brody begins an affair with Simone Bedford. The storyline led to the character's exit on 10 June 2019.
Casting
On 5 December 2015, Jonathon Moran from The Daily Telegraph reported actors Jackson Heywood, James Stewart and Orpheus Pledger had joined the cast of Home and Away as brothers Brody, Justin and Mason Morgan respectively. All three began filming their first scenes during the following week, ahead of their on-screen debut in 2016. During the audition process for the Morgans, Heywood was paired with several actors until the producers found the right combination. He formed an immediate connection with Stewart, Pledger and Penny McNamee, who plays their sister Tori Morgan, and commented "It was really nice to see the ones I had the most connection with were the ones that were given the job."Heywood had previously appeared in Home and Away as recurring character Lachie Cladwell in 2009. He explained that his first appearance in the show was "overwhelming", as it was his first professional acting job, but rejoining the cast alongside three other actors, meant that there was less pressure on him the second time around. The family drew immediate comparisons to the show's Braxton brothers, who were introduced to the show in 2011, which Heywood expected. He stated, "I can definitely see that, but I think we have a very different dynamic. It will be exciting to tell the story and as it will be revealed, it will be a very different story." Brody made his first appearance on 7 June 2016, alongside Justin and Mason.
Development
Characterisation and introduction
Brody was originally created as the show's first regular gay male character. In 2022, the show's former script executive, Dan Bennett revealed that the storyline was blocked by Seven Network. Bennett also revealed that another character was supposed to be gay but they were forced to rewrite the scripts. He stated "one of the series regulars during my latest stint was designed to be gay, another to be larger set in frame... both were rebuked by the network."Ahead of his screen debut, Heywood described his character as "quite jaded and somewhat pessimistic at times, deep down he always has the best intentions and a true heart of gold." He also thought Brody was "passionate" and loyal, with "a wonderful complexity of emotions". Brody's profile on the TVNZ Home and Away website states that he can occasionally be "a bit gruff" and he struggles to let people in. Brody is the second youngest Morgan sibling and he shares a close bond with Tori. The death of his parents affected him the more than the others. Heywood later called Brody "the most ambitious" member of the Morgan family, as well as the smartest and most reliable. He also said Brody was the most apprehensive about moving to Summer Bay, as he feels that the town will not provide him with many career opportunities. Elaborating further on the comparisons to the Braxtons, Heywood explained that the Morgan siblings had "a very different dynamic". They all had professions, and are not criminals. Brody is a successful chef and Heywood called him "a real craftsman".
Brody, his two brothers Justin and Mason, and their dog Buddy are driving to Summer Bay to join their sister Tori, who moved to the town five weeks before them, when they are almost involved in a car crash with Martin "Ash" Ashford. Brody and Mason desperately try to keep Justin and Ash from fighting. The brothers continue their journey to the Bay, where they find Ash talking with Tori and Alf Stewart on the beach and another fight almost breaks out, until Tori reveals that Justin, Brody and Mason are her brothers. The siblings wonder if they will be able to stay in their new home this time, leading to the start of their first major storyline.
Witness protection
An Inside Soap columnist observed that the family had been hiding something about their past from the Bay's residents. They initially keep to themselves and Justin warns Tori against befriending local doctor Nate Cooper. Stewart explained that there were a set of rules that the Morgans had to live by, which related to their secret, and Justin worries when Tori reveals that she told Nate their parents are dead. Mason's former girlfriend Lara Adams visits him in the Bay and he tells her that his family are in witness protection. Later that day, Brody informs his siblings that he is being followed, and Justin decides that the family need to pack up and leave.After Spike Lowe turns up at their house and threatens Tori, the family contact their police liaison officer Atticus Decker, who has them moved to a safe house. The family all agree that they are tired of running from the people who killed their parents. Brody is "so far in denial" about the situation that he continues planning menus for his recently purchased restaurant Salt. While he, Justin and Tori are arguing, they fail to notice Mason leaving the house to meet up with Lara, who is revealed to be working with Spike and Blaine Varden, the Morgan's parents' killer. Spike and Blaine get Mason to tell them where the safe house is and the family are held hostage. Blaine produces a gun and threatens to kill them all, before revealing that Justin knew the truth about the circumstances that led to their parents' deaths.
Brody is one of nine characters involved in a plane crash. After receiving a warning from Spike, Justin realises that he has sabotaged the plane being used for Tori's birthday trip. He attempts to contact the pilot Duncan Stewart to tell him to land the plane, but the radio communication between them is poor. Meanwhile, a broken pipe leaks carbon dioxide into the cabin. Justin calls Brody to ask him for the plane's coordinates, but he passes out. Duncan also loses conscious, but manages to crash land the plane in the sand first. While most of the passengers escape major injury, Mason soon realises that Brody is missing and he is presumed dead. After the passengers are rescued, Tori and Justin search the bush for Brody, along with Nate and Duncan. They soon find him, but realise he is in a serious condition.
Brody begins recalling memories of his mother arguing with somebody. Heywood said Brody does not remember his mother being an argumentative person, so the memories worry him. Brody turns to Decker for answers, but feels that the police officer is keeping something from him. He soon realises that Decker is the person arguing with his mother, leaving him "confused, angry and worried." The Morgans feel they cannot trust Decker anymore. Soon after, Decker is rushed to hospital when his car is run off the road and he is placed in a coma. Heywood commented, "The family now feel incredibly vulnerable, and it's a hugely traumatic experience. Decker has been like an uncle to them."
While Decker is in the hospital, the Morgans find and meet his nieces Hope and Raffy Morrison. When Decker eventually wakes from his coma, Brody asks him why he has a memory of him arguing with his mother. Decker tells Brody that he used to work as an undercover officer and that he was tasked with helping to bring down the drugs syndicate that Brody's father worked for. Heywood said Brody senses that Decker's secret is "something much bigger" than he first thought. Decker plans to leave town, and when Hope is arrested, the Morgans agree to look after Raffy. The Morgans later learn Raffy is Decker's daughter and their half-sister. They soon tell her the truth about being in witness protection because their parents were killed by drug dealers, a revelation that she struggles to cope with. The Morgan's secret is soon revealed to the rest of the Bay in the local newspaper, and Brody's restaurant is vandalised.
Relationship with Jeannie Woods
Producers introduced a love interest for Brody in early November 2016. Actress Anna Bamford joined the cast as Jeannie Woods for six weeks. Woods said Jeannie and Brody would form "an unusual relationship" while she was in the Bay. The actress added that she developed a good friendship with Heywood during filming. Jeannie comes to the Bay to take part in a charity volleyball match arranged by Evelyn MacGuire. Brody bumps into her while he is making a food delivery to the event, but she disappears quickly into the crowd. Brody becomes determined to find her, but Bamford said that "things keep happening to stop Brody getting to her!" When Brody finally finds Jeannie, he sees she is playing volleyball with Matt Page, so he offers Evelyn some money if he can switch places with Matt and partner Jeannie in the competition. Heywood thought Brody was attracted to Jeannie's natural charm and beauty, and said she takes Brody's "breath away".Brody offers Jeannie a job as a waitress at Salt, which proves awkward for them both. Heywood described Brody as being "a blubbering mess" while he is around Jeannie. She later reacts badly to Brody's attempts at flirting with her, leaving him confused. Heywood admitted that Brody did not have much time for relationships while he and his family were in witness protection. He told TV Week's Stephen Downie, "He's been out of love and out of practice with women for so long, he completely forgets how to read females." At the end of Jeannie's shift, she thanks Brody for giving her the job and kisses his cheek. Brody misreads the situation and kisses her on the lips, causing her to push him into a trolley. Brody asks her to leave Salt, which Heywood called "a terrible reaction."
Jeannie later hides from her father at Brody's home, where she explains that her parents are doomsday preppers. She also tells Brody that she cannot live like her parents, who are preparing for the apocalypse. Heywood said Jeannie's background explains why she is "shy and closed off" around Brody. It also makes it harder for her to express her feelings to him. Brody initially struggles with the revelation, and questions whether he and Jeannie have a future together. Heywood thought there would be restrictions on her life that would not allow Jeannie to have a relationship. Later that night, Jeannie's father Randall Woods turns up at the house to take her away, as he does not want her to be with someone who is not one of "them". Brody and Jeannie's differences ultimately stop their relationship from progressing.