List of Neighbours characters introduced in 2020
Neighbours is an Australian television soap opera. It was first broadcast on 18 March 1985 and airs on digital channel 10 Peach. The following is a list of characters that first appeared in the show in 2020, by order of first appearance. All characters were introduced by the show's executive producer Jason Herbison. Lisa Rowsthorn and Zenin Alexio were introduced towards the end of January. [|Owen Campbell], Emmett Donaldson, Levi Canning, and [|Louis Curtain] made their debuts in June. Brent Colefax and Nicolette Stone began appearing from July, while [|Rose Walker] made her debut in August. Nathan Packard was introduced in November, followed by Jay Rebecchi.
Lisa Rowsthorn
Lisa Rowsthorn, played by Jane Allsop, made her first appearance on 20 January 2020. Details of Allsop's casting as Lisa were announced on 13 January. The character is the mother of Hendrix Greyson and arrives in Erinsborough to help with his rebellious behaviour, which resulted in him stealing a nude photo of his stepmother Chloe Brennan. Hendrix finds his mother is "surprisingly reasonable and understanding" about the incident, while Hendrix's father Pierce Greyson fears for his relationship with his son, knowing that Lisa is "controlling". Daniel Kilkelly of Digital Spy reported that Lisa's introduction would also test Pierce and Chloe's marriage, as she asks Pierce to father another child with her. In March 2022, Allsop and Robards reprised their roles for a storyline set and filmed in Sydney.Lisa flies to Erinsborough, after being contacted by Chloe Brennan, who has concerns about her son Hendrix's behaviour. Lisa learns that Hendrix has been living with the Kennedy family and not with his father, Pierce, but she is accepting of the situation. Lisa deduces that Hendrix did not tell her himself because he was embarrassed about why he was there – his crush on Chloe. Lisa gives Hendrix the chance to come back home with her, but he tells her that he wants to stay and make things right. Lisa wants to tell Hendrix about the deal between herself and Pierce, as she realises that Hendrix has spent his life thinking Pierce did not care about him. Hendrix overhears them arguing and Lisa explains that Pierce was only 18 when they dated, and they broke up shortly after he was born. Lisa later asked Pierce to father another child with her through IVF for money, which helped him set up his business. She gave him access to Hendrix and his sister Alana, but told him to focus on his own life, as she did not need him. Hendrix is hurt by the revelation. Lisa admits to Chloe that she thought she was doing the right thing. She then asks about Chloe and Pierce's plans to have a family, but Chloe reveals that she has Huntington's disease, which complicates matters.
Hendrix later moves back in with Chloe and Pierce, but his relationship with Lisa remains strained. Pierce demands honesty from Lisa and she reveals that she wants another child and for it to be Pierce's. Lisa explains that she is willing to move to Erinsborough with Alana and co-parent the child with Pierce and Chloe. They initially agree to Lisa's idea, but Chloe realises it is not what she wants and they inform Lisa. Chloe's brother Aaron Brennan and his husband David Tanaka later ask Lisa if she would have and co-parent a child with them. David's father Paul Robinson is against the idea and asks Lisa to put a stop to it, as he does not want the boys to get hurt. Lisa takes a pregnancy test and learns she is pregnant with her former boyfriend's baby. She tells David and Aaron that their plan cannot go ahead, before telling Pierce, Chloe and Hendrix. She decides to leave for Sydney right away to tell her ex, James, the news. Hendrix comes to see her before she goes and she tells him that she is proud of him. She knows that being with his father is the right thing for him and she will be calling him every chance she can get. A few months later, Lisa messages Pierce to let him know that she has given birth to a daughter, Maeve Rowsthorn.
Two years later, Hendrix visits Sydney with his girlfriend, Mackenzie Hargreaves, and tells Lisa and his sister that he has been diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis and requires a lung transplant. After Hendrix proposes to Mackenzie, Lisa attends their wedding and wishes Hendrix good luck before his operation a few days after. Lisa learns that Hendrix's operation was successful, but his antibodies are rejecting the new lung. She, Pierce and Mackenzie say goodbye to him before he dies. Lisa yells publicly at Sadie Rodwell, who was responsible for the fire that caused Hendrix's initial disease and Lisa speaks at his funeral a week later.
Zenin Alexio
Zenin Alexio, played by Axle Whitehead, made his first appearance on 24 January 2020. Whitehead's casting was reported in the 18–24 January 2020 issue of Inside Soap. He joins the cast for a short stint as "a shady looking guy" who watches Yashvi Rebecchi and Ned Willis in the local café, leading to speculation about his identity and interest in the couple. It was later confirmed that Zenin is linked to an illegal fight ring that Ned was involved with in late 2019. Hall explained, "Zenin is under the impression that Ned and Yashvi are on to his illegal operations, which were taking place behind the scenes at the fight club. Zenin threatens to hurt Yashvi, and anyone Ned is close to, if either of them goes to the cops." Hall said Whitehead "brought great energy" to his character, and he hoped Whitehead would stay with the cast for a while. Whitehead later said of Zenin: "My character is very dangerous, and he's someone who takes pleasure in threatening people. He enjoys the hunt, the game of cat-and-mouse, and he'll stop at nothing. Human life is cheap to him." Whitehead explained that playing a bad boy character was his favourite and called Zenin "a truly bad guy". He also said that he enjoyed playing out the hostage scenes involving Ned, as they involved a lot of action. He added that he would love to come back if viewers wanted to see more of Zenin.Zenin comes to Harold's Café and listens in as Ned Willis and Yashvi Rebecchi talk about her police academy exam. He makes a phone call and tells the person at the other end that they might have a problem. He briefly makes eye contact with Ned on his way out, and later follows him to Ramsay Street. Zenin breaks into Ned's home and is waiting for him when he returns. Ned works out that Zenin is connected with a fight ring he was involved in, however, when Zenin asks him what he saw while he was there, Ned does not know what he is talking about. Zenin brings up Yashvi and believes that Ned told her what he saw, as the police have been investigating. He tells Ned to make sure Yashvi keeps quiet and he leaves. Zenin later meets with Ned, who explains that his lawyer Toadfish Rebecchi has a written statement from him containing everything he knows, so if he or Yashvi are hurt, then it will be given to the police. Zenin then sabotages Yashvi's car, and sends Ned a text saying that he has seen his lawyer talking to the police. Toadie's office is broken into and Ned meets with Zenin, who threatens to break into Toadie's home, where Yashvi also lives, to search for the statement. Kyle Canning meets Zenin to exchange money for a 3D printed gun, and Zenin later texts Yashvi to say he is glad she has joined the team and gives her a job to do. Ned finds the text and contacts Zenin, who tells him that Yashvi approached him begging him to keep her family safe. Ned asks to take Yashvi's place but Zenin is not interested. Zenin later catches Ned at his warehouse and is about to shoot him when the police and Yashvi arrive. Zenin grabs Ned and holds him hostage, so Yashvi goes over to the waiting van and pushes the horn, causing Zenin to fire the gun into the air and allowing the police to arrest him. Ned then learns Yashvi was working with a police task force to catch Zenin and his associates.
Gavin Bowman
Gavin Bowman, played by Cameron MacDonald, made his first appearance on 31 March 2020 and was then credited as Dr. Bowman. He returned on 6 May 2024. Gavin works as a doctor and a psychiatrist at Erinsborough Hospital and is assigned to treat Haz Devkar after he is hit by a car. Daniel Kilkelly from Digital Spy reported that Gavin would be featured in a storyline with Remi Varga-Murphy and that Gavin is a "new villain" in the series. Remi is promoted and takes over Karl Kennedy's former role, Gavin attends their party. Kilkelly added that Gavin makes "sleazy remarks" to Karl about Remi and her wife Cara Varga-Murphy. Karl responds by reporting Gavin to HR but does not tell Remi about the incident.Gavin, in his first appearance, initially appears a psychiatrist who supervises Finn Kelly's care after David Tanaka is hit by a ute. After Finn's death, Gavin tells David that the board have asked him whether he knew about the change in Finn's mental state. He also tells David that if there is an inquiry, they may want to question him too. Bowman is later called to give Harlow Robinson a psych evaluation, but he realises she is actually experiencing withdrawal from the barbiturates used to treat her. Bowman asks David how he could have missed the signs, and David admits that he was too focused on her psychological state. As Bowman suggests David extends his leave of absence, David points out that Bowman missed the changes in Finn's personality too when he was supervising Finn's care after David's accident. Bowman tells David that he was at a distinct disadvantage because of the way David handled the case, and by the time he shared his concerns about Finn it was too late. Bowman adds that David should have listened to his instincts and alerted someone, and coldly tells him that what happened with Finn is on him, which left David feeling devastated after he hears this.
Gavin treats Haz following him being run over by Mackenzie Hargreaves and continues to monitor his condition. Gavin later notices Remi with a job application form for Senior Medical Officer. He asks Remi if she will apply and states that he is not interested in the position. He also questions Remi about her relationship with Cara. Gavin continues to treat Haz and assesses his condition after he wakes from a coma. Gavin attends Karl's leaving party and makes sexualised comments about Remi and Cara, which shocks Karl. The following morning, Karl reports Gavin to the HR department and reveals they were not surprised by his allegations. Gavin treats Dex Varga-Murphy after he is poisoned. He discusses the case with Remi and Cara but Karl is worried by his involvement. Gavin is informed about Karl's complaint and confronts him. Karl tells Remi about Gavin's comments, who then tells Cara and they ban him from treating Dex further.
Gavin and Remi have an argument at work and he makes further harsh comments towards Remi. He comes up with a theory about Dex's poisoning and cures him. Gavin later agrees to be interviewed about the medical cases involving the poisonings on Liv Bellen's podcast. His appearance causes Holly Hoyland to become suspicious of him and she breaks into the hospital filing system and accesses Gavin's work records. Holly pretends to be working for Liv's podcast and records his views. She then follows him to a community meeting at the foundation and catches Gavin injecting food with poison. Holly stumbles and Gavin takes her hostage, while using a syringe as a weapon.
After taking Holly hostage, Gavin forces her into his flat and destroys her phone. Holly informs him that others know that she's been following him and that Liv is going to reveal on her podcast that he is the serial poisoner who poisoned many people, including Dex. It also comes out to Gavin that she is Karl's daughter. Gavin tries to justify what he did, including the fact it wasn't his intention to kill anyone. Holly points out this confirms her theory on Gavin's motives for being the poisoner: Gavin being the only doctor who was able to cure the victims would be seen in the media as a hero and that would therefore ensure he won't lose his job for sexual harassing women because the hospital won't want the bad publicity for firing him. Gavin drags Holly into the bathroom and forces her to lie in the bath where he ties her up, gags her with a tie and taunts her with the loaded syringe before leaving her there. The following morning, Gavin comes back with a glass of water and tries to get Holly to drink it but she is suspicious of what it might contain so refuses to drink it. Gavin starts to pack up ahead of fleeing the country and tells Holly it's because of her and makes it clear to her how bitter he is that all he's worked for has been ruined because of her and stuffs the tie back into her mouth after ignoring her pleas to let her go along with promising not to tell anyone. Before storming out of the bathroom, he tells Holly she wrecked his life.
Karl becomes concern with Holly's absence and goes to Number 32 to ask Mackenzie and Haz if she is there. Mackenzie tells Karl that she hasn't heard from Holly since the argument they had the previous day about Gavin being the poisoner. Haz then reveals that Terese Willis told him that Gavin didn't appear at the fundraiser he was meant to be attending. After Karl tried to call Gavin on his phone and can't get a hold of him, Mackenzie is left wondering if there's a possibility that Holly could be right about Gavin. Karl then goes to the hospital with fellow neighbour and police officer Andrew Rodwell to look for Gavin but Remi tells them that he's called in sick which she finds strange given that he's due to be commended for his work diagnosing the poisonings. After giving them Gavin's address and being informed of the situation, Remi accompanies them to the complex where Gavin lives and finalise their plan of action. Remi, under the pretense of personally calling round to hand deliver Gavin's letter of commendation, knocks on his door and tries see anything unusual inside once the door is open. Gavin opens the door and Remi asks how he's feeling before explaining why she's calling and further prolongs the conversation by praising him for saving her son. Holly, after having untangled her feet from her restraints, manages to get herself out of the bathroom and into Remi's view. Remi, Andrew and Karl force the door open before Gavin grabs Holly and threatens to jab her with the syringe. Holly employs a self-defence tactic by stamping on Gavin's foot causing him to release the syringe and the grip he had on her. While Holly runs to the safety of Karl, Andrew pounces on Gavin and manages to restrain him after a struggle.
With Gavin held securely, Remi rushes forward and grabs the syringe but notices that its empty and realises Gavin has been injected with what was inside it.
At the hospital, thanks to Remi, Andrew reports to her, Cara, Karl, Holly and Leo that Gavin is in a stable condition but under police guard. Andrew also reveals that the glass of water Holly refused to drink was drugged and evidence was found on Gavin's phone that confirms he planned to leave her unconscious somewhere while he fled the country. Andrew confirms that Gavin will be charged with kidnapping, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and poisoning, and will go to jail for it.
A year later, Gavin has been released from prison and went on an internet date with Jane Harris under the name of "Gav". Jane, who never met Gavin personally before, complains about her date with him to Nicolette that it was a disaster and explains that it started off well but in the middle of a conversation the man suddenly made up an excuse to leave that Jane didn't buy. Jane then talks to Terese about the date during tea at Number 22 and on how outrageous the man's behaviour was. She then shows Terese a picture of Gav. Terese reveals to Jane his true identity and that he was the man who poisoned the wine at the Eirini Rising launch and kidnapped Holly last year. While Terese informs Andrew, Wendy, Karl, Remi, Cara, Aaron and Nicolette at Number 30 during a party, Jane goes to confront Gavin outside Harold's Cafe. Gavin admits to Jane that during their date when he realised her connection to Ramsay Street he knew she must be a close friend to the families of Karl and Remi and felt the need to leave. Jane tells him he shouldn't be on dating apps and that by doing so he was preying on women who have no idea about his past. She then tells him that he barely paid for what he has done and to stay away from her and everybody else. At Number 30, after Jane arrives, Andrew informs everyone that Gavin was up for parole and the parole board believed he was rehabilitated. He also reveals that due to an error neither Holly or Dex were on the victim's register which resulted in them not being notified before Gavin's release.