List of Home and Away characters introduced in 2012
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 2012, by order of first appearance. The 25th season of Home and Away began airing from 23 January 2012. Until mid-April, characters are introduced by the soap's executive producer, Cameron Welsh. Thereafter, they are introduced by his successor, Lucy Addario. January also saw Peter Phelps debut as Alan Henderson. Henrietta Brown arrived in February, while Christy Clarke began appearing from March. Melissa Gregg and [|Lottie Ryan] made their first appearances in April. [|Jett James], [|Natalie Davison] and Danny Braxton made their debuts in May. [|Kyle Bennett] and [|Tim Graham] arrived in August, while [|Tamara Kingsley], Lisa Flemming, Adam Sharpe and his son, Jamie Sharpe, began appearing from October.
Alan Henderson
Alan Henderson, played by Peter Phelps, made his first on screen appearance on 23 January 2012. The character and casting was announced on 22 December 2011. Alan is the father of Stu Henderson. Phelps was reunited with Robert Mammone, who he previously worked with on Stingers. Mammone said "Peter and I have known each other for 20 years. It's like a school reunion when you work with actors that you've worked with before for a long time. It's been lots of fun."Alan is visiting his son in the hospital, when he runs into Sid Walker, the man who beat Stu up for physically abusing his daughter. Alan confronts Sid and threatens to beat him up. Sid apologises and tells Alan that there has been too much violence already. Alan agrees and walks away. Alan later confronts Sasha Bezmel about sending naked pictures to boys and her accusations against Stu. Sid drags Alan away and they have a physical confrontation. Alan comes to the Walker's home and offers Sid a deal; drop the charges against Stu or have the police arrest him for assaulting him at the hospital. Alan later catches Stu with Sasha and he hits his son. When Stu is found dead, Alan is questioned by the police over his behaviour towards his son. Alan tells them to ask Dexter Walker and Xavier Austin about Stu, as they were looking for him shortly before he died. Alan and his wife [|Margaret] attend a memorial service for Stu at the school. Alan goes to Angelo's for a drink and he collapses in front on Sid. Alan is taken to the hospital and Sid gets his heart restarted. Alan tells Dexter that he has regrets and later takes back his complaint against Sid, allowing him to get his job back. Alan collapses again and is brought into the hospital. Sid believes Alan's medication may be wrong and gains permission from him to go to his house and look at it. Sid later realises Margaret has been poisoning Alan and she is arrested. When Alan learns of the news he decides to leave the hospital and knocks over a nurse when she tries to stop him. Alan attends Sasha's court hearing and is angry when she is found not guilty.
Henrietta Brown
Henrietta "Henri" Brown, played by Emma Leonard, made her first on screen appearance on 6 February 2012. Henri is a substitute teacher, who gets a job at Summer Bay High. She is also Heath Braxton's ex-girlfriend. In late January 2012, it was announced an "old flame" of Heath's would arrive in the Bay and cause April Scott to fear she will lose him. Of this, the show's new series producer Lucy Addario said "There's a juicy love triangle between April, Heath and a gorgeous woman from Heath's past." Daniel Kilkelly of Digital Spy said Henri "soon starts trying to rekindle her connection with Heath." Sarah Morgan of the Daily Record said "Henri is an odd name for a woman, but she certainly knows how to turn men's heads – especially Heath's." Henri later becomes attracted to her student, and Heath's brother, Casey. Henri and Casey kiss twice, which leaves the audience wondering whether "a full-blown teacher-pupil relationship" could be about to happen. Younes said he was "worried and excited" about the controversial storyline and added "I think for the moment, it's going to be that playful, dangerous line between risk-taking and the possible repercussions that could come. Right now, it's hard to say where this will go." A writer from TV Buzz said that "Henri may be an excellent teacher, but were not sure she should be tutoring young Casey in lessons of love."Gina Austin hires Henri as a substitute English teacher for Summer Bay High. Henri reveals she used to attend the school when she was younger. Henri befriends Bianca Scott and reconnects with Heath Braxton. She later asks him out for a drink. Henri turns up at Heath's on the day of Bianca's wedding with beers. They talk about their past, but are interrupted by April Scott. Henri realises Heath has been dating April. Henri attends a cage fight and runs into Heath. She later tells April about it. Henri comes to Bianca and tells her April failed to do something for an assignment due to her boyfriend. April becomes upset with Henri when she receives a bad mark and accuses her of being jealous of her and Heath. Casey Braxton confides in Henri about an incident that he was involved in while in juvenile detention. Heath comes to Henri after an argument with April and they have sex. Heath asks Henri to keep their one-night stand quiet and Henri later gives April a good mark in class. Heath confronts Henri, but she tells him she is not playing games. Henri pursues Heath and books a room for them at a motel. However, April finds the details of the booking and shows up thinking the room is for her and Heath. Henri reveals her affair with Heath to April and later, Bianca. Henri decides to break things off with Heath. When Casey learns of Henri's affair with Heath, he confronts her. She becomes upset and later tells Casey she cannot tutor him any more. Henri assures him that she does not have feelings for Heath and they kiss. Casey tells Gina that he wants to quit school and she asks Henri to talk to him. Henri agrees to resume tutoring Casey and they begin a relationship in secret.
Christy Clarke
Christy Clarke, played by Isabelle Cornish, made her debut screen appearance on 6 March 2012. The character and Cornish's casting was announced in late February 2012. The actress has an extended guest role with the show. Cornish initially auditioned for the role of Sasha Bezmel, however, it was actress Demi Harman who was eventually cast.Of her character and casting, Cornish told Richard Clune of The Daily Telegraph "I get to play the bad girl Christy, the new girl who comes in and causes some trouble. She's so mean, it was so much fun to play." The actress described her character as "flawlessly groomed, popular and demanding attention." A writer for TV Week revealed Christy is involved with one of the show's biggest 2012 storylines – who killed Stu Henderson ? Cornish explained that Christy was good friends with Stu and she had a crush on him. When she learns he is dead, she becomes upset and then determined to find out who is responsible. Christy turns to Stu's ex-girlfriend, Sasha, and she lashes out at her. Cornish revealed "Christy doesn't like Sasha. Her aim is to destroy her. She tries to get rid of her friends, bully her and make her uncomfortable." The actress added that she had to make herself believe Sasha was a bad person and that she wanted to make her feel unhappy.
Christy starts bullying Sasha Bezmel after it is revealed she accidentally killed Stu Henderson. Christy manages to convince Alicia Spears to reject Sasha's friendship. Christy kicks Sasha during break and pretends it was an accident in front of Gina Austin. Christy and her friends start sending Sasha hate emails and she tells Sasha to stay away from school. While Sasha is leaving the beach by herself, Christy and her friends beat her up. Sasha tells Gina that Christy has been bullying her and Gina finds a video of Christy beating Sasha up. She then expels Christy from the school. Christy later testifies and provokes Sasha at her murder trial
Melissa Gregg
Melissa "Mel" Gregg, played by Allison Cratchley, made her debut screen appearance on 13 April 2012. The character and Cratchley's casting was announced on 31 March 2012. Mel is a doctor and the ex-wife of Harvey Ryan. Of her character, Cratchley said "She had the break-up with Marcus's character and then they separated and she went to the city with another man and their daughter, Lottie, played by Morgan Weaving. But then that relationship breaks down, and since Mel's parents live in Summer Bay, she comes back for a bit of support." Cratchley told a reporter for TV Week that sparks fly between Mel and Harvey's girlfriend, Roo Stewart. She added that there would be tension between the two women and that Mel is a single mother who is "trying to keep her head above water and projecting stuff on to ." The reporter said Summer Bay would get "a shake-up" when Mel arrives. Mel later has a one-night stand with Harvey and Graham stated "Mel has always had unresolved feelings for him and I think she sees an opportunity and takes it."Melissa goes to the Summer Bay Caravan Park to have her hair done by Marilyn Chambers. While they are chatting, Melissa tells Marilyn about her ex-husband, Harvey, and Marilyn reveals she knows him and that he is currently in the hospital. Melissa visits Harvey and explains she broke up with her boyfriend and she and their daughter need his house to live in. Melissa gets a job at the hospital and she goes out for dinner with Sid Walker, her new colleague. During her shift at the hospital, a life-threatening car accident comes in and Mel states that she cannot face it. She later reveals to Harvey that she is struggling to cope with their son, Ben's, death. Mel become angry with Harvey when their finances fall into disarray and he has to sell their house. When Lottie comes to her to talk about her relationship issues, Mel snaps at her and Lottie moves in with Harvey. Mel struggles at work and freezes while treating a baby, Sid sends her home. Mel attacks Harvey and his girlfriend, Roo Stewart, accuses her of not being there for Lottie. Mel admits that she cannot cope and decides to seek treatment in the city. When Mel returns, she and Harvey start fighting for custody of Lottie. Mel threatens to reveal the truth about Ben's death and Harvey backs down. Roo later goes to see Mel and she explains that Harvey was drunk when Ben died during a boating accident. Lottie tells Mel that she wants to stay in Summer Bay, but when she realises that Mel will be alone in the city, she changes her mind. A few weeks later, Harvey turns up on Mel's doorstep and reveals that his relationship with Roo is over.