List of Neighbours characters introduced in 2001
Neighbours is an Australian television soap opera. It was created by Reg Watson and first broadcast on 18 March 1985. The following is a list of characters that first appeared in the soap in 2001, by order of first appearance. All characters were introduced by the show's executive producer Stanley Walsh. The 17th season of Neighbours began airing on 15 January 2001. Jess Fielding made her debut in the following month. [|Matt Hancock] arrived in March, while his father, [|Evan], and Jack Scully began appearing from April. [|Maggie] Hancock made her debut in May and Larissa Calwell arrived the following month. September saw the introduction of [|Tim Collins]. [|Sandy Allen] began appearing from October, while Mitch Foster followed in November. December saw the introductions of Liz Conway, [|Stuart Parker] and [|Elly Conway], as well as the year's first birth, [|Ben Kirk].
Jess Fielding
Jessica "Jess" Fielding, played by Elisha Gazdowicz, made her first screen appearance on 14 February 2001. Jess was a student at Erinsborough High who reported Susan Kennedy for hitting her and was accused of planting a bomb, a storyline which saw her make an immediate impact on the show. A writer for the Daily Record said Gazdowicz's character was "one viewers either love or hate" and they called Jess a "vixen" and a "wild child" who managed to upset everyone in Ramsay Street. Gazdowicz told the writer that she hoped she did not become a hate figure, saying "I was worried about the way my character comes across as I know it is seen by millions of people world-wide. I just want viewers to like Jess but I can understand why they don't." Gazdowicz also revealed she was the opposite to Jess when it came to school work. Following a confrontation about a low mark, Jess lashes out at her teacher, Susan Kennedy. Susan strikes Jess in self-defence and she is later suspended for her actions, while an investigation is carried out. Jess' boyfriend Tad Reeves witnessed the incident and urges Jess to tell the truth about what happened. Jess initially refuses, but she eventually confesses that it was not Susan's fault.Jess joins Year 12 at Erinsborough High and immediately attracts the attention of Tad Reeves. Jess makes an enemy of Susan Kennedy and she displays no interest in her school work. Tad asks Jess out and she agrees to a date. They work together on a school project and when Tad goes to Jess' home, he is shocked to see how wealthy her family is. Jess tells Tad that her sister, Mary, has had a baby and her parents have being ignoring her to spend time with Mary and their new grandchild. Jess' behaviour at school become worse and when a bomb threat is reported, Jess becomes the prime suspect. A bomb does go off on the school playing field and Jess finds herself under suspicion from Susan and Tad. It is later revealed Colin Rogers set the bomb. Jess becomes angry with everyone who had accused her. A few days later, Susan gives Jess a low grade for an assignment and Jess confronts her. Susan takes Jess aside after class to talk to her about the mark and her behaviour. Jess lashes out at Susan and Susan puts her arm up to defend herself, causing Jess to fall to the ground. Jess makes everyone aware of the attack and her mother threatens to file a complaint with the school. Susan is suspended and Tad tries to work out why Jess is trying to ruin Susan's career. Eventually Jess admits Susan was not to blame and the complaint is dropped. Jess turns up at Tad's home asking if she can stay. She explains she had an argument with her parents and Tad manages to talk her into calling them. Tad realises his relationship with Jess is becoming too serious and he ends it.
Matt Hancock
Matthew "Matt" Hancock, played by Stephen Hunt, made his first screen appearance on 26 March 2001. Matt was the first member of the five strong Hancock family to be introduced. Matt is the eldest of the Hancock children and he tries to play an adult role in their household. James Joyce of The Newcastle Herald said Matt is intelligent, but has trouble applying himself to study. He added Matt's parents "despair about his future", but are proud of his looks and wit.Evan Hancock
Evan Hancock, played by Nicholas Opolski, made his first appearance on 13 April 2001. At the beginning of the year, the Neighbours scriptwriters decided to introduce some "new blood" to the show to fill the void left by the temporary departures of six regular characters. The writers created the five strong Hancock family, consisting of two parents and three children. Opolski was cast as Evan Hancock the head of the family and a new teacher for Erinsborough High. In his fictional backstory, Evan was previously married to [|Genevieve] Murdoch, but they divorced when their sons; Chris and Matt were young. Evan then married Maggie and they had two children; Leo and Emily. A writer for Inside Soap said "conveniently Evan is a teacher who happens to land a job at Erinsborough High." The Hancock's were described as fun-loving and the "average Aussie family." A writer for the BBC described Evan as being committed to progressive education and a devoted father. They said "Evan's easy going manner made him popular with his kids and students alike. That's not to say he didn't run into problems. Sometimes, his kids were embarrassed to have a high school teacher as a father, while his students have been known to take advantage of his good nature." In 2002, the entire Hancock family were written out of Neighbours.When Evan gets a job at Erinsborough High, he also decides to move his family to the suburb. Evan outbids Dee Bliss and Teresa Bell for Number 32 Ramsay Street and manages to upset his new neighbours. Shortly after moving in, Evan's ex-wife, Genevieve, arrives and tries to convince their son, Matt, to go to Switzerland to attend a catering school. Evan is pleased when Matt turns her down, but he is upset when his other son, Chris, decides to stay with Genevieve. Evan gets off on the wrong foot with Susan Kennedy when he reveals he has a radical approach to teaching. Evan feuds with both Joe Scully and Karl Kennedy. Leo tells Evan that his P.E teacher, Dean Hearn, is unfairly treating him and Evan witnesses Dean pushing his son to the ground. Evan goes to Susan with his concerns, but Dean convinces her he did nothing wrong. Evan is horrified when he hears Dean admitting to throwing a chalk duster at Leo and he gets angry with him. Susan asks Evan to leave the school to cool off, while Dean resigns. The Hancocks begin having money worries and Evan and Maggie are concerned by Leo's strange behaviour. When they see him taking money from his friends, they confront him and he tells them that he has a paper round. Evan is not convinced and later learns Leo has been selling essays to raise money for break dancing lessons. Evan then bans Leo from attending any more classes, but when he sees how talented he is, Evan relents. Things between Evan and Maggie become strained when her studies get in the way of home life. Evan runs for a position on the local council against Joe and wins. Evan starts becoming estranged from his wife and children and he helps Genevieve when she returns to ask for his support, following a break up. Evan keeps his meetings with Genevieve a secret. Evan is shocked when he learns Matt and Leo have been involved in a car crash and Harold Bishop was injured too. Evan is angry with Matt when he faces police charges and Matt runs away. He later returns and Evan and Maggie are faced with large legal fees to keep him out of jail. They decide to sell their house. Evan's marriage to Maggie is strained further when he learns Toadfish Rebecchi is in love with her and tried to kiss her. Evan asks her for a divorce, but he and Maggie later decide to work through their issues. Evan and his family then say goodbye to their neighbours and leave.
Following his introduction, James Joyce of the Newcastle Herald quipped that Evan should prove extremely popular with the younger residents as he is the new maths teacher at Erinsborough High. Jackie Brygel of the Herald Sun called him brave for taking the job at the high school. A writer for the BBC said Evan's most notable moment was "Emailing The Chronicle about bullying and causing a huge row between him and Susan Kennedy."
Jack Scully
Jack Scully, played by Paul Pantano, made his first screen appearance on 17 April 2001. Following the introduction of the Scully family in 1999, Jack was often mentioned by his parents and siblings. Producers later decided to introduce the character and Pantano was cast in the role. The character was reintroduced in 2002, with Jay Bunyan taking over the role. Bunyan was auditioned for the role in New Zealand by Jan Russ. A writer for the BBC described Jack as being "a little feisty" and said he "certainly set the cat among the pigeons with the local teenage girls when he came to Erinsborough."Maggie Hancock
Maggie Hancock, played by Sally Cooper, made her first screen appearance on 9 May 2001. The character was introduced alongside her family, after the Neighbours scriptwriters decided to add some "new blood" to the show to fill the void left by the temporary departures of six regular characters. Cooper was cast as Maggie, the matriarch of the Hancock family. Maggie is married to Evan and they have two children; Leo and Emily. Maggie is also a stepmother to Chris and Matt. Maggie is a law student and a writer for the BBC stated "Maggie had a difficult task in negotiating her way through the world of the modern blended family. It was a role she managed well. Add all this to her legal career and you have one very busy woman." Maggie works alongside Toadfish Rebecchi and he later confesses his feelings for her. They almost share a kiss, but Maggie "nipped the romance in the bud". However, Evan finds out that Maggie and Toadie were more than friends and Maggie has to decide whether she is still fully committed to her husband. Hunt, who played Matt Hancock, commented "Toadie was the one who started it, but there was some doubt whether Maggie had feelings for him too." Evan and Maggie are united when Matt is involved in a car accident and when Maggie spots Evan and Matt sorting through their issues, she decides her marriage is worth saving and convinces Evan to try again. In 2002, the producers decided to write the Hancocks out of the show.Maggie and her family move to Erinsborough after her husband, Evan, gets a job at the local high school. On the day they are moving into 32 Ramsay Street, Maggie and Evan realise that their youngest son, Leo, is missing. They drive round looking for him and eventually find him in the local pub with Toadfish Rebecchi. Maggie learns Toadie is in his final year of law and she reveals she is also a law student. They become friends and Maggie helps Toadie with his court case against UniFM radio. Shortly after their arrival, Maggie and Evan deal with the anniversary of their daughter Francesca's death. Maggie reassures Leo that it was not his fault Francesca died and learns he has spoken about it with Dee Bliss. Maggie becomes eager to help Libby Kennedy sue The Chronicle for unfair dismissal. Libby's father, Karl, believes his daughter should not pursue her case as she is pregnant and he takes his frustrations out on Maggie. Libby eventually takes an out-of-court settlement. Maggie is not happy when she realises that Evan has been feuding with most of their neighbours. The family are also hit with financial difficulties, with matters being made worse when Emily loses a pair of expensive earrings and goes missing. The police tell Maggie and Evan that Emily boarded a bus, but ran off when the driver opened the door. They join the search and Maggie is delighted when Leo finds Emily.
Maggie takes on some work from a legal firm and she starts spending less time at home, which Evan resents her for. Maggie and Evan suspect Leo is taking drugs when they notice his strange behaviour. However, Matt discovers that Leo is actually writing essays for his classmates so he can pay for breakdancing lessons. Evan bans Leo from breakdancing, which causes a rift between them. Maggie finds it hard to concentrate on her studies and she fails an exam. After she pleads her case, Maggie is allowed to graduate and she begins working at a law firm with Toadie. Maggie learns he likes someone at work and assumes it is the sandwich girl. Maggie and Evan continue to grow apart and Maggie accuses him of trying to control the family. She also becomes fed up with Evan's ex-wife Genevieve, leaning on him for support. Toadie tells Maggie that he has feelings for her and it causes tension between them at work. However, as her family problems increase, Maggie becomes closer to Toadie. Just as they are about to kiss, Evan appears and announces Matt and Leo have been in a car accident. Maggie and Evan discuss selling their house to pay for Matt's legal fees and Maggie realises she needs to stay loyal to her family. She goes to see Toadie and tells him she is sticking by her family and rejects him when he tries to kiss her. Emily later finds and reads out a letter from Toadie, which mentions his feelings for Maggie. Evan becomes angry when Maggie tells him Toadie made her feel alive, and he demands a divorce. After selling their house, Maggie and Evan manage to resolve things and the family move to Albury.
A writer for the BBC said Maggie's most notable moment was when she rejected Toadie.