The wedding’s off
Lauren’s desire to find her long-lost daughter derails her and Matt’s vow-renewal ceremomy.
The last two months have put the Turner and Willis marriages under tremendous strain as Lauren and Brad’s emotional reactions to the news about their presumed dead daughter’s existence and the search for her has left their spouses Matt and Terese feeling sidelined and forgotten. Although Brad (Kip Gamblin) and Lauren (Kate Kendall) have agreed to put the search for their daughter on hold for now, the current calmness in their respective marriages soon appears deceptive when Brad asks Lauren how she’s coping with their decision. Her words of advice have an unforeseen impact on a desperate Brad who secretly hires a private investigator to find his missing daughter, even going so far as to lie to Terese (Rebekah Elmaloglou) about his recent activities.
Although burdened by guilt for being disloyal to his wife, Brad feels that it’s imperative to hide his efforts until the investigator finds something concrete about the girl’s identity. However, he’s feeling even guiltier when Imogen stumbles onto his secret, but upon hearing of Matt (Josef Brown) and Lauren’s plans to renew their wedding vows at a special ceremony, Brad implores his daughter to keep quiet. Unfortunately, Brad’s covert actions blow up in his face when the PI Tracey Wong gives him a valuable lead on his daughter. Although Brad is unable to continue financing Tracey’s investigation, he’s motivated to follow up on the lead in Adelaide himself. When he still refuses to tell Terese or Lauren, a concerned Imogen accidentally reveals all to her hurt mother who angrily catches her husband leaving for South Australia. Outraged that Brad is still shutting her out of his life, Terese orders Brad to be honest with Lauren, whose jubilant reaction to the news soon leaves Matt with a familiar feeling of disappointment especially when Lauren packs up her bags for the spontaneous trip to Adelaide with Brad.
A pained Matt fears that Lauren is prioritising her child with Brad over their upcoming wedding ceremony the next day, and even Lauren’s promise to be back in time for it is cold comfort to Matt. Desperately shrugging off the potential new risks to her marriage, Lauren throws herself into the search for her daughter but soon underestimates the emotional impact of what she and Brad uncover. Deciding to stay in Adelaide overnight to gather more information, a heavyhearted Lauren alerts an understanding Matt, who sadly cancels the wedding. While Matt struggles against the mounting fear that he could be losing his wife and marriage to a past life he can’t compete with, Lauren finds herself sharing close quarters with Brad as they spend the night in a motel room. As Lauren’s angst finally overwhelms her, she’s plagued by thoughts of what life would have been like if she’d told Brad that she was pregnant with his child 20 years ago. Fighting against an uncontrollable pull towards both of her conflicting lives, Lauren finally crashes and burns, succumbing to an emotional breakdown as she wonders if she’s making the biggest mistake of her life.
Who Killed Kate Ramsay?
Brennan and Paul set out to find the person who murdered their beloved Kate.
Mark Brennan’s entire life was ripped out from under him from the horrendous moment that his precious Kate was gunned down and killed just minutes after she accepted his marriage proposal. Clinging onto her final declaration of love for him as she passed away in his arms, Brennan has now become zealously motivated to find her fugitive killer. Although Brennan’s (Scott McGregor) initial investigations have failed to provide any concrete clues to the assailant’s identity, barring the proof that Brennan’s most recent enemy Stephen Montague couldn't have been responsible, Brennan remains hellbent on unmasking the felon. Well aware that Paul (Stefan Dennis) blames him for Kate’s death, Brennan refuses to let the older man’s competing investigative efforts interfere in his quest for justice.
Finally fed up with Paul’s interference, especially when Paul orders Matt (Josef Brown) to shut Brennan out of the official investigation, Brennan reluctantly breaks the law and steals Kate’s case files from police headquarters, determined to compare them with his own old case files, believing that a criminal he may have prosecuted in the past could have killed Kate. However, an incensed Paul is quick to discover Brennan’s illegal activities, and when Brennan won’t cave in to Paul’s demands to hand over the files, Paul reports Brennan to the police, sparking an official raid on Brennan’s house which fortunately turns up nothing thanks to an industrious Imogen (Ariel Kaplan). Nevertheless, Paul won’t rest and soon confronts Brenna with some shocking new evidence that he’s uncovered. Apparently, Brennan’s scorned ex-lover Sienna (Sarah Roberts) gave the police a false alibi when they previously questioned her because she actually was in the vicinity of Lassiter’s Lake at the time of the murder!
Fixated on the possibility of Sienna being the killer, Paul insists that Matt arrest her for murder but when a lack of evidence prevents such an action, Paul leaks the developments to the West Waratah Star, hoping that the newspaper coverage will help to bring her down. However, Sienna wins over a sympathetic Brennan with her newest version of events and, believing that she had nothing to do with Kate’s death, welcomes her into his home when the media interest in her ruins her reputation and leaves her homeless. Sienna is thrilled at the prospect of winning back Brennan but his trust in her is soon broken when she impulsively kisses him. Shocked by a feeling of disloyalty to Kate, Brennan rejects Sienna, considering her only a friend.
Brennan finally musters the courage to go through Kate’s personal belongings and although it initially aids in his grief recovery, he’s soon on red alert again when he finds Sienna’s threatening note to Kate amongst her things. Confronting Sienna, Brennan rabidly accuses his ex-girlfriend of killing Kate and has her arrested for the crime. When further evidence casts doubt on Sienna’s guilt, Brennan is emotionally shattered to think that all of his investigative efforts have been in vain. Suddenly though, Brennan is confronted with Paul’s desperate need for justice and possibly revenge and contemplates Paul’s offer to join forces to catch the killer, leaving Brennan to wonder if he can actually trust his biggest enemy.
Monday 16 June 2014 (Episode 6906)
Paul takes the law into his own hands, putting himself in danger.
Paige moves into Ramsay Street.
Amber and Daniel try to figure out their feelings.
Tuesday 17 June 2014 (Episode 6907)
Libby steps up to the top job at school, but can she handle it?
Meanwhile, Georgia questions Kyle's apparant waning interest.
Wednesday 18 June 2014 (Episode 6908)
Ben's actions challenge Libby's position as principal.
Sheila suspects there's more to Naomi's stalker story.
Georgia has a plan to help Kyle get his mojo back.
Thursday 19 June 2014 (Episode 6909)
Lauren suspects Paige of theft.
Naomi digs herself a deeper hole.
Sonya encourages Brennan to get back into Erinsborough life.
Friday 20 June 2014 (Episode 6910)
Paige and Bailey consider their next steps.
Amber's feelings for Daniel lead to lies.
Toadie struggles without Callum.
Karl has a brush with fame.
Killer Unmasked
Paul and Brennan’s hunt for Kate’s killer reaches a shocking conclusion.
In recent weeks, Paul and Brennan’s search for Kate’s murderer has become an all-consuming obsession. When Paul (Stefan Dennis) learns of Brennan’s (Scott McGregor) belief that the killing may be connected to the internal police corruption ring that Brennan had previously busted, he’s hellbent on accessing the confidential files from the case, believing they hold the answers he needs. When Brennan fails to access the files which are locked away in a secure storage facility, Paul pressures him to break in to the facility and steal the documents. Brennan reluctantly does so, but when a security guard threatens his search, Brennan decides not to take the files he’s found. Paul is immediately outraged by his law-abiding decision and accuses Brennan of destroying any hope they’ve got of finding Kate’s killer.
When Matt (Josef Brown) unexpectedly interrogates Paul about his past associations with his known enemies, Paul refuses to believe that one foe in particular would strike out against him. When Matt uncovers further damning evidence, including the murder weapon, against the person in question, Paul is horrified to finally have conclusive proof of the killer’s identity. As Paul struggles to comprehend being the indirect cause of his beloved niece’s death’s gruesome death, the police manhunt reveals just how deeply Kate’s vengeful killer hates Paul. Later though, the killer finally reveals their presence while stalking Paul from the shadows as he visits Kate’s grave. Sensing he’s being watched, Paul later leaves a note for the assailant, desperately hoping to lure them out into the open.
When Brennan spies Paul buying a gun, he’s mortified to realise that Paul is planning revenge on the killer. A subsequent police stakeout reveals Paul organising a large cash stash, but the cops are left worried for Paul’s safety when he shakes them off. Disappearing inside an abandoned warehouse, Paul finally comes face-to-face with Kate’s killer. As Matt and Brennan finally track down his whereabouts, Paul offers his mortal enemy the money but the person angrily rejects it insisting that their only goal was to make Paul suffer for his previous wrongdoings. Shocked by the sadist’s merciless outburst, Paul announces that he’s got no option but to resort to his backup plan. Staring down the killer, Paul pulls out the gun, points it at the person’s head and prepares to pull the trigger!
Divisive daughter
Lauren and Brad’s long-lost daughter shows up in Ramsay Street and quickly makes her presence felt
Lauren and Brad’s recent trip to Melbourne to Adelaide in search of their daughter has seemingly hit a dead end. Not only are they wracked with guilt over the passionate moment they shared during their overnight stay, but they’re also so disheartened over the setback that they finally agree to permanently end the search and focus on the families they already have. Unbeknownst to Lauren (Kate Kendall) and Brad (Kip Gamblin), their mysterious daughter soon arrives in Erinsborough on a determined mission to hunt down her biological parents and get to know them without revealing her identity – until the time is right. After aggravating and confusing initial encounters with Amber (Jenna Rosenow) and Terese (Rebekah Elmaloglou), Paige finds herself in Harold’s store, instantly moved to finally be face-to-face with Lauren, her mother. As she nervously contemplates revealing herself, she’s rattled to learn than an antagonistic Amber is Lauren’s daughter and therefore her half-sister.
Deducing that her newfound family is more complicated than she was anticipating, the mystery woman realises that she needs to ingratiate herself with the Turner family to learn more about them before she reveals who she is. When Lauren takes an instant liking to her and offers her a job at the store, she’s quick to accept, pleased by Amber’s subsequent unhappiness over the move as she carries out further detective work and discovers she has three half siblings. Learning that one of her siblings is around her age, Paige is disturbed to discover to think that she was abandoned at birth but her parents kept the other children. Engineering a meeting with Brad to get to know him, Paige warms to her father quickly but soon wonders why her parents had her adopted when she spies him and Lauren appearing to be happily married. Anxious to confront Lauren and Brad for answers, Paige’s intentions are cut short when she realises that her parents aren’t married and have other spouses. Shocked beyond belief, she runs into an oblivious Josh (Harley Bonner) who’s quick to comfort her. Misinterpreting his words, Paige quickly propositions him before suddenly realising that he’s yet another of her half-siblings!
Digging further into her family history, Paige learns about Lauren’s emotional upheaval. Questioning her mother, Paige learns that Lauren’s search for her daughter has taken its toll and she’s now abandoned the search. Believing that Lauren has given up on her, Paige turns her attentions back to Brad but is soon piquing Terese’s suspicions about her motivations for befriending the family. Terese immediately takes her concerns to Matt (Josef Brown), but when Paige hears that her stepfather is digging into her background, she angrily confronts Terese who hunts that she should get out of everybody’s lives and leave town. Instead of adhering to her stepmother’s wishes, Paige rents Brennan’s (Scott McGregor) spare room intent on staying close to her families.
However, Paige’s attempts to insinuate herself into the lives of the Turner and Willis families is dealt with a blow when Amber accuses her of stealing money from Harold’s Store, using the evidence to convince Lauren of the newcomer’s guilt. Paige is in shock when Lauren fires her, but aware that Bailey (Calen MacKenzie) did it to further his drinking habit. Paige’s frustrations boil over and she explodes at Lauren, labelling her a terrible mother. When the truth about Bailey’s drinking is finally revealed, Paige accepts Lauren’s heartfelt apology for wrongly accusing her and they continue to grow closer until Lauren reacts angrily when her daughter interrupts a tense family moment. Shooed away from the Turner house, Paige feels thoroughly rejected by her family and angrily trashes Harold’s Store, wondering if she’s made a huge mistake coming to Erinsborough.
So Libby and Ben must be back long term (or at least planning to be) if he's enrolled at the high school.
What happens so Susan that leads to Libby becoming principle?
Bailey gets a drink problem - not sure about this, he's not the best actor in fact he's almost as bad as his big brother was.
Hi Olympia – can you tell us what brings Paige to Ramsay Street?
Well her secret is that she is the biological daughter Brad and Lauren have been searching for all this time! Paige herself has always been curious about her background – and not having had a particular happy childhood, as she has got older the urgency to find her real parents has grown.
What happens when Brad turns up at her house in Adelaide?
When Brad arrives and meets her brother from her adoptive family, Ethan, Paige has a sense of relief that she’s found her parents. But she’s also very scared about how things will pan out. Will she like them? Why was she put up for adoption? There are so many unanswered questions, which is why she decides to go to Erinsborough to suss it out before she announces who she really is.
How does she end up with a job working at Harold’s, though?
One thing that viewers will pick up pretty quickly about Paige is she’s very resourceful. She tracks down Lauren in Harold’s and then impresses her by making menu suggestions to a customer. Lauren needs help so she offers Paige a job. It’s perfect – she’s able to learn more about her parents.
Then she engineers meeting her father too, doesn’t she?
She decides to join the gym, which is where she fins Brad, and she really likes him. There’s an instant connection, but she freaks out when Ethan turns up because Brad will recognise him and put two and two together. It’s too soon for her to tell the truth about who she is – there’s a lot more she wants to find out first.
How does she get along with her newly discovered half-siblings?
Not brilliantly – particularly with the girls, Amber and Imogen. Amber thinks Paige is flirting with Josh, which in the beginning she sort of is until she realises the connection – and thank goodness that happens pretty quickly! And I think Imogen is just naturally suspicious. Bailey is the most chilled and they seem to hit it off.
Is it a struggle for her to hide her true identity?
It involves lots of lies! She also doesn’t use a credit card so when she’s at Lassiters, there is no way of finding out her real name – which is Paige Smith, not Novak as she’s told Brad and Lauren. She made up a back story that she comes from Tasmania and later on she’s tripped up on this, so her plan isn’t foolproof!
Terese is quite anti-Paige…
Terese is a really smart lady and she picks up on the fact Paige is a young girl with disposable cash, staying in an expensive hotel, and she has no ID. Terese won’t let it go, which later on becomes a problem for Paige…
How long does she intend to keep up the charade, though?
She obviously has hang-ups from her childhood that have caused her to be incredibly cautious. She’s really, really scared of being hurt so she won’t let her guard down until she’s absolutely sure becoming a part of her parents’ lives is what she really wants.
What’s in store for Paige?
Well, when the truth is finally revealed, the fall-out will be felt far and wide! There will be twists and turns in the story for a while to come. It’s really great stuff.
Do you like the character?
I do, yes. One side of her is feisty, unpredictable and reactive, yet she can be very compassionate, sensitive and very funny. It’s interesting for me as well because her family situation sort of parallels mine in a way – I am one of eight half-siblings so I know all about extended families.
And are you enjoying being part of the Neighbours cast?
Oh, yeah, I’m absolutely loving it! Everyone there’s made me so welcome, and I felt like I belonged from my first day on set. I was nervous, of course, but I didn’t feel for an instant that I couldn’t do this. The most challenging part of Neighbours, which all the actors will tell you, is the pace. If you’re not filming, you’re rehearsing – and then another load of scripts arrive and you’re reading these while learning the lines for the next day. It’s definitely full-on, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Monday 9th June 2014
Naomi considers coming clean to Toadie about making-up the stalker story. Will she lose his affection?
Matt interviews Paul about his connection to Victor Clearly.
Paige learns Lauren has been though a turbulent time.
Tuesday 10th June 2014
Lauren comes clean to Lou that she kissed Brad.
Paige and Brennan move in together after Brennan advertises for a housemate on the ad board.
Paul tries to come to terms with his role in Kate's death.
Wednesday 11th June 2014
Libby and her son Ben return to Ramsay Street.
Brennan finds a shock at Kate's grave.
Chris stumbles across a compromising photo of Kyle and a woman in Thailand.
Thursday 12th June 2014
Toadie and Sonya clash as Callum says his goodbyes to Ramsay Street.
Georgia confronts Kyle about the incriminating photos of him from Thailand,
Amber attempts to set Imogen up with Daniel.
Friday 13th June 2014
Bailey considers turning to alcohol after Callum's departure.
Amber struggles to deny her feelings for Daniel.
Naomi organizes for Sonya to have a massage so she can be alone with Toadie!
After time away, Ramsay Street's Libby Kennedy is back... for now at least! She's filling in as acting deputy principal at Erinsbrough High at mum Susan's behest. Dad Karl tries to persuade/con Libby into moving home permanently. But she has other ideas. And, they don't include Ramsay Street...
Dead Man Walking
Paul's got a target on his back but will the killer hit the bullseye?
After months of dead ends, Kate's killer is on the blink of being exposed. But, as the investigation into her murder kicks into high gear, Paul finds himself in the firing line. In Neighbours this week, Paul is desperate to catch Kate's murderer. "After Kate died, Paul was in shock", Stefan, 55, explains. "Then he was numb". "Then he didn't accept it". "But, now hes past the denial stage and he wants revenge". To that end, Paul briefly joined forces with his old Nemesis Brennan to find answers. Although that fails spectacularly, his hopes of getting justice for Kate are buoyed when the police find a new suspect. Little does Paul realise the killer has their eyes on him... And now hes in grave Danger.
Scott, how has Brennan has been coping since losing Kate?
This was a hard storyline for me to attack because I’ve never lived through something as tragic as that. The only way Brennan has been able to deal with what’s happened is by trying to focus on catching Kate’s killer and bringing him or her to justice. That’s what’s getting him by right now..
Was Brennan flattered by Imogen’s recent attentions?
He wasn’t flattered, but he wasn’t annoyed with her either. When Brennan discovered Imogen developed a crush on him, he saw it as just one of those things that he has to put up with. Mark hasn’t intentionally encouraged her.
Is she shocked when Matt announces the police believe they know who killed Kate?
He’s stunned to discover the cops think it was Victor Cleary, who’s the brother of Gus Cleary, the man who Paul killed 10 years ago. Brennan has gone through moments of thinking someone else murdered Kate, so it’s a shock to hear this new name thrown into the mix.
What does Brennan find when he goes to visit Kate’s grave?
There’s a note from Paul to Victor Cleary there. It’s then Brennan knows something serious is going on. He follows Paul and is horrified to see him buying a gun. Brennan knows he has to do the right thing and he tells Matt what he’s witnessed. Then, after initially losing him, Matt and Brennan track Paul down to a warehouse…
What do they see when they enter the derelict building?
They walk in to find Paul pointing the gun at Victor! Brennan and Matt leap into action and manage to intervene before Paul has the chance to pull the trigger and kill Victor. They stop him just in time! After Victor is arrested and taken down to the station, there’s finally a sense of justice for Kate.
Does Brennan blame Paul at all?
Brennan always thought Kate’s death was his own fault, and he wouldn’t want that kind of guilt on Paul’s shoulders either. Brennan’s relieved now he knows he wasn’t responsible for Kate’s murder, he can stop blaming himself for what happened. As far as getting revenge on Paul, that’s absolutely not on Mark’s agenda. Brennan knows they both need to just get on with their lives.
Can Brennan be happy again?
Yeah, definitely. He has his friends rallying round him, and there are some lovely scenes coming up when you see him smiling with Sonya again. He needs this time now to try and think about himself a bit more. I reckon, because up until now he’s been focusing all his energy and attention on finding Kate’s killer.
Have you enjoyed the storyline?
I’m having so much fun working at Neighbours right now. At the end of the day, this is a job and I wouldn’t want to stick around if I wasn’t having a good time. The people are what make it for me, and all the cast and crew who work on the show are just fantastic. I’m lucky to be able to come into work every day and enjoy myself this much.
How is Brennan going to get along with his new lodger, Paige?
A friendship is on the cards, and you’ll have to watch this space to see what happens. Paige is the opposite to Brennan so there’s going to be a bit of humour there. Could something more develop between them? Who knows!
Is there a possibility for a new lady in Brennan’s life, then?
I think it’s too soon after Kate, to be honest. I’ve actually been asking the writers to hold off on that side of things, but you never know what might happen next. Brennan’s summer is going to be fairly drama-free. He’ll have some time to himself. As soon as there’s anything juicy on the horizon, I’ll be sure to let you know!
'Marry me, Georgia!'
After one false start, Kyle is determined to convince Georgia to become his wife
It's a case of second time lucky when Kyle proposes to Georgia in Neighbours this week. It wasn't long ago that Georgia (Saskia Hampele) proposed to Kyle (Chris Milligan). But, his one-night stand with another girl ruined that. "This time it all goes well," Chris, 26, reveals. "Kyle puts on a little Vanuatu-themed date, in honour of the honeymoon they were going to have. With the help of a ukulele band, he pops the question. Georgia loves it."
Chris says he's enjoying the engagement storyline. However, he is adamant it hasn't made him in a hurry to put a ring on the finger of his real-life love and Neighbours co-star, Jenna Rosenow (aka Amber). "Oh, no!" he laughs. "I'm quite happy with the way me and my girlfriend are going at the moment. I don't think I should ruin that with a ring. It's all going extremely well. I'm not going to jinx it with an engagement ring."
As much as we love chatting to the stars of our favourite soaps, we know that the people with the real gossip about upcoming stories are much higher up – the shows’ producers! Which is why we’ve gone straight to the top for our latest series of interviews. In fact, Neighbours executive producer Jason Herbison is an old friend of Inside Soap, having worked as out Australian correspondent for many years. Here, we put your burning questions to him and try to tease as many juicy plot lines out of him as possible…
I’m loving Scott and Charlene’s son Daniel. But to be honest – are you just hoping to lure back Jason and Kylie?
Kylie and Jason are very high on the list of people we want to bring back. They’ve got an open invitation to return to the show – it would be fantastic to have them back for the 30th anniversary, or to be part of Daniels storyline now he’s in Erinsborough. We saw Kylie introduced to Daniel on The One Show recently, and everyone here got a kick out of that.
What do you have planned for the programme’s 30th anniversary next March?
We started talking about the anniversary in January this year – we have lots of ideas! As the year goes on, the plans are evolving. We’ll start filming it towards the end of 2014. It’s a bit early to say exactly what we have in mind, but we definitely want to celebrate the history of the show. It could possibly involve returning characters, as well as moving the show forward for the future.
Chris is my fave Neighbours character. Will he get a nice boyfriend soon?
Chris is definitely going to be getting a nice boyfriend in the near future. We’re bringing in a new character who’ll be with us for the long term and he will be Chris’ new romantic interest. So there are good things ahead!
I’m still not sure how Brad and Lauren have a long-lost daughter! Were you worried about rewriting history?
Yes, we were concerned. But part of the reason we decided to bring them both back was the potential for a storyline like this to have come out of their past. We looked back at the continuity at the time, and saw that while it was a little bit of a stretch, it wasn’t impossible. We thought that enough time had passed, and that within the realms of possibility something like that could have happened.
Are you planning on bringing back anyone from Pauls past?
We won’t be seeing any more of Paul’s family for now, but we’ll bring back a face from his past later in the year, and that will be a big storyline for him. From time to time we talk about bringing in his eldest daughter, Amy. There are all sorts of possibilities with her – she might have children that Paul’s never met, for starters.
Who’s your favourite Neighbours character?
I genuinely couldn’t pick a favourite. But I could say that I’m loving Naomi at the moment. I think her type of character has been missing for a while – you know, the classic, troublemaking vixen who underneath it all is just deeply insecure. We’re just so happy with her, and with the rest of the Canning family, Sheila and Kyle, as well. They’re a fantastic bunch, and we’ll be seeing another member of the Canning clan later this year…
Will a new family be moving into Kate Ramsay’s house?
We don’t have any plans to bring in a new family at this point. Brennan and Paige will be there for the foreseeable future, and they’ll get another housemate for a period later on in the year. I’m sure viewers will be delighted to know that Scott McGregor (Brennan) has signed a new long-term contract, so we’re really happy to say that he’ll be sticking with us for a while yet.
Do you have any more big stunts coming up?
We’re filming a natural disaster story at the moment, which is huge – lots of stunts and action! The cast and crew are excited to get out there in the elements ad do something different. That’s due to air in the UK at the end of the year.
If you could bring back an old favourite, who would you choose?
I’d love Natalie Imbruglia to come back as Beth – it would be really interesting now that Brad’s back in the show. It would be good plot-wise, and nice to see her again after all these years. I don’t think we’d recast the character, though – we’ve already recast Brad, which is why we decided to bring him back with a new wife instead of with Beth.
Gunning for Grandma
Paige is furious to learn of Kathy’s role in her abandonment at birth.
Paige Smith’s covert mission to establish roots with her biological parents Brad and Lauren before revealing her true identity to them hasn't gone swimmingly since the volatile young woman arrived from South Australia. When her adopted brother Ethan (Matthew Little) arrives unexpectedly from Adelaide for a visit, Paige’s (Olympia Valance) alarm is palpable, knowing that any sightings of Ethan in town will destroy her plans given that Brad (Kip Gamblin) and Lauren (Kate Kendall) met with him during their presumably fruitless interstate search for their daughter. Although Paige quickly manages to keep Ethan in control, she’s still on edge when she discovers a reminder of her childhood in Lauren’s possession – a teddy bear identical to her own favourite toy. Seeing that the bear is being discarded, Paige is overwhelmed by a renewed sense of rejection and remains confused when Lauren asks for her help with her latest art project, a drawing of her family that is to include her lost daughter Lily (Paige). Heartened by the maternal overture, Paige thinks this is the welcome she needs and almost reveals her identity until Lauren unwittingly reinforces the rejection her daughter feels.
As Paige vindictively reasons that her parents will never know who she is, a chance encounter with her half-brother Bailey (Calen MacKenzie) further fuels her desire for vengeance. Learning of the latest problem in the Turner household, concerning Bailey’s grandmother Kathy (Tina Bursill), Paige is wrong-footed as Bailey obliviously pours out the whole story surrounding Lauren and Kathy’s mother/daughter animosity. Startled to learn how Kathy seized Lauren’s baby and had it adopted, allowing Lauren to believe the child had died, Paige silently swears bloody revenge on the grandmother who snatched her life away.
Amassing background information on Kathy, Paige manipulates Lauren into inviting Kathy to Erinsborough for peace talks. Delighted when Lauren takes offence to Kathy’s early arrival, Paige plays up to her grandmother, openly endearing herself to the older woman while privately plotting her downfall. When Paige learns that Lauren is considering letting bygones be bygones and has offered her mother an olive branch, Paige stews with antipathy, seeing the move as more evidence of Lauren’s ultimately Kathy-fuelled betrayal of Paige. These feelings only become more deeply twisted when Kathy hires a private investigator to find her elusive granddaughter in the hope of healing the rift with her family. Initially attempting to counsel Kathy against the radical move, Paige steams with hatred over Kathy’s refusal, furious to think that her grandmother is about to wreck her best-laid plans just as she has done from the day Paige was born.
Women at War
Sheila and Sonya are baying for blood when Naomi puts the moves on an unsuspecting Toadie
Sheila Canning has had her unscrupulous daughter Naomi’s motives pegged from the first day she set foot in town, knowing that Naomi’s recent abandonment of het last married lover has only fuelled her desire to find another one. Although Sheila (Colette Mann) has done her best to warn Toadie (Ryan Moloney) and Sonya (Eve Morey) that Naomi (Morgana O’Reilly) is out to destroy their marriage, there seems to be no stopping the schemer now that she’s hired a fake stalker to terrorise her and play on Toadie’s protective instincts. Unfortunately, Naomi’s scheme has blown up in her face with her stalker now facing police charges and demanding thousands in compensation for his troubles. While the ruthless legal assistant isn’t above stealing Georgia’s (Saskia Hampele) heirloom engagement ring or trying to funnel client payments out of Toadie’s law practice in an ultimately fruitless bid to settle the situation, her joy at using Paul (Stefan Dennis) to solve her dilemma is enough to reinforce her pursuit of Toadie.
Taking advantage of some Brennan-based trouble in the Rebecchi marriage, Naomi schemes to have Toadie send Sonya to a spa retreat so they can clear their heads. Pleased by another fight between the couple just prior to Sonya’s departure, Naomi carefully insinuates herself into Toadie’s house and company. Once she’s relaxed him with nachos and wresting DVDs, she can no longer resist and pounces on her unsuspecting boss with a passionate kiss! A startled Toadie is still staring confusedly at Naomi when Sheila suddenly barges through the door, armed with receipts for Naomi’s sexy lingerie. Accusing her daughter of being in seduction mode, Sheila floors Toadie with the truth about Naomi wanting to bust up his marriage. Finally piecing together the months’ worth of evidence backing up Sheila’s beliefs, Toadie explodes at his slack-jawed secretary and fires on the spot.
However, it’s Sheila who must bear the brunt of her daughter’s rage as Naomi flies at her all guns blazing until the flustered Mrs Canning blurts out that Naomi’s slutty ways ultimately drove her father to suffer a fatal heart attack! Horrified to realise that Sheila has blamed her for her husband’s death five years ago, Naomi accuses her mother of poisoning her father against her and announces she’s leaving Erinsborough. Stopped in her tracks by a distinct lack of cash, Naomi’s forced to stay put and lick her wounds as she struggles to raise the getaway money. Failing at every attempt, Naomi finally explodes when confronted with Sheila’s bribery cheque to leave. Refusing to be bought off by her mother, Naomi storms off straight into a confrontation with a returned Sonya who’s baying for blood, having heard the sordid tale from her sheepish husband. As tensions explode uncontrollably and Sonya viciously slaps Naomi for suggesting that being a Good Samaritan to her friends and neighbours ultimately drove Toadie to stray, it’s clear that the fractured relations between the warring women of Ramsay Street won’t be healed anytime soon.
Domestic Violence
Chris is stunned when he’s physically assaulted by his new boyfriend Nate
Romantic relationships have always been problematic for Chris, and despite a brief fling with Will, he hasn’t found a guy who’s totally captivated him since Hudson went to prison. That is until he met Nate Kinski, Susan’s step-nephew. Although they became attracted to each other and hooked up in quick time, Nate’s (Meyne Wyatt) recent physical assault of a stranger has left Chris (James Mason) in fear of dating a possible psychopath. When Georgia (Saskia Hampele) zealously encourages her housemate to cut Nate some slack and give him a second chance, Chris tentatively agrees, accepting that he’s truly attracted to the newcomer.
It appears that Chris was right in trusting Georgia’s advice when Nate calms a worried Kyle (Chris Milligan) through Georgia’s operation. Inviting Nate out for a drink, Chris is again given cause for concern when Nate’s erratic behaviour kicks back in, drawing Brennan’s (Scott McGregor) attention. Becoming increasingly suspicious as to the reasons for Nate’s outbursts, Brennan alerts Susan (Jackie Woodburne) who’s so taken aback by the forcefulness of Brennan’s accusations that she dismisses his concerns, until she’s doing her nephew’s laundry and finds a knife hidden amongst Nate’s clothing! Confronting the secretive stranger, a disturbed Susan and Karl (Alan Fletcher) beg for answers but Nate flips out, intent on leaving Erinsborough instead of being honest.
On his way out of town, Nate’s confronted by the sight of a disappointed Chris who responds to Nate’s revelation that he wants to kiss Chris by doing just that. Persuaded to stay in town, Nate concedes to Chris’ request to open up about his past but his explanation leaves Chris and Karl more troubled than ever. Once again unsure if he can trust Nate, Chris finally allows himself to support his boyfriend and wanting their romance to succeed, is anxious to discover why Nate has so much trouble opening up about his life’s experiences.
That question becomes even more important when Nate’s effective efforts in helping a tornado victim leave Chris further disheartened by Nate’s subsequent violent outburst. Shoving Chris hard against the wall, Nate spits that he’s tired of Chris pestering him for answers about things he doesn’t want to talk about. Shaken, Chris struggles with handling the situation and confronting his boyfriend, is only mildly comforted by Nate’s promise never to treat him that way again. Seeking solace from Susan, Nate, buoyed by Chris’ advice to speak from the heart, agrees to give a career talk to the senior students at Erinsborough High School. Unfortunately, Nate’s nerves overwhelm him and when Imogen (Ariel Kaplan) unwittingly asks a particularly confronting question, Nate’s harsh defensiveness and loss of confrontation becomes apparent leaving the event in disarray. Withdrawn and isolated, Nate rejects Susan and Chris’ help, leaving them desperate to find out what is wrong with Nate before he self-destructs.
Tornado Terror
A freak storm tears through Erinsborough leaving the lives of many beloved residents hanging by a thread.
Ramsay Street has battled its fair share of disasters over the years, but never before has the close-knit community had to cope with the devastating effects of a raging twister. Although the residents are forewarned that a particularly nasty storm is brewing, everyone is caught off-guard as the wild weather bears down on them. Brennan gets the jump on his neighbours by clearing the debris to make things safer but as the rain and wind intensifies, his own awkward feelings for Paige (Olympia Valance) are on the verge of exploding. When Paul (Stefan Dennis) learns that his dead niece’s fiancé is showing romantic interest in Paige, he snaps, angrily accusing Brennan of betraying Kate’s memory.
Erinsborough’s most villainous resident is still raging as he takes out his anger on a hapless Daniel (Tim Phillipps) and Amber (Jenna Rosenow), driving a wedge into their budding relationship by dropping a bombshell about his nephew’s romantic exploits. As the mood darkens between the lovebirds and they disappear into the storm, Sheila (Colette Mann) guilts Pail into repairing the damage but natural-borne chaos erupts as Daniel and Amber’s serious argument is aborted by the destruction of their car’s roof. Meanwhile, Paul is battling zero visability in his search, and his attempts to head for home are shattered when he ploughs into an unidentified object or person before the gala force winds sideswipe his car and slam it into a runaway skip bin! Having taken refuge in the relative safety of the garage’s workshop, Daniel and Amber race to the victim’s aid but their success in freeing a barely conscious Paul from the wreckage is further hampered when the tornado unleashes upon the workshop, sending debris raining down on them. Amid the disaster, Daniel shocks Amber with a spontaneous question, unsure of how long any of them have left to live.
Meanwhile, Georgia is still recovering from throat surgery at the Rebecchi household when an attentive Kyle is called away to assist with storm damage. Suddenly left to face the elements alone, Georgia is thrust into the twister’s path after a frightened Bossy tears out of the house. As she battles the howling winds and torrential rain, Kyle’s alarmed to hear of his cherished fiancée’s disappearance. Risking his own life to find them, Kyle is soon at the mercy of the weather, leaving Sheila petrified when she’s unable to reach her grandson whose discarded phone is lying in the gutter near Grease Monkeys with Kyle nowhere to be seen.
Back on Ramsay Street, Lauren (Kate Kendall) and Brad (Kip Gamblin) are trapped together as they sit out the disaster. While Brad’s grateful that his wife and kids are in Melbourne, Lauren is feeling increasingly guilty over her recent conversation with Lou (Tom Oliver), finally confessing that she told her father about their kiss in Adelaide. Initially annoyed, Brad soon understands Lauren’s position but as they bond over Paige, their intensifying passion becomes overwhelming and threatens to explode into lovemaking!
The drama doesn't end there, though, as Lou and Susan are forced to take refuge inside Harold’s Store. Unfortunately, the tornado’s fury sends a ceiling crashing towards Lou and crushing him beneath its weight! Susan is petrified, particularly when Lou chokes on a sandwich lodged in his throat and, unable to access his back to perform the Heimlich manoeuvre, she desperately screams for help, praying that she can save the life of one of her dearest friends and Erinsborough’s longest-serving resident before he dies in her arms!
The drama doesn't end there, though, as Lou and Susan are forced to take refuge inside Harold’s Store. Unfortunately, the tornado’s fury sends a ceiling crashing towards Lou and crushing him beneath its weight! Susan is petrified, particularly when Lou chokes on a sandwich lodged in his throat and, unable to access his back to perform the Heimlich manoeuvre, she desperately screams for help, praying that she can save the life of one of her dearest friends and Erinsborough’s longest-serving resident before he dies in her arms!
Comments
Lauren’s desire to find her long-lost daughter derails her and Matt’s vow-renewal ceremomy.
The last two months have put the Turner and Willis marriages under tremendous strain as Lauren and Brad’s emotional reactions to the news about their presumed dead daughter’s existence and the search for her has left their spouses Matt and Terese feeling sidelined and forgotten. Although Brad (Kip Gamblin) and Lauren (Kate Kendall) have agreed to put the search for their daughter on hold for now, the current calmness in their respective marriages soon appears deceptive when Brad asks Lauren how she’s coping with their decision. Her words of advice have an unforeseen impact on a desperate Brad who secretly hires a private investigator to find his missing daughter, even going so far as to lie to Terese (Rebekah Elmaloglou) about his recent activities.
Although burdened by guilt for being disloyal to his wife, Brad feels that it’s imperative to hide his efforts until the investigator finds something concrete about the girl’s identity. However, he’s feeling even guiltier when Imogen stumbles onto his secret, but upon hearing of Matt (Josef Brown) and Lauren’s plans to renew their wedding vows at a special ceremony, Brad implores his daughter to keep quiet. Unfortunately, Brad’s covert actions blow up in his face when the PI Tracey Wong gives him a valuable lead on his daughter. Although Brad is unable to continue financing Tracey’s investigation, he’s motivated to follow up on the lead in Adelaide himself. When he still refuses to tell Terese or Lauren, a concerned Imogen accidentally reveals all to her hurt mother who angrily catches her husband leaving for South Australia. Outraged that Brad is still shutting her out of his life, Terese orders Brad to be honest with Lauren, whose jubilant reaction to the news soon leaves Matt with a familiar feeling of disappointment especially when Lauren packs up her bags for the spontaneous trip to Adelaide with Brad.
A pained Matt fears that Lauren is prioritising her child with Brad over their upcoming wedding ceremony the next day, and even Lauren’s promise to be back in time for it is cold comfort to Matt. Desperately shrugging off the potential new risks to her marriage, Lauren throws herself into the search for her daughter but soon underestimates the emotional impact of what she and Brad uncover. Deciding to stay in Adelaide overnight to gather more information, a heavyhearted Lauren alerts an understanding Matt, who sadly cancels the wedding. While Matt struggles against the mounting fear that he could be losing his wife and marriage to a past life he can’t compete with, Lauren finds herself sharing close quarters with Brad as they spend the night in a motel room. As Lauren’s angst finally overwhelms her, she’s plagued by thoughts of what life would have been like if she’d told Brad that she was pregnant with his child 20 years ago. Fighting against an uncontrollable pull towards both of her conflicting lives, Lauren finally crashes and burns, succumbing to an emotional breakdown as she wonders if she’s making the biggest mistake of her life.
Source: Soap World May 2014
Brennan and Paul set out to find the person who murdered their beloved Kate.
Mark Brennan’s entire life was ripped out from under him from the horrendous moment that his precious Kate was gunned down and killed just minutes after she accepted his marriage proposal. Clinging onto her final declaration of love for him as she passed away in his arms, Brennan has now become zealously motivated to find her fugitive killer. Although Brennan’s (Scott McGregor) initial investigations have failed to provide any concrete clues to the assailant’s identity, barring the proof that Brennan’s most recent enemy Stephen Montague couldn't have been responsible, Brennan remains hellbent on unmasking the felon. Well aware that Paul (Stefan Dennis) blames him for Kate’s death, Brennan refuses to let the older man’s competing investigative efforts interfere in his quest for justice.
Finally fed up with Paul’s interference, especially when Paul orders Matt (Josef Brown) to shut Brennan out of the official investigation, Brennan reluctantly breaks the law and steals Kate’s case files from police headquarters, determined to compare them with his own old case files, believing that a criminal he may have prosecuted in the past could have killed Kate. However, an incensed Paul is quick to discover Brennan’s illegal activities, and when Brennan won’t cave in to Paul’s demands to hand over the files, Paul reports Brennan to the police, sparking an official raid on Brennan’s house which fortunately turns up nothing thanks to an industrious Imogen (Ariel Kaplan). Nevertheless, Paul won’t rest and soon confronts Brenna with some shocking new evidence that he’s uncovered. Apparently, Brennan’s scorned ex-lover Sienna (Sarah Roberts) gave the police a false alibi when they previously questioned her because she actually was in the vicinity of Lassiter’s Lake at the time of the murder!
Fixated on the possibility of Sienna being the killer, Paul insists that Matt arrest her for murder but when a lack of evidence prevents such an action, Paul leaks the developments to the West Waratah Star, hoping that the newspaper coverage will help to bring her down. However, Sienna wins over a sympathetic Brennan with her newest version of events and, believing that she had nothing to do with Kate’s death, welcomes her into his home when the media interest in her ruins her reputation and leaves her homeless. Sienna is thrilled at the prospect of winning back Brennan but his trust in her is soon broken when she impulsively kisses him. Shocked by a feeling of disloyalty to Kate, Brennan rejects Sienna, considering her only a friend.
Brennan finally musters the courage to go through Kate’s personal belongings and although it initially aids in his grief recovery, he’s soon on red alert again when he finds Sienna’s threatening note to Kate amongst her things. Confronting Sienna, Brennan rabidly accuses his ex-girlfriend of killing Kate and has her arrested for the crime. When further evidence casts doubt on Sienna’s guilt, Brennan is emotionally shattered to think that all of his investigative efforts have been in vain. Suddenly though, Brennan is confronted with Paul’s desperate need for justice and possibly revenge and contemplates Paul’s offer to join forces to catch the killer, leaving Brennan to wonder if he can actually trust his biggest enemy.
Source: Soap World May 2014
Paul takes the law into his own hands, putting himself in danger.
Paige moves into Ramsay Street.
Amber and Daniel try to figure out their feelings.
Tuesday 17 June 2014 (Episode 6907)
Libby steps up to the top job at school, but can she handle it?
Meanwhile, Georgia questions Kyle's apparant waning interest.
Wednesday 18 June 2014 (Episode 6908)
Ben's actions challenge Libby's position as principal.
Sheila suspects there's more to Naomi's stalker story.
Georgia has a plan to help Kyle get his mojo back.
Thursday 19 June 2014 (Episode 6909)
Lauren suspects Paige of theft.
Naomi digs herself a deeper hole.
Sonya encourages Brennan to get back into Erinsborough life.
Friday 20 June 2014 (Episode 6910)
Paige and Bailey consider their next steps.
Amber's feelings for Daniel lead to lies.
Toadie struggles without Callum.
Karl has a brush with fame.
Paul and Brennan’s hunt for Kate’s killer reaches a shocking conclusion.
In recent weeks, Paul and Brennan’s search for Kate’s murderer has become an all-consuming obsession. When Paul (Stefan Dennis) learns of Brennan’s (Scott McGregor) belief that the killing may be connected to the internal police corruption ring that Brennan had previously busted, he’s hellbent on accessing the confidential files from the case, believing they hold the answers he needs. When Brennan fails to access the files which are locked away in a secure storage facility, Paul pressures him to break in to the facility and steal the documents. Brennan reluctantly does so, but when a security guard threatens his search, Brennan decides not to take the files he’s found. Paul is immediately outraged by his law-abiding decision and accuses Brennan of destroying any hope they’ve got of finding Kate’s killer.
When Matt (Josef Brown) unexpectedly interrogates Paul about his past associations with his known enemies, Paul refuses to believe that one foe in particular would strike out against him. When Matt uncovers further damning evidence, including the murder weapon, against the person in question, Paul is horrified to finally have conclusive proof of the killer’s identity. As Paul struggles to comprehend being the indirect cause of his beloved niece’s death’s gruesome death, the police manhunt reveals just how deeply Kate’s vengeful killer hates Paul. Later though, the killer finally reveals their presence while stalking Paul from the shadows as he visits Kate’s grave. Sensing he’s being watched, Paul later leaves a note for the assailant, desperately hoping to lure them out into the open.
When Brennan spies Paul buying a gun, he’s mortified to realise that Paul is planning revenge on the killer. A subsequent police stakeout reveals Paul organising a large cash stash, but the cops are left worried for Paul’s safety when he shakes them off. Disappearing inside an abandoned warehouse, Paul finally comes face-to-face with Kate’s killer. As Matt and Brennan finally track down his whereabouts, Paul offers his mortal enemy the money but the person angrily rejects it insisting that their only goal was to make Paul suffer for his previous wrongdoings. Shocked by the sadist’s merciless outburst, Paul announces that he’s got no option but to resort to his backup plan. Staring down the killer, Paul pulls out the gun, points it at the person’s head and prepares to pull the trigger!
Source: Soap World June 2014
Lauren and Brad’s long-lost daughter shows up in Ramsay Street and quickly makes her presence felt
Lauren and Brad’s recent trip to Melbourne to Adelaide in search of their daughter has seemingly hit a dead end. Not only are they wracked with guilt over the passionate moment they shared during their overnight stay, but they’re also so disheartened over the setback that they finally agree to permanently end the search and focus on the families they already have. Unbeknownst to Lauren (Kate Kendall) and Brad (Kip Gamblin), their mysterious daughter soon arrives in Erinsborough on a determined mission to hunt down her biological parents and get to know them without revealing her identity – until the time is right. After aggravating and confusing initial encounters with Amber (Jenna Rosenow) and Terese (Rebekah Elmaloglou), Paige finds herself in Harold’s store, instantly moved to finally be face-to-face with Lauren, her mother. As she nervously contemplates revealing herself, she’s rattled to learn than an antagonistic Amber is Lauren’s daughter and therefore her half-sister.
Deducing that her newfound family is more complicated than she was anticipating, the mystery woman realises that she needs to ingratiate herself with the Turner family to learn more about them before she reveals who she is. When Lauren takes an instant liking to her and offers her a job at the store, she’s quick to accept, pleased by Amber’s subsequent unhappiness over the move as she carries out further detective work and discovers she has three half siblings. Learning that one of her siblings is around her age, Paige is disturbed to discover to think that she was abandoned at birth but her parents kept the other children. Engineering a meeting with Brad to get to know him, Paige warms to her father quickly but soon wonders why her parents had her adopted when she spies him and Lauren appearing to be happily married. Anxious to confront Lauren and Brad for answers, Paige’s intentions are cut short when she realises that her parents aren’t married and have other spouses. Shocked beyond belief, she runs into an oblivious Josh (Harley Bonner) who’s quick to comfort her. Misinterpreting his words, Paige quickly propositions him before suddenly realising that he’s yet another of her half-siblings!
Digging further into her family history, Paige learns about Lauren’s emotional upheaval. Questioning her mother, Paige learns that Lauren’s search for her daughter has taken its toll and she’s now abandoned the search. Believing that Lauren has given up on her, Paige turns her attentions back to Brad but is soon piquing Terese’s suspicions about her motivations for befriending the family. Terese immediately takes her concerns to Matt (Josef Brown), but when Paige hears that her stepfather is digging into her background, she angrily confronts Terese who hunts that she should get out of everybody’s lives and leave town. Instead of adhering to her stepmother’s wishes, Paige rents Brennan’s (Scott McGregor) spare room intent on staying close to her families.
However, Paige’s attempts to insinuate herself into the lives of the Turner and Willis families is dealt with a blow when Amber accuses her of stealing money from Harold’s Store, using the evidence to convince Lauren of the newcomer’s guilt. Paige is in shock when Lauren fires her, but aware that Bailey (Calen MacKenzie) did it to further his drinking habit. Paige’s frustrations boil over and she explodes at Lauren, labelling her a terrible mother. When the truth about Bailey’s drinking is finally revealed, Paige accepts Lauren’s heartfelt apology for wrongly accusing her and they continue to grow closer until Lauren reacts angrily when her daughter interrupts a tense family moment. Shooed away from the Turner house, Paige feels thoroughly rejected by her family and angrily trashes Harold’s Store, wondering if she’s made a huge mistake coming to Erinsborough.
Source: Soap World June 2014
So Libby and Ben must be back long term (or at least planning to be) if he's enrolled at the high school.
What happens so Susan that leads to Libby becoming principle?
Bailey gets a drink problem - not sure about this, he's not the best actor in fact he's almost as bad as his big brother was.
Hi Olympia – can you tell us what brings Paige to Ramsay Street?
Well her secret is that she is the biological daughter Brad and Lauren have been searching for all this time! Paige herself has always been curious about her background – and not having had a particular happy childhood, as she has got older the urgency to find her real parents has grown.
What happens when Brad turns up at her house in Adelaide?
When Brad arrives and meets her brother from her adoptive family, Ethan, Paige has a sense of relief that she’s found her parents. But she’s also very scared about how things will pan out. Will she like them? Why was she put up for adoption? There are so many unanswered questions, which is why she decides to go to Erinsborough to suss it out before she announces who she really is.
How does she end up with a job working at Harold’s, though?
One thing that viewers will pick up pretty quickly about Paige is she’s very resourceful. She tracks down Lauren in Harold’s and then impresses her by making menu suggestions to a customer. Lauren needs help so she offers Paige a job. It’s perfect – she’s able to learn more about her parents.
Then she engineers meeting her father too, doesn’t she?
She decides to join the gym, which is where she fins Brad, and she really likes him. There’s an instant connection, but she freaks out when Ethan turns up because Brad will recognise him and put two and two together. It’s too soon for her to tell the truth about who she is – there’s a lot more she wants to find out first.
How does she get along with her newly discovered half-siblings?
Not brilliantly – particularly with the girls, Amber and Imogen. Amber thinks Paige is flirting with Josh, which in the beginning she sort of is until she realises the connection – and thank goodness that happens pretty quickly! And I think Imogen is just naturally suspicious. Bailey is the most chilled and they seem to hit it off.
Is it a struggle for her to hide her true identity?
It involves lots of lies! She also doesn’t use a credit card so when she’s at Lassiters, there is no way of finding out her real name – which is Paige Smith, not Novak as she’s told Brad and Lauren. She made up a back story that she comes from Tasmania and later on she’s tripped up on this, so her plan isn’t foolproof!
Terese is quite anti-Paige…
Terese is a really smart lady and she picks up on the fact Paige is a young girl with disposable cash, staying in an expensive hotel, and she has no ID. Terese won’t let it go, which later on becomes a problem for Paige…
How long does she intend to keep up the charade, though?
She obviously has hang-ups from her childhood that have caused her to be incredibly cautious. She’s really, really scared of being hurt so she won’t let her guard down until she’s absolutely sure becoming a part of her parents’ lives is what she really wants.
What’s in store for Paige?
Well, when the truth is finally revealed, the fall-out will be felt far and wide! There will be twists and turns in the story for a while to come. It’s really great stuff.
Do you like the character?
I do, yes. One side of her is feisty, unpredictable and reactive, yet she can be very compassionate, sensitive and very funny. It’s interesting for me as well because her family situation sort of parallels mine in a way – I am one of eight half-siblings so I know all about extended families.
And are you enjoying being part of the Neighbours cast?
Oh, yeah, I’m absolutely loving it! Everyone there’s made me so welcome, and I felt like I belonged from my first day on set. I was nervous, of course, but I didn’t feel for an instant that I couldn’t do this. The most challenging part of Neighbours, which all the actors will tell you, is the pace. If you’re not filming, you’re rehearsing – and then another load of scripts arrive and you’re reading these while learning the lines for the next day. It’s definitely full-on, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Source: All About Soap magazine
Naomi considers coming clean to Toadie about making-up the stalker story. Will she lose his affection?
Matt interviews Paul about his connection to Victor Clearly.
Paige learns Lauren has been though a turbulent time.
Tuesday 10th June 2014
Lauren comes clean to Lou that she kissed Brad.
Paige and Brennan move in together after Brennan advertises for a housemate on the ad board.
Paul tries to come to terms with his role in Kate's death.
Wednesday 11th June 2014
Libby and her son Ben return to Ramsay Street.
Brennan finds a shock at Kate's grave.
Chris stumbles across a compromising photo of Kyle and a woman in Thailand.
Thursday 12th June 2014
Toadie and Sonya clash as Callum says his goodbyes to Ramsay Street.
Georgia confronts Kyle about the incriminating photos of him from Thailand,
Amber attempts to set Imogen up with Daniel.
Friday 13th June 2014
Bailey considers turning to alcohol after Callum's departure.
Amber struggles to deny her feelings for Daniel.
Naomi organizes for Sonya to have a massage so she can be alone with Toadie!
Source: TV WEEK 7th-13th June 2014
Source: TV WEEK 7th-13th June 2014
Paul's got a target on his back but will the killer hit the bullseye?
After months of dead ends, Kate's killer is on the blink of being exposed. But, as the investigation into her murder kicks into high gear, Paul finds himself in the firing line. In Neighbours this week, Paul is desperate to catch Kate's murderer. "After Kate died, Paul was in shock", Stefan, 55, explains. "Then he was numb". "Then he didn't accept it". "But, now hes past the denial stage and he wants revenge". To that end, Paul briefly joined forces with his old Nemesis Brennan to find answers. Although that fails spectacularly, his hopes of getting justice for Kate are buoyed when the police find a new suspect. Little does Paul realise the killer has their eyes on him... And now hes in grave Danger.
Source: TV WEEK 7th-13th June 2014
This was a hard storyline for me to attack because I’ve never lived through something as tragic as that. The only way Brennan has been able to deal with what’s happened is by trying to focus on catching Kate’s killer and bringing him or her to justice. That’s what’s getting him by right now..
Was Brennan flattered by Imogen’s recent attentions?
He wasn’t flattered, but he wasn’t annoyed with her either. When Brennan discovered Imogen developed a crush on him, he saw it as just one of those things that he has to put up with. Mark hasn’t intentionally encouraged her.
Is she shocked when Matt announces the police believe they know who killed Kate?
He’s stunned to discover the cops think it was Victor Cleary, who’s the brother of Gus Cleary, the man who Paul killed 10 years ago. Brennan has gone through moments of thinking someone else murdered Kate, so it’s a shock to hear this new name thrown into the mix.
What does Brennan find when he goes to visit Kate’s grave?
There’s a note from Paul to Victor Cleary there. It’s then Brennan knows something serious is going on. He follows Paul and is horrified to see him buying a gun. Brennan knows he has to do the right thing and he tells Matt what he’s witnessed. Then, after initially losing him, Matt and Brennan track Paul down to a warehouse…
What do they see when they enter the derelict building?
They walk in to find Paul pointing the gun at Victor! Brennan and Matt leap into action and manage to intervene before Paul has the chance to pull the trigger and kill Victor. They stop him just in time! After Victor is arrested and taken down to the station, there’s finally a sense of justice for Kate.
Does Brennan blame Paul at all?
Brennan always thought Kate’s death was his own fault, and he wouldn’t want that kind of guilt on Paul’s shoulders either. Brennan’s relieved now he knows he wasn’t responsible for Kate’s murder, he can stop blaming himself for what happened. As far as getting revenge on Paul, that’s absolutely not on Mark’s agenda. Brennan knows they both need to just get on with their lives.
Can Brennan be happy again?
Yeah, definitely. He has his friends rallying round him, and there are some lovely scenes coming up when you see him smiling with Sonya again. He needs this time now to try and think about himself a bit more. I reckon, because up until now he’s been focusing all his energy and attention on finding Kate’s killer.
Have you enjoyed the storyline?
I’m having so much fun working at Neighbours right now. At the end of the day, this is a job and I wouldn’t want to stick around if I wasn’t having a good time. The people are what make it for me, and all the cast and crew who work on the show are just fantastic. I’m lucky to be able to come into work every day and enjoy myself this much.
How is Brennan going to get along with his new lodger, Paige?
A friendship is on the cards, and you’ll have to watch this space to see what happens. Paige is the opposite to Brennan so there’s going to be a bit of humour there. Could something more develop between them? Who knows!
Is there a possibility for a new lady in Brennan’s life, then?
I think it’s too soon after Kate, to be honest. I’ve actually been asking the writers to hold off on that side of things, but you never know what might happen next. Brennan’s summer is going to be fairly drama-free. He’ll have some time to himself. As soon as there’s anything juicy on the horizon, I’ll be sure to let you know!
Source: All About Soap magazine
After one false start, Kyle is determined to convince Georgia to become his wife
It's a case of second time lucky when Kyle proposes to Georgia in Neighbours this week. It wasn't long ago that Georgia (Saskia Hampele) proposed to Kyle (Chris Milligan). But, his one-night stand with another girl ruined that. "This time it all goes well," Chris, 26, reveals. "Kyle puts on a little Vanuatu-themed date, in honour of the honeymoon they were going to have. With the help of a ukulele band, he pops the question. Georgia loves it."
Chris says he's enjoying the engagement storyline. However, he is adamant it hasn't made him in a hurry to put a ring on the finger of his real-life love and Neighbours co-star, Jenna Rosenow (aka Amber). "Oh, no!" he laughs. "I'm quite happy with the way me and my girlfriend are going at the moment. I don't think I should ruin that with a ring. It's all going extremely well. I'm not going to jinx it with an engagement ring."
Source: TV WEEK
I’m loving Scott and Charlene’s son Daniel. But to be honest – are you just hoping to lure back Jason and Kylie?
Kylie and Jason are very high on the list of people we want to bring back. They’ve got an open invitation to return to the show – it would be fantastic to have them back for the 30th anniversary, or to be part of Daniels storyline now he’s in Erinsborough. We saw Kylie introduced to Daniel on The One Show recently, and everyone here got a kick out of that.
What do you have planned for the programme’s 30th anniversary next March?
We started talking about the anniversary in January this year – we have lots of ideas! As the year goes on, the plans are evolving. We’ll start filming it towards the end of 2014. It’s a bit early to say exactly what we have in mind, but we definitely want to celebrate the history of the show. It could possibly involve returning characters, as well as moving the show forward for the future.
Chris is my fave Neighbours character. Will he get a nice boyfriend soon?
Chris is definitely going to be getting a nice boyfriend in the near future. We’re bringing in a new character who’ll be with us for the long term and he will be Chris’ new romantic interest. So there are good things ahead!
I’m still not sure how Brad and Lauren have a long-lost daughter! Were you worried about rewriting history?
Yes, we were concerned. But part of the reason we decided to bring them both back was the potential for a storyline like this to have come out of their past. We looked back at the continuity at the time, and saw that while it was a little bit of a stretch, it wasn’t impossible. We thought that enough time had passed, and that within the realms of possibility something like that could have happened.
Are you planning on bringing back anyone from Pauls past?
We won’t be seeing any more of Paul’s family for now, but we’ll bring back a face from his past later in the year, and that will be a big storyline for him. From time to time we talk about bringing in his eldest daughter, Amy. There are all sorts of possibilities with her – she might have children that Paul’s never met, for starters.
Who’s your favourite Neighbours character?
I genuinely couldn’t pick a favourite. But I could say that I’m loving Naomi at the moment. I think her type of character has been missing for a while – you know, the classic, troublemaking vixen who underneath it all is just deeply insecure. We’re just so happy with her, and with the rest of the Canning family, Sheila and Kyle, as well. They’re a fantastic bunch, and we’ll be seeing another member of the Canning clan later this year…
Will a new family be moving into Kate Ramsay’s house?
We don’t have any plans to bring in a new family at this point. Brennan and Paige will be there for the foreseeable future, and they’ll get another housemate for a period later on in the year. I’m sure viewers will be delighted to know that Scott McGregor (Brennan) has signed a new long-term contract, so we’re really happy to say that he’ll be sticking with us for a while yet.
Do you have any more big stunts coming up?
We’re filming a natural disaster story at the moment, which is huge – lots of stunts and action! The cast and crew are excited to get out there in the elements ad do something different. That’s due to air in the UK at the end of the year.
If you could bring back an old favourite, who would you choose?
I’d love Natalie Imbruglia to come back as Beth – it would be really interesting now that Brad’s back in the show. It would be good plot-wise, and nice to see her again after all these years. I don’t think we’d recast the character, though – we’ve already recast Brad, which is why we decided to bring him back with a new wife instead of with Beth.
Source: Inside Soap magazine
Paige is furious to learn of Kathy’s role in her abandonment at birth.
Paige Smith’s covert mission to establish roots with her biological parents Brad and Lauren before revealing her true identity to them hasn't gone swimmingly since the volatile young woman arrived from South Australia. When her adopted brother Ethan (Matthew Little) arrives unexpectedly from Adelaide for a visit, Paige’s (Olympia Valance) alarm is palpable, knowing that any sightings of Ethan in town will destroy her plans given that Brad (Kip Gamblin) and Lauren (Kate Kendall) met with him during their presumably fruitless interstate search for their daughter. Although Paige quickly manages to keep Ethan in control, she’s still on edge when she discovers a reminder of her childhood in Lauren’s possession – a teddy bear identical to her own favourite toy. Seeing that the bear is being discarded, Paige is overwhelmed by a renewed sense of rejection and remains confused when Lauren asks for her help with her latest art project, a drawing of her family that is to include her lost daughter Lily (Paige). Heartened by the maternal overture, Paige thinks this is the welcome she needs and almost reveals her identity until Lauren unwittingly reinforces the rejection her daughter feels.
As Paige vindictively reasons that her parents will never know who she is, a chance encounter with her half-brother Bailey (Calen MacKenzie) further fuels her desire for vengeance. Learning of the latest problem in the Turner household, concerning Bailey’s grandmother Kathy (Tina Bursill), Paige is wrong-footed as Bailey obliviously pours out the whole story surrounding Lauren and Kathy’s mother/daughter animosity. Startled to learn how Kathy seized Lauren’s baby and had it adopted, allowing Lauren to believe the child had died, Paige silently swears bloody revenge on the grandmother who snatched her life away.
Amassing background information on Kathy, Paige manipulates Lauren into inviting Kathy to Erinsborough for peace talks. Delighted when Lauren takes offence to Kathy’s early arrival, Paige plays up to her grandmother, openly endearing herself to the older woman while privately plotting her downfall. When Paige learns that Lauren is considering letting bygones be bygones and has offered her mother an olive branch, Paige stews with antipathy, seeing the move as more evidence of Lauren’s ultimately Kathy-fuelled betrayal of Paige. These feelings only become more deeply twisted when Kathy hires a private investigator to find her elusive granddaughter in the hope of healing the rift with her family. Initially attempting to counsel Kathy against the radical move, Paige steams with hatred over Kathy’s refusal, furious to think that her grandmother is about to wreck her best-laid plans just as she has done from the day Paige was born.
Source: SoapWorld July 2014
Sheila and Sonya are baying for blood when Naomi puts the moves on an unsuspecting Toadie
Sheila Canning has had her unscrupulous daughter Naomi’s motives pegged from the first day she set foot in town, knowing that Naomi’s recent abandonment of het last married lover has only fuelled her desire to find another one. Although Sheila (Colette Mann) has done her best to warn Toadie (Ryan Moloney) and Sonya (Eve Morey) that Naomi (Morgana O’Reilly) is out to destroy their marriage, there seems to be no stopping the schemer now that she’s hired a fake stalker to terrorise her and play on Toadie’s protective instincts. Unfortunately, Naomi’s scheme has blown up in her face with her stalker now facing police charges and demanding thousands in compensation for his troubles. While the ruthless legal assistant isn’t above stealing Georgia’s (Saskia Hampele) heirloom engagement ring or trying to funnel client payments out of Toadie’s law practice in an ultimately fruitless bid to settle the situation, her joy at using Paul (Stefan Dennis) to solve her dilemma is enough to reinforce her pursuit of Toadie.
Taking advantage of some Brennan-based trouble in the Rebecchi marriage, Naomi schemes to have Toadie send Sonya to a spa retreat so they can clear their heads. Pleased by another fight between the couple just prior to Sonya’s departure, Naomi carefully insinuates herself into Toadie’s house and company. Once she’s relaxed him with nachos and wresting DVDs, she can no longer resist and pounces on her unsuspecting boss with a passionate kiss! A startled Toadie is still staring confusedly at Naomi when Sheila suddenly barges through the door, armed with receipts for Naomi’s sexy lingerie. Accusing her daughter of being in seduction mode, Sheila floors Toadie with the truth about Naomi wanting to bust up his marriage. Finally piecing together the months’ worth of evidence backing up Sheila’s beliefs, Toadie explodes at his slack-jawed secretary and fires on the spot.
However, it’s Sheila who must bear the brunt of her daughter’s rage as Naomi flies at her all guns blazing until the flustered Mrs Canning blurts out that Naomi’s slutty ways ultimately drove her father to suffer a fatal heart attack! Horrified to realise that Sheila has blamed her for her husband’s death five years ago, Naomi accuses her mother of poisoning her father against her and announces she’s leaving Erinsborough. Stopped in her tracks by a distinct lack of cash, Naomi’s forced to stay put and lick her wounds as she struggles to raise the getaway money. Failing at every attempt, Naomi finally explodes when confronted with Sheila’s bribery cheque to leave. Refusing to be bought off by her mother, Naomi storms off straight into a confrontation with a returned Sonya who’s baying for blood, having heard the sordid tale from her sheepish husband. As tensions explode uncontrollably and Sonya viciously slaps Naomi for suggesting that being a Good Samaritan to her friends and neighbours ultimately drove Toadie to stray, it’s clear that the fractured relations between the warring women of Ramsay Street won’t be healed anytime soon.
Source: Soap World July 2014
Chris is stunned when he’s physically assaulted by his new boyfriend Nate
Romantic relationships have always been problematic for Chris, and despite a brief fling with Will, he hasn’t found a guy who’s totally captivated him since Hudson went to prison. That is until he met Nate Kinski, Susan’s step-nephew. Although they became attracted to each other and hooked up in quick time, Nate’s (Meyne Wyatt) recent physical assault of a stranger has left Chris (James Mason) in fear of dating a possible psychopath. When Georgia (Saskia Hampele) zealously encourages her housemate to cut Nate some slack and give him a second chance, Chris tentatively agrees, accepting that he’s truly attracted to the newcomer.
It appears that Chris was right in trusting Georgia’s advice when Nate calms a worried Kyle (Chris Milligan) through Georgia’s operation. Inviting Nate out for a drink, Chris is again given cause for concern when Nate’s erratic behaviour kicks back in, drawing Brennan’s (Scott McGregor) attention. Becoming increasingly suspicious as to the reasons for Nate’s outbursts, Brennan alerts Susan (Jackie Woodburne) who’s so taken aback by the forcefulness of Brennan’s accusations that she dismisses his concerns, until she’s doing her nephew’s laundry and finds a knife hidden amongst Nate’s clothing! Confronting the secretive stranger, a disturbed Susan and Karl (Alan Fletcher) beg for answers but Nate flips out, intent on leaving Erinsborough instead of being honest.
On his way out of town, Nate’s confronted by the sight of a disappointed Chris who responds to Nate’s revelation that he wants to kiss Chris by doing just that. Persuaded to stay in town, Nate concedes to Chris’ request to open up about his past but his explanation leaves Chris and Karl more troubled than ever. Once again unsure if he can trust Nate, Chris finally allows himself to support his boyfriend and wanting their romance to succeed, is anxious to discover why Nate has so much trouble opening up about his life’s experiences.
That question becomes even more important when Nate’s effective efforts in helping a tornado victim leave Chris further disheartened by Nate’s subsequent violent outburst. Shoving Chris hard against the wall, Nate spits that he’s tired of Chris pestering him for answers about things he doesn’t want to talk about. Shaken, Chris struggles with handling the situation and confronting his boyfriend, is only mildly comforted by Nate’s promise never to treat him that way again. Seeking solace from Susan, Nate, buoyed by Chris’ advice to speak from the heart, agrees to give a career talk to the senior students at Erinsborough High School. Unfortunately, Nate’s nerves overwhelm him and when Imogen (Ariel Kaplan) unwittingly asks a particularly confronting question, Nate’s harsh defensiveness and loss of confrontation becomes apparent leaving the event in disarray. Withdrawn and isolated, Nate rejects Susan and Chris’ help, leaving them desperate to find out what is wrong with Nate before he self-destructs.
Source: Soap World September 2014
A freak storm tears through Erinsborough leaving the lives of many beloved residents hanging by a thread.
Ramsay Street has battled its fair share of disasters over the years, but never before has the close-knit community had to cope with the devastating effects of a raging twister. Although the residents are forewarned that a particularly nasty storm is brewing, everyone is caught off-guard as the wild weather bears down on them. Brennan gets the jump on his neighbours by clearing the debris to make things safer but as the rain and wind intensifies, his own awkward feelings for Paige (Olympia Valance) are on the verge of exploding. When Paul (Stefan Dennis) learns that his dead niece’s fiancé is showing romantic interest in Paige, he snaps, angrily accusing Brennan of betraying Kate’s memory.
Erinsborough’s most villainous resident is still raging as he takes out his anger on a hapless Daniel (Tim Phillipps) and Amber (Jenna Rosenow), driving a wedge into their budding relationship by dropping a bombshell about his nephew’s romantic exploits. As the mood darkens between the lovebirds and they disappear into the storm, Sheila (Colette Mann) guilts Pail into repairing the damage but natural-borne chaos erupts as Daniel and Amber’s serious argument is aborted by the destruction of their car’s roof. Meanwhile, Paul is battling zero visability in his search, and his attempts to head for home are shattered when he ploughs into an unidentified object or person before the gala force winds sideswipe his car and slam it into a runaway skip bin! Having taken refuge in the relative safety of the garage’s workshop, Daniel and Amber race to the victim’s aid but their success in freeing a barely conscious Paul from the wreckage is further hampered when the tornado unleashes upon the workshop, sending debris raining down on them. Amid the disaster, Daniel shocks Amber with a spontaneous question, unsure of how long any of them have left to live.
Meanwhile, Georgia is still recovering from throat surgery at the Rebecchi household when an attentive Kyle is called away to assist with storm damage. Suddenly left to face the elements alone, Georgia is thrust into the twister’s path after a frightened Bossy tears out of the house. As she battles the howling winds and torrential rain, Kyle’s alarmed to hear of his cherished fiancée’s disappearance. Risking his own life to find them, Kyle is soon at the mercy of the weather, leaving Sheila petrified when she’s unable to reach her grandson whose discarded phone is lying in the gutter near Grease Monkeys with Kyle nowhere to be seen.
Back on Ramsay Street, Lauren (Kate Kendall) and Brad (Kip Gamblin) are trapped together as they sit out the disaster. While Brad’s grateful that his wife and kids are in Melbourne, Lauren is feeling increasingly guilty over her recent conversation with Lou (Tom Oliver), finally confessing that she told her father about their kiss in Adelaide. Initially annoyed, Brad soon understands Lauren’s position but as they bond over Paige, their intensifying passion becomes overwhelming and threatens to explode into lovemaking!
The drama doesn't end there, though, as Lou and Susan are forced to take refuge inside Harold’s Store. Unfortunately, the tornado’s fury sends a ceiling crashing towards Lou and crushing him beneath its weight! Susan is petrified, particularly when Lou chokes on a sandwich lodged in his throat and, unable to access his back to perform the Heimlich manoeuvre, she desperately screams for help, praying that she can save the life of one of her dearest friends and Erinsborough’s longest-serving resident before he dies in her arms!
Source: Soap World September 2014