Spoiler article. Let's hope this doesn't happen.
Spoiler
Shock Twist for Neighbours’ Chris!
Nonnie Vero, the Australian entertainment reporter
14/11/2012 6.00 pm
In a Neighbours twist rivalling the return from the dead of Harold (or perhaps Bouncer’s dream), Neighbours’ gay boy next door is to fall for new neighbour Georgia Brookes (Saskia Hampele), the newly introduced cousin of Ramsay Street regular Toadfish Rebecchi.
Just how far this attraction goes remains to be seen but it is likely to ruffle a few feathers with fans given that Chris is the show’s only ongoing gay character.
Network spokesman Paul Whiteman defended the switch: “Sexuality is fluid and Georgia is a fun and gorgeous person. Why wouldn’t Chris be attracted? We made history introducing Chris as the soap’s first ever full time gay male character and now he’s the first to show the fluidity of attraction. He falls for the person – it is nothing to do with sex. Anyway he was originally with Summer so it isn’t a complete turnaround.”
However it is known that the producers were unsure of how to keep Chris in the storyline, and the switch to a heterosexual attraction is seen by some as a cynical move to broaden his appeal and avoid controversy.
LGBT commentator Andrea Mercato was critical of the move, telling www.samesame.com.au: “The program waited years to introduce a gay character on a full time basis, but he rarely gets any action while the heterosexual couples seem to be in constant lip locks. When he kissed Aidan the producers tucked it into a dark corner of a busy scene with other activity in the foreground. It was like they wanted to hide it away. Well now it seems they really are hiding Chris’s sexuality away.”
The introduction of Chris in 2010 was done gradually and with some trepidation. Susan Bower, the program’s then producer, admitted at the time that although the show had featured lesbian romances before, love scenes between men are still taboo in Australian dramas. Depictions of affection between Chris and any male partner would always be difficult given the show’s G rating and early timeslot.
In current episodes Chris has restarted his relationship with nurse Aidan Foster (Bob Morley). However Morley was only signed on a six month contract – and it seems from this development he may be on the way out.
What actually develops between the duo is still a closely guarded secret but Australian fans will see what plays out in scenes that will air in December. Let’s just hope that Georgia’s cousin Toadie approves!
Nonnie Vero, the Australian entertainment reporter
14/11/2012 6.00 pm
In a Neighbours twist rivalling the return from the dead of Harold (or perhaps Bouncer’s dream), Neighbours’ gay boy next door is to fall for new neighbour Georgia Brookes (Saskia Hampele), the newly introduced cousin of Ramsay Street regular Toadfish Rebecchi.
Just how far this attraction goes remains to be seen but it is likely to ruffle a few feathers with fans given that Chris is the show’s only ongoing gay character.
Network spokesman Paul Whiteman defended the switch: “Sexuality is fluid and Georgia is a fun and gorgeous person. Why wouldn’t Chris be attracted? We made history introducing Chris as the soap’s first ever full time gay male character and now he’s the first to show the fluidity of attraction. He falls for the person – it is nothing to do with sex. Anyway he was originally with Summer so it isn’t a complete turnaround.”
However it is known that the producers were unsure of how to keep Chris in the storyline, and the switch to a heterosexual attraction is seen by some as a cynical move to broaden his appeal and avoid controversy.
LGBT commentator Andrea Mercato was critical of the move, telling www.samesame.com.au: “The program waited years to introduce a gay character on a full time basis, but he rarely gets any action while the heterosexual couples seem to be in constant lip locks. When he kissed Aidan the producers tucked it into a dark corner of a busy scene with other activity in the foreground. It was like they wanted to hide it away. Well now it seems they really are hiding Chris’s sexuality away.”
The introduction of Chris in 2010 was done gradually and with some trepidation. Susan Bower, the program’s then producer, admitted at the time that although the show had featured lesbian romances before, love scenes between men are still taboo in Australian dramas. Depictions of affection between Chris and any male partner would always be difficult given the show’s G rating and early timeslot.
In current episodes Chris has restarted his relationship with nurse Aidan Foster (Bob Morley). However Morley was only signed on a six month contract – and it seems from this development he may be on the way out.
What actually develops between the duo is still a closely guarded secret but Australian fans will see what plays out in scenes that will air in December. Let’s just hope that Georgia’s cousin Toadie approves!
