Chris Pappas
Encyclopedia
Chris Pappas is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours
, played by James Mason. Mason was told the character was gay when he successfully auditioned for the role in 2009. He began filming his first scenes in October of that year and he made his first on-screen appearance on 25 February 2010. Executive producer Susan Bower
said the character's storyline was created because of requests from young viewers in the Neighbours website's online forums. The storyline has also been based on the real life experiences of the show's writers. Chris is the first prominent, ongoing male homosexual character in the show's twenty-five year history. He is the second ongoing homosexual character overall, following Lana Crawford
's (Bridget Neval
) introduction in 2004.
Chris is a high school student who befriends the show's other teens, Andrew Robinson
(Jordan Smith
), Harry Ramsay
(Will Moore) and Summer Hoyland
(Jordy Lucas
). He becomes the captain of the school's basketball team and he and Summer begin dating. Chris develops a crush on Andrew and he subsequently reveals that he is gay. He then struggles with his sexuality and the reactions of his friends, family and team mates. Bower expected the storyline to receive some criticism and media commentators called it "an obvious ratings grab". Mason and the show's script producer defended the storyline, saying that it was not a ploy to boost ratings and that it explores how Chris's coming out affects the people around him. Television critics and LGBT
websites have given the character and his storyline development a positive reception.
' executive producer Susan Bower
said the creation of the character and his storyline was a result of requests from young viewers in the Neighbours website forums. Bower said that although the show had featured lesbian romances before, love scenes between men are still taboo in Australian dramas. She added that Chris's coming out storyline was also based on the real life experiences of the shows writers.
James Mason's agent got him the audition with Neighbours and he revealed that the character he would be up for would be gay. Mason said that he was okay with this and he successfully won the part of Chris. The character is Mason's first major television role. He began filming his first scenes in October 2009, before making his on-screen debut in February 2010. Bower later revealed that two thirds of the boys who auditioned for the role of Chris backed out when they discovered the character was gay, which she said was "disappointing, but not surprising". Mason said that he was "really excited to get an opportunity like this" and added that the writers had helped him out as the script was coming straight from their experiences. Bower praised Mason, saying that he "does a wonderful job".
In October 2010, the ATV News Network reported that the Neighbours writers and producers were unsure how to keep Chris connected to Ramsay Street. ATV said that the writer were "stumped" as to what to do with the character and his story. At the time, Mason was still filming for the show, but ATV reported that it was not known if he would be given a new contract. However, in January 2011, a Network Ten spokesperson told SX News that Mason's role would be expanded from April and he and Chris will get more screen time. Chris will be seen taking on "issues that every gay teenager does." On becoming a regular cast member, Mason told Holy Soap
, "I love it. The more time I spend on Neighbours, the more I feel part of the show. And I'm learning all the time. The thing about this industry is it's very hard to find stable work, so to have stability, I'm extremely grateful."
(Shane McNamara
) was often hinted at being gay.
Mason has said that there have been a few hints about Chris's sexuality along the way and in August 2010, Chris finally revealed that he is gay to his girlfriend, Summer. TV Week
described Chris as being "deeply conflicted" over his decision to tell her about his sexuality. Mason said "It's hard for Chris because he has a girlfriend who he's been with for some time. To try and tell someone in this situation would be really difficult". Summer initially takes the news well and plays it down, but when fellow student Natasha Williams
(Valentina Novakovic) discovers that one of her classmates is gay, she goes out of her way to find out who it is and expose them. Mason said that she does not realise that "what she sees as a game is someone else's life".
Mason has said he was nervous about filming Chris's coming out. Describing the scene, he said "I did have to stand up in front a group of people and tell them [as my character], I was gay. That was a little intimidating". The actor felt that the storyline had been handled in a realistic manner and said that it shows that coming out is a difficult thing to do. Mason also spoke to a friend about his coming out experience to gain information about how long it took him to come out and how people reacted. The storyline follows Chris's struggle with his sexuality and depicts the reactions of his friends and family. It also deals with the issue of homophobia in sport. The Australian gay and lesbian newspaper, SX News
said "Chris is the captain of the school basketball team, but once word he's gay gets out to the other teams it turns nasty for him".
Previous same-sex storylines in the show had led to criticism from conservative groups. Bower has said that she expects this storyline to come under fire, saying "I do believe homophobia is still alive and well, and I have no doubt that we will get complaints about it". Australian LGBT website, SameSame
said the story had attracted attention from some media commentators, who called it "an obvious ratings grab and an attempt to out-gay rival soap, Home and Away
". However, script producer, Emma Steele defended the storyline and said that it is not a "ploy to grab ratings". Steele said that she is "particularly proud" of the way Chris's storyline had been handled and she added "It was something we wanted to do for a while because it's a story that effects so many people and in so many different ways. It wasn't just Chris's story. I think it's interesting to see how [his sexuality] affected his friends and his relationships with them too".
Mason said he hoped that his storyline would "draw in viewers in a responsible way" and the feedback would stay positive. Mason added that he would like to see Chris happy in the future and hopes the viewers will warm to him. He added "I know it's quite a sensitive topic, but I think the difference between his and the last encounters they've had is that we're looking more in-depth into more than just a "gay kiss". We go more into the relationships, how it affects people around". Steele backed this up, saying "We wanted gay to be part of Chris's character, not Chris to be the gay character. He's not your typical gay stereotype that some TV shows like to play up. He's on the basketball team, he's had a girlfriend for a time, and I think the show does a good job of portraying the way his character is discovering who he really is".
that Chris's romance will be handled in a sensitive way and will be treated within the character. She explained "Chris is a naturally shy person - he is not a person who either flaunts his sexuality or his heart. So it will be done according to that character. And it may not be a full-on relationship. The character that Bob is playing is older and further down the track with his relationship testing, so it will be a relationship story rather than a gay male romance."
During an interview with Kilkelly, Mason said his character's relationship with Aidan would be treated like any heterosexual relationship. As Chris is not someone who openly shows his feelings, Mason said there would be a slow build up for him and Aidan. Chris meets Aidan through an incident, which is "potentially life-threatening." Mason said working with Morley was fantastic and he explained "As actors, it is very challenging and exciting at the some time, and because of this, we have developed a connection. We're rapt that the characters are going down this path and based on the feedback I've had to Chris coming out, I think viewers are going to like why the relationship unfolds. Well, I hope they do." Mason revealed viewers would see Chris and Aidan as a couple in early 2012 and they definitely have a romance. However, Mason said it was up to the writers whether the relationship would be long term.
(Scott Major
), about Warren, but he is disappointed when Lucas does not do anything about it. Of Chris's situation, Mason explained "It was very confronting for him. And because the guy wasn't pointing his remarks directly at Chris, Lucas didn't understand why Chris was so offended. At first, he didn't have an appreciation of how deep those comments hurt Chris." The storyline divided the opinions of viewers with some understanding why Lucas would not want to confront Warren, while others were on Chris's side. Mason said he was pleased that viewers were discussing the storyline and he admitted he appreciated both sides. The actor said "Lucas wasn't there when the customer was saying these things, so he didn't understand Chris's point of view. However, as the story went along, we saw Lucas change and his respect for Chris grew." Mason added the storyline was about showing understanding for where a person is coming from and being willing to change your ideas.
Two months later, Warren returns to the garage and Lucas shows his support for Chris and defends him. Chris meets and befriends Warren's son, Blake (Oliver Edwin). When Warren learns Blake is friends with Chris, he decides to put a stop to the situation. Warren threatens to kill Chris unless he stops spending time with Blake. Mason told TV Week that he thinks it is a shame Chris and Blake cannot continue their friendship because of Warren and his views. It soon becomes clear someone is spying on Chris, but whether it is Warren or someone else is not clear. Mason added something big would happen and it may not end well for Chris.
Andrew convinces Chris to skip school and meet up with some female university students. They are caught by Susan Kennedy
(Jackie Woodburne
) and Summer tells Chris to stop listening to Andrew. Andrew asks Chris to meet up with the university girls again at Charlie's bar. The group begin to get loud and Kyle Canning
(Chris Milligan
) asks them to keep the noise down. A fight break out and Chris defends Andrew and grabs Kyle. Michael Williams
(Sandy Winton
) tries to talk to Chris, but Chris pushes him away. Michael asks the students to write down or record a secret for a class project and Chris takes Summer's iPod to record his feelings on. Just as he is putting the iPod back, Dale McGregor (John Kim) takes it and Libby Kennedy
(Kym Valentine
) gives the iPod to Michael. Chris believes Michael has listened to his recording and tells him that he is confused about Andrew. Michael asks Chris if he thinks he is gay and Chris leaves. Natasha discovers that a student is gay and tries to find them. Chris comes out to Andrew, who supports him. Chris then tells his class that he is gay. Chris admits that he likes Andrew and Andrew tells him to stay away. Chris then apologises to Summer.
Chris tries to get out of captaining the basketball team for a game with Elliot Park. Chris's team mates try to avoid passing the ball to him, but when they do, Chris scores and wins the game. After the Elliot Park captain is rude to him, Chris pushes him and a fight breaks out. Chris is suspended and his parents kick him out. He stays with Summer and until he sits down and talks to his parents. Summer asks a gay friend to talk to Chris about coming out, but he feels uncomfortable. Summer breaks down as she believes it is her fault Chris came out. Chris reassures her that he did not see it coming. Andrew apologises to Chris and they make up. Chris realises that Summer has feelings for Andrew and encourages her to tell him. Summer tells Chris that she and Andrew had sex while he was dating Natasha. Chris disapproves of Summer's actions and reminds her that she would have hated any other person who did that. Chris befriends Natasha after she is ostracised at school. Natasha and Summer compete for Chris's friendship and try to set him up with guys. Chris becomes angry and tells them to stop interfering. He manages to get them to apologise to each other and Chris and Natasha try to get Summer and Andrew back together.
Summer and Chris work on a zombie film together for media studies. Chris comes frustrated when Adam Miller (Jye O'Toole) moves basketball practice around and he is not happy when Natasha interferes. Chris is disappointed with his grades and he starts to reconsider university. He gets an unpaid job at the garage with Lucas Fitzgerald
(Scott Major
). Chris lets Andrew take his place in a study session at the university, while he goes to the garage. His father, George (Lliam Amor), shows up and orders him to leave. Lucas later offers Chris a part time job on the condition that he gets permission from his father. Chris explains that ever since he came out, George does not listen to him. Chris decides to quit the basketball team and his job at the gym, so he can work at the garage. Chris and his father go through the university preferences guide and George tells his son that he found a compromise - learning mechanical engineering. Chris is unsure and feels guilty when George explains he has been setting aside money for the university fees. Michael gives Chris some information about TAFE
courses and tells him he cannot live his life for other people.
Chris is delighted when Lucas reveals he wants to give him an apprenticeship. While Chris is alone in the garage, Warren Burrell comes in asking about a service for his son's car. Warren starts having a go at gay people, which makes Chris uncomfortable. Chris tells Lucas, but he is reluctant to do anything about it. Chris quits his job, but after Lucas apologies, he takes his job back. George discovers Chris has been accepted onto a TAFE course and he angrily demands Chris go to university instead. Chris refuses and in the heat of the moment, George slaps him. Lucas then punches George. Chris tells Lucas he has made the situation worse. Chris is disappointed when Lucas cuts his hours at the garage, so he can concentrate on his exam revision. Chris and Andrew go to Byron Bay for schoolies
. Upon his return, Chris goes to the garage and Lucas tells him he can spend as much time as he likes there now the exams are over. Chris meets Blake Burrell, Warren's son, when he brings his car into the garage. Warren later turns up and begins making homophobic comments again. Chris tells him he is gay and does not like the comments. Lucas also defends him and Warren leaves.
said that the inclusion of Chris in the show is "a positive step with its juvenile audience". Knox added that following the "gay kiss scandal" on Home and Away, "the test for Neighbours will be not just the coming out, but whether he remains in the show after this storyline subsides".
Of Chris, SX News said "One could simply dismiss the gay character as simply just another plot line, but there's no denying its significance, especially with a show as enduring and mainstream as Neighbours. If anything, it's a small reflection of the changing attitudes in society". They also praised Neighbours for focusing on Chris's coming out and the issue of homophobia, instead of letting Chris "explode out of the closet and leave Ramsay Street glittering in sequins". The ATV News Network said the Chris's coming out should be praised for the way it has been handled. They added that the decision to play it out at a school would have viewers in a similar situation identifying with the storyline. Alan McKee, a university film and television professor, said that usually subscription television channels take risks in portraying storylines like Chris's. He added "Commercial TV is not about risk taking, it is about entertainment for the broadest possible audience. But attitudes have changed and commercial networks like to reflect that". Holy Soap said Chris's most memorable moment was "Announcing to his entire class that he was gay."
Anthony D. Langford from website, AfterElton said he found it "humorous" that Neighbours emphasizes what a gentleman Chris is compared to Andrew. He said "It's like they're almost saying if you're a nice guy who's not all over your girlfriend you must be gay. But on television that's usually the case". Langford hoped that Chris would not vanish and that he would not be relegated to monitoring the relationship between Andrew and Summer and not having a romance of his own. Langford later said that Neighbours is doing a "fairly decent job" with Chris's coming out story. He wished that viewers got to see more of Chris's thoughts and feelings and less of how his situation affected the people around him. Langford added "I do like that Chris isn't a perfect kid. Many shows tend to make gay teens near saints. Instead, he's a fairly average kid who makes mistakes and messes up, like starting a fight at a basketball game. In July 2011, Langford revealed that he had seen some comments from people thinking that Lucas and Chris should be paired up. He opined that there is not a hint of romance between the two and wondered why people assumed that if a gay character shares a scene with another guy, they must get together. Langford revealed that he liked Chris and Lucas's mentor and mentee relationship as it is. The writer also commented on the introduction of Chris's father and said that he was "delighted" that Chris was finally getting his own drama, that was "pretty realistic." He added "It's nice to see the father/son dynamic play out. I have the feeling that a lot of Chris's dad's issues stem from the fact that his son is gay and I hope the show will delve into those unresoved issues."
Sarah Ellis writing for Inside Soap
said "I'd love to see Chris with a boyfriend – he's the nicest guy in Erinsborough!" In 2011, Mason revealed that he has had a positive reaction to his character from viewers and he has been receiving mail from people who have had similar experiences, who appreciate what Neighbours is doing. He added "What's interesting is that a lot of feedback has been about the fact the character's coming out wasn't a "warm and fuzzy" experience, that there were rough spots. They appreciated the authenticity of the story, and I think that comes from the character and storylines being based on other people's real life experiences."
Neighbours
Neighbours is an Australian television soap opera first broadcast on the Seven Network on 18 March 1985. It was created by TV executive Reg Watson, who proposed the idea of making a show that focused on realistic stories and portrayed adults and teenagers who talk openly and solve their problems...
, played by James Mason. Mason was told the character was gay when he successfully auditioned for the role in 2009. He began filming his first scenes in October of that year and he made his first on-screen appearance on 25 February 2010. Executive producer Susan Bower
Susan Bower
Susan Bower is an Australian television producer and television writer best known for her work on the soap opera Neighbours.-Career:Bower is a former nurse who worked at The Alfred Hospital for 20 years before getting her scriptwriting breakthrough on A Country Practice, where she provided the...
said the character's storyline was created because of requests from young viewers in the Neighbours website's online forums. The storyline has also been based on the real life experiences of the show's writers. Chris is the first prominent, ongoing male homosexual character in the show's twenty-five year history. He is the second ongoing homosexual character overall, following Lana Crawford
Lana Crawford
Lana Crawford is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Bridget Neval. She made her first appearance on 31 August 2004. Lana was introduced as Neighbours first openly lesbian character. During her tenure, Lana became friends with Sky Mangel and they shared the...
's (Bridget Neval
Bridget Neval
Bridget Neval is an Australian/Canadian actress. She has been in various television programs including Wicked Science but is most famous for her portrayal of Lana Crawford in Neighbours.-History:...
) introduction in 2004.
Chris is a high school student who befriends the show's other teens, Andrew Robinson
Andrew Robinson (Neighbours)
Andrew Benito Robinson is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Jordan Smith. He made his first on-screen appearance on 13 November 1991. Shannon Holmes previously played the role from the character's birth in 1991 until 1992...
(Jordan Smith
Jordan Smith (actor)
Jordan Patrick Smith is a Scottish-born Australian actor best known for playing Andrew Robinson in the Australian soap opera Neighbours.-Personal life:...
), Harry Ramsay
Harry Ramsay
Harry Ramsay is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Will Moore. The character first appeared on-screen on 18 May 2009...
(Will Moore) and Summer Hoyland
Summer Hoyland
Summer Rose Hoyland is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Jordy Lucas. She made her first on-screen appearance on 20 May 2002. The character was originally played by Marisa Siketa from her arrival to her departure in 2005 and her subsequent...
(Jordy Lucas
Jordy Lucas
Jordy Lucas is an Australian actress best known for playing the role of Summer Hoyland in Neighbours.-Personal life:...
). He becomes the captain of the school's basketball team and he and Summer begin dating. Chris develops a crush on Andrew and he subsequently reveals that he is gay. He then struggles with his sexuality and the reactions of his friends, family and team mates. Bower expected the storyline to receive some criticism and media commentators called it "an obvious ratings grab". Mason and the show's script producer defended the storyline, saying that it was not a ploy to boost ratings and that it explores how Chris's coming out affects the people around him. Television critics and LGBT
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
websites have given the character and his storyline development a positive reception.
Character creation and casting
NeighboursSusan Bower
Susan Bower is an Australian television producer and television writer best known for her work on the soap opera Neighbours.-Career:Bower is a former nurse who worked at The Alfred Hospital for 20 years before getting her scriptwriting breakthrough on A Country Practice, where she provided the...
said the creation of the character and his storyline was a result of requests from young viewers in the Neighbours website forums. Bower said that although the show had featured lesbian romances before, love scenes between men are still taboo in Australian dramas. She added that Chris's coming out storyline was also based on the real life experiences of the shows writers.
James Mason's agent got him the audition with Neighbours and he revealed that the character he would be up for would be gay. Mason said that he was okay with this and he successfully won the part of Chris. The character is Mason's first major television role. He began filming his first scenes in October 2009, before making his on-screen debut in February 2010. Bower later revealed that two thirds of the boys who auditioned for the role of Chris backed out when they discovered the character was gay, which she said was "disappointing, but not surprising". Mason said that he was "really excited to get an opportunity like this" and added that the writers had helped him out as the script was coming straight from their experiences. Bower praised Mason, saying that he "does a wonderful job".
In October 2010, the ATV News Network reported that the Neighbours writers and producers were unsure how to keep Chris connected to Ramsay Street. ATV said that the writer were "stumped" as to what to do with the character and his story. At the time, Mason was still filming for the show, but ATV reported that it was not known if he would be given a new contract. However, in January 2011, a Network Ten spokesperson told SX News that Mason's role would be expanded from April and he and Chris will get more screen time. Chris will be seen taking on "issues that every gay teenager does." On becoming a regular cast member, Mason told Holy Soap
Holy Soap
Holy Soap is a UK television and entertainment website founded in June 2009 by the British television company Channel 5. The website is the official UK home of the Australian soap operas Home and Away and Neighbours, which are broadcast on the channel...
, "I love it. The more time I spend on Neighbours, the more I feel part of the show. And I'm learning all the time. The thing about this industry is it's very hard to find stable work, so to have stability, I'm extremely grateful."
Coming out
Chris is Neighbours second ongoing homosexual character, following the introduction of Lana Crawford in 2004. Neighbours has featured a few short-term or minor male gay characters before for plot points or small story arcs, but Chris is the first male gay character to be given a prominent role. The first minor male gay characters to appear were Andrew MacKenzie (John Morris) and Alf Taylor (Frank Bren) in 1994. The following year a gay schoolteacher, Andrew Watson (Chris Uhlman), became the victim of a dismissal campaign by his pupils. Hairdresser Gino EspositoGino Esposito
Gino Esposito is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Shane McNamara. The character made his first on-screen appearance on 11 August 2000 and was originally played by Claude Stevens. Gino was the owner of the A Good Hair Day, salon, which both Lyn Scully and...
(Shane McNamara
Shane McNamara
Shane McNamara is an Australian television and film actor who is best known for his many appearances in the recurring role of Gino Esposito in the Australian soap opera Neighbours....
) was often hinted at being gay.
Mason has said that there have been a few hints about Chris's sexuality along the way and in August 2010, Chris finally revealed that he is gay to his girlfriend, Summer. TV Week
TV Week
TV Week is a weekly television magazine in Australia, first published as a Melbourne-only publication in December 1957 , and bearing a strong affiliation to television station GTV.The publication is still publishing weekly...
described Chris as being "deeply conflicted" over his decision to tell her about his sexuality. Mason said "It's hard for Chris because he has a girlfriend who he's been with for some time. To try and tell someone in this situation would be really difficult". Summer initially takes the news well and plays it down, but when fellow student Natasha Williams
Natasha Williams (Neighbours)
Natasha Williams is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Valentina Novakovic. The role of Natasha is Novakovic's first acting job and she relocated from Sydney to Melbourne for filming...
(Valentina Novakovic) discovers that one of her classmates is gay, she goes out of her way to find out who it is and expose them. Mason said that she does not realise that "what she sees as a game is someone else's life".
Mason has said he was nervous about filming Chris's coming out. Describing the scene, he said "I did have to stand up in front a group of people and tell them [as my character], I was gay. That was a little intimidating". The actor felt that the storyline had been handled in a realistic manner and said that it shows that coming out is a difficult thing to do. Mason also spoke to a friend about his coming out experience to gain information about how long it took him to come out and how people reacted. The storyline follows Chris's struggle with his sexuality and depicts the reactions of his friends and family. It also deals with the issue of homophobia in sport. The Australian gay and lesbian newspaper, SX News
SX News
SX News is a weekly gay and lesbian newspaper based in Sydney, Australia.One of several titles published by Evolution Publishing under the Gay News Network banner...
said "Chris is the captain of the school basketball team, but once word he's gay gets out to the other teams it turns nasty for him".
Previous same-sex storylines in the show had led to criticism from conservative groups. Bower has said that she expects this storyline to come under fire, saying "I do believe homophobia is still alive and well, and I have no doubt that we will get complaints about it". Australian LGBT website, SameSame
Samesame.com.au
Samesame.com.au is an Australian LGBT website created by Tim Duggan and a partner. The website is run by Sound Alliance in the Sydney suburb of Surry Hills...
said the story had attracted attention from some media commentators, who called it "an obvious ratings grab and an attempt to out-gay rival soap, Home and Away
Home and Away
Home and Away is an Australian soap opera that has been produced in Sydney since July 1987 and is airing on the Seven Network since 17 January 1988. It is the second-longest-running drama and most popular soap opera on Australian television...
". However, script producer, Emma Steele defended the storyline and said that it is not a "ploy to grab ratings". Steele said that she is "particularly proud" of the way Chris's storyline had been handled and she added "It was something we wanted to do for a while because it's a story that effects so many people and in so many different ways. It wasn't just Chris's story. I think it's interesting to see how [his sexuality] affected his friends and his relationships with them too".
Mason said he hoped that his storyline would "draw in viewers in a responsible way" and the feedback would stay positive. Mason added that he would like to see Chris happy in the future and hopes the viewers will warm to him. He added "I know it's quite a sensitive topic, but I think the difference between his and the last encounters they've had is that we're looking more in-depth into more than just a "gay kiss". We go more into the relationships, how it affects people around". Steele backed this up, saying "We wanted gay to be part of Chris's character, not Chris to be the gay character. He's not your typical gay stereotype that some TV shows like to play up. He's on the basketball team, he's had a girlfriend for a time, and I think the show does a good job of portraying the way his character is discovering who he really is".
Aidan Foster
In October 2010, Mason revealed Chris might get a romantic interest in the future. He said that it was not confirmed, but there is a chance that Chris will find someone. Mason admitted that he would find it "awkward" if he had to perform a male kissing scene. Mason told Holy Soap in June 2011, that the writer had plans for a romance for Chris on their radar. A few weeks later it was announced that Bobby Morley had joined the cast as Aidan Foster, a love interest for Chris. Aidan, who is a male nurse, and Chris will form the show's first gay couple. Bower said the storyline was a "natural progression" for Chris and that at some stage he needed to meet someone. She added "To be true to the Chris character, now he is a regular in storylines, we knew at some stage he needed to meet someone. How it unfolds, all will be revealed, however I think viewers will find the story compelling." Bower told Daniel Kilkelly of Digital SpyDigital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
that Chris's romance will be handled in a sensitive way and will be treated within the character. She explained "Chris is a naturally shy person - he is not a person who either flaunts his sexuality or his heart. So it will be done according to that character. And it may not be a full-on relationship. The character that Bob is playing is older and further down the track with his relationship testing, so it will be a relationship story rather than a gay male romance."
During an interview with Kilkelly, Mason said his character's relationship with Aidan would be treated like any heterosexual relationship. As Chris is not someone who openly shows his feelings, Mason said there would be a slow build up for him and Aidan. Chris meets Aidan through an incident, which is "potentially life-threatening." Mason said working with Morley was fantastic and he explained "As actors, it is very challenging and exciting at the some time, and because of this, we have developed a connection. We're rapt that the characters are going down this path and based on the feedback I've had to Chris coming out, I think viewers are going to like why the relationship unfolds. Well, I hope they do." Mason revealed viewers would see Chris and Aidan as a couple in early 2012 and they definitely have a romance. However, Mason said it was up to the writers whether the relationship would be long term.
Warren Burrell
In September 2011, Chris meets Warren Burrell (Tony Rickards), a homophobic customer, at the garage. Warren makes his prejudice against gay people clear to Chris. Mason said Chris was unsure how to respond to the situation, as he has never met an adult who speaks about gay people in the way Warren does. Chris tells his boss, Lucas FitzgeraldLucas Fitzgerald
Lucas Fitzgerald is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, portrayed by Scott Major. He made his first on-screen appearance on 22 July 2008. The role of Lucas is Major's second character on the show, he previously played Darren Stark in 1993. Lucas is the brother of Daniel...
(Scott Major
Scott Major
Scott Major is an Australian actor. Major's acting début was playing Murray on Home and Away in the 1990s. He joined the Neighbours cast for a brief period in 1993 as the original Darren Stark. and then was a part of the Heartbreak High cast as "Rivers" from 1994–1995...
), about Warren, but he is disappointed when Lucas does not do anything about it. Of Chris's situation, Mason explained "It was very confronting for him. And because the guy wasn't pointing his remarks directly at Chris, Lucas didn't understand why Chris was so offended. At first, he didn't have an appreciation of how deep those comments hurt Chris." The storyline divided the opinions of viewers with some understanding why Lucas would not want to confront Warren, while others were on Chris's side. Mason said he was pleased that viewers were discussing the storyline and he admitted he appreciated both sides. The actor said "Lucas wasn't there when the customer was saying these things, so he didn't understand Chris's point of view. However, as the story went along, we saw Lucas change and his respect for Chris grew." Mason added the storyline was about showing understanding for where a person is coming from and being willing to change your ideas.
Two months later, Warren returns to the garage and Lucas shows his support for Chris and defends him. Chris meets and befriends Warren's son, Blake (Oliver Edwin). When Warren learns Blake is friends with Chris, he decides to put a stop to the situation. Warren threatens to kill Chris unless he stops spending time with Blake. Mason told TV Week that he thinks it is a shame Chris and Blake cannot continue their friendship because of Warren and his views. It soon becomes clear someone is spying on Chris, but whether it is Warren or someone else is not clear. Mason added something big would happen and it may not end well for Chris.
Storylines
Chris and some of his friends buy a dating guide from Andrew Robinson. Chris hands the guide over to Summer Hoyland and she later plays the group a recording of Andrew saying the guide is rubbish. Chris demands a refund from Andrew and Harry Ramsay, but they, along with Summer, run from him. Chris eventually befriends Andrew and Harry and he works with Summer on a school project. Summer encourages him to run for basketball captain and Harry seconds the nomination. Chris is successful and Summer congratulates him with a kiss. Chris and Summer then begin dating. Natasha Williams teases them about their relationship and Chris books a room at Lassiter's Hotel. Summer believes that he wants to sleep with her and she almost leaves, but Chris convinces her to stay and they watch DVDs together. Andrew discovers that Chris is a lifeguard at the local swimming pool and he asks to host a party there. Chris is reluctant to go along with the plan, but Andrew convinces him that everything will be okay. The party gets out of hand and Chris's boss fires him. Andrew apologises and gets Chris a job at Lassiter's, but Chris is fired from there too. While they are at the gym, Andrew encourages Chris to ask the manager for a job and he is hired.Andrew convinces Chris to skip school and meet up with some female university students. They are caught by Susan Kennedy
Susan Kennedy
Susan Kennedy , is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Jackie Woodburne. The character and her family were created by storyliners in an attempt to bring the show back to its roots. Susan made her first on-screen appearance on 3 October 1994 along...
(Jackie Woodburne
Jackie Woodburne
Jackie Woodburne is a Northern Irish-born Australian actress.-Personal life:Woodburne was born in Carrickfergus, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Her father was a member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. She has two older siblings: John and Stephen. At age three she emigrated with her family to...
) and Summer tells Chris to stop listening to Andrew. Andrew asks Chris to meet up with the university girls again at Charlie's bar. The group begin to get loud and Kyle Canning
Kyle Canning
Kyle Canning is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Chris Milligan. The actor successfully auditioned for the six week recurring role of Kyle and he made his first on screen appearance on 26 November 2008. Milligan was later asked back every couple of months...
(Chris Milligan
Chris Milligan
Chris Milligan is an Australian actor. He has appeared in numerous television series and is best known for his role as Kyle Canning in the soap opera Neighbours.-Career:...
) asks them to keep the noise down. A fight break out and Chris defends Andrew and grabs Kyle. Michael Williams
Michael Williams (Neighbours)
Michael Williams is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Sandy Winton. He made his first on-screen appearance on 4 May 2010. Winton joined the cast in March 2010 and he admitted that playing Michael may prove to be a challenge. Michael is the father of Natasha...
(Sandy Winton
Sandy Winton
Sandy Winton, born Alexander Gordon, is an Australian actor currently playing the role of Erinsborough High Principal, Michael Williams, in the soap-opera, Neighbours.-Career:...
) tries to talk to Chris, but Chris pushes him away. Michael asks the students to write down or record a secret for a class project and Chris takes Summer's iPod to record his feelings on. Just as he is putting the iPod back, Dale McGregor (John Kim) takes it and Libby Kennedy
Libby Kennedy
Elizabeth Grace "Libby" Kennedy is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Kym Valentine. She made her first on-screen appearance on 3 October 1994 and departed in 2004, before returning on 12 November 2007. Libby is the only daughter of Karl and Susan Kennedy...
(Kym Valentine
Kym Valentine
Kym Valentine is a Maltese Australian actress best known for her portrayal of Libby Kennedy in the soap opera Neighbours.-Early and personal life:...
) gives the iPod to Michael. Chris believes Michael has listened to his recording and tells him that he is confused about Andrew. Michael asks Chris if he thinks he is gay and Chris leaves. Natasha discovers that a student is gay and tries to find them. Chris comes out to Andrew, who supports him. Chris then tells his class that he is gay. Chris admits that he likes Andrew and Andrew tells him to stay away. Chris then apologises to Summer.
Chris tries to get out of captaining the basketball team for a game with Elliot Park. Chris's team mates try to avoid passing the ball to him, but when they do, Chris scores and wins the game. After the Elliot Park captain is rude to him, Chris pushes him and a fight breaks out. Chris is suspended and his parents kick him out. He stays with Summer and until he sits down and talks to his parents. Summer asks a gay friend to talk to Chris about coming out, but he feels uncomfortable. Summer breaks down as she believes it is her fault Chris came out. Chris reassures her that he did not see it coming. Andrew apologises to Chris and they make up. Chris realises that Summer has feelings for Andrew and encourages her to tell him. Summer tells Chris that she and Andrew had sex while he was dating Natasha. Chris disapproves of Summer's actions and reminds her that she would have hated any other person who did that. Chris befriends Natasha after she is ostracised at school. Natasha and Summer compete for Chris's friendship and try to set him up with guys. Chris becomes angry and tells them to stop interfering. He manages to get them to apologise to each other and Chris and Natasha try to get Summer and Andrew back together.
Summer and Chris work on a zombie film together for media studies. Chris comes frustrated when Adam Miller (Jye O'Toole) moves basketball practice around and he is not happy when Natasha interferes. Chris is disappointed with his grades and he starts to reconsider university. He gets an unpaid job at the garage with Lucas Fitzgerald
Lucas Fitzgerald
Lucas Fitzgerald is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, portrayed by Scott Major. He made his first on-screen appearance on 22 July 2008. The role of Lucas is Major's second character on the show, he previously played Darren Stark in 1993. Lucas is the brother of Daniel...
(Scott Major
Scott Major
Scott Major is an Australian actor. Major's acting début was playing Murray on Home and Away in the 1990s. He joined the Neighbours cast for a brief period in 1993 as the original Darren Stark. and then was a part of the Heartbreak High cast as "Rivers" from 1994–1995...
). Chris lets Andrew take his place in a study session at the university, while he goes to the garage. His father, George (Lliam Amor), shows up and orders him to leave. Lucas later offers Chris a part time job on the condition that he gets permission from his father. Chris explains that ever since he came out, George does not listen to him. Chris decides to quit the basketball team and his job at the gym, so he can work at the garage. Chris and his father go through the university preferences guide and George tells his son that he found a compromise - learning mechanical engineering. Chris is unsure and feels guilty when George explains he has been setting aside money for the university fees. Michael gives Chris some information about TAFE
Technical and Further Education
In Australia, training and further education or TAFE institutions provide a wide range of predominantly vocational tertiary education courses, mostly qualifying courses under the National Training System/Australian Qualifications Framework/Australian Quality Training Framework...
courses and tells him he cannot live his life for other people.
Chris is delighted when Lucas reveals he wants to give him an apprenticeship. While Chris is alone in the garage, Warren Burrell comes in asking about a service for his son's car. Warren starts having a go at gay people, which makes Chris uncomfortable. Chris tells Lucas, but he is reluctant to do anything about it. Chris quits his job, but after Lucas apologies, he takes his job back. George discovers Chris has been accepted onto a TAFE course and he angrily demands Chris go to university instead. Chris refuses and in the heat of the moment, George slaps him. Lucas then punches George. Chris tells Lucas he has made the situation worse. Chris is disappointed when Lucas cuts his hours at the garage, so he can concentrate on his exam revision. Chris and Andrew go to Byron Bay for schoolies
Schoolies week
Schoolies or schoolies week refers to the Australian tradition of high-school graduates having week-long holidays following the end of their final exams in late November and early December."Toolies" refers to older revelers who participate in Schoolies week but are...
. Upon his return, Chris goes to the garage and Lucas tells him he can spend as much time as he likes there now the exams are over. Chris meets Blake Burrell, Warren's son, when he brings his car into the garage. Warren later turns up and begins making homophobic comments again. Chris tells him he is gay and does not like the comments. Lucas also defends him and Warren leaves.
Reception
The character's inclusion in Neighbours and his storyline has received a positive reaction from the public, television critics and LGBT websites. Chris's coming out episode, which was broadcast on 10 August 2010, was seen by 679,000 viewers in Australia. David Knox of Citysearch MelbourneCitysearch
Citysearch is an online city guide that provides information about businesses in the categories of dining, entertainment, retail, travel, and professional services in cities throughout the United States. Visitors to each of Citysearch's local city guides will find contact information, maps, driving...
said that the inclusion of Chris in the show is "a positive step with its juvenile audience". Knox added that following the "gay kiss scandal" on Home and Away, "the test for Neighbours will be not just the coming out, but whether he remains in the show after this storyline subsides".
Of Chris, SX News said "One could simply dismiss the gay character as simply just another plot line, but there's no denying its significance, especially with a show as enduring and mainstream as Neighbours. If anything, it's a small reflection of the changing attitudes in society". They also praised Neighbours for focusing on Chris's coming out and the issue of homophobia, instead of letting Chris "explode out of the closet and leave Ramsay Street glittering in sequins". The ATV News Network said the Chris's coming out should be praised for the way it has been handled. They added that the decision to play it out at a school would have viewers in a similar situation identifying with the storyline. Alan McKee, a university film and television professor, said that usually subscription television channels take risks in portraying storylines like Chris's. He added "Commercial TV is not about risk taking, it is about entertainment for the broadest possible audience. But attitudes have changed and commercial networks like to reflect that". Holy Soap said Chris's most memorable moment was "Announcing to his entire class that he was gay."
Anthony D. Langford from website, AfterElton said he found it "humorous" that Neighbours emphasizes what a gentleman Chris is compared to Andrew. He said "It's like they're almost saying if you're a nice guy who's not all over your girlfriend you must be gay. But on television that's usually the case". Langford hoped that Chris would not vanish and that he would not be relegated to monitoring the relationship between Andrew and Summer and not having a romance of his own. Langford later said that Neighbours is doing a "fairly decent job" with Chris's coming out story. He wished that viewers got to see more of Chris's thoughts and feelings and less of how his situation affected the people around him. Langford added "I do like that Chris isn't a perfect kid. Many shows tend to make gay teens near saints. Instead, he's a fairly average kid who makes mistakes and messes up, like starting a fight at a basketball game. In July 2011, Langford revealed that he had seen some comments from people thinking that Lucas and Chris should be paired up. He opined that there is not a hint of romance between the two and wondered why people assumed that if a gay character shares a scene with another guy, they must get together. Langford revealed that he liked Chris and Lucas's mentor and mentee relationship as it is. The writer also commented on the introduction of Chris's father and said that he was "delighted" that Chris was finally getting his own drama, that was "pretty realistic." He added "It's nice to see the father/son dynamic play out. I have the feeling that a lot of Chris's dad's issues stem from the fact that his son is gay and I hope the show will delve into those unresoved issues."
Sarah Ellis writing for Inside Soap
Inside Soap
Inside Soap is a weekly UK magazine, released every Tuesday. It covers current and future storylines in soap operas shown in the United Kingdom....
said "I'd love to see Chris with a boyfriend – he's the nicest guy in Erinsborough!" In 2011, Mason revealed that he has had a positive reaction to his character from viewers and he has been receiving mail from people who have had similar experiences, who appreciate what Neighbours is doing. He added "What's interesting is that a lot of feedback has been about the fact the character's coming out wasn't a "warm and fuzzy" experience, that there were rough spots. They appreciated the authenticity of the story, and I think that comes from the character and storylines being based on other people's real life experiences."
External links
- Character profile at the Official AU Neighbours website
- Character profile at the Official UK Neighbours website
- Character profile at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...