Close to Home (New Zealand TV series)
Encyclopedia
Close to Home was the name of a long-running New Zealand
television soap opera
which ran on Television One (later becoming Television New Zealand
) from 1975 to 1983. Set in a suburb of Wellington
, it originally revolved around the trials and tribulations of the Hearte family, but within the first two years of the programme, most of the Hearte children had been written out. The elder members of the Hearte family remained through most of the show's run. The show revolved around their interactions with their neighbours and friends. A high point of the series occurred in 1982 with the wedding of Gayle and Gavin.
Rehearsals took place in a local community hall in Avalon while “Close to Home” was mostly shot in the largest NZBC TV studio at Avalon (Lower Hutt), which had sets round the studio of rooms in various characters’ houses plus the bar of the local hotel. It was criticised for the number of scenes set in the bar, but that was the only place apart from private homes that scenes could be set in without going on location (which was infrequent). The show seems to be the first film or TV appearance of John Bach
, who went on to have his own TV seris, Duggan
, and appear in various films. Jennifer Ward Lealand appeared as a school friend of Gayle's after Fiona Lovatt's contract expired. Jim Moriarty
played a school teacher. Other cast members included Pat Evison
, Ginette MacDonald, and, in a special appearance, The Kokatahi Band.
Its replacement series, Country GP, starring Lani Tupu
, did not enjoy as successful a run in the same timeslot.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
television soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
which ran on Television One (later becoming Television New Zealand
Television New Zealand
Television New Zealand, more commonly referred to, and stylized as TVNZ, is a government-owned corporation television network broadcasting in New Zealand and parts of the Pacific. It operates TV1, TV2, TVNZ7, TVNZ Heartland, TVNZ U and new media services....
) from 1975 to 1983. Set in a suburb of Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, it originally revolved around the trials and tribulations of the Hearte family, but within the first two years of the programme, most of the Hearte children had been written out. The elder members of the Hearte family remained through most of the show's run. The show revolved around their interactions with their neighbours and friends. A high point of the series occurred in 1982 with the wedding of Gayle and Gavin.
Rehearsals took place in a local community hall in Avalon while “Close to Home” was mostly shot in the largest NZBC TV studio at Avalon (Lower Hutt), which had sets round the studio of rooms in various characters’ houses plus the bar of the local hotel. It was criticised for the number of scenes set in the bar, but that was the only place apart from private homes that scenes could be set in without going on location (which was infrequent). The show seems to be the first film or TV appearance of John Bach
John Bach
John Bach is a Welsh-born actor who has spent most of his career working in New Zealand.His best known role internationally is Madril in the two last movies of The Lord of the Rings film trilogy , but he has substantial television credits in New Zealand, including the title role of Detective...
, who went on to have his own TV seris, Duggan
Duggan (TV series)
Duggan was a TVNZ police drama from 1997, featuring New Zealand actor John Bach as Detective Inspector John Duggan and Fiona Mogridge as Ruth Duggan. Unlike other New Zealand police drama series, Duggan was produced as a series of one-off programmes, akin to British crime series of the time such as...
, and appear in various films. Jennifer Ward Lealand appeared as a school friend of Gayle's after Fiona Lovatt's contract expired. Jim Moriarty
Jim Moriarty
Jim Moriarty is an actor and theatre director in New Zealand who has worked on stage and the screen since the 1970s. His work has toured nationally and internationally...
played a school teacher. Other cast members included Pat Evison
Pat Evison
Dame Helen June Patricia Evison, DBE , known as Pat Evison, was a New Zealand actress.-Early life and education:...
, Ginette MacDonald, and, in a special appearance, The Kokatahi Band.
Its replacement series, Country GP, starring Lani Tupu
Lani Tupu
Lani Tupu is a classically trained actor. He was educated at Rongotai College and Wellington Teacher's Training College. He was awarded a Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council Bursary in 1977 to enter New Zealand Drama School, where he graduated in 1978...
, did not enjoy as successful a run in the same timeslot.
External links
- Close to Home at NZ On Screen