Liam Murphy (Home and Away)
Encyclopedia
Liam Murphy is a fictional character
from the Australian Channel Seven
soap opera
Home and Away
, played by Axle Whitehead
. The character debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 5 March 2009. Whitehead auditioned for the role and stated it would help improve his acting skill. Liam was created by executive producer Cameron Welsh
and is described as a "badboy minor rockstar" who comes to Summer Bay to start a new life. His storylines have focused on his addiction to drugs and many relationships. Liam has also been involved in controversial scenes in which it featured "sexually charged content" with fellow character Martha MacKenzie
.
." Whitehead draws inspiration from his past experiences with old friends to portray Liam's drug taking.
Speaking of his characters relationship with Bianca Scott
(Lisa Gormley
) when she agrees to marry Vittorio (Richard Brancatisano
), Whitehead states: "Liam puts on a tough-guy act and pretends everything is cool and that he's moved on - but I don't know if that's really the truth. Bianca is marrying someone else and Liam has a new girlfriend, so this could spell the end for any future they might've had."
As the storyline progresses Liam feels hurt about the whole situation because he things Bianca doesn't want him, of this Whitehead states: "Liam's being quite sensitive about the issue. If Bianca's engaged to Vittorio, then she's clearly made her decision." However he goes on to add: "There are still very strong feelings there, though - and at the formal, after being tricked into going as chaperones for the kids, they can actually sit and talk about things. They're like, 'Let's get out of here and talk about the past' - and it gets a bit hot and steamy!" Whitehead added that the storyline results in "a really good week of episodes" for the characters, as Bianca chooses who she wants to be with.
(Jessica Tovey
) interviews him and admits she is a fan. After he offers her drugs and they get intoxicated. Liam is next seen in rehab along with Belle, they form a friendship. He admits his wife Chelsea has left him and banned him from seeing his child Ash. He accuses Belle of selling a story on him, but he later finds out the truth and the remain friends. When they are both released Liam comes to Summer Bay to enlist Belle's help to try to see his son. However another story in printed in the paper and Chelsea wants nothing to do with him and he loses his recording contract.
Liam moves in with Belle and wants a relationship with her. She turns him down and Aden Jefferies
(Todd Lasance
) warns Belle that he is trouble. After Belle thinks he has overdosed she agrees to see how things go and dates Liam until she finds drugs on him. She ends things and takes him to the hospital. He climbs on the roof and tries to kill himself but Aden talks him around. Belle admits she still loves Aden. He returns later claiming to be clean, he wants to see Belle who is now dying but cannot face it. He goes to her funeral high on drugs and causes a scene. He sleeps with Nicole Franklin
(Tessa James
) and runs away.
He moves to Summer Bay to make a fresh start around people who know him. He gives Romeo Smith
(Luke Mitchell
) a job on the conversion he is doing. He then starts a relationship with Nicole, but when she misses her exams Aden convinces her to break up with Liam. They start seeing each other again on the quiet. At a party Liam throws Ned out who has taken drugs. Romeo drinks a beverage spiked with drugs and collapses. He convinces Aden not to call the emergency services and take him to the hospital because people would assume he was behind it. Aden and Nicole's relationship hits a hurdle when she won't sleep with him. He tries his best and admits he loves her, confused by this he sleeps with Poppie. She dumps him for cheating, and he later tells Poppie to leave him alone when she takes drugs.
Liam sees Aden and Nicole kissing, upset he takes a pill and is charged with drug possession. He tries to get help from Gina Austin (Sonia Todd
), makes peace with Nicole and Aden before moving out. He sleeps with Martha MacKenzie
(Jodi Gordon
), but she wants a casual relationship which annoys Liam. She manages to get Gina to agree to letting Liam be a guitar tutor at the school. Martha has a pregnancy scare and he does not like the idea of being a father. They sleep together again, but Martha still does not want a relationship. Xavier Austin
(David Jones-Roberts
suspects Liam is taking drugs again and he did not want to ruin his friendship with Martha, so he decided to move out. Liam starts working at the school with Ruby Buckton
(Rebecca Breeds), they become good friends and Ruby starts to fall for him. He finds out from Nicole and after advice from Alf Roberts
(Ray Meagher
) he continues to work with her until she makes a pass at him.
A new language teacher Bianca arrives to work at Summer Bay High, he feels an attraction to her. They sleep together in the library. Bianca's ex Vittorio returns to resume their relationship. Bianca agrees to marry him, even though she still likes Liam. He feels hurt that she does not want him and tries to accept the situation. On Bianca's wedding day she decides not to go through with it and chooses Liam. She and April (Rhiannon Fish
) move into the field house with Liam, but they later decide to move in with Irene. Liam then moves in with Angelo Rosetta
(Luke Jacobz
) and Roo Stewart
(Georgie Parker
). Liam's is dumped by his record label and he buys some pills from Heath Braxton (Daniel Ewing
). When Liam covers a class for Miles and sets the students an assignment, in which they have to plan a terrorist attack against Summer Bay. Gina withdraws the assignment and Liam is reported to the school authorities. He takes some pills before a meeting with the state education officer. Liam launches a verbal attack and the meeting is cut short. Gina later tells him that he can no longer teach at Summer Bay High. Liam takes more pills and Bianca finds out, they break up. Liam then decides to check into rehab. He returns to the Bay unannounced and learns Bianca was raped and that she had a one night stand with Heath. Charlie Buckton
(Esther Anderson) asks Liam to testify against Heath on drug charges, Liam agrees, but is later beaten up. Liam shuts Bianca out, but they eventually talk and forgive each other. Liam moves into the caravan park and asks Gina for some tutoring work, but she cannot give him any. Bianca realises Dean O'Mara (Rick Donald) raped her and she and Liam try to find him. Dean runs Bianca down and Liam later finds him and beats him up. Liam and Bianca break up and Liam is offered a job by Darryl Braxton (Steve Peacocke).
decided to uphold a complaint about a scene between the characters, which saw them sharing a passionate kiss before Martha showed her bra. The scene was said to be too "sexually charged" for its G rating. This was the first time that a complaint about Home and Away's sexual content had been upheld. Ray Meagher later defended the scenes stating he didn't understand what all the fuss was about, branding it as tame compared to the scenes involving guns that aired previously. Holy Soap ran a poll to find out which of the serial's couple were favoured. Liam and Bianca received the fewest votes. Michael Idato of The Sydney Morning Herald
said that as Liam, Whitehead was one of the serial's leads who puts in a "robust performance" and credited it as being part of Home and Away's success.
Character (arts)
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from the Australian Channel Seven
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
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,...
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...
, played by Axle Whitehead
Axle Whitehead
Axle Whitehead is a former Australian Video Hits TV host and current singer, musician, and actor. In 2008, he released his first studio album Losing Sleep which debuted outside of the ARIA top 50...
. The character debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 5 March 2009. Whitehead auditioned for the role and stated it would help improve his acting skill. Liam was created by executive producer Cameron Welsh
Cameron Welsh
Cameron Welsh is an Australian actor, writer, producer and director, best known for his role as Mitch McColl on Australian soap opera Home and Away from 1999 until 2001. He was nominated for a Logie Award in 2000 for Most Popular New Male Talent...
and is described as a "badboy minor rockstar" who comes to Summer Bay to start a new life. His storylines have focused on his addiction to drugs and many relationships. Liam has also been involved in controversial scenes in which it featured "sexually charged content" with fellow character Martha MacKenzie
Martha MacKenzie
Martha Jane MacKenzie is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Jodi Gordon. Martha made her first on-screen appearance on 8 September 1988. She was originally played by Burcin Kapkin until her departure in 1989...
.
Creation and casting
Musician and presenter Axle Whitehead was chosen to play Liam after he auditioned for the role. Whitehead has stated that he jumped at the chance to audition because he believes the serial is a good place to improve acting skills. Speaking the role Whitehead has stated: "I've been taking classes for the last 18 months and it’s wonderful to be able to put it into practice. Home and Away has been very supportive, the pace of the show is very challenging and it’s been a fantastic opportunity for me to further my skills." Whitehead was originally only signed to a fifteen episode contract.Character development
The serial's official website describe Liam branding him a "disgraced minor rock star". Liam makes some changes to his life and returns to Summer Bay to make amends, they add he is "clean and eager to start a new life." and that he hopes will keep him on "the straight and narrow". Liam likes to be in relationship's and the website state "he doesn't like to be alone for long." Whitehead himself describes Liam as "a bit of a bad-boy rocker. There'll be some blues and a bit of lovin' - I'm channelling Bon ScottBon Scott
Ronald Belford "Bon" Scott was a Scottish-born Australian rock musician, best known for being the lead singer and lyricist of Australian hard rock band AC/DC from 1974 until his death in 1980...
." Whitehead draws inspiration from his past experiences with old friends to portray Liam's drug taking.
Speaking of his characters relationship with Bianca Scott
Bianca Scott
Bianca Scott is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Lisa Gormley. Gormley had recently graduated from NIDA when she secured the role of Bianca, who was introduced as the sister of fellow new character April Scott . Bianca debuted on-screen...
(Lisa Gormley
Lisa Gormley
Lisa Gormley is an Australian actress and best known for playing Bianca Scott on the Channel 7 serial drama Home and Away. She is a NIDA graduate.- Early life :...
) when she agrees to marry Vittorio (Richard Brancatisano
Richard Brancatisano
Richard Peter Brancatisano is an Australian television actor and musician, best known for his role as Xander Bly, the Green Mystic Ranger, in Power Rangers: Mystic Force.-Career:...
), Whitehead states: "Liam puts on a tough-guy act and pretends everything is cool and that he's moved on - but I don't know if that's really the truth. Bianca is marrying someone else and Liam has a new girlfriend, so this could spell the end for any future they might've had."
As the storyline progresses Liam feels hurt about the whole situation because he things Bianca doesn't want him, of this Whitehead states: "Liam's being quite sensitive about the issue. If Bianca's engaged to Vittorio, then she's clearly made her decision." However he goes on to add: "There are still very strong feelings there, though - and at the formal, after being tricked into going as chaperones for the kids, they can actually sit and talk about things. They're like, 'Let's get out of here and talk about the past' - and it gets a bit hot and steamy!" Whitehead added that the storyline results in "a really good week of episodes" for the characters, as Bianca chooses who she wants to be with.
Storylines
Liam first appears during a concert. Belle TaylorBelle Taylor
Susan "Belle" Jefferies is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, played by Jessica Tovey. She made her first on-screen appearance on 3 February 2006. Belle's storylines included finding her birth mother, a drug addiction, her relationship with Aden Jefferies and being...
(Jessica Tovey
Jessica Tovey
Jessica Tovey is an Australian actress. Tovey graduated from the Newtown High School of the Performing Arts and has made appearances for various drama companies. She is best known for her role of Belle Taylor on the long-running Australian soap opera Home and Away. Tovey joined the show in 2006...
) interviews him and admits she is a fan. After he offers her drugs and they get intoxicated. Liam is next seen in rehab along with Belle, they form a friendship. He admits his wife Chelsea has left him and banned him from seeing his child Ash. He accuses Belle of selling a story on him, but he later finds out the truth and the remain friends. When they are both released Liam comes to Summer Bay to enlist Belle's help to try to see his son. However another story in printed in the paper and Chelsea wants nothing to do with him and he loses his recording contract.
Liam moves in with Belle and wants a relationship with her. She turns him down and Aden Jefferies
Aden Jefferies
Aden Jefferies is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Todd Lasance. He debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 4 August 2005. Aden was introduced in 2005 as a recurring character and as part of Cassie Turner's storylines. Lasance was...
(Todd Lasance
Todd Lasance
Todd James Lasance is an Australian actor and is best known for his role as Aden Jefferies in the Australian soap opera Home And Away.-Personal life:...
) warns Belle that he is trouble. After Belle thinks he has overdosed she agrees to see how things go and dates Liam until she finds drugs on him. She ends things and takes him to the hospital. He climbs on the roof and tries to kill himself but Aden talks him around. Belle admits she still loves Aden. He returns later claiming to be clean, he wants to see Belle who is now dying but cannot face it. He goes to her funeral high on drugs and causes a scene. He sleeps with Nicole Franklin
Nicole Franklin
Nicole Franklin is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Tessa James. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 18 April 2008. Nicole was introduced by executive producer Cameron Welsh...
(Tessa James
Tessa James
Tessa James is an Australian actress who is best known for the role of Nicole Franklin in the Australian soap opera Home and Away.-Early and personal life:...
) and runs away.
He moves to Summer Bay to make a fresh start around people who know him. He gives Romeo Smith
Romeo Smith
Todd "Romeo" Smith is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Luke Mitchell. He made his first appearance on 10 September 2009. The character of Romeo is Mitchell's third acting job and he began filming his scenes in May 2009. Romeo is described...
(Luke Mitchell
Luke Mitchell (actor)
-External links:...
) a job on the conversion he is doing. He then starts a relationship with Nicole, but when she misses her exams Aden convinces her to break up with Liam. They start seeing each other again on the quiet. At a party Liam throws Ned out who has taken drugs. Romeo drinks a beverage spiked with drugs and collapses. He convinces Aden not to call the emergency services and take him to the hospital because people would assume he was behind it. Aden and Nicole's relationship hits a hurdle when she won't sleep with him. He tries his best and admits he loves her, confused by this he sleeps with Poppie. She dumps him for cheating, and he later tells Poppie to leave him alone when she takes drugs.
Liam sees Aden and Nicole kissing, upset he takes a pill and is charged with drug possession. He tries to get help from Gina Austin (Sonia Todd
Sonia Todd
Sonia Todd is an Australian actress.She studied at the National Institute of Dramatic Art and starred in Strictly Ballroom, directed by Baz Luhrmann...
), makes peace with Nicole and Aden before moving out. He sleeps with Martha MacKenzie
Martha MacKenzie
Martha Jane MacKenzie is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Jodi Gordon. Martha made her first on-screen appearance on 8 September 1988. She was originally played by Burcin Kapkin until her departure in 1989...
(Jodi Gordon
Jodi Gordon
Jodi Lee Gordon is an Australian actress and model.-Early life:Gordon was born in Mackay to Bronwyn and Ray. She has an older brother, Ben. Her father was born in New Zealand and is of Māori descent. From the age of 8, Gordon's family moved to various locations along the coast from Mackay,...
), but she wants a casual relationship which annoys Liam. She manages to get Gina to agree to letting Liam be a guitar tutor at the school. Martha has a pregnancy scare and he does not like the idea of being a father. They sleep together again, but Martha still does not want a relationship. Xavier Austin
Xavier Austin
Xavier Austin is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by David Jones-Roberts. The character debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 20 November 2008. Jones-Roberts was cast in the role after previously auditioning for the roles of four...
(David Jones-Roberts
David Jones-Roberts
David Jones-Roberts is an Australian actor, best known for portraying Xavier Austin in the long running TV series Home and Away. David's father, Danny Roberts, is an actor who played Andy Green on Sons and Daughters and Jim Eagan on Underbelly 3, and his mother, actress Lindsay Neil worked with...
suspects Liam is taking drugs again and he did not want to ruin his friendship with Martha, so he decided to move out. Liam starts working at the school with Ruby Buckton
Ruby Buckton
Ruby Buckton is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Rebecca Breeds. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 6 June 2008. Ruby was created by executive producer Cameron Welsh. When she was first introduced she appeared to hide her...
(Rebecca Breeds), they become good friends and Ruby starts to fall for him. He finds out from Nicole and after advice from Alf Roberts
Alf Roberts
Alfred Sidney "Alf" Roberts was a fictional character in the British ITV soap Coronation Street. He ran a grocery shop at No. 15 and was heavily involved in local politics, including two spells as mayor of Weatherfield...
(Ray Meagher
Ray Meagher
Ray Meagher surname pronouned "Marr" , is a veteran Australian character actor. He has appeared regularly in Australian film and television since the mid 1970s, and is notable as the longest continuing performer in an Australian television role, as Alf Stewart on Home and Away, having played the...
) he continues to work with her until she makes a pass at him.
A new language teacher Bianca arrives to work at Summer Bay High, he feels an attraction to her. They sleep together in the library. Bianca's ex Vittorio returns to resume their relationship. Bianca agrees to marry him, even though she still likes Liam. He feels hurt that she does not want him and tries to accept the situation. On Bianca's wedding day she decides not to go through with it and chooses Liam. She and April (Rhiannon Fish
Rhiannon Fish
Rhiannon Marie Fish is an Australian actress who first appeared on television at age eleven when she starred on Neighbours. She later starred as Rocky in the Disney Channel show As the Bell Rings. As of June 2010, Fish plays April Scott on Home and Away.-Early life:Fish was born in Calgary,...
) move into the field house with Liam, but they later decide to move in with Irene. Liam then moves in with Angelo Rosetta
Angelo Rosetta
Angelo Rosetta is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Luke Jacobz. He debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 6 July 2008. He has been central to many notable storylines including shooting dead Jack Holden, his time working as a...
(Luke Jacobz
Luke Jacobz
Luke Jacobz on 14 February 1981, Sydney is an Australian actor and television presenter.-Career:'Jacobz' is a screen name, derived from adding a 'z' to the actor's middle name of Jacob...
) and Roo Stewart
Roo Stewart
Ruth Martha "Roo" Stewart is a fictional character from the Australian Seven Network soap opera Home and Away, played by Justine Clarke from 1988 to 1989. The character made her first on-screen appearance on 20 January 1988. Clarke quit the role in 1989 and the character was written out...
(Georgie Parker
Georgie Parker
Georgina "Georgie" Parker is an Australian television actress. She grew up in the suburb of St. Ives.-Personal life:...
). Liam's is dumped by his record label and he buys some pills from Heath Braxton (Daniel Ewing
Daniel Ewing (actor)
Daniel "Dan" Ewing , is an Australian actor. He appeared on Seven Network's Home and Away series as Reuben Humphries, during 2005...
). When Liam covers a class for Miles and sets the students an assignment, in which they have to plan a terrorist attack against Summer Bay. Gina withdraws the assignment and Liam is reported to the school authorities. He takes some pills before a meeting with the state education officer. Liam launches a verbal attack and the meeting is cut short. Gina later tells him that he can no longer teach at Summer Bay High. Liam takes more pills and Bianca finds out, they break up. Liam then decides to check into rehab. He returns to the Bay unannounced and learns Bianca was raped and that she had a one night stand with Heath. Charlie Buckton
Charlie Buckton
Charlotte "Charlie" Buckton is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Esther Anderson. Anderson was added to the cast in a bid to add more "sex appeal" to the show. She said it was her dream job and relocated to Sydney immediately to accommodate...
(Esther Anderson) asks Liam to testify against Heath on drug charges, Liam agrees, but is later beaten up. Liam shuts Bianca out, but they eventually talk and forgive each other. Liam moves into the caravan park and asks Gina for some tutoring work, but she cannot give him any. Bianca realises Dean O'Mara (Rick Donald) raped her and she and Liam try to find him. Dean runs Bianca down and Liam later finds him and beats him up. Liam and Bianca break up and Liam is offered a job by Darryl Braxton (Steve Peacocke).
Reception
Holy Soap recall Liam's most memorable moment as being: "A showdown with Aden on the roof of a hotel, which eventually saw Aden talk him down." In 2010, it was announced that an episode of Home and Away featuring Liam and Martha had been was deemed too "raunchy" for New Zealand television. The Broadcasting Standards AuthorityBroadcasting Standards Authority
The Broadcasting Standards Authority is a New Zealand Crown Entity created by the Broadcasting Act 1989 to develop and uphold standards of broadcasting for radio, free-to-air and pay television.The main functions of the BSA are:...
decided to uphold a complaint about a scene between the characters, which saw them sharing a passionate kiss before Martha showed her bra. The scene was said to be too "sexually charged" for its G rating. This was the first time that a complaint about Home and Away's sexual content had been upheld. Ray Meagher later defended the scenes stating he didn't understand what all the fuss was about, branding it as tame compared to the scenes involving guns that aired previously. Holy Soap ran a poll to find out which of the serial's couple were favoured. Liam and Bianca received the fewest votes. Michael Idato of The Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald is a daily broadsheet newspaper published by Fairfax Media in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1831 as the Sydney Herald, the SMH is the oldest continuously published newspaper in Australia. The newspaper is published six days a week. The newspaper's Sunday counterpart, The...
said that as Liam, Whitehead was one of the serial's leads who puts in a "robust performance" and credited it as being part of Home and Away's success.
External links
- Character profile at the Official Home and Away websiteYahoo!7Yahoo!7 is a 50-50 partnership between the Seven Network and Yahoo! Inc. in Australia.As part of the Yahoo! Inc. and the Seven Media Group, Yahoo!7 brings together the online assets of Yahoo! Inc. and the television and magazine content of the Seven Network and Pacific Magazines...
- Character profile at Holy SoapHoly SoapHoly 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...