Shortland Street Cliffhangers
Encyclopedia
The annual Shortland Street
Cliffhanger
is a storyline at the end of the years season leaving behind a question to be solved the following year. This technique is used to lure viewers back after the long break. Cliffhangers are usually carefully written as so storyline's from throughout the year come to a head and interconnect. The following is a list by year of Shortland Street's cliffhangers.
discovers she is pregnant with ex fiance Chris Warner
's child.
, Gina
, Hone
and Marj all held New Year's Eve parties - and competed for guests. They were all disappointed when Alex McKenna invited everyone to celebrate at the local bar, Kennedy's. Marj was pleasantly surprised to find lover Laurie at her door.
was shocked to discover she was pregnant. Hone Ropata had to defend himself against Ant, a dodgy (and violent) associate of his nephew, Manny. He punched him and he never got back up. Darryl Neilson
persuades Stuart Neilson
to interrupt Lionel
and Kirsty's until-then fairytale wedding.
and Kirsty. Kirsty was put into a coma and Carmen received a small injury to the head. Guy
proposed to her and she died from a brain tumor moments later. Kirsty regained consciousness but suffered extreme amnesia and she told Lionel she could not remember loving him. Their marriage was over.
broke up for good and wheelchair-bound Rangi found himself in a tight corner when he was trapped in the garage by a drunk Rachel - who then passed out leaving the car running.
Nick
discovered the truth about the garbage company he worked for and found himself in danger. In Fiji Ellen told David she was pregnant. And Lionel and Kirsty decided to give their marriage another go. The year ended on their kiss.
Lionel proposed to MacKenzie, unaware of her villainous activities. Oscar himself was nowhere to be found - until Minnie discovered him in Ellen and David's dining room, apparently dead.
Meanwhile, Ellen and Mike were looking for Minnie, hoping to find her on the harbour cruise they'd planned. The boat hit a reef and began to sink and when Mike and Ellen tried to jump to safety Ellen hit her head. Mike frantically tried to find her underwater...
Donna discovered Rangi wasn't her brother after all - but while trying to contact him with the good news he was pledging his devotion to policewoman girlfriend Janet, trapped in her vehicle as it went up in flames.
Fergus proposed to Waverley, then called off the engagement when Wave would not believe he was off drugs; Wave soon realised the error of her ways and proposed to him - but would he accept?
Sophia met a stranger who introduced himself as the new head of the hospital - Chris Warner
.
Angela and Nick's son Lucas was born (but it was bittersweet for Nick, as he knew Angela's cancer was spreading). And Frank came under fire when he treated a murderer - and was later seen lying in the carpark in a pool of his own blood.
Nick declared his love for Waverley and asked her to come to the UK with him. And Barb's Christmas party turned to tragedy when Marshall's garage drug lab exploded.
be diagnosed with breast cancer and Shannon announce that she was pregnant - to Tama.
Rachel and Chris's relationship was on the rocks and as her alcoholism took control she moved into bartender Zac's place, and nearly drowned in his pool.
Chris called it quits and decided to pursue his feelings for Donna. As they celebrated, Rachel was on her way over. Trying to talk to Chris on her mobile while driving drunk she had a serious car accident!
Back at the hospital prisoner Kurt Matakuare (Victor's nemesis) had been brought in for treatment. When everyone else was at the staff Christmas party he overpowered his guard and headed for Victor's office. When Adam tried to stop him, Kurt stabbed Adam with a scalpel leaving him bleeding in the deserted corridor too weak to cry out.
Chris Warner's world crumbled around him when his girlfriend Donna discovered he'd been unfaithful, and he was arrested on trumped up charges of sexual molestation, both thanks to Dominic.
The on-again, off-again romance between Toni Thompson and Logan King was all on when Logan announced he'd left his wife for Toni.
At the Christmas party, Vinnie kissed Jesse and Waverley fainted for the best possible reason - she was pregnant! And across town at a charity function, Anne and Tama were trapped when the building collapsed around them.
Called to the scene, ambo officer Nelson Copeland tried frantically to get Anne out before the building was completely destroyed...
The centerpiece was Tama and Shannon's romantic beach wedding, attended by old favourites Victor, Donna and Mihi. Across town, the hospital social club was performing A Christmas Carol charity and back at the Emergency Department, Sarah
and Andrew were coping with the demands of the festive season.
The year ended with a combined wedding reception and A Christmas Carol wrap party at Coltrane, the romantic reunion of Barb and Sticky and the start of Sarah and Andrew's ill-fated relationship.
form a band to entertain their colleagues at the hospital Christmas party it was all to raise money for a good cause, and even though Sarah was dating Hamish and Craig was with Huia, their chemistry was clear as they sang the Dance Exponents hit 'Why Does Love Do This To Me?
'
over old flame Craig Valentine at the staff beach party.
Chris Warner begins his ill fated affair with Justine Jones when they share a passionate kiss.
, Tuesday and Harry
but they run away in the car and get in a huge car crash.
After months of murdering the hospital staff, the Ferndale Strangler is revealed to be nice guy nurse Joey Henderson
when he attempts to strangle nurse Tania Jeffries
.
decides to ditch the country, stinging several people along the way. He arrives to his house, packs his gear and is then shot three times by an unseen assailant.
discovered that his brother Sid was intent on burning down the IV with his fiancee Sophie
sleeping upstairs.
Attempting to leave the party to stop him, Kieran was forced to borrow drunk Rachel's car and ended up hitting and killing nurse Morgan Braithwaite
.
He pulled a comatose Rachel across to the driver's side of the car, effectively framing her for the death.
learns that Luke Durville
has been "taken care of" by the Russian gang that kidnapped him, Jennifer
learns that Maia has a crush on her, Scotty
brutally starts strangling fiance Tracey Morrison
on the dinner table and Evan accidentally starts a fire in Rachel's apartment block, trapping himself, Chris, Rachel and Callum inside. The year ends with Callum jumping ontop of passed out lovers, Chris and Rachel as another huge explosion rifts the building.
Shortland Street
Shortland Street is a New Zealand prime-time soap opera, first broadcast on Television New Zealand's TV2 on 25 May 1992. It is the country's longest-running drama and soap opera, being broadcast continuously for over 4500 episodes and 19 years, and is one of the most watched television programs in...
Cliffhanger
Cliffhanger
A cliffhanger or cliffhanger ending is a plot device in fiction which features a main character in a precarious or difficult dilemma, or confronted with a shocking revelation at the end of an episode of serialized fiction...
is a storyline at the end of the years season leaving behind a question to be solved the following year. This technique is used to lure viewers back after the long break. Cliffhangers are usually carefully written as so storyline's from throughout the year come to a head and interconnect. The following is a list by year of Shortland Street's cliffhangers.
1992
Though there was no break this year as Shortland Street screened throughout the holidays, Alison RaynorAlison Raynor
Alison Raynor was a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was portrayed by Danielle Cormack and was part of the series original cast.-Creation and Casting:...
discovers she is pregnant with ex fiance Chris Warner
Chris Warner
Dr. Christopher "Chris" Warner is a fictional character and current main protagonist on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He is portrayed by Michael Galvin. He is the only original character to still be on the show....
's child.
1993
Again there was no break as the show screened throughout the holidays but the hospital staff faced a difficult choice when SteveSteve Mills (Character)
Steve Mills was a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He was portrayed by Andrew Binns and was part of the original core cast....
, Gina
Gina Rossi
Gina Rossi-Dodds was a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was portrayed by Josephine Davison and was part of the original cast.-1992-1995:...
, Hone
Hone Ropata
Hone Ropata was a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street and was part of the original cast. He was portrayed by Temuera Morrison who after the role went on to several Hollywood roles...
and Marj all held New Year's Eve parties - and competed for guests. They were all disappointed when Alex McKenna invited everyone to celebrate at the local bar, Kennedy's. Marj was pleasantly surprised to find lover Laurie at her door.
1994
JennyJenny Harrison (character)
Jenny Harrison was a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was portrayed by Maggie Harper and was part of the original cast.-Creation:...
was shocked to discover she was pregnant. Hone Ropata had to defend himself against Ant, a dodgy (and violent) associate of his nephew, Manny. He punched him and he never got back up. Darryl Neilson
Darryl Neilson
Darryl Neilson is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. Darryl was portrayed by Mark Ferguson from 1992 to the characters death in 1995....
persuades Stuart Neilson
Stuart Neilson
Stuart Neilson was a fictional character in the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He was portrayed by Martin Henderson and was part of the original cast, with a lot of the first episode focusing around him....
to interrupt Lionel
Lionel Skeggins
Lionel Skeggins was a fictional character on the TVNZ soap opera Shortland Street. He was portrayed by John Leigh and after making his debut as a guest character in 1993, he returned from 1994 to the character's disappearance in 1999 as a core cast member....
and Kirsty's until-then fairytale wedding.
1995
Once again Shortland Street screened throughout the holiday period, but on Christmas Day, a truck driver drove into the hospital, knocking down Carmen RobertsCarmen Roberts
Carmen Roberts was a fictional character in the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was portrayed by Theresa Healey and appeared on the show from her arrival in mid 1993 to her death in late 1995...
and Kirsty. Kirsty was put into a coma and Carmen received a small injury to the head. Guy
Guy Warner
Guy Warner is a fictional character in the long running New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He was portrayed by Craig Parker in a guest role in 1992 before returning as core cast from 1993 to 1996...
proposed to her and she died from a brain tumor moments later. Kirsty regained consciousness but suffered extreme amnesia and she told Lionel she could not remember loving him. Their marriage was over.
1996
Rangi and RachelRachel McKenna
Rachel McKenna is a fictional character from the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street, played by Angela Bloomfield. Rachel first appeared on the show from 1993 to 1999. Then from 2001 to 2003. Rachel then made a very brief appearance in 2007 before returning as a core cast member in October 2009...
broke up for good and wheelchair-bound Rangi found himself in a tight corner when he was trapped in the garage by a drunk Rachel - who then passed out leaving the car running.
Nick
Nick Harrison
Nick Harrison was a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He was portrayed by Karl Burnett and was the longest running original cast member on the show first appearing in 1992 and running for 13 years until 2005....
discovered the truth about the garbage company he worked for and found himself in danger. In Fiji Ellen told David she was pregnant. And Lionel and Kirsty decided to give their marriage another go. The year ended on their kiss.
1997
Nick realised mum Jenny's husband Ian was not to be trusted but no one believed him. Donna and Rangi's romance came to a sudden halt when they discovered they were half-brother and sister. Tiffany was rushed to hospital after a potentially fatal collapse. Caroline was sentenced to life imprisonment for Annabel's "murder". And the small plane that Kirsty and Lionel were travelling in crashed.1998
Oscar's bad deeds began to catch up with him. Fergus attacked Oscar after learning he had raped Minnie and Rachel discovered Oscar had defrauded the hospital of a million dollars.Lionel proposed to MacKenzie, unaware of her villainous activities. Oscar himself was nowhere to be found - until Minnie discovered him in Ellen and David's dining room, apparently dead.
Meanwhile, Ellen and Mike were looking for Minnie, hoping to find her on the harbour cruise they'd planned. The boat hit a reef and began to sink and when Mike and Ellen tried to jump to safety Ellen hit her head. Mike frantically tried to find her underwater...
1999
Moira and Dean were finally reconciled and Alesha told Frank she was pregnant - to him. Wave was shocked that cousin Minnie was accepting money for sex. After a fight with lover Laura, Caroline turned to Greg for comfort.Donna discovered Rangi wasn't her brother after all - but while trying to contact him with the good news he was pledging his devotion to policewoman girlfriend Janet, trapped in her vehicle as it went up in flames.
2000
A literal cliffhanger as nasty Eamon begged for his life, but would Kate Larsen (whom Eamon had raped) pull him up?Fergus proposed to Waverley, then called off the engagement when Wave would not believe he was off drugs; Wave soon realised the error of her ways and proposed to him - but would he accept?
Sophia met a stranger who introduced himself as the new head of the hospital - Chris Warner
Chris Warner
Dr. Christopher "Chris" Warner is a fictional character and current main protagonist on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He is portrayed by Michael Galvin. He is the only original character to still be on the show....
.
Angela and Nick's son Lucas was born (but it was bittersweet for Nick, as he knew Angela's cancer was spreading). And Frank came under fire when he treated a murderer - and was later seen lying in the carpark in a pool of his own blood.
2001
Disappointed suitor Jack Hewitt attacked Chris and kidnapped Rachel, later staging a creepy mock wedding.Nick declared his love for Waverley and asked her to come to the UK with him. And Barb's Christmas party turned to tragedy when Marshall's garage drug lab exploded.
2002
2002 saw WaverleyWaverley Harrison
Waverley Harrison was a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was portrayed by Claire Chitham and was introduced as a love interest for Nick Harrison who she eventually married 8 years after her arrival to the show.-1994-1995:Rachel was annoyed when her wacky...
be diagnosed with breast cancer and Shannon announce that she was pregnant - to Tama.
Rachel and Chris's relationship was on the rocks and as her alcoholism took control she moved into bartender Zac's place, and nearly drowned in his pool.
Chris called it quits and decided to pursue his feelings for Donna. As they celebrated, Rachel was on her way over. Trying to talk to Chris on her mobile while driving drunk she had a serious car accident!
Back at the hospital prisoner Kurt Matakuare (Victor's nemesis) had been brought in for treatment. When everyone else was at the staff Christmas party he overpowered his guard and headed for Victor's office. When Adam tried to stop him, Kurt stabbed Adam with a scalpel leaving him bleeding in the deserted corridor too weak to cry out.
2003
As 2003 drew to a close the question on everyone's lips was 'Who killed Geoff Greenlaw?' and as Geoff's sister Delphi prepared to leave Ferndale for Sydney in the company of Dominic Warner, she was horrified to uncover new evidence suggesting Dom was the murderer!Chris Warner's world crumbled around him when his girlfriend Donna discovered he'd been unfaithful, and he was arrested on trumped up charges of sexual molestation, both thanks to Dominic.
The on-again, off-again romance between Toni Thompson and Logan King was all on when Logan announced he'd left his wife for Toni.
At the Christmas party, Vinnie kissed Jesse and Waverley fainted for the best possible reason - she was pregnant! And across town at a charity function, Anne and Tama were trapped when the building collapsed around them.
Called to the scene, ambo officer Nelson Copeland tried frantically to get Anne out before the building was completely destroyed...
2004
This year Shortland Street ran right up to Christmas and the year's final episode was a celebratory one-hour special that screened on Christmas Day.The centerpiece was Tama and Shannon's romantic beach wedding, attended by old favourites Victor, Donna and Mihi. Across town, the hospital social club was performing A Christmas Carol charity and back at the Emergency Department, Sarah
Sarah Potts (character)
Dr. Sarah Marjorie Potts is a fictional character on the soap opera Shortland Street. She is played by Amanda Billing. First arriving in September 2004, the character has reached the record of one of the longest ever stint's in the soap's history, with only short term breaks every few years.Sarah...
and Andrew were coping with the demands of the festive season.
The year ended with a combined wedding reception and A Christmas Carol wrap party at Coltrane, the romantic reunion of Barb and Sticky and the start of Sarah and Andrew's ill-fated relationship.
2005
The final episode of 2005 saw Craig, Sarah, Judy and MaiaMaia Jeffries
Maia Anne Jeffries is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was portrayed by Anna Jullienne from mid 2004 to early 2011, with the character starring in numerous high profile storylines alongside her on screen family....
form a band to entertain their colleagues at the hospital Christmas party it was all to raise money for a good cause, and even though Sarah was dating Hamish and Craig was with Huia, their chemistry was clear as they sang the Dance Exponents hit 'Why Does Love Do This To Me?
Why Does Love Do This To Me?
"Why Does Love Do This To Me" is a song by New Zealand rock band The Exponents from their 1992 album Something Beginning With C. Released in 1991 it reached Number 3 of the New Zealand singles chart and went gold...
'
2006
Sarah finally chooses TK SamuelsTK Samuels
Te Koha 'TK' Samuels is a fictional character in New Zealand's longest running soap opera Shortland Street, played by actor Benjamin Mitchell since early 2006.-2006-:...
over old flame Craig Valentine at the staff beach party.
Chris Warner begins his ill fated affair with Justine Jones when they share a passionate kiss.
2007
Chris locates Guy, ToniToni Warner
Antoinette "Toni" Warner was a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street...
, Tuesday and Harry
Harry Warner (character)
Harold "Harry" Warner is a fictional recurring character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He is currently played by Reid Walker but has been portrayed by Joshua Thompson, Callum Campbell Ross and Henry Williams.Harry is the son of the longest serving character on the show Chris...
but they run away in the car and get in a huge car crash.
After months of murdering the hospital staff, the Ferndale Strangler is revealed to be nice guy nurse Joey Henderson
Joey Henderson
Joseph James "Joey" Henderson was a fictional character that appeared on New Zealand's longest running soap opera Shortland Street, and was the soap's first serial killer. Although always a suspect, the audience did not learn Joey was the killer until December 2007...
when he attempts to strangle nurse Tania Jeffries
Tania Jeffries
Tania Jeffries is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. Tania Jeffries is the younger sister to nurse Maia Jeffries, PA Libby Jeffries and daughter of hospital receptionist, Yvonne Jefferies...
.
2008
Tania and boyfriend Kingi get kidnapped by the Whitetails Gang, meanwhile Ethan PierceEthan Pierce
Dr. Ethan Pierce is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street and was portrayed by Owen Black from August 2008 to January 2009 and again from May to June 2009...
decides to ditch the country, stinging several people along the way. He arrives to his house, packs his gear and is then shot three times by an unseen assailant.
2009
Kieran MitchellKieran Mitchell
Kieran Mitchell is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street who was portrayed by British actor Adam Rickitt through numerous high profile storylines from early 2007 to mid 2010....
discovered that his brother Sid was intent on burning down the IV with his fiancee Sophie
Sophie McKay
Sophie Juliette McKay is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was introduced in late 2006 as the daughter of surgeon Justine Jones and GP Callum McKay. She was briefly married to Kieran Mitchell in early 2010 before they separated.-2006-2008:Sophie McKay...
sleeping upstairs.
Attempting to leave the party to stop him, Kieran was forced to borrow drunk Rachel's car and ended up hitting and killing nurse Morgan Braithwaite
Morgan Braithwaite
Morgan Braithwaite was a fictional character in the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was portrayed by Bonnie Soper since February 5, 2008. Morgan died on December 18 2009 after Kieran Mitchell accidentally ran her over with Rachel's car.-Character:Morgan Braithwaite was quiet, polite...
.
He pulled a comatose Rachel across to the driver's side of the car, effectively framing her for the death.
2010
IsaacIsaac Worthington
Dr. Isaac John William Worthington is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera, Shortland Street. He is portrayed by Matt Minto and has been on the show since March 8, 2010. He is the cousin of long time character Chris Warner. The characters badboy attitude and relationship with Dr...
learns that Luke Durville
Luke Durville
Dr. Luke Durville is a fictional character on New Zealand's long-running soap opera, Shortland Street. Durville has been played by Gerald Urquhart since the character's first appearance on 14 September 2007 and appears sporadically each year often disappearing from four to eleven months at a...
has been "taken care of" by the Russian gang that kidnapped him, Jennifer
Jennifer Mason (character)
Dr. Jennifer Mason was a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was portrayed by well known actress Sara Wiseman.-Prior to Shortland Street:...
learns that Maia has a crush on her, Scotty
James Scott (character)
James Owen "Scotty" Scott is a fictional character on New Zealand's longest running soap opera Shortland Street and was portrayed by Kiel McNaughton from his arrival in March 2007, first as a guest character before returning in June 2007 as a core cast member, up until the characters axing in 2011...
brutally starts strangling fiance Tracey Morrison
Tracey Morrison
Tracey Morrison was a fictional character on the New Zealand Soap Opera Shortland Street. Tracey is portrayed by Sarah Thomson and first appeared on the show in 2007 and returned as a major character mid 2008. She departed in 2011.-Casting:...
on the dinner table and Evan accidentally starts a fire in Rachel's apartment block, trapping himself, Chris, Rachel and Callum inside. The year ends with Callum jumping ontop of passed out lovers, Chris and Rachel as another huge explosion rifts the building.