What happened to the old Flynn???

[Ryan]

From what we gathered Coral Drone didn't think much of him.

[claire_louise]

I adored Martin Dingle-Wall as Flynn, he was fabulous in the role and I could totaly understand why Sally fell in love with him. I think she got cheated as she married a surfy spunk and ended up with...I won't be rude, but let's just say I found new Flynn much less attractive! I never warmed to the new guy, and drove my friends and family nuts with my repeated protestations that hewasn't real Flynn.

Actually MDW had already left by the time they got married, so she definitely knew what she was letting herself in for. No wonder she had cold feet!

[luv_angel84]

LOL I liked the old actor better too, I hate it when they change actors, like Hayley too

[claire_louise]

It's a shame because sometimes the replacement is a really good actor, but you can never fully appreciate them as it was always someone else's role first. I really wish Ella Scott Lynch had been given a new character to play, particularly as she was only in it for such a short time.

[Skydreamer]

I have answers!!

I'm a huge fan, so I have been tracking him for the past four years! (I'm not crazy, but borderline obsessive I might conceed).

Anyway, the official line is that Martin left Home and Away because quite simply he needed a change - he felt that the security of such a popular show was a bit of an anti-comfort and he needed a challenge. Rumours were abound, such as him not being happy with the IVF storyline, but nothing has ever been said about these either by Seven or by Martin himself (the closest Martin ever gets to referring to this is "it was in London when the rumour mill struck" - no more is elaborated on).

When he left his first job was on stage in "The Nothing Men" (there is a website but it may not be suitable for some of the younger visitors to this site).

Then he left for London. He did a Peugeot advert shortly after arriving here (you can watch it here), and then went on to do a short for the BBC. He then did a two part series for ITV called "Summer Solstice" in 2005.

Since then however, he has turned his hand to writing. His first screenplay was based on a thought that he and his father (who sadly passed away about a year ago) had before his departure from Australia, and is called "Heart of a Nation". It was soon optioned by Deep Water Films (who seem very enthusiastic about it). He then followed this with "Habitat", which he says this about: "Seeing that first effort so well received, it begged the question, what stops me writing a story with a 30yr old Australian Male in the lead. I found the next issue I cared about & weaved a psychological thriller through it". (Deep Water Films also optioned this.)

So from what I can gather he is still very keen to keep up the acting!

His interest in art is hard to find much on. Not long after he arrived in London he collaborated with another artist to produce a now rather well-known piece on Portobello Road. The picture after it is from information about "Habitat", and appears to have Martin's signature at the bottom.

He is still living in London (evidence I have suggests that he has a place around the Notting Hill area), and in June of this year a website was launched (www.martindinglewall.com) - beware, those of you who like keeping the image of the blonde Flynn in your minds, he looks very different now!

Hope this helps!

[Level]

He had a haircut.

[~Amy~]

At first I hated the new Flynn but he eventually grew on me. Now I sad that the killed him off.

[Skydreamer]

I found it very hard to appreciate Joel McIlroy initially as his portrayal of Flynn was miles away from the character we had all ajusted to and many admired, but I did later come to see him as a somewhat separate character, and at this point I was able to value his work. Trust me, I was bawling my eyes out more than most when Flynn died!

However, Martin remains the true Flynn for me : )