Rewatching The Early Years

[cymbaline]

I knew Kylie Minogue's sister would be joining Home and Away, but I had no idea who she would be playing or what she even looked like. When Emily showed up, I thought it might be her and I found myself trying to work out if there was a family resemblance. I was a bit disappointed when I saw her name and it was Emily something or other. Funny how things change over the years, isn't it? 

[adam436]

18 hours ago, hapitoby said:

Yeah it was strange. They had a lot of long term guest characters so was strange to add both Marilyn and Matt then remove them for a few months

Yet other long-term guests who initially lasted much longer never made the credits, like Stacey, Phil and Andrew.

 

  

7 hours ago, cymbaline said:

I knew Kylie Minogue's sister would be joining Home and Away, but I had no idea who she would be playing or what she even looked like. When Emily showed up, I thought it might be her and I found myself trying to work out if there was a family resemblance. I was a bit disappointed when I saw her name and it was Emily something or other. Funny how things change over the years, isn't it? 

Dannii Minogue did audition for Marilyn though. The role of Emma was specifically created for Dannii after that audition. 

[cymbaline]

Later on, Ryan could've been added to the opening credits because he was around for ages. Or maybe it just felt like ages  

[j.laur5]

I just rewatched Colleen's one off guest appearance in 1997. Interestingly they set up her knowing Selina's mother and saying that she babysat her as baby and then we never saw Colleen and Selina together again. I found her 1997 appearance odd as she only appears in that episode for a couple of scenes  and not see again for two years.

[CaptainHulk]

On 25/01/2026 at 13:43, j.laur5 said:

I just rewatched Colleen's one off guest appearance in 1997. Interestingly they set up her knowing Selina's mother and saying that she babysat her as baby and then we never saw Colleen and Selina together again. I found her 1997 appearance odd as she only appears in that episode for a couple of scenes  and not see again for two years.

She was mentioned as being around but sparingly. She was supposed to clean out the home for Sale but stayed a decade and a half lol

[nenehcherry2]

On 22/11/2025 at 01:21, hapitoby said:

Yeah it was strange. They had a lot of long term guest characters so was strange to add both Marilyn and Matt then remove them for a few months and then when they returned, it was a while before they were re-added it.

Emily Symons took leave in 1989 for a several weeks for treatment a bulimia clinic. Andrew Howie allowed her the time off, paid. This was mentioned in a 1990 newspaper article and then again in a late 90s magazine interview that Emily did (alongside Nicolle and Debra) about their experiences of bulimia.

She was on a permanent contract from her initial appearance; Andrew knew her from her previous role in Richmond Hill and wanted her to have the role of Maz (albeit they did do auditions, hence the discovery of Dannii).

Presumably, they strategically removed her from the credits for to create the illusion / "surprise" of her "comeback" at the end of the year and did not bother creating a new shot (Morag had left by then) since they were going to change the credits in a few months anyway (but added a shot of Grant purely to highlight that they'd poached Craig, good PR / marketing when the show was still not even 2 years in the running).

Andrew Howie specifically wrote the role of Adam for Mat Stevenson. He knew him from his time at Neighbours and liked his work. Mat revealed this in an online interview a few years ago.

[Old H&A Fan]

I'm rewatching around the time Angel joined Home And Away. Shane seemed to be unaware of Angel other than as the girl who pretended to be with Frentåy who ripped him off by selling him dud tickets. I can't remember if that was ever made square before Angel moved into Mr Fisher's house. I am enjoying the comedy aspect of Adam's encyclopedia scam

[CaptainHulk]

15 hours ago, nenehcherry2 said:

Emily Symons took leave in 1989 for a several weeks for treatment a bulimia clinic. Andrew Howie allowed her the time off, paid. This was mentioned in a 1990 newspaper article and then again in a late 90s magazine interview that Emily did (alongside Nicolle and Debra) about their experiences of bulimia.

She was on a permanent contract from her initial appearance; Andrew knew her from her previous role in Richmond Hill and wanted her to have the role of Maz (albeit they did do auditions, hence the discovery of Dannii).

Presumably, they strategically removed her from the credits for to create the illusion / "surprise" of her "comeback" at the end of the year and did not bother creating a new shot (Morag had left by then) since they were going to change the credits in a few months anyway (but added a shot of Grant purely to highlight that they'd poached Craig, good PR / marketing when the show was still not even 2 years in the running).

Andrew Howie specifically wrote the role of Adam for Mat Stevenson. He knew him from his time at Neighbours and liked his work. Mat revealed this in an online interview a few years ago.

Yeah, He enjoyed playing Adam to start with as he was 180 from Skinner.

[adam436]

On 29/01/2026 at 09:19, nenehcherry2 said:

Andrew Howie specifically wrote the role of Adam for Mat Stevenson. 

I did not realise that! Interesting, since he must have been introduced to replace Frank in terms of timing and age, yet he was written as a more charasmatic and slightly more cluey Martin. I personally found Adam arrogant and sleazy (though I've not seen much of his stint beyond early 1990 so maybe he improved), and didn't enjoy his character at all. Once Adam came along, Martin was reduced to the slapstick/cringy stuff like the hotdog stand, the fish funeral and the pop band, instead of chasing women and his usual money-making scams. Lance always felt like a caricature, but Martin was a pretty well-rounded character prior to Adam's arrival. 

I've read that Adam and Emma were supposed to be H&A's Scott and Charlene, but it didn't eventuate for some reason. I wonder if that was a factor when Andrew Howie was writing the role for Mat Stevenson. Does anyone know why it didn't work out? Was it the age gap - Adam looked mid 20s and Emma was meant to be 16? Was it because Dannii didn't want to stay long-term? Or maybe they just didn't work together? Other than being Kylie's sister, I can't see any reason why the producers thought they would be any way compariable. 

The show had already had the rug pulled out from under them with the show's first big "Scott and Charlene romance" with Frank and Bobby (or maybe Roo, if you prefer that pairing?)

[CaptainHulk]

Dannii's trajectory was changing plus had she stayed I don't think Emma would have stuck around post Year 12. Probably a month in the diner or the store and would have been bored out of her mind and took a job on a cruise liner or something.

Adam probably would have moved on to Maz sooner (chucked Carly fast enough for Emma)