- Dexter Walker
-
Dexter Walker 
Home and Away character Portrayed by Tom Green (2009)
Charles Cottier (2010—)Introduced by Cameron Welsh Duration 2009, 2010— First appearance 30 July 2009 Classification Present; regular Profile Home The Farmhouse Occupation Student Family Father Sid Walker Mother Jody Walker Sisters Indigo Walker Half sisters Sasha Bezmel Dexter "Dex" Walker is a fictional character from the Australian Seven Network soap opera Home and Away, played by Charles Cottier. He made his first on-screen appearance on 30 July 2009. Dexter was originally played by Tom Green for a five week guest stint in 2009. In 2010, the character returned to Home and Away, played by Charles Cottier.
Contents
Character creation and casting
In July 2009, it was announced that a new family, the Walkers, would be introduced to Home and Away on a five-week guest contract.[1] Actor Tom Green was cast in the role of Dexter Walker, the son of Doctor Sid (Robert Mammone) and Jody Walker (Victoria Haralabidou) and the brother of Indigo (Samara Weaving).[2] In June 2010, it was announced that Dexter, Sid and Indigo would be returning permanently after proving popular with viewers.[3] It was revealed that newcomer Charles Cottier would take over the role of Dexter.[3] Of his casting, Cottier said: "I’m so happy to be joining Home and Away. Moving from Brisbane was a big step, but the cast and crew have gone out of their way to make me feel at home."[4] In 2011, Cottier admitted he was initially "slightly intimidated" about taking over the role.[5] Of the handover from Green, Cottier stated: "I sometimes hang out with Tom Green - he's a really nice guy - but I chose not to watch what he'd done. I think Dex is quite a different character now, too."[5]
Character development
Upon his return in 2010, Dexter has a "different personality".[6] Of this Cottier said, "I think he's more mature, from what I've heard. And he's hilarious. He's funny." He added that Dexter "doesn't really turn it off".[6] Channel Five's soap opera reporting website Holy Soap describe him as a "quick-witted and sensitive schoolboy".[7] Holy Soap also add that Dexter is "very funny and sarcastic", but he loves his family deeply.[7] Seven Network comment that Dexter "wears his sense of humour like a suit of armour".[8] Describing the character in an interview with the official Home and Away website, Cottier said: "He's quite a strange boy. He's funny and quirky and I think he finds it a little bit difficult to make friends."[9] He added that on the inside Dexter is "quite a sweet person and quite vulnerable".[9]
Following his return, Dexter falls in love with Sid's new partner Marilyn Chambers (Emily Symons).[10] Cottier told Inside Soap magazine that the storyline was embarrassing because of the age difference between the characters. Of this, Cottier explained: "It was one of the first things I read about the character, and I was kind of embarrassed, but excited to do it! Not every guy comes to Summer Bay and falls in love with a woman 20 years older than he is. My friends gave me grief about that! I got to work with Emily Symons though, and she's fantastic."[10]
Storylines
Dexter, father Sid, mother Jody and sister Indigo move to Summer Bay after Sid finds employment Northern Districts Hospital, covering for Doctor Rachel Armstrong (Amy Mathews) whilst she takes maternity leave. Dexter meets Annie Campbell (Charlotte Best) and takes a liking to her. He comforts Annie following the death of her friend Belle Taylor (Jessica Tovey) making Annie's former partner Jai Fernandez (Jordan Rodrigues) jealous. When Jai confronts Annie about her friendship with Dexter, he shows her a photograph that Dexter printed of her. Annie shows Dexter the photo and asks why he printed it. Dexter tells Annie that it was for a photo album he made of the last photos that Belle took. Dexter is upset when Annie refers to him as a friend. When Annie tries to talk to Dexter, he kisses her but she pulls away. Dexter apologises and Annie kisses him. They then begin a relationship. Jai discovers their relationship and Dexter tells Jai that Annie is happy with him. Annie ends their relationship because she does not want to hurt Jai's feelings. When Indigo is injured at a party, Jody returns and tells Sid that she is taking Dexter and Indigo with her. Dexter is unhappy, but Indigo convinces him to leave Summer Bay.
In June 2010, Dexter arrives at Sid's house along with Indigo, where they reveal that they are not moving to Europe with Jody. Dexter, Sid and Indigo return to Summer Bay and move into The Farmhouse. He re-enroll's at Summer Bay High School. Dexter meets Sid's new partner Marilyn Chambers and develops feelings for her. He then sends her some flowers anonymously. Dexter invites himself for dinner with Marilyn and Sid. Dexter makes jibes about Sid throughout the dinner to make Marilyn notice him. He visits Marilyn and asks her personal questions. After Marilyn tells him, Sid confronts Dexter who explains that he is looking out for him. When Sid organises a picnic with Marilyn, Dexter helps him get it ready. Dexter lies to Marilyn telling her that they have to go to the picnic alone and wait for Sid to join them. When Sid does not arrive, Marilyn discovers messages from him on her phone and realises that Dexter lied because he has feelings for her. Dexter writes Marilyn a letter and gives it to her before quickly leaving. Later, he goes to see Marilyn who tells him that she is going to show the letter to Sid. Dexter becomes worried and tells her that the letter was a creative writing exercise for school. Dexter visits Marilyn once again and when she receives news of Alf Stewart's (Ray Meagher) arrest, he comforts her. Marilyn questions Dexter, wondering whether he has feelings for her, but he denies it and leaves. As Dexter prepares to tell Marilyn about his feelings, she calls wanting to invite Sid for dinner. Marilyn also offers Dexter an invite to which he agrees. He tells Sid that it was the hospital calling and want him to work. Dexter arrives at Marilyn's and tells her that Sid is working. Dexter admits to Marilyn that he has feelings for her, leaving her stunned. Sid insists that Dexter should apologise and he goes to see Marilyn, telling her he still has feelings for her. Marilyn leaves and Dexter meets her friend Mitzy Fraser (Helen Dallimore), who tells him that Marilyn does not have any feelings for him. Mitzy then kisses him to show how he is pushing his feelings onto Marilyn. Dexter tells Sid and Marilyn and apologises for developing feelings for Marilyn. Sid and Indigo become worried about Dexter and Marilyn talks to him, helping him move on from his feelings for her. Mitzy apologises to Dexter and he forgives her.
Dexter buys a goldfish and meets Adrian (Phoebe Tonkin) who works at the pet store. He returns to the store for pet supplies and arranges a date. He meets Adrian at the Surf club and after becoming worried, leaves the date to asks Indigo for advice. On returning he discovers that Adrian has left, leaving a note telling him not to call her again. Dexter goes to see Adrian and apologises to her, explaining why he left. Adrian forgives him and tells him that she knows why he acts the way he does. Dexter receives advice from April Scott (Rhiannon Fish) about how to speak to women. He then goes to talk to Adrian and try to resume their relationship. However, Dexter reveals that April told him what to say and Adrian leaves. He visits Adrian again after Marilyn tells him that she might not be interested in him. Adrian tells him that Marilyn is correct and they agree to be just friends. Dexter meets Detective Graves (Eryn Jean Norvill) and takes a liking to her. He decides to wear a suit to impress her, but Sid refuses to let him leave wearing it. Dexter then truants from school to meet her, but she remains uninterested. He sends Detective Graves a bouquet of flowers asking her out on a date. She initially refuses but Robert Robertson (Socratis Otto) encourages her to go to find information on the murder of Penn Graham (Christian Clark). During the date, Detective Graves becomes charmed by Dexter and at the end of the night he asks her if they could meet again. She then confesses that the date was a set-up. However, when Detective Graves tells him to get over his need to replace his mother with an older woman, Dexter takes a dislike to her.
Leah Patterson-Baker (Ada Nicodemou) asks Dexter to talk to her son VJ Patterson (Felix Dean) who is starting secondary school, about attending Summer Bay High. Dexter begins filming people with a video camera and is caught by Casey Braxton (Lincoln Younes) who is a member of a surfing gang named The River Boys. Dexter is kidnapped by two of the gang's members, who leave him in the forest. Dexter later returns home.
Reception
Holy Soap describe Dexter's most memorable moment as: "Doing his best impression of David Attenborough to report on the breakdown of his family's car as they drove back to Summer Bay."[7] In December 2010, Cottier received a nomination in the "Most Popular New Male Talent" category at the 2011 TV Week Logie Awards.[11] Sarah Ellis of Inside Soap said that the magazine's staff love Dexter and were upset at the prospect of him remaining single, when April reconciled with Xavier.[12]
References
- ^ "New family for Summer Bay". Channel Five. (RTL Group). 29 July 2009. http://holysoap.five.tv/homeandaway/news/new-family-for-summer-bay-1740. Retrieved 10 February 2011.
- ^ "Home and Away welcomes Walker family". What's on TV. IPC Media. 29 July 2009. http://www.whatsontv.co.uk/soaps/home-and-away/news/home-and-away-welcomes-walker-family/6523. Retrieved 10 February 2011.
- ^ a b Dan (7 June 2010). "Newcomers and Returnees". Back to the Bay. http://www.backtothebay.net/news/2010/06/07/newcomers-returnees.shtml. Retrieved 10 February 2011.
- ^ "Charles Cottier". Seven Network. Yahoo!7. http://au.tv.yahoo.com/home-and-away/cast/article/-/7448249/charles-cottier/. Retrieved 10 February 2011.
- ^ a b "Dex star red-faced over crush". Channel Five. (RTL Group). 18 January 2011. http://holysoap.five.tv/homeandaway/news/dex-star-redfaced-over-crush-11903. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
- ^ a b "Charles has Dex appeal!". Channel Five. (RTL Group). 21 June 2010. http://holysoap.five.tv/news/charles-has-dex-appeal-7973. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
- ^ a b c "Holy Soap > Home and Away > Cast > Dexter Walker". Channel Five. (RTL Group). http://holysoap.five.tv/homeandaway/cast/dexter-walker-12187. Retrieved 10 February 2011.
- ^ "Dexter Walker". Seven Network. Yahoo!7. http://au.tv.yahoo.com/home-and-away/cast/article/-/7448853/dexter-walker/. Retrieved 11 February 2010.
- ^ a b "Walkers have 'new flavour'". Channel Five. (RTL Group). 27 June 2010. http://holysoap.five.tv/homeandaway/news/walkers-have-new-flavour-8103. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
- ^ a b Rainey, Naomi (18 January 2011). "Cottier: 'Marilyn plot was embarrassing'". Digital Spy. (Hachette Filipacchi UK). http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s15/home-and-away/news/a298772/cottier-marilyn-plot-was-embarrassing.html. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
- ^ "2011 TV Week Logie Awards". Throng. 7 December 2010. http://www.throng.com.au/logie-awards/2011-tv-week-logie-awards-nominees. Retrieved 16 February 2011.
- ^ Ellis, Sarah (11 - 17 June 2011). "Soapbox". Inside Soap (Hachette Filipacchi UK) (23): 97.
External Links
- Character Profile on the Home and Away Official AU website
- Character Profile on the Home and Away Official UK website
Home and Away Characters Gina Austin · Xavier Austin · Sasha Bezmel · Darryl Braxton · Casey Braxton · Heath Braxton · Charlie Buckton · Ruby Buckton · Marilyn Chambers · Miles Copeland · Elijah Johnson · Liam Murphy · John Palmer · Leah Patterson-Baker · VJ Patterson · Irene Roberts · April Scott · Bianca Scott · Colleen Smart · Romeo Smith · Alf Stewart · Roo Stewart · Dexter Walker · Indigo Walker · Sid WalkerCharacter lists Past characters · Present characters · Recurring characters · Births, marriages and deaths · 2009 · 2011Families HoldenMusic Theme song · Home and Away: The Sounds of Summer Bay · Home and Away: Songs From and Inspired by the Television Series · Home and Away Hits · Home and Away Hits 2Related articles Awards and nominations · Summer Bay · headLand
Categories:- Home and Away characters
- Fictional characters introduced in 2009
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