Meredith Fleming

Dr. Meredith Fleming
Shortland Street character
Portrayed by	Stephanie Wilkin
Introduced by	Caterina De Nave (1992) Brian Lennane (1994)
Duration	1992-1993, 1994
First appearance	28 May 1992 episode 4
Last appearance	28 July 1994 episode 569
Profile
Residence	Dunedin
Occupation	Doctor of Medicine
Family Sons Andrew Fleming Romances Chris Warner (1992) Hone Ropata (1992-1993) Guy Warner (1992, 1993) Annie Flynn (1994-present)

Dr. Meredith Fleming was a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was portaryed by Stephanie Wilkin. She was part of original cast and the shows first lesbian relationship.

Character History

1992-1993

Meredith gets frustrated at new doctor Hone Ropata when he shows off his unusual and unorthodox methods of procedure. Though Meredith soon falls for Hones charms and has a one night stand. They agree to remain friends. From the beginning of the series, Dr. Love (Chris Warner) made his attraction towards Meredith obvious but after a short period of dating, Meredith decided Chris was not the man she wanted. She later had a one night stand with Chris' younger brother Guy, who she met in a pub. A big shock hits Meredith when her son Andrew arrives at her doorstop. She gave birth to Andrew when she was a teenager and he had been living with her parents but she decided to give parenting another go. Andrew started to cause mischief and the only person who could stop him was Hone. Andrew and Hone spent more and more time together which in turn made Meredith spend more time with Hone. Eventually they started dating. While working, Meredith was shocked to see Andrews father. He had returned wanting custody of Andrew. He took Meredith to court but she won the case after Andrews father kidnapped Andrew. Meredith was shocked when, Andrew, staying at a friends house, accidentally shot himself in the face. He survived however.

In 1993 Meredith and Hone broke up and Meredith took it badly. She also lost Andrew who went back to live with Meredith's parents. She met young Guy Warner again and they started dating. Meredith enjoyed his enthusiastic approach to life and enjoyed the frustration it brought on Chris. Meredith did not approve when Guy offered to be Carrie's donor for her pregnancy, but Guy went through with it anyway. She did not get impregnated, though. Meredith discovered that Guy had been sleeping with Jenny Harrison. Meredith forgave Jenny and was disappointed when she learnt others were giving her a bad time. Meredith was offered a job in Dunedin and seeing that she could be closer to Andrew, she took the job. A week before she was to leave, a crazed patient entered the hospital, he shot Meredith. Luckily she survived but received serious injury. While in hospital, she grew closer again to Chris, but when she learnt Chris had spread the word about Jenny, she never forgave him. Meredith had a big leaving party, where her best friend Carrie gave birth. She then departed to Dunedin.

1994

Meredith returned in 1994 to further her research on a new treatment for patients. Chris hoped to get back together with her, and at first Meredith seemed reluctant. However, after being asked out on a date by nurse Annie Flynn, (Rebecca Hobbs) Meredith threw herself at Chris, making him slightly uncomfortable. Meredith eventually revealed why this was- she was attracted to Annie too, but was in denial. After Chris walked in on the two about to kiss, news soon did the rounds at the clinic about the two being in a relationship. Not long after, Meredith and Annie left for Dunedin, leaving Ferndale and Shortland Street for good.