- Matt Robinson (Neighbours)
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Matt Robinson Neighbours character Portrayed by Ashley Paske Introduced by Don Battye Duration 1989–1991 First appearance 22 May 1989 Last appearance 19 March 1991 Classification Former, regular Profile Date of birth 23 March 1972 Home Adelaide Occupation Mechanic, Barman Family Father Barry Dwyer Mother Hilary Robinson Adoptive mother Margaret Williams Cousins Jim Robinson
Paul Robinson
Scott Robinson
Glen Donnelly
Lucy RobinsonMatthew "Matt" Robinson (previously Williams) is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Ashley Paske. He made his first on-screen appearance on 22 May 1989 and departed the show on 19 March 1991.
Contents
Casting
In 1997, Ashley Paske spoke to Lizzy Gardiner about his time in the show and leaving to pursue further endeavors in the UK, spurred on by his popularity. Paske then mentioned that he had difficulty securing acting work on his return to Australia.[1]
Storylines
Backstory
Matt was born in Adelaide in 1972, the product of a love affair between Hilary Robinson and Barry Dwyer. When Barry left Hilary, she subsequently adopted Matt out to a family friend, Margaret Williams. Hilary spent most of Matt's life watching him grow up from afar and found it difficult, so she would visit her family in Erinsborough as often she could. 17 years later, after finding out the truth Matt came to Erinsborough along with Hilary, in order to get to know his birth mother a bit better.
1989–1991
Matt arrives at Number 30 with Hilary, initially as a house guest and surprises Sharon Davies (Jessica Muschamp), who is staying there, who was expecting him to be much older and stuffier. Matt quickly makes friends with Sharon and her boyfriend, Nick Page (Mark Stevens). Matt later attends Erinsborough High and agrees to help Nick out in a skateboarding competition against Nick's nemesis, Bruce Zadro (Myles Collins).
When Hilary mentions Matt's father in a conversation, Matt, knowing that Hilary is his biological mother, presses her further and she reveals that she had given him up for adoption because she was young at the time. When Sharon begins to get suspicious, Hilary tries to keep Matt's identity secret from her and the rest of the Neighbours. Matt urges Hilary to tell the truth, but she is adamant she will not.
Matt has enough and threatens to return to Adelaide, Hilary thinks he is bluffing and tells him she won't be emotionally blackmailed. Matt is serious and only when he mentions it at the engagement party of Des Clarke (Paul Keane) and Jane Harris (Annie Jones), Hilary reveals the truth to everyone that Matt is her son. Shortly after, Matt decides to change his surname to Robinson.
After losing in a practice quiz, it is revealed Matt is dyslexic. Matt's teacher Mike Young (Guy Pearce) agrees to help him with his studies.
When Toby Mangel (Finn Greentree-Keane) and Tiffany "Lochy" McLachlan (Amber Kilpatrick) discover a house they believe to be haunted, Matt scoffs but when Lochy runs into the house, he follows her to find the "ghost" is teenage run away Lee Maloney (Maree Ackhurst).
Matt and Lee become friends and he offers for her to stay with him, Hilary and Sharon at Number 30 and Hilary's neighbour, Kerry Bishop (Linda Hartley) lends Lee some spare clothes. When Hilary returns home to discover Lee in a towel and jumps to conclusions about Lee and Matt. Matt quickly invents a story that Lee is an old friend from Adelaide whose belongings were lost on the bus. Once the truth emerges about the lie, Hilary is quick to throw Lee out but grudgingly relents when Matt asks her to let Lee stay.
After an argument, Matt kisses Lee and they begin dating. Over Christmas 1989, Matt goes home to spend Christmas with his adoptive parents. On his return, he is suspicious of Nick and Lee spending so much time together. Nick assures him they're just friends and they spent a lot of time together while Matt and most of their friends were away.
Matt's decision to drop out of school and become an apprentice mechanic for Hilary's cousin, Jim is met with initial reservation from Hilary but after realizing it is what Matt wants to do, she gives him her blessing. Barry Dwyer, Matt's biological father arrives in Erinsborough and Matt meets him at Lassiter's. Matt and Barry have a conversation and Matt decides he doesn't want to complicate things further as he's happy with Hilary and his adoptive parents.
After Hilary moves back to Adelaide, Matt and Lee move into a flat but quickly leave when the landlord begins hassling Lee. They begins squatting at the emptied Number 30. After Jim finally catches the couple, he comes up with a solution; Matt stay at Number 26 and Lee at Number 28. On the day of Nick's departure for London, Lee disappears leaving Matt a letter.
Matt's 18th birthday approaches and he is no mood to celebrate, but after Kerry and her husband, Joe Mangel (Mark Little) have a talk with him, he feels better and later he receives another letter from Lee, telling him about her new job up North. After an argument with Jim, who is having marital difficulties with his wife Beverly, Matt moves in with Des and Melanie Pearson (Lucinda Cowden) at Number 28.
When Gemma Ramsay (Beth Buchanan) arrives to stay with her aunt, Madge Bishop (Anne Charleston), Matt falls for her and they begin dating. Madge is opposed as Gemma is in her final year of school, but the couple continue seeing each other. After Des sells Number 28 to the Willis family, Matt moves in with Joe and supports him when Kerry is shot dead during a protest. Shortly after Kerry's funeral, Matt shocks Gemma with his revelation that he was in love with Kerry but knew nothing could come of it as she was Joe's wife. Gemma is stunned but understanding, much to Matt's surprise.
At the end of 1990, Matt and Gemma are involved in a serious motorcycle accident when Matt swerves to avoid a reversing lorry. Both are taken to hospital, Matt escapes with stitches in his leg, a bruised arm and mild concussion, while Gemma is told she may lose a leg. Tom Ramsay (Gary Files), Gemma's father blames Matt for the accident and tells him to keep away from Gemma. Matt and Tom eventually build bridges before Tom leaves for Brisbane.
Gemma's boyfriend, Aidan Devlin (Blake Collins) arrives back in Erinborough, with the intention to win her back. Matt is annoyed by this and punches Aidan. Matt and Gemma then break up and Matt leaves Erinsborough to take care of Hilary's house in Adelaide. Matt later sends Melanie a postcard to say he is enjoying himself in Adelaide.
Reception
In Neighbours: The Official Annual 1991, John McCready and Nicola Furlong said Paske was following in Jessica Muschamp and Anne Scott-Pendlebury's footsteps in a "rise to the top" in making his mark on Neighbours.[2]
References
- ^ "Lizzy Gardiner’s Story of the Fame Game". Australian Screen Online. 1997. http://aso.gov.au/titles/documentaries/fame-game/clip2/. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
- ^ McCready, John; Furlong, Nicola (1990). Neighbours: The Official Annual 1991. Hamlyn. p. 59. ISBN 978-0-600-57045-5. http://www.worldcat.org/title/neighbours-the-official-annual-1991/oclc/60285359?referer=list_view.
Neighbours Character lists Crew members Don Battye · Susan Bower · Alan Coleman · Tony Hatch · Pete McTighe · Peter Pinne · Jan Russ · Jackie Trent · Reg WatsonFamilies Locations Music Related articles The Robinson family in Neighbours Jim Robinson | Paul Robinson | Cameron Robinson | Elle Robinson | Robert Robinson | Andrew Robinson | Julie Robinson | Glen Donnelly | Scott Robinson | Lucy Robinson | Hilary Robinson | Matt Robinson
Spouses: Beverly Marshall | Terry Inglis | Gail Lewis | Christina Alessi | Lyn Scully | Rebecca Napier | Philip Martin | Charlene MitchellCategories:- Neighbours characters
- Fictional adoptees
- Fictional mechanics
- Fictional characters introduced in 1989
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