Matt Hancock

Matt Hancock
Neighbours character
Portrayed by	Stephen Hunt
Introduced by	Stanley Walsh
Duration	2001–02, 2005
First appearance	26 March 2001
Last appearance	27 July 2005
Classification	Former, regular
Profile
Home	Albury
Occupation	Barman at Lou's Place Moco Delivery Person Elvis Impersonator
Family Father Evan Hancock Mother Genevieve Murdoch Stepfather Roger Murdoch Stepmother Maggie Hancock Brothers Chris Hancock Half brothers Leo Hancock Half sisters Francesca Hancock Emily Hancock

Matthew "Matt" Hancock is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Stephen Hunt. He made his first on-screen appearance on 26 March 2001 and departed on 9 May 2002. In 2005, Hunt reprised his role as Matt for the show's 20th anniversary episode.

Casting

In 2002, the producers decided to write the Hancock family out of the show.^[1] Hunt told Inside Soap that he and his co-stars were unhappy about it and he said "It was disappointing for me because I thought there was so much more they could do with my character. But they turned him into the loser of the street."^[1] Hunt went to the producers and suggested a new storyline for Matt, where he swims the English Channel.^[1] He had seen a similar episode on Home And Away, but his idea was rejected.^[1] Hunt then decided to swim the channel for charity.^[2]

In 2005, Hunt became one of many former cast members who reprised their roles for a 20th Anniversary episode of Neighbours.^[3]

Storylines

Matt first appears at Lou's Place, when the landlord Lou Carpenter (Tom Oliver) is looking for a new barman. Lou is reluctant to hire Matt at first but agrees to give him a trial, which Matt later completes. Soon after, Matt and his family move into Number 32 Ramsay Street after his father Evan (Nicholas Opolski) outbids the previous occupants, Dee Bliss (Madeleine West) and Tess Bell (Krista Vendy). After learning Dee is only moving next door, Matt tries to impress her by pretending to be older but he unwittingly reveals he is only 19, as he lets slip that he took the VCE the year previous. Matt becomes friends with Dee's housemate Toadfish Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney) and they agree to enter Toadie's dog, Bob in a pet competition.

When Matt begins dating Laura Wallace (Fiona Chen), he quickly pretends he lives alone but he is forced to admit he still lives at home with his father and stepmother, Maggie (Sally Cooper), when his sister, Emily's (Isabella Oldham) toys are visible. Laura then makes a confession; she is a stripper and many of her previous boyfriends had issues with the job. Matt mentions this to his friend and family but they aren't surprised. Matt tries to put on a front that he is comfortable with Laura's job but it becomes evident he is not when he punches an audience member when he attends one of Laura's shows. Laura is fired and she and Matt break up, but keep in touch as friends.

Matt, at Laura's suggestion, becomes an Elvis impersanator due to his resemblance to Elvis Presley. Matt begins to suffer from stage fright and asks Flick Scully (Holly Valance) to be his Priscilla for the shows. After the two share a hug, Matt begins to fall for Flick. After scoring a job at Moco with Flick's older sister Stephanie (Carla Bonner), Matt continues the Elvis gig but it is to the detriment of his new job. Steph eventually fires Matt after proving unreliable after one too many times.

When Matt helps Evan and principal Susan Kennedy (Jackie Woodburne) chaperon Erinsborough High's Year 12 camping trip, Tad Reeves (Jonathon Dutton) smuggles in a bottle of whiskey and shares it with Flick, Paul McClain (Jansen Spencer) and Monique Disney (Jacqi Swallow). Matt catches the teens and is persuaded not to tell Susan. Tad later suffers a scorpion bite and is in a critical condition. Matt is forced to admit to Susan that the teens were drinking and is given a dressing down. One night, while stocking the pub cellar, Matt and Flick are trapped inside and nobody can hear them. Flick immediately accuses Matt of planning this and confronts him about his feelings for her. Flick later apologises and tells Matt she likes him only as a friend, and the two put it behind them.

Matt begins spending a lot of time on his new car which he purchased after winning the prize money in a competition. Glen Bushby (Nathaniel Marshall) challenges him to a race but Matt's car stalls. Matt receives a letter demanding he pay $400 within two days or it will be repossessed, so Matt challenges Glen after being taunted and Stuart (Blair McDonough) puts down a bet of $500. Matt defeats Glen and is able to meet his payments. Leo (Anthony Hammer), Matt's younger brother wants in but is told he is too young.

After overhearing a conversation where Toadie confesses his feelings to Maggie, things become strained between the friends. Toadie tries to explain that he knows nothing will come of his feelings but Matt is unwilling to listen. When debt begins to mount, Matt agrees to another drag race, this time for higher stakes – $2,000. At the beginning of the race, Leo jumps into the car with Matt. The brothers seem to be winning but Matt swerves out of control and hits Harold Bishop (Ian Smith) who is out speed walking. Both cars crash and the drivers are seriously injured and Harold is left temporarily blind due to detached retinas.

Matt wakes up in hospital and confesses all to Evan and Maggie, and is shortly interviewed by Constable Terri Hall (Robyn Charlesworth) who tells him he will be charged with Reckless driving and potential manslaughter if Glen dies. When the realisation sinks in that he may be going to prison and he sees a priest enter Glen's room, Matt flees hospital and hides in a shack by the beach. Leo, sworn to secrecy, visits Matt who begs him to stay quiet. After Terri follows Leo and tracks Matt down, he is arrested after returning and denied bail for fleeing earlier.

After being eventually bailed at Evan and Maggie's expense, Matt returns home and is confronted by Glen's father, Roger (D.J. Foster), who angrily informs him that Glen may never walk again as a result of his injuries. Evan quickly defends Matt and the tension between father and son over the last few weeks eases slightly. Prior to the Hancocks leaving Ramsay Street after selling their house to fund Matt's legal bills, Matt visits Harold, who has recently arrived home form hospital and apologises for the accident. Harold accepts and forgives Matt. Several months after the Hancocks leave, Joe Scully (Shane Connor) reveals that Matt escaped criminal charges.

Matt makes a cameo in Annalise Hartman's (Kimberly Davies) documentary about Ramsay Street. He explains that the reason he liked Ramsay Street was everything was so laid back and jokingly says Lou's Place was the only place to go and no wonder it was burned down.

Reception

In June 2002, Matt came sixth in a poll run by Newsround to find viewer's favourite Neighbours character. He received 2.34% of the vote.^[4] Newsround later called Matt a "heart-throb."^[5]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Herbison, Jason (June 2002). "Happy Ever After?". Inside Soap (Hachette Filipacchi UK). 
2. ^ "Neighbours star to swim the Channel". Newsround (BBC). 24 April 2002. http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/tv_film/newsid_1947000/1947114.stm. Retrieved 23 February 2011. 
3. ^ Green, Kris (14 April 2005). "More Neighbours returns confirmed". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi (UK) Ltd. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/news/a20611/more-neighbours-returns-confirmed.html. Retrieved 10 February 2011. 
4. ^ "Fave Neighbours character". Newsround (BBC). 13 June 2002. http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/vote/votes/newsid_2043000/2043003.stm. Retrieved 23 February 2011. 
5. ^ "Neighbours' Matt swims the Channel". Newsround (BBC). 18 July 2002. http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/tv_film/newsid_2136000/2136667.stm. Retrieved 23 February 2011.