Home and Away is an Australian soap opera first broadcast on the Seven Network on 17 January 1988. The 3rd season of Home and Away began airing from 8 January 1990. The following is a list of characters that first appeared in 1990, by order of first appearance. They were all introduced by the show's executive producer Des Monaghan. In January, Rebekah Elmaloglou began appearing as Sophie Simpson. The following month Craig McLachlan and Julian McMahon took on the respective roles of school teacher Grant Mitchell and soldier Ben Lucini. March saw the introduction of Jaiman Paget Bayly as recurring character Murray "Mullet" Jensen. Beach House landlord Ernie Jacobs (David Weatherley) made his debut in April, along with Bridget Jackson played by Paula Duncan. Craig Black began his second role in the serial as student Paul Jensen in May. Josephine Mitchell joined the cast as policewoman Jane Holland. Les Hill and Belinda Jarrett joined the show in July as siblings Blake and Karen Dean. Kate Raison arrived in September playing the role of Jennifer Atkinson, a love interest for Steven Matheson (Adam Willits). October saw the arrival of divorcé Michael Ross, played by Dennis Coard. The following week, he was joined by his teenage son Haydn Ross, played by Andrew Hill. In November, Rachael Beck joined the cast as Grant's sister Kim Mitchell.
Opening titles timeline Color key Main cast (opening credits) Recurring guest star (closing credits in 3+ episodes) Guest star (closing credits in 1–2 episodes)
Character Actor 1989–90 1990 436–470 471–520 521–526 527–545 546–585 586–608 609–678 Tom Fletcher Roger Oakley colspan="3" colspan="4" Pippa Fletcher Vanessa Downing colspan="5" colspan="2" Debra Lawrence colspan="5" colspan="2" Steven Matheson Adam Willits colspan="7" Carly Morris Sharyn Hodgson colspan="7" Sally Fletcher Kate Ritchie colspan="7" Ailsa Stewart Judy Nunn colspan="7" Alf Stewart Ray Meagher colspan="7" Bobby Simpson Nicolle Dickson colspan="7" Martin Dibble Craig Thomson colspan="2" colspan="5" Lance Smart Peter Vroom colspan="2" colspan="5" Donald Fisher Norman Coburn colspan="7" Celia Stewart Fiona Spence colspan="2" colspan="5" Viv Newton Mouche Phillips colspan="4" colspan="3" Adam Cameron Mat Stevenson colspan="7" Emma Jackson Dannii Minogue colspan="6" Matt Wilson Greg Benson colspan="7" Grant Mitchell Craig McLachlan colspan="6" Sophie Simpson Rebekah Elmaloglou colspan="3" colspan="4" Ben Lucini Julian McMahon colspan="2" colspan="4" Marilyn Chambers Emily Symons colspan="3" colspan="4" Blake Dean Les Hill colspan="5" colspan="1" colspan="1" Karen Dean Belinda Jarrett colspan="5" colspan="1" colspan="1"
Sophie Simpson
Sophie Simpson, played by Rebekah Elmaloglou, debuted on-screen during the episode broadcast on 23 January 1990 and appeared until 1993. Elmaloglou once took a break from filming due to exhaustion, and quit the serial to pursue other projects as her work load took a negative impact on her health. Elmaloglou made subsequent guest appearances as Sophie in 2002, 2003 and 2005.
Grant Mitchell
Grant Mitchell, played by Craig McLachlan, debuted on-screen during the episode broadcast on 9 February 1990. McLachlan departed the series that year, though filmed additional appearances which were not aired until the following year. Grant last appeared on 20 September 1991. McLachlan described Grant as being "pretty trendy for a teacher". Grant is "loved" by students because he chooses to rebel against the establishment.Kesta and Nicholls 1992, p.50. However, Grant loves teaching and his pupils.Desmond 1990, p.21. For his portrayal of Grant, MacLachan won the "Most Popular Actor" award at the 1991 Logie Awards.
Ben Lucini
Benito "Ben" Lucini, played by Julian McMahon, debuted on-screen during the episode broadcast on 27 February 1990 and remained until 1 May 1991. McMahon had to audition four times, before the producers agreed that he was right for the role of Ben. Ben was described as being "relaxed" and "easy-going" for a twenty-one-year-old male. Ben is an Italian character and comes from a large family. Ben used to have a liking for partying and booze, but as he grew older he matured and changed his outlook in life.Kesta and Nicholls 1992, p.9. Ben is a soldier, he soon falls in love with the town and established character Carly Morris (Sharyn Hodgson) and leaves the army.Hopwood 1990, p.8. Hodgson described Ben as having "traditional values" and "stability". Carly admires these traits and feels ready to settle down with him. Ben and Carly marry and Hodgson predicted that their marriage would be successful because they "really do want what is best for each other".Kesta and Nicholls 1992, p.30. McMahon quit Home and Away the same year that his character arrived. Peter Holmes of The Sydney Morning Herald was critical of McMahon's acting in the role, calling him "wooden" and saying he did "a splendid impression of a Thunderbird".
Mullet
Murray "Mullet" Jensen, played by Jaiman Paget Bayly, first appeared on 26 March 1990 and departed on 18 July 1990. In their book Home and Away Annual, Kesta Desmond and David Nicholls describe Mullet as an "energetic and boisterous eleven-year-old". He is an "average country kid" with an "adventurous and cheeky" side to his persona. His real name is Murray, but due to his extreme liking for fishing, he adopts the nickname "Mullet". Mullet is also an outsider and "contents himself" with life's simple pleasures. He is the type of child that is easily entertained, more so with a fishing rod. Mullet's family live below the poverty line. His mother, Lorraine Jensen (Elizabeth Chance), has been unable to provide Mullet and his older brother, Paul Jensen (Craig Black), with the luxuries other children get. Mullet does not have pocket money, so he decides to sell his fish to Ailsa Stewart (Judy Nunn).
Mullet takes a liking to classmate Sally Fletcher (Kate Ritchie). Sally is annoyed with his constant following of her and avoids him at every opportunity. Eventually, Sally relents and they become friends. Mullet brings home a crab to the Fletcher family and they serve it up for dinner, not knowing that the crab is in fact, Alf Stewart's (Ray Meagher) pet crab "Claws". Alf is upset but Mullet offers to help him fish as way of an apology. When Sally asks about Mullet's home, he becomes evasive and refuses to let her see his house as his family does not have much money. Mullet goes as far to invent an excuse that his mother, Lorraine has been hospitalised after burning herself while cooking. Sally soon discovers the truth and tells him it does not matter and invites him to be a guest at Carly Morris (Sharyn Hodgson) and Ben Lucini's (Julian McMahon) wedding, which he accepts. When Mullet takes Tammy Newton (Katy Edwards) fishing, Sally becomes jealous. After Tammy leaves, Mullet and Sally audition for the Surf Club's talent night performing "There's a Hole in My Bucket" and on opening night they make several mistakes in the act, which raises a laugh from the audience who assume it is scripted but Sally does not see the funny side. Later in the evening, Mullet assists Adam Cameron (Mat Stevenson) in a magic trick where he creates the illusion of sawing his assistant Marilyn Chambers (Emily Symons) in half. The trick is ruined when Mullet, posing as Marilyn's feet, gets out of the box. After Marilyn gives Mullet and Sally dancing lessons and Mullet decides he wants to be a pop star and changes his image which does little to impress Sally and reverts to his old look. Mullet attends the wedding and dances with Sally at the reception. After this, Mullet is not seen again but he is mentioned by Steven Matheson (Adam Willits) a decade later when he teases Sally about past romances in the aftermath of her failed wedding to Kieran Fletcher (Spencer McLaren).
Ernie Jacobs Ernie Jacobs, played by David Weatherley, debuted on-screen during the episode broadcast on 16 April 1990 and last appeared on 9 January 1991.
Ernie rents the beach house out to Matt Wilson (Greg Benson), Adam Cameron (Mat Stevenson) and Marilyn Chambers (Emily Symons). The three decide to set Ernie up. Marilyn invites Ernie around for a date and attempts to seduce him. Matt and Adam wait outside with a camera, when Ernie kisses Marilyn, Adam takes a photograph. Matt notices that the picture has not developed correctly, but Adam enters the house and presents Ernie with the picture. After he and Matt burn the kitchen linoleum while making some toffee, Adam replaces it with turf that is infested with fleas, which then begin to populate the house. Ernie arrives at the house to confront Adam, but he detonates a flea bomb. Ernie throws the bomb out of the window, causing it to smash. He then threatens to evict his three tenants. Ernie runs for councillor and is happy when Alf Stewart (Ray Meagher) is forced to drop his campaign when he is charged with driving over the alcohol limit. Bobby Simpson (Nicolle Dickson) decides to run in direct competition to stop Ernie getting into power. Marilyn later finds an incriminating letter and she and Bobby blackmail Ernie. Ernie later sells the house to Marilyn.
Bridget Jackson
Bridget Jackson, played by Paula Duncan, made her first appearance on 20 April 1990. Duncan had a five-week contract, but producers were keen for her to sign on with the serial permanently. However, Duncan had received a number of other job offers at the same time. She told Glen Williams of TV Week: "Suddenly everybody wants me. It's a big decision for me whether or not to continue. I've got so many other things happening – not only as an actress, but also as a producer." Duncan was also reluctant to be parted from her husband John Orcsik, who was appearing in a play in Melbourne, and their children. Bridget is Emma Jackson's (Dannii Minogue) mother. Duncan called her character "absolutely dreadful", describing her as "raw and uneducated, she talks really rough, and she is like nothing I've ever played." Despite not being a nice character, Duncan enjoyed played Bridget, adding that she is "an absolute monster." Duncan also enjoyed working with Minogue, saying they got off to a good start and became really close.
After Bridget's daughter Emma attacks her stepfather in self-defence, she comes to stay with her aunt Ailsa Stewart (Judy Nunn), who was unaware Bridget had a child. Bridget and Ailsa are estranged because Ailsa killed their abusive father. Bridget later follows her daughter to Summer Bay and tells Ailsa's husband Alf Stewart (Ray Meagher) that she wants to take her back home. Ailsa refuses to let her sister take Emma, as she had only just settled into the Bay. It becomes clear that the sisters do not like each other and Ailsa later tells Bridget that Emma's stepfather abused her. She is not convinced when Bridget tells her she has separated from Barry. Bridget tries to talk with Emma, but she refuses to listen, until Bridget corners her on the beach and reveals that she asked Barry to leave after he confessed to abusing Emma. Ailsa and Bridget constantly clash and Emma becomes caught in the middle, until Bridget wins her over by buying her a new dress and taking her on a night out. She persuades Emma to come home and live with her again, but a few weeks later Emma returns and tells Alf that Bridget has not changed and has taken Barry back.
Paul Jensen