Daniel Potts
Encyclopedia
Daniel Potts is a fictional character in the soap opera Shortland Street
. The role was originated by actor Jarred Blakiston
from 2004–2005 and again briefly in 2007 before Ido Drent
took over in 2009. Upon arrival, the character was involved in a high profile storyline that saw him being revealed as the illegitimate son of new character Sarah Potts (Amanda Billing
).
Arriving in September 2004 as the brother of Sarah, it was not long before he learnt he was really her son from a one night stand with high school sweet heart Tim Coombes (Millen Baird). Coming to resent Sarah following the revelation, Daniel moved to Samoa to be with his father. However he fell into a bad crowd and returned in 2009 a somewhat antagonistic badboy. Following a relationship with Sophie McKay
(Kimberley Crossman
) and a stint in Bootcamp following being arrested, Daniel underwent a severe personality change that saw him become a protagonist and being portrayed in a more positive light. Despite forgiving his mother, he still would clash with her, especially in 2010 when Sarah encouraged Daniel's girlfriend Loren (Sophia Johnson) to get an abortion, an action that led Daniel to move out of the family home. The character has been involved in numerous highly topical storylines, including viral bullying, government introduced bootcamps, activism, homelessness, abortion, internet entrepreneurship and drug addiction, a storyline that saw Daniel help best friend Hunter
(Lee Donoghue) and girlfriend Paige Munroe (Rachel Foreman) come off prescription pills.
Daniel has been a highly popular character, winning "Favourite New Character" at the Throng Shortland Street fan awards 2009.
from 2004 to 2005 and again for a guest role in 2007. Upon his return in 2009 he was recast with Ido Drent
being cast. After auditioning for the role mid 2008, Drent was contacted again later in the year where he acted alongside screen mother, Amanda Billing
and was then offered the role. Drent returned to the show after a 10 week break in mid 2010. In a September 2011 interview with 20/20, Drent expressed concern at the new found protagonistic characteristics of his character, stating; "you can't be too good in a drama, otherwise there's no room for you!"
). Daniel alerts Sarah of his spite towards his parents as they are the oldest parents at school and are very strict. He moves in with Sarah and is rattled when Sarah reveals she is his real mother. A devastated Daniel grows to hate Sarah and tries to move back in with Pam and Morgan. Eventually accepting the truth, Daniel clashes with Sarah's fiance Andrew Solomon
(Paolo Rotondo
).
Daniel finally meets his dad, Tim Coombes (Millen Baird) in 2005 and after Tim's initial hesitation, the two grow close. Tim eventually decides to adopt Daniel and bring him to Samoa, which Sarah argues with but when she realizes it is for Daniel's best interest, she allows it. Daniel returns in May 2007 to witness Sarah's wedding to TK Samuels
(Benjamin Mitchell) but quickly gets into trouble after stealing Sarah's car.
In 2009 Daniel returns after falling in with a bad crowd in Samoa and dates Sophie McKay
(Kimberley Crossman
). After selling stolen goods, Daniel's co seller Ryan (Reece Rodewyk) dies in a car crash indirectly caused by Daniel. An emotional Daniel is arrested, sent to bootcamp and transformed to a reformed badboy. Daniel and Sophie break up following the revelation Sophie is in love with Kieran Mitchell
(Adam Rickitt
). Following a near death experience at the hands of a underground boxing, Daniel returns to Samoa. He returns later in the year after Samoa is hit by a tsunami
.
In 2010 Daniel starts to date Loren Fitzpatrick (Sophia Johnson) and soon becomes involved in campaigning against injections. Loren soon falls pregnant and when Loren has an abortion with Sarahs help, Daniel moves out and becomes homeless, before eventually moving back into Maxwell's
(Robbie Magasiva
). Daniel moves out to live with Brodie
(Ari Boyland) and Hunter
(Lee Donoghue) in their new flat. He and Sophie start to date again in late 2010 following the death of Kieran.
In March 2011 they break up after Sophie decides to travel the world. Daniel briefly dates Paige Munroe (Rachel Foreman) and develops a revolutionary software system which is legally stolen by Shane Tucker (Jason Hood). He develops a crush on Lana Jacobs (Brooke Williams
) but his sexuality comes into question when he reacts badly to Jonathon (Kieren Hutchison
) coming onto him.
described Daniel's point of view, stating; "He knows Sarah will do anything for him, that she really wants to show she cares. If he doesn't get what he wants, he punishes and manipulates her, and even though she tries not to, she always gives in, it's taken him a long time to come to terms with Sarah being his real mother. It's led him to do and say things he doesn't necessarily mean". Daniel eventually forgives Sarah and moves to Samoa
with father, Tim and step mother, Theresa. He returns briefly in 2007 and instantly gets in trouble with Sarah for stealing her car, however he states he doesn't hate Sarah and does not wish to hurt her but was under the impression Sarah hated him.
In 2009 Daniel uses his mother's Multiple Sclerosis
diagnosis as an excuse to return to New Zealand
and party. He quickly falls out with his mother over his rebellious attitude and when she discovers he is storing stolen goods at the house, she calls the police on him, having him arrested and sent to bootcamp. Daniel starts to spite Sarah by taking up boxing but pleases her when he returns safe following the Samoan earthquake. The two are at odds when she encourages Daniel's pregnant girlfriend Loren to have an abortion, something which Daniel refuses to forgive. Also in disbelief that a recently separated Sarah had already moved on to Maxwell Avia
, Daniel moves out from his mother's place and becomes homeless. Sarah makes a heartfelt apology and the two make up. Daniel helps her through her pregnancy and starts to care for half sister, Tillie. Daniel moves in with Sarah to look after her following the birth, but causes friction when he goes to Roimata
for help with the baby.
awards.
Shortland Street
Shortland Street is a New Zealand prime-time soap opera, first broadcast on Television New Zealand's TV2 on 25 May 1992. It is the country's longest-running drama and soap opera, being broadcast continuously for over 4500 episodes and 19 years, and is one of the most watched television programs in...
. The role was originated by actor Jarred Blakiston
Jarred Blakiston
Jarred Blakiston was born in 1991, is a New Zealand-born actor. He is best known for his year-long role, from 2004 to 2005, and then recurring in 2007, in New Zealand's longest running soap, Shortland Street, playing the role of Daniel Potts, son of Dr Sarah Potts . In 2007 he appeared in The...
from 2004–2005 and again briefly in 2007 before Ido Drent
Ido Drent
Ido Drent is a South African actor currently working and living in Auckland, New Zealand. He is best known to television audiences as Daniel Potts in the long running soap opera Shortland Street.-Early life:...
took over in 2009. Upon arrival, the character was involved in a high profile storyline that saw him being revealed as the illegitimate son of new character Sarah Potts (Amanda Billing
Amanda Billing
Amanda Billing is best known for her role as Doctor Sarah Potts on New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street.-Biography:...
).
Arriving in September 2004 as the brother of Sarah, it was not long before he learnt he was really her son from a one night stand with high school sweet heart Tim Coombes (Millen Baird). Coming to resent Sarah following the revelation, Daniel moved to Samoa to be with his father. However he fell into a bad crowd and returned in 2009 a somewhat antagonistic badboy. Following a relationship with Sophie McKay
Sophie McKay
Sophie Juliette McKay is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was introduced in late 2006 as the daughter of surgeon Justine Jones and GP Callum McKay. She was briefly married to Kieran Mitchell in early 2010 before they separated.-2006-2008:Sophie McKay...
(Kimberley Crossman
Kimberley Crossman
Kimberley Frances Crossman is a New Zealand actress, dancer and cheerleader who is best known for her role as Sophie McKay on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street.-Early life:...
) and a stint in Bootcamp following being arrested, Daniel underwent a severe personality change that saw him become a protagonist and being portrayed in a more positive light. Despite forgiving his mother, he still would clash with her, especially in 2010 when Sarah encouraged Daniel's girlfriend Loren (Sophia Johnson) to get an abortion, an action that led Daniel to move out of the family home. The character has been involved in numerous highly topical storylines, including viral bullying, government introduced bootcamps, activism, homelessness, abortion, internet entrepreneurship and drug addiction, a storyline that saw Daniel help best friend Hunter
Hunter McKay
Hunter McKay is a fictional character in the TVNZ soap opera Shortland Street. He has been portrayed by Lee Donoghue since he first appeared in December 2006 as part of a new family unit consisting of parents Callum McKay and Justine Jones and younger sister Sophie McKay .The character is gifted...
(Lee Donoghue) and girlfriend Paige Munroe (Rachel Foreman) come off prescription pills.
Daniel has been a highly popular character, winning "Favourite New Character" at the Throng Shortland Street fan awards 2009.
Creation and Casting
The character was originally played by Jarred BlakistonJarred Blakiston
Jarred Blakiston was born in 1991, is a New Zealand-born actor. He is best known for his year-long role, from 2004 to 2005, and then recurring in 2007, in New Zealand's longest running soap, Shortland Street, playing the role of Daniel Potts, son of Dr Sarah Potts . In 2007 he appeared in The...
from 2004 to 2005 and again for a guest role in 2007. Upon his return in 2009 he was recast with Ido Drent
Ido Drent
Ido Drent is a South African actor currently working and living in Auckland, New Zealand. He is best known to television audiences as Daniel Potts in the long running soap opera Shortland Street.-Early life:...
being cast. After auditioning for the role mid 2008, Drent was contacted again later in the year where he acted alongside screen mother, Amanda Billing
Amanda Billing
Amanda Billing is best known for her role as Doctor Sarah Potts on New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street.-Biography:...
and was then offered the role. Drent returned to the show after a 10 week break in mid 2010. In a September 2011 interview with 20/20, Drent expressed concern at the new found protagonistic characteristics of his character, stating; "you can't be too good in a drama, otherwise there's no room for you!"
Return
After a 2 year disappearance, Daniel returned to the show in March 2009. The character was said to be a "heart throb" and was set to accurately portray bullying on screen.Storylines
2004-
Daniel arrives to Shortland Street with his mother Pam (Teresa Woodham) and father Morgan (Michael Morrissey) to visit older sister Sarah Potts (Amanda BillingAmanda Billing
Amanda Billing is best known for her role as Doctor Sarah Potts on New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street.-Biography:...
). Daniel alerts Sarah of his spite towards his parents as they are the oldest parents at school and are very strict. He moves in with Sarah and is rattled when Sarah reveals she is his real mother. A devastated Daniel grows to hate Sarah and tries to move back in with Pam and Morgan. Eventually accepting the truth, Daniel clashes with Sarah's fiance Andrew Solomon
Andrew Solomon
Andrew Solomon is a New York-born bisexual writer on politics, culture, and psychiatry who lives in New York and London. He has written for publications such as the New York Times, The New Yorker, and Artforum, on topics including depression, Soviet artists, the cultural rebirth of Afghanistan,...
(Paolo Rotondo
Paolo Rotondo
Paolo Rotondo is an actor who has made appearances in several New Zealand-based TV shows and films. He also has experience in writing and directing films.-Personal life:...
).
Daniel finally meets his dad, Tim Coombes (Millen Baird) in 2005 and after Tim's initial hesitation, the two grow close. Tim eventually decides to adopt Daniel and bring him to Samoa, which Sarah argues with but when she realizes it is for Daniel's best interest, she allows it. Daniel returns in May 2007 to witness Sarah's wedding to TK Samuels
TK Samuels
Te Koha 'TK' Samuels is a fictional character in New Zealand's longest running soap opera Shortland Street, played by actor Benjamin Mitchell since early 2006.-2006-:...
(Benjamin Mitchell) but quickly gets into trouble after stealing Sarah's car.
In 2009 Daniel returns after falling in with a bad crowd in Samoa and dates Sophie McKay
Sophie McKay
Sophie Juliette McKay is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was introduced in late 2006 as the daughter of surgeon Justine Jones and GP Callum McKay. She was briefly married to Kieran Mitchell in early 2010 before they separated.-2006-2008:Sophie McKay...
(Kimberley Crossman
Kimberley Crossman
Kimberley Frances Crossman is a New Zealand actress, dancer and cheerleader who is best known for her role as Sophie McKay on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street.-Early life:...
). After selling stolen goods, Daniel's co seller Ryan (Reece Rodewyk) dies in a car crash indirectly caused by Daniel. An emotional Daniel is arrested, sent to bootcamp and transformed to a reformed badboy. Daniel and Sophie break up following the revelation Sophie is in love with Kieran Mitchell
Kieran Mitchell
Kieran Mitchell is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street who was portrayed by British actor Adam Rickitt through numerous high profile storylines from early 2007 to mid 2010....
(Adam Rickitt
Adam Rickitt
Adam Peter Rickitt is an English actor, singer-songwriter and model.-Biography:Rickitt was born in Crewe, Cheshire, the youngest of four brothers. His father is co-owner of an estate agency...
). Following a near death experience at the hands of a underground boxing, Daniel returns to Samoa. He returns later in the year after Samoa is hit by a tsunami
2009 Samoa earthquake
The 2009 Samoa earthquake was an 8.1 Mw submarine earthquake that took place in the Samoan Islands region at 06:48:11 local time on September 29, 2009 . At a magnitude of 8.1, it was the largest earthquake of 2009....
.
In 2010 Daniel starts to date Loren Fitzpatrick (Sophia Johnson) and soon becomes involved in campaigning against injections. Loren soon falls pregnant and when Loren has an abortion with Sarahs help, Daniel moves out and becomes homeless, before eventually moving back into Maxwell's
Maxwell Avia
Maxwell Avia is a fictional character from the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street, played by Robbie Magasiva. Maxwell debuted on-screen on 19 June 2009.-Creation and casting:...
(Robbie Magasiva
Robbie Magasiva
Robbie Magasiva is a Samoan New Zealand actor who has starred in several films and as a member of the Naked Samoans comedy troupe. He has also appeared on television and theatre, and was the co-presenter of New Zealand's Tagata Pasifika with famed athlete Beatrice Faumuina. Magasiva is also known...
). Daniel moves out to live with Brodie
Brodie Kemp
Brodie Kemp is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He is portrayed by Ari Boyland. He first appeared for four episodes in March 2010 as a guest character, before returning in a recurring role in July...
(Ari Boyland) and Hunter
Hunter McKay
Hunter McKay is a fictional character in the TVNZ soap opera Shortland Street. He has been portrayed by Lee Donoghue since he first appeared in December 2006 as part of a new family unit consisting of parents Callum McKay and Justine Jones and younger sister Sophie McKay .The character is gifted...
(Lee Donoghue) in their new flat. He and Sophie start to date again in late 2010 following the death of Kieran.
In March 2011 they break up after Sophie decides to travel the world. Daniel briefly dates Paige Munroe (Rachel Foreman) and develops a revolutionary software system which is legally stolen by Shane Tucker (Jason Hood). He develops a crush on Lana Jacobs (Brooke Williams
Brooke Williams
Brooke Williams is a New Zealand actress, best known for playing Jennsen Rahl in Legend of the Seeker and Aurelia in Spartacus: Blood and Sand.-Career:...
) but his sexuality comes into question when he reacts badly to Jonathon (Kieren Hutchison
Kieren Hutchison
Kieren Robert Hutchison is a New Zealand actor. He was born in Auckland, New Zealand.-Career:Hutchison is best known for playing the roles of Jonathon McKenna in the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street, Andy Hargrove on One Tree Hill, Kerry Connelly on Wildfire and Jake Preston on Monarch Cove...
) coming onto him.
Relationship with Sarah Potts
Upon his arrival, Daniel is under the belief he is Sarah's brother but having learnt the truth, Daniel starts to play up as a measure of disgust and discontentment towards his mother. His schoolwork begins to suffer, he starts to become a bully and shows anger management towards his mother. Daniel's original portrayor, Jarred BlakistonJarred Blakiston
Jarred Blakiston was born in 1991, is a New Zealand-born actor. He is best known for his year-long role, from 2004 to 2005, and then recurring in 2007, in New Zealand's longest running soap, Shortland Street, playing the role of Daniel Potts, son of Dr Sarah Potts . In 2007 he appeared in The...
described Daniel's point of view, stating; "He knows Sarah will do anything for him, that she really wants to show she cares. If he doesn't get what he wants, he punishes and manipulates her, and even though she tries not to, she always gives in, it's taken him a long time to come to terms with Sarah being his real mother. It's led him to do and say things he doesn't necessarily mean". Daniel eventually forgives Sarah and moves to Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
with father, Tim and step mother, Theresa. He returns briefly in 2007 and instantly gets in trouble with Sarah for stealing her car, however he states he doesn't hate Sarah and does not wish to hurt her but was under the impression Sarah hated him.
In 2009 Daniel uses his mother's Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms...
diagnosis as an excuse to return to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and party. He quickly falls out with his mother over his rebellious attitude and when she discovers he is storing stolen goods at the house, she calls the police on him, having him arrested and sent to bootcamp. Daniel starts to spite Sarah by taking up boxing but pleases her when he returns safe following the Samoan earthquake. The two are at odds when she encourages Daniel's pregnant girlfriend Loren to have an abortion, something which Daniel refuses to forgive. Also in disbelief that a recently separated Sarah had already moved on to Maxwell Avia
Maxwell Avia
Maxwell Avia is a fictional character from the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street, played by Robbie Magasiva. Maxwell debuted on-screen on 19 June 2009.-Creation and casting:...
, Daniel moves out from his mother's place and becomes homeless. Sarah makes a heartfelt apology and the two make up. Daniel helps her through her pregnancy and starts to care for half sister, Tillie. Daniel moves in with Sarah to look after her following the birth, but causes friction when he goes to Roimata
Roimata Ngatai
Roimata Ngatai is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She is portrayed by Shavaughn Ruakere and has been on the soap since January 2011...
for help with the baby.
Reception
Daniel has been a favourable character, winning "Favourite New Character" at the Throng Shortland Street fan awards 2009 and winning runner up for "Favourite Male Character" in 2010. Drent reveived many nominations for his role as Daniel including a Girlfriend Faves Forever award for "Celeb Male 2011" and "Favourite TV star" in the What NowWhat Now
What Now is a long running New Zealand children's television program that premiered in 1981. It is filmed before a live studio audience at Whitebait Productions in Christchurch....
awards.