Dexter Walker
Encyclopedia
Dexter "Dex" Walker is a fictional character
from the Australian Seven Network
soap opera
Home and Away
, played by Charles Cottier
. He made his first on-screen appearance on 30 July 2009. Dexter was originally played by Tom Green
for a five week guest stint in 2009. In 2010, the character returned to Home and Away, played by Charles Cottier.
(Robert Mammone
) and Jody Walker (Victoria Haralabidou
) and the brother of Indigo
(Samara Weaving
). In June 2010, it was announced that Dexter, Sid and Indigo would be returning permanently after proving popular with viewers. It was revealed that newcomer Charles Cottier would take over the role of Dexter. Of his casting, Cottier said: "I’m so happy to be joining Home and Away. Moving from Brisbane was a big step, but the cast and crew have gone out of their way to make me feel at home." In 2011, Cottier admitted he was initially "slightly intimidated" about taking over the role. Of the handover from Green, Cottier stated: "I sometimes hang out with Tom Green - he's a really nice guy - but I chose not to watch what he'd done. I think Dex is quite a different character now, too."
's soap opera reporting website Holy Soap
describe him as a "quick-witted and sensitive schoolboy". Holy Soap also add that Dexter is "very funny and sarcastic", but he loves his family deeply. Seven Network
comment that Dexter "wears his sense of humour like a suit of armour". Describing the character in an interview with the official Home and Away website, Cottier said: "He's quite a strange boy. He's funny and quirky and I think he finds it a little bit difficult to make friends." He added that on the inside Dexter is "quite a sweet person and quite vulnerable".
Following his return, Dexter falls in love with Sid's new partner Marilyn Chambers
(Emily Symons
). Cottier told Inside Soap magazine that the storyline was embarrassing because of the age difference between the characters. Of this, Cottier explained: "It was one of the first things I read about the character, and I was kind of embarrassed, but excited to do it! Not every guy comes to Summer Bay and falls in love with a woman 20 years older than he is. My friends gave me grief about that! I got to work with Emily Symons though, and she's fantastic."
after Sid finds employment Northern Districts Hospital, covering for Doctor Rachel Armstrong
(Amy Mathews
) whilst she takes maternity leave. Dexter meets Annie Campbell (Charlotte Best
) and takes a liking to her. He comforts Annie following the death of her friend Belle Taylor
(Jessica Tovey
) making Annie's former partner Jai Fernandez (Jordan Rodrigues
) jealous. When Jai confronts Annie about her friendship with Dexter, he shows her a photograph that Dexter printed of her. Annie shows Dexter the photo and asks why he printed it. Dexter tells Annie that it was for a photo album he made of the last photos that Belle took. Dexter is upset when Annie refers to him as a friend. When Annie tries to talk to Dexter, he kisses her but she pulls away. Dexter apologises and Annie kisses him. They then begin a relationship. Jai discovers their relationship and Dexter tells Jai that Annie is happy with him. Annie ends their relationship because she does not want to hurt Jai's feelings. When Indigo is injured at a party, Jody returns and tells Sid that she is taking Dexter and Indigo with her. Dexter is unhappy, but Indigo convinces him to leave Summer Bay.
In June 2010, Dexter arrives at Sid's house along with Indigo, where they reveal that they are not moving to Europe with Jody. Dexter, Sid and Indigo return to Summer Bay and move into The Farmhouse. He re-enroll's at Summer Bay High School. Dexter meets Sid's new partner Marilyn Chambers and develops feelings for her. He then sends her some flowers anonymously. Dexter invites himself for dinner with Marilyn and Sid. Dexter makes jibes about Sid throughout the dinner to make Marilyn notice him. He visits Marilyn and asks her personal questions. After Marilyn tells him, Sid confronts Dexter who explains that he is looking out for him. When Sid organises a picnic with Marilyn, Dexter helps him get it ready. Dexter lies to Marilyn telling her that they have to go to the picnic alone and wait for Sid to join them. When Sid does not arrive, Marilyn discovers messages from him on her phone and realises that Dexter lied because he has feelings for her. Dexter writes Marilyn a letter and gives it to her before quickly leaving. Later, he goes to see Marilyn who tells him that she is going to show the letter to Sid. Dexter becomes worried and tells her that the letter was a creative writing exercise for school. Dexter visits Marilyn once again and when she receives news of Alf Stewart
's (Ray Meagher
) arrest, he comforts her. Marilyn questions Dexter, wondering whether he has feelings for her, but he denies it and leaves. As Dexter prepares to tell Marilyn about his feelings, she calls wanting to invite Sid for dinner. Marilyn also offers Dexter an invite to which he agrees. He tells Sid that it was the hospital calling and want him to work. Dexter arrives at Marilyn's and tells her that Sid is working. Dexter admits to Marilyn that he has feelings for her, leaving her stunned. Sid insists that Dexter should apologise and he goes to see Marilyn, telling her he still has feelings for her. Marilyn leaves and Dexter meets her friend Mitzy Fraser (Helen Dallimore
), who tells him that Marilyn does not have any feelings for him. Mitzy then kisses him to show how he is pushing his feelings onto Marilyn. Dexter tells Sid and Marilyn and apologises for developing feelings for Marilyn. Sid and Indigo become worried about Dexter and Marilyn talks to him, helping him move on from his feelings for her. Mitzy apologises to Dexter and he forgives her.
Dexter buys a goldfish and meets Adrian (Phoebe Tonkin) who works at the pet store. He returns to the store for pet supplies and arranges a date. He meets Adrian at the Surf club and after becoming worried, leaves the date to asks Indigo for advice. On returning he discovers that Adrian has left, leaving a note telling him not to call her again. Dexter goes to see Adrian and apologises to her, explaining why he left. Adrian forgives him and tells him that she knows why he acts the way he does. Dexter receives advice from April Scott
(Rhiannon Fish
) about how to speak to women. He then goes to talk to Adrian and try to resume their relationship. However, Dexter reveals that April told him what to say and Adrian leaves. He visits Adrian again after Marilyn tells him that she might not be interested in him. Adrian tells him that Marilyn is correct and they agree to be just friends. Dexter meets Detective Graves (Eryn Jean Norvill) and takes a liking to her. He decides to wear a suit to impress her, but Sid refuses to let him leave wearing it. Dexter then truants from school to meet her, but she remains uninterested. He sends Detective Graves a bouquet of flowers asking her out on a date. She initially refuses but Robert Robertson (Socratis Otto) encourages her to go to find information on the murder of Penn Graham (Christian Clark
). During the date, Detective Graves becomes charmed by Dexter and at the end of the night he asks her if they could meet again. She then confesses that the date was a set-up. However, when Detective Graves tells him to get over his need to replace his mother with an older woman, Dexter takes a dislike to her.
Leah Patterson-Baker
(Ada Nicodemou
) asks Dexter to talk to her son VJ Patterson (Felix Dean
) who is starting secondary school, about attending Summer Bay High. Dexter begins filming people with a video camera and is caught by Casey Braxton (Lincoln Younes) who is a member of a surfing gang named The River Boys. Dexter is kidnapped by two of the gang's members, who leave him in the forest. Dexter later returns home.
to report on the breakdown of his family's car as they drove back to Summer Bay." In December 2010, Cottier received a nomination in the "Most Popular New Male Talent" category at the 2011 TV Week Logie Awards. Sarah Ellis of Inside Soap
said that the magazine's staff love Dexter and were upset at the prospect of him remaining single, when April reconciled with Xavier.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from the Australian Seven Network
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Home and Away
Home and Away
Home and Away is an Australian soap opera that has been produced in Sydney since July 1987 and is airing on the Seven Network since 17 January 1988. It is the second-longest-running drama and most popular soap opera on Australian television...
, played by Charles Cottier
Charles Cottier
Charles Cottier is an Australian actor, known for currently playing the role of Dexter Walker on the Australian soap opera Home and Away.-Early life:...
. He made his first on-screen appearance on 30 July 2009. Dexter was originally played by Tom Green
Tom Green (Australian actor)
Thomas Green is an Australian actor who is best known for his role as Sammy in the ABC series Dance Academy.-Biography:Beginning his professional career in 2007, his first role was in the Network Ten telemovie Emerald Falls alongside actors Vince Colosimo, Georgie Parker and Catherine McClements...
for a five week guest stint in 2009. In 2010, the character returned to Home and Away, played by Charles Cottier.
Character creation and casting
In July 2009, it was announced that a new family, the Walkers, would be introduced to Home and Away on a five-week guest contract. Actor Tom Green was cast in the role of Dexter Walker, the son of Doctor SidSid Walker
Doctor Sid Walker is a fictional character from the Australian Seven Network soap opera Home and Away, played by Robert Mammone. He made his first on-screen appearance on 30 July 2009. Sid was originally introduced for a five-week guest stint in 2009...
(Robert Mammone
Robert Mammone
Robert Mammone is an Australian actor who has many television and film credits.-Filmography:* Sons and Daughters * All the Way * Embassy * The Crossing...
) and Jody Walker (Victoria Haralabidou
Victoria Haralabidou
Victoria Haralabidou , is a Greek actress. She was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia; her father was a Pontic Greek from Trabzon, while her mother was born in Tashkent to Greek refugees...
) and the brother of Indigo
Indigo Walker
Indigo "Indi" Walker is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Samara Weaving. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 30 July 2009. Weaving and her on-screen family initially appeared in 2009 for a guest stint, in 2010 they were...
(Samara Weaving
Samara Weaving
Samara Weaving is an Australian actress known for her role as Kirsten Mulroney in the Australian-produced BBC TV series Out Of The Blue and also for playing Indigo Walker on soap opera Home and Away.-Family and early life:...
). In June 2010, it was announced that Dexter, Sid and Indigo would be returning permanently after proving popular with viewers. It was revealed that newcomer Charles Cottier would take over the role of Dexter. Of his casting, Cottier said: "I’m so happy to be joining Home and Away. Moving from Brisbane was a big step, but the cast and crew have gone out of their way to make me feel at home." In 2011, Cottier admitted he was initially "slightly intimidated" about taking over the role. Of the handover from Green, Cottier stated: "I sometimes hang out with Tom Green - he's a really nice guy - but I chose not to watch what he'd done. I think Dex is quite a different character now, too."
Character development
Upon his return in 2010, Dexter has a "different personality". Of this Cottier said, "I think he's more mature, from what I've heard. And he's hilarious. He's funny." He added that Dexter "doesn't really turn it off". Channel FiveChannel Five
Channel 5 is a television network that broadcasts in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1997, it was the fifth and final national terrestrial analogue network to launch. The station was branded as Five between 2002 and 2010...
's soap opera reporting website Holy Soap
Holy Soap
Holy Soap is a UK television and entertainment website founded in June 2009 by the British television company Channel 5. The website is the official UK home of the Australian soap operas Home and Away and Neighbours, which are broadcast on the channel...
describe him as a "quick-witted and sensitive schoolboy". Holy Soap also add that Dexter is "very funny and sarcastic", but he loves his family deeply. Seven Network
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
comment that Dexter "wears his sense of humour like a suit of armour". Describing the character in an interview with the official Home and Away website, Cottier said: "He's quite a strange boy. He's funny and quirky and I think he finds it a little bit difficult to make friends." He added that on the inside Dexter is "quite a sweet person and quite vulnerable".
Following his return, Dexter falls in love with Sid's new partner Marilyn Chambers
Marilyn Chambers (Home and Away)
Marilyn Chambers is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, played by Emily Symons. She made her first on-screen appearance on 12 May 1989. Symons departed in 1992, but she returned in 1995 and stayed for four years. She made a brief return in 2001...
(Emily Symons
Emily Symons
Emily Symons is an Australian actress.Symons's mother remarried when she was just four years old and Symons did not see her biological, English father again until ten years later. She left school before finishing her exams and launched herself into the acting world...
). Cottier told Inside Soap magazine that the storyline was embarrassing because of the age difference between the characters. Of this, Cottier explained: "It was one of the first things I read about the character, and I was kind of embarrassed, but excited to do it! Not every guy comes to Summer Bay and falls in love with a woman 20 years older than he is. My friends gave me grief about that! I got to work with Emily Symons though, and she's fantastic."
Storylines
Dexter, father Sid, mother Jody and sister Indigo move to Summer BaySummer Bay
Summer Bay is the fictional town featured in the Australian soap opera, Home and Away. Palm Beach, north of Sydney, is used for the show's exterior scenes in order to depict the Bay. Lane Cove River Tourist Park at Macquarie Park is the current location for filming of scenes involving the Summer...
after Sid finds employment Northern Districts Hospital, covering for Doctor Rachel Armstrong
Rachel Armstrong
Rachel Holden is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Amy Mathews. Rachel debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 16 January 2006. In 2010 Mathews quit the serial to pursue other projects and her on-screen husband Tony Holden was also...
(Amy Mathews
Amy Mathews
Amy Mathews is an Australian television, film and theatre actress. She is best known for her role as Rachel Armstrong in Australian soap opera Home and Away.-Early life:...
) whilst she takes maternity leave. Dexter meets Annie Campbell (Charlotte Best
Charlotte Best
Charlotte Best is an Australian actress.-Personal life:Charlotte grew up in the town of Gosford where she attended Central Coast Grammar School and was friends with Romy Gilbert and the like.. She then moved to Sydney with her family...
) and takes a liking to her. He comforts Annie following the death of her friend Belle Taylor
Belle Taylor
Susan "Belle" Jefferies is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, played by Jessica Tovey. She made her first on-screen appearance on 3 February 2006. Belle's storylines included finding her birth mother, a drug addiction, her relationship with Aden Jefferies and being...
(Jessica Tovey
Jessica Tovey
Jessica Tovey is an Australian actress. Tovey graduated from the Newtown High School of the Performing Arts and has made appearances for various drama companies. She is best known for her role of Belle Taylor on the long-running Australian soap opera Home and Away. Tovey joined the show in 2006...
) making Annie's former partner Jai Fernandez (Jordan Rodrigues
Jordan Rodrigues
Jordan Rodrigues is an Australian actor best known for playing Jai Fernandez in Home and Away and Christian Reed in Dance Academy.-Career:...
) jealous. When Jai confronts Annie about her friendship with Dexter, he shows her a photograph that Dexter printed of her. Annie shows Dexter the photo and asks why he printed it. Dexter tells Annie that it was for a photo album he made of the last photos that Belle took. Dexter is upset when Annie refers to him as a friend. When Annie tries to talk to Dexter, he kisses her but she pulls away. Dexter apologises and Annie kisses him. They then begin a relationship. Jai discovers their relationship and Dexter tells Jai that Annie is happy with him. Annie ends their relationship because she does not want to hurt Jai's feelings. When Indigo is injured at a party, Jody returns and tells Sid that she is taking Dexter and Indigo with her. Dexter is unhappy, but Indigo convinces him to leave Summer Bay.
In June 2010, Dexter arrives at Sid's house along with Indigo, where they reveal that they are not moving to Europe with Jody. Dexter, Sid and Indigo return to Summer Bay and move into The Farmhouse. He re-enroll's at Summer Bay High School. Dexter meets Sid's new partner Marilyn Chambers and develops feelings for her. He then sends her some flowers anonymously. Dexter invites himself for dinner with Marilyn and Sid. Dexter makes jibes about Sid throughout the dinner to make Marilyn notice him. He visits Marilyn and asks her personal questions. After Marilyn tells him, Sid confronts Dexter who explains that he is looking out for him. When Sid organises a picnic with Marilyn, Dexter helps him get it ready. Dexter lies to Marilyn telling her that they have to go to the picnic alone and wait for Sid to join them. When Sid does not arrive, Marilyn discovers messages from him on her phone and realises that Dexter lied because he has feelings for her. Dexter writes Marilyn a letter and gives it to her before quickly leaving. Later, he goes to see Marilyn who tells him that she is going to show the letter to Sid. Dexter becomes worried and tells her that the letter was a creative writing exercise for school. Dexter visits Marilyn once again and when she receives news of Alf Stewart
Alf Stewart
Alfred Douglas "Alf" Stewart is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Ray Meagher. The character debuted on-screen during the serial's pilot episode on 17 January 1988...
's (Ray Meagher
Ray Meagher
Ray Meagher surname pronouned "Marr" , is a veteran Australian character actor. He has appeared regularly in Australian film and television since the mid 1970s, and is notable as the longest continuing performer in an Australian television role, as Alf Stewart on Home and Away, having played the...
) arrest, he comforts her. Marilyn questions Dexter, wondering whether he has feelings for her, but he denies it and leaves. As Dexter prepares to tell Marilyn about his feelings, she calls wanting to invite Sid for dinner. Marilyn also offers Dexter an invite to which he agrees. He tells Sid that it was the hospital calling and want him to work. Dexter arrives at Marilyn's and tells her that Sid is working. Dexter admits to Marilyn that he has feelings for her, leaving her stunned. Sid insists that Dexter should apologise and he goes to see Marilyn, telling her he still has feelings for her. Marilyn leaves and Dexter meets her friend Mitzy Fraser (Helen Dallimore
Helen Dallimore
Helen Dallimore is an Australian actress, known for originating the role of Glinda in the West End production of Wicked.-Background:...
), who tells him that Marilyn does not have any feelings for him. Mitzy then kisses him to show how he is pushing his feelings onto Marilyn. Dexter tells Sid and Marilyn and apologises for developing feelings for Marilyn. Sid and Indigo become worried about Dexter and Marilyn talks to him, helping him move on from his feelings for her. Mitzy apologises to Dexter and he forgives her.
Dexter buys a goldfish and meets Adrian (Phoebe Tonkin) who works at the pet store. He returns to the store for pet supplies and arranges a date. He meets Adrian at the Surf club and after becoming worried, leaves the date to asks Indigo for advice. On returning he discovers that Adrian has left, leaving a note telling him not to call her again. Dexter goes to see Adrian and apologises to her, explaining why he left. Adrian forgives him and tells him that she knows why he acts the way he does. Dexter receives advice from April Scott
April Scott (Home and Away)
April Scott is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, played by Rhiannon Fish. The actress successfully auditioned for the role of April and she described the process as quick...
(Rhiannon Fish
Rhiannon Fish
Rhiannon Marie Fish is an Australian actress who first appeared on television at age eleven when she starred on Neighbours. She later starred as Rocky in the Disney Channel show As the Bell Rings. As of June 2010, Fish plays April Scott on Home and Away.-Early life:Fish was born in Calgary,...
) about how to speak to women. He then goes to talk to Adrian and try to resume their relationship. However, Dexter reveals that April told him what to say and Adrian leaves. He visits Adrian again after Marilyn tells him that she might not be interested in him. Adrian tells him that Marilyn is correct and they agree to be just friends. Dexter meets Detective Graves (Eryn Jean Norvill) and takes a liking to her. He decides to wear a suit to impress her, but Sid refuses to let him leave wearing it. Dexter then truants from school to meet her, but she remains uninterested. He sends Detective Graves a bouquet of flowers asking her out on a date. She initially refuses but Robert Robertson (Socratis Otto) encourages her to go to find information on the murder of Penn Graham (Christian Clark
Christian Clark
Christian Clark is an Australian actor. He appeared in the role of Will Griggs in the Network Ten soap opera Neighbours from 2006 to 2007...
). During the date, Detective Graves becomes charmed by Dexter and at the end of the night he asks her if they could meet again. She then confesses that the date was a set-up. However, when Detective Graves tells him to get over his need to replace his mother with an older woman, Dexter takes a dislike to her.
Leah Patterson-Baker
Leah Patterson-Baker
Leah Helena Adara Patterson-Baker is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Ada Nicodemou. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 22 March 2000...
(Ada Nicodemou
Ada Nicodemou
Ada Nicodemou is a Greek Cypriot-born Australian actress, best known for her role as Leah Patterson-Baker in the soap opera Home and Away.-Early life:Nicodemou was born in Larnaca, Cyprus. She has been an Australian resident since 1987....
) asks Dexter to talk to her son VJ Patterson (Felix Dean
Felix Dean
Felix Dean is an Australian child actor who portrays V.J. Patterson in the popular Australian soap opera Home and Away since 2007. Born in Sydney, Australia, he also appeared in the Australian drama series All Saints in 2006 as Todd McFarlane. In 2007, he appeared in Comedy Inc...
) who is starting secondary school, about attending Summer Bay High. Dexter begins filming people with a video camera and is caught by Casey Braxton (Lincoln Younes) who is a member of a surfing gang named The River Boys. Dexter is kidnapped by two of the gang's members, who leave him in the forest. Dexter later returns home.
Reception
Holy Soap describe Dexter's most memorable moment as: "Doing his best impression of David AttenboroughDavid Attenborough
Sir David Frederick Attenborough OM, CH, CVO, CBE, FRS, FZS, FSA is a British broadcaster and naturalist. His career as the face and voice of natural history programmes has endured for more than 50 years...
to report on the breakdown of his family's car as they drove back to Summer Bay." In December 2010, Cottier received a nomination in the "Most Popular New Male Talent" category at the 2011 TV Week Logie Awards. Sarah Ellis of Inside Soap
Inside Soap
Inside Soap is a weekly UK magazine, released every Tuesday. It covers current and future storylines in soap operas shown in the United Kingdom....
said that the magazine's staff love Dexter and were upset at the prospect of him remaining single, when April reconciled with Xavier.