Evan Hancock
Encyclopedia
Evan Hancock is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours
, played by Nicholas Opolski
. Evan first appeared in the episode airing on 13 April 2001 originally as a guest and became a member of the regular cast, a week later. Evan departed the series on 9 May 2002 with the rest of his family after being axed by producer Stanley Walsh.
(Stephen Hunt
) and Chris but the marriage ended in divorce. Several years later, Evan met Maggie (Sally Cooper) and they married, and had their first child, a son named Leo in 1987. They later had a daughter Francesca, who died aged two, after in the family's swimming pool. Evan and Maggie were devastated but were happy again when another, daughter Emily
(Isabella Oldham) was born.
) and Tess Bell (Krista Vendy
), the current occupants who lose out on purchasing their home. Tess recognizes Evan's name as he will be teaching at Erinsborough High alongside her. Things are initially frosty between Evan and the women but the ice is broken when Evan visits his eldest son Matthew, who works as a barman at Lou's place to tell him the news and buys Dee and Tess a drink.
The Hancocks move into Number 32 and are generally received warmly by the Neighbours, but Evan's youngest son, Leo runs away, causing Evan and his wife, Maggie alarm but is eventually found at the pub where he went to see Matt. Evan and Leo talk about the difficulty of adjusting to a new Neighbourhood and School.
When Genevieve Murdoch, Evan's ex-wife arrives with the intention to send Matt to a catering
school in Switzerland
, Evan is annoyed at her attempts to sway him but is happy when Matt turns her offer down as he has recently settled into the area and made several friends.
Evan's happiness doesn't last long as his other son, Chris prefers to remain living with Genevieve.
After taking a detention class out on an eco-trip, Evan finds himself offside with his boss Susan Kennedy
(Jackie Woodburne
) and Joe
(Shane Connor
) the father of Michelle Scully
, who is in Evan's Year 10 class as they feel something dangerous could have happened on the trip, despite nothing happening. Evan does not do himself any favors when he is overly competitive in a friendly Tennis game with Joe and Susan's husband Karl.
When Leo complains about Dean Hearn (Jason Buckley), a substitute teacher bullying him, Evan tells Susan but she is convinced Hearn is telling the truth and dismisses Evan's worries as being over-protective of his son. It is only when Susan sees Dean exhibiting aggression with Students and shouting at her for interrupting his lesson, that she realises Evan is right. When Hearn injures Leo by throwing a board eraser at him a fit of rage ,for talking in class, Evan confronts him in Susan's office but Susan prevents things from escalating. In the end, Hearn resigns from the school.
Money becomes a big problem in the Hancock house and Leo arouses suspicion by spending a lot of money in the coffee shop. Evan and Maggie question him about it and he tells them he has paper round, but they don't believe him.
Evan later decides to run for local council and decides to run against Joe, which causes friction at home and in the Neighbourhood, especially when Evan opposes the building of a new freeway.
When Genevieve reappears in Evan's life and confides in him that she is having marital difficulties and had a breast cancer scare, Evan sympathises but keeps these meetings secret from Maggie, who is confused.
One day, Matt and Leo are involved in a car crash during an illegal drag race which leaves Harold Bishop
(Ian Smith
injured and Evan barges into Number 30 and informs Maggie and her colleague Toadie Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney
), who are about to kiss, of the accident. When Evan confronts Matt about his involvement and facing potential manslaughter charges after learning that the driver Glen Bushby is in a coma, Matt flees hospital and goes on the run for several days but is eventually found by the police after they follow him and Leo to Matt's hideout.
After consulting a lawyer, Evan realises the family will have to sell their home in order to finance Matt's court case. Emily
, Evan's daughter, finds a letter from Toadie which professes his love for Maggie. Evan and Maggie have a blazing argument and he gives her the option to leave him, Maggie declines and they reconcile after the children begin to worry.
After selling the house to Malcolm Kennedy
(Benjamin McNair
), The Hancocks host a farewell party at Number 32 and leave Ramsay Street the following day.
The BBC said Evan's most notable moment was "Emailing The Chronicle about bullying and causing a huge row between him and Susan Kennedy."
Neighbours
Neighbours is an Australian television soap opera first broadcast on the Seven Network on 18 March 1985. It was created by TV executive Reg Watson, who proposed the idea of making a show that focused on realistic stories and portrayed adults and teenagers who talk openly and solve their problems...
, played by Nicholas Opolski
Nicholas Opolski
Nicholas Opolski is an Australian actor, who is best known for his role as Evan Hancock on the Australian soap opera Neighbours in 2001–2002. He has also provided the voice of B2, one of the characters in the children's television show Bananas in Pyjamas for the ABC. He also worked as a presenter...
. Evan first appeared in the episode airing on 13 April 2001 originally as a guest and became a member of the regular cast, a week later. Evan departed the series on 9 May 2002 with the rest of his family after being axed by producer Stanley Walsh.
Backstory
Evan Hancock was originally married to Genevieve and they had two children, MatthewMatt 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,...
(Stephen Hunt
Stephen Hunt
Stephen Hunt is a British writer now living in Spain. He is best known for a series of fantasy novels with Steampunk elements known as the Jackalian series, whose central setting is a nation somewhat resembling Victorian England named the Kingdom of Jackals....
) and Chris but the marriage ended in divorce. Several years later, Evan met Maggie (Sally Cooper) and they married, and had their first child, a son named Leo in 1987. They later had a daughter Francesca, who died aged two, after in the family's swimming pool. Evan and Maggie were devastated but were happy again when another, daughter Emily
Emily Hancock (Neighbours)
Emily Hancock is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Isabella Oldham. She first appeared in a guest role along with her brother, Leo in the episodes airing 11 and 12 October 2000 and then reappeared on 19 April 2001 when their family moved into 32 Ramsay Street...
(Isabella Oldham) was born.
2001–2002
Evan first appears when Number 32 Ramsay Street is up for auction and is successful in placing the winning bid. He introduces himself to Dee Bliss (Madeleine WestMadeleine West
Madeleine West is an Australian actress known for her TV roles, having played Dee Bliss on the Australian soap opera Neighbours from 2000–2003 and high-class escort Mel on Satisfaction from 2007 to 2010.-Career:...
) and Tess Bell (Krista Vendy
Krista Vendy
Krista Vendy is an Australian actress who played teacher Teresa "Tess" Bell on the Australian soap opera Neighbours from 1999–2001. She is the cousin of Kristian Schmid, and was managed by Scott Michaelson, both of whom are past Neighbours stars....
), the current occupants who lose out on purchasing their home. Tess recognizes Evan's name as he will be teaching at Erinsborough High alongside her. Things are initially frosty between Evan and the women but the ice is broken when Evan visits his eldest son Matthew, who works as a barman at Lou's place to tell him the news and buys Dee and Tess a drink.
The Hancocks move into Number 32 and are generally received warmly by the Neighbours, but Evan's youngest son, Leo runs away, causing Evan and his wife, Maggie alarm but is eventually found at the pub where he went to see Matt. Evan and Leo talk about the difficulty of adjusting to a new Neighbourhood and School.
When Genevieve Murdoch, Evan's ex-wife arrives with the intention to send Matt to a catering
school in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, Evan is annoyed at her attempts to sway him but is happy when Matt turns her offer down as he has recently settled into the area and made several friends.
Evan's happiness doesn't last long as his other son, Chris prefers to remain living with Genevieve.
After taking a detention class out on an eco-trip, Evan finds himself offside with his boss Susan Kennedy
Susan Kennedy
Susan Kennedy , is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Jackie Woodburne. The character and her family were created by storyliners in an attempt to bring the show back to its roots. Susan made her first on-screen appearance on 3 October 1994 along...
(Jackie Woodburne
Jackie Woodburne
Jackie Woodburne is a Northern Irish-born Australian actress.-Personal life:Woodburne was born in Carrickfergus, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Her father was a member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. She has two older siblings: John and Stephen. At age three she emigrated with her family to...
) and Joe
Joe Scully
Joe Scully is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Shane Connor. He made his first on-screen appearance on 20 October 1999, along with his family.-Casting:...
(Shane Connor
Shane Connor
Shane Connor is an Australian actor, who has had extensive experience in both stage and film productions.-Background:Shane Connor graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts in the early 1980s...
) the father of Michelle Scully
Michelle Scully
Michelle Scully is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Kate Keltie. She made her first on-screen appearance on 21 October 1999 when she and her family moved into Ramsay Street...
, who is in Evan's Year 10 class as they feel something dangerous could have happened on the trip, despite nothing happening. Evan does not do himself any favors when he is overly competitive in a friendly Tennis game with Joe and Susan's husband Karl.
When Leo complains about Dean Hearn (Jason Buckley), a substitute teacher bullying him, Evan tells Susan but she is convinced Hearn is telling the truth and dismisses Evan's worries as being over-protective of his son. It is only when Susan sees Dean exhibiting aggression with Students and shouting at her for interrupting his lesson, that she realises Evan is right. When Hearn injures Leo by throwing a board eraser at him a fit of rage ,for talking in class, Evan confronts him in Susan's office but Susan prevents things from escalating. In the end, Hearn resigns from the school.
Money becomes a big problem in the Hancock house and Leo arouses suspicion by spending a lot of money in the coffee shop. Evan and Maggie question him about it and he tells them he has paper round, but they don't believe him.
Evan later decides to run for local council and decides to run against Joe, which causes friction at home and in the Neighbourhood, especially when Evan opposes the building of a new freeway.
When Genevieve reappears in Evan's life and confides in him that she is having marital difficulties and had a breast cancer scare, Evan sympathises but keeps these meetings secret from Maggie, who is confused.
One day, Matt and Leo are involved in a car crash during an illegal drag race which leaves Harold Bishop
Harold Bishop
Harold Bishop is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Ian Smith. He made his first on-screen appearance on 30 January 1987. Smith was offered a role by Neighbours creator and executive producer Reg Watson...
(Ian Smith
Ian Smith (actor)
Ian Smith is an Australian soap opera character actor and television screenwriter, best known today for his long-running role as the caring, kindly coffee shop owner Harold Bishop in the soap opera Neighbours....
injured and Evan barges into Number 30 and informs Maggie and her colleague Toadie Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney
Ryan Moloney
Ryan Moloney is an Australian actor best known for his portrayal of the fictional character Jarrod "Toadfish" Rebecchi in the Australian soap opera Neighbours.-Before Neighbours:...
), who are about to kiss, of the accident. When Evan confronts Matt about his involvement and facing potential manslaughter charges after learning that the driver Glen Bushby is in a coma, Matt flees hospital and goes on the run for several days but is eventually found by the police after they follow him and Leo to Matt's hideout.
After consulting a lawyer, Evan realises the family will have to sell their home in order to finance Matt's court case. Emily
Emily Hancock (Neighbours)
Emily Hancock is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Isabella Oldham. She first appeared in a guest role along with her brother, Leo in the episodes airing 11 and 12 October 2000 and then reappeared on 19 April 2001 when their family moved into 32 Ramsay Street...
, Evan's daughter, finds a letter from Toadie which professes his love for Maggie. Evan and Maggie have a blazing argument and he gives her the option to leave him, Maggie declines and they reconcile after the children begin to worry.
After selling the house to Malcolm Kennedy
Malcolm Kennedy
Malcolm George "Mal" Kennedy is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Benjamin McNair. He made his first on-screen appearance on 3 October 1994 arriving to live in Ramsay Street with his family...
(Benjamin McNair
Benjamin McNair
Benjamin John McNair is an Australian actor. McNair is perhaps best known for his role as Malcolm Kennedy in the soap opera Neighbours which he played from 1994–97 returning briefly in 2002, 2004 and 2011 with a cameo appearance in 2005.-Early life:McNair moved to Australia with his family when he...
), The Hancocks host a farewell party at Number 32 and leave Ramsay Street the following day.
Reception
Ruth Deller of television website Lowculture called Evan and his on-screen family, along with Taj and Tahnee Coppin "a bunch of characters nobody cared about".The BBC said Evan's most notable moment was "Emailing The Chronicle about bullying and causing a huge row between him and Susan Kennedy."