Gary Costello
Encyclopedia
Gary Costello was a fictional character
in UK soap opera
Family Affairs
, played by Gary Webster
from 2003 until the final episode of the series 2005.
and his family who had recently moved to Spain
. Gary had lost his job in Chigwell
and was forced to move his wife Chrissy, and their daughters Melanie
and Chloe to Charnham. A short while later,Gary's mother Myra, moved over from Spain
to live with the family. Gary later went into partnership with Dave Matthews
and together they set up a business called Gaz n' Dave's, a minicab firm.
Later that year, Chrissy had taken Chloe to the doctors and had told Gary that Chloe had been diagnosed with cancer
. This later turned out to be a lie, resulting in the subsequent arrest of Chrissy. Chrissy had duped the local residents into starting a collection for Chloe.
It transpired that Chrissy had suffered from mental illness after losing her sister, Helen as a child.
Gary and Chrissy's marriage went through numerous problems and they separated for a while.
In October 2004, Melanie's ex-boyfriend, Bradley Foster
who had lodged with the Costellos for several months, had been accused of sexually abusing
Chloe. This led to a fierce showdown on Bonfire Night when Gary wanted a confession and Bradley (who had moved next door to with his mother, Sharon Ingram and her boyfriend Conrad Williams) began goading Gary about how Chloe wouldn't leave him alone. Gary angrily shouted "She's only 10 years old!" and promptly punched Bradley, knocking him out.
Gary was remanded in custody for assault
and Bradley, upon receiving a retina operation was arraigned with him, as Bradley had been charged with possession of indecent images. Both were subsequently bailed, but a question mark hung over Gary's future.
On Christmas Eve
2004, Gary proposed to Chrissy to remarry him and she accepted.
Gary stood trial in Spring 2005 for the assault on Bradley and things weren't looking very good. The verdict was rendered and the jury found Gary not guilty.
Shortly afterwards, Gary and Chrissy remarried.
The Costellos had more dramas to worry about when Melanie ran away in May 2005 after a failed relationship with Graham Harker, who was revealed to be the rapist of Melanie's ex-mother-in-law, Denise Boulter.
Gary began to struggle a little with the cab business once Dave left for Scotland
.
In the final week of the series, Mel returned home and Gary was very welcoming towards her whereas Chrissy was quite cold. Eventually, Chrissy warmed to Mel's return.
In the final episode of the series on 30 December 2005, Eileen Callan
, the former landlady of The Black Swan pub revealed she had a win on the lottery and bought a house in Chigwell and one next door for the Costellos.
Shortly before the credits rolled, Gary said "I'm going to miss this place" (This quote was used in a trailer for the final week of the series)
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...
in UK 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,...
Family Affairs
Family Affairs
Family Affairs was a British soap opera broadcast on Five, from 1997 to 2005. It was the second programme to be broadcast on the channel on 30 March 1997, the channel's launch night...
, played by Gary Webster
Gary Webster
Gary Webster is an English actor.He first found fame in EastEnders playing Graham Clark from 1987 until 1988. He later became better known for playing Ray Daley in the television series Minder, replacing Dennis Waterman as George Cole's on-screen sparring partner in the series...
from 2003 until the final episode of the series 2005.
Character information
Gary first arrived in Charnham in September 2003, after purchasing Number 12 Stanley Street from Jim WebbJim Webb (Family Affairs)
James Webb was a fictional character in UK soap opera Family Affairs, played by Jo Dow from 2000 until 2003.-About Jim:Jim first arrived in Charnham in December 2000, not long after his sister Karen and her boyfriend Matt Ellis arrived....
and his family who had recently moved to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Gary had lost his job in Chigwell
Chigwell
Chigwell is a civil parish and town in the Epping Forest district of Essex. It is located 11.6 miles north east of Charing Cross. It is served by two London Underground stations and has a London area code.-Etymology:According to P. H...
and was forced to move his wife Chrissy, and their daughters Melanie
Melanie Costello
Melanie Costello was a fictional character in the UK soap opera Family Affairs, played by Rebecca Hunter from September 2003 until May 2005. Melanie returned in December 2005 for the final week of the series.-Arrival:...
and Chloe to Charnham. A short while later,Gary's mother Myra, moved over from Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
to live with the family. Gary later went into partnership with Dave Matthews
Dave Matthews (Family Affairs)
David Matthews was a fictional character in UK soap opera Family Affairs, played by Richard Hawley. Dave first appeared in Charnham in 1998 before moving away in 2000. He then returned in 2003 and stayed until 2005.-Background:...
and together they set up a business called Gaz n' Dave's, a minicab firm.
Later that year, Chrissy had taken Chloe to the doctors and had told Gary that Chloe had been diagnosed with cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
. This later turned out to be a lie, resulting in the subsequent arrest of Chrissy. Chrissy had duped the local residents into starting a collection for Chloe.
It transpired that Chrissy had suffered from mental illness after losing her sister, Helen as a child.
Gary and Chrissy's marriage went through numerous problems and they separated for a while.
In October 2004, Melanie's ex-boyfriend, Bradley Foster
Bradley Foster
Bradley Foster was a fictional character in UK soap opera Family Affairs, played by Harry Capehorn from 2004 to 2005.-About Bradley:Bradley first appeared in Charnham in April 2004, as the former boyfriend of Melanie Costello. Bradley had taken a gap year in Australia the year previous, and...
who had lodged with the Costellos for several months, had been accused of sexually abusing
Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse, also referred to as molestation, is the forcing of undesired sexual behavior by one person upon another. When that force is immediate, of short duration, or infrequent, it is called sexual assault. The offender is referred to as a sexual abuser or molester...
Chloe. This led to a fierce showdown on Bonfire Night when Gary wanted a confession and Bradley (who had moved next door to with his mother, Sharon Ingram and her boyfriend Conrad Williams) began goading Gary about how Chloe wouldn't leave him alone. Gary angrily shouted "She's only 10 years old!" and promptly punched Bradley, knocking him out.
Gary was remanded in custody for assault
Assault
In law, assault is a crime causing a victim to fear violence. The term is often confused with battery, which involves physical contact. The specific meaning of assault varies between countries, but can refer to an act that causes another to apprehend immediate and personal violence, or in the more...
and Bradley, upon receiving a retina operation was arraigned with him, as Bradley had been charged with possession of indecent images. Both were subsequently bailed, but a question mark hung over Gary's future.
On Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve refers to the evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day, a widely celebrated festival commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth that takes place on December 25...
2004, Gary proposed to Chrissy to remarry him and she accepted.
Gary stood trial in Spring 2005 for the assault on Bradley and things weren't looking very good. The verdict was rendered and the jury found Gary not guilty.
Shortly afterwards, Gary and Chrissy remarried.
The Costellos had more dramas to worry about when Melanie ran away in May 2005 after a failed relationship with Graham Harker, who was revealed to be the rapist of Melanie's ex-mother-in-law, Denise Boulter.
Gary began to struggle a little with the cab business once Dave left for Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
In the final week of the series, Mel returned home and Gary was very welcoming towards her whereas Chrissy was quite cold. Eventually, Chrissy warmed to Mel's return.
In the final episode of the series on 30 December 2005, Eileen Callan
Eileen Callan
Eileen Callan was a fictional character in the UK soap opera Family Affairs, played by Rosie Rowell from 2002 until the end of the series in 2005.-Character's background:...
, the former landlady of The Black Swan pub revealed she had a win on the lottery and bought a house in Chigwell and one next door for the Costellos.
Shortly before the credits rolled, Gary said "I'm going to miss this place" (This quote was used in a trailer for the final week of the series)