Kieran Mitchell
Encyclopedia
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.
The character arrived to the soap as a mysterious love interest for Claire Solomon (Emily Robins
), only to go through a storyline that saw Kieran discover he has a brain tumour, memory losses and is really a pimp from Thailand
. His criminal past sends Kieran to the forefront of the show during a storyline which saw Claire and 4 other characters murdered by a psychopathic serial killer
who later turned out to be Kieran's flat mate. Kieran's story arc's would often see him portrayed as an antagonist
but the character also had numerous romances and light storylines, including two engagements to Libby Jeffries
(Fleur Saville
) and a short lived marriage to schoolgirl Sophie McKay
(Kimberley Crossman
). Becoming the owner of the hospital's local bar The I.V, Kieran found himself performing numerous criminal deeds, culmilating in 2009 when he accidentally hit and killed good friend Morgan Braithwaite
(Bonnie Soper
) in his car. The character's criminal past finally caught up with him in 2010 and he was killed, falling off a cliff while fighting with an ex-enemy in the show's first ever 90-minute episode.
Kieran was a highly popular character, with his romances with Libby particularly enjoyed by fans. Kieran took out runner up for "Favourite Male Character" in the Throng Shortland Street Fan Awards in both 2008 and 2009.
actor Adam Rickitt
would be arriving as a mysterious English traveller who was to have many dark secrets and that more than one woman would fall for him. The character was originally set to appear for three months.
Kieran made his first appearance on 15 March 2007 with his first line being: "No, no don't."
's death in 2008. The episode aired on 2 August 2010 with Kieran's final line being: "Forgive me."
) on his motorbike. An obviously confused Kieran moves in with Claire and starts to date her flatmate Libby Jeffries
(Fleur Saville
). A woman named Suchin (Kristine Caluya) arrives from Thailand
and Kieran regains his memory, remembering he was a pimp. He pays Suchin off and sleeps with Claire, ending his relationship with Libby. Claire soon ends up dead, with Kieran the major suspect. After Kieran's friend Meg (Emily Mowbray) is also murdered, Kieran is arrested but later released, only to discover he has a brain tumour, which is removed. Good friend Joey
(Johnny Barker) persuades Kieran to buy the bar; The I.V and Kieran tries to deny his attraction toward Libby.
In 2008, Kieran and Libby finally got back together and engaged shortly afterwards. Kieran was shocked when he learnt Joey was the serial killer who murdered Claire, Meg and three other women, resulting in Kieran nearly murdering his flatmate. Kieran became involved with gangs and the manipulative Ethan Pierce
(Owen Black) and at the end of the year, hired a hitman to kill him. Upon Ethan's death, Kieran was a major suspect but was eventually revealed not to be the killer. Libby ended it with Kieran and he had a brief liasion with Brooke Freeman
(Beth Allen
). His illegal involvements with the Whitetails Gang slapped him with a hefty fine, instead of a potential jail sentence.
Kieran was shocked and dismayed when 17 year old Sophie McKay
(Kimberley Crossman
) kissed him and soon the two were in a heated affair. Despite disaproval from Sophie's family, the two got engaged. The arrival of Kieran's brother Sean
(Thijs Morris) in late 2009 causes strife for the couple and after an argument, Kieran accidentally runs over and kills Morgan Braithwaite
(Bonnie Soper
), an act he blames on a drunken Rachel McKenna
(Angela Bloomfield
).
In 2010 Kieran is overwhelmed by guilt but after the police raid the chapel during his wedding, he admits to the crime only for Sean to take the wrap and flee the country. Kieran begins to get blackmailed for the crime by Jane (Sia Trokenheim) and his marriage to Sophie dissolves. In August Kieran is kidnapped and tortured by ex associate White Dragon (Matt Sunderland). The two end up in a forest, where an also kidnapped Sean tackles them off a cliff. Kieran admits his part in Morgan's death to best friends Gerald Tippett
(Harry McNaughton) and Nicole Miller (Sally Martin
) before sacrifising himself off the cliff to save Sean.
Kieran's body was not retrieved. Brooke Freeman
tells Gerald that knowing Kieran, he may still be alive. However in early December police inform Sophie they have found a body with matching dental records.
) and Rickitt for "Hottest Male Actor". In 2009 Kieran won runner up for "Favourite Male Character" while winning "Favourite Couple", again for his relationship with Libby. In 2009 he again won runner up for "Favourite Male Character" and Rickitt won "Favourite Male Actor" and "Hottest Male". Kieran's final year was highly praised, with the character winning "Most Missed Character" by a staggering 21%. The storyline which saw Kieran die, won "Favourite Major Storyline", "Best Thing to Happen in 2010", "Saddest Moment", and "Biggest Letdown". Fans notably mentioned in both 2007 and 2008 that they would like to see Libby and Kieran back together and married.
Kieran's death saw the show receive huge ratings, becoming the second ever most watched episode of Shortland Street to ever air.
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...
on the 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...
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,...
Shortland Street
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...
who was portrayed by British actor 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...
through numerous high profile storylines from early 2007 to mid 2010.
The character arrived to the soap as a mysterious love interest for Claire Solomon (Emily Robins
Emily Robins
Emily Iris Robins is a New Zealand actress and singer. She was born to Danny Robins and Jade Robins. She is known for her role in the popular TV2 soap opera Shortland Street as Claire Simone Solomon , and for her role in the popular FOX 8 teen drama, SLiDE, where she portrayed Scarlett Carlyle....
), only to go through a storyline that saw Kieran discover he has a brain tumour, memory losses and is really a pimp from Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. His criminal past sends Kieran to the forefront of the show during a storyline which saw Claire and 4 other characters murdered by a psychopathic serial killer
Joey Henderson
Joseph James "Joey" Henderson was a fictional character that appeared on New Zealand's longest running soap opera Shortland Street, and was the soap's first serial killer. Although always a suspect, the audience did not learn Joey was the killer until December 2007...
who later turned out to be Kieran's flat mate. Kieran's story arc's would often see him portrayed as an antagonist
Antagonist
An antagonist is a character, group of characters, or institution, that represents the opposition against which the protagonist must contend...
but the character also had numerous romances and light storylines, including two engagements to Libby Jeffries
Libby Jeffries
Olivia "Libby" Jeffries is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was portrayed by Fleur Saville from 2006 to 2010....
(Fleur Saville
Fleur Saville
Fleur Saville in Auckland is a New Zealand television actress best known for her roles in the television sitcoms Being Eve and The Tribe in which she became known to international audiences for her portrayal of Ruby...
) and a short lived marriage to schoolgirl 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:...
). Becoming the owner of the hospital's local bar The I.V, Kieran found himself performing numerous criminal deeds, culmilating in 2009 when he accidentally hit and killed good friend Morgan Braithwaite
Morgan Braithwaite
Morgan Braithwaite was a fictional character in the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was portrayed by Bonnie Soper since February 5, 2008. Morgan died on December 18 2009 after Kieran Mitchell accidentally ran her over with Rachel's car.-Character:Morgan Braithwaite was quiet, polite...
(Bonnie Soper
Bonnie Soper
Bonnie Soper is a New Zealand film and television actress.-Early career:A graduate of the Unitec School of Performing and Screen Arts, her theatre credits include, Auckland Theatre Company's 2007 play The Pillowman which she co-starred in with former and current Shortland Street actors Oliver...
) in his car. The character's criminal past finally caught up with him in 2010 and he was killed, falling off a cliff while fighting with an ex-enemy in the show's first ever 90-minute episode.
Kieran was a highly popular character, with his romances with Libby particularly enjoyed by fans. Kieran took out runner up for "Favourite Male Character" in the Throng Shortland Street Fan Awards in both 2008 and 2009.
Creation and casting
It was announced in February 2007 that Coronation StreetCoronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
actor 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...
would be arriving as a mysterious English traveller who was to have many dark secrets and that more than one woman would fall for him. The character was originally set to appear for three months.
Kieran made his first appearance on 15 March 2007 with his first line being: "No, no don't."
Departure
With a revamp in the show and a potential personality change in the Kieran Mitchell character, following the introduction of Steven Zanoski as producer, Rickitt requested that his character be killed off. It was announced in March 2010 that Kieran would be departing the show later in the year and that it would be an 'explosive event' and 'the biggest storyline since Joey'. It was soon confirmed that Kieran would depart on the shows first ever 90-minute episode in August. The 90-minute episode featured a dramatic end to Kieran where he sacrificed himself in order to save his brother in turn earning the show huge ratings surpassing that of Joey HendersonJoey Henderson
Joseph James "Joey" Henderson was a fictional character that appeared on New Zealand's longest running soap opera Shortland Street, and was the soap's first serial killer. Although always a suspect, the audience did not learn Joey was the killer until December 2007...
's death in 2008. The episode aired on 2 August 2010 with Kieran's final line being: "Forgive me."
2007-2010
Kieran arrives to Shortland Street after narrowly missing Claire Solomon (Emily RobinsEmily Robins
Emily Iris Robins is a New Zealand actress and singer. She was born to Danny Robins and Jade Robins. She is known for her role in the popular TV2 soap opera Shortland Street as Claire Simone Solomon , and for her role in the popular FOX 8 teen drama, SLiDE, where she portrayed Scarlett Carlyle....
) on his motorbike. An obviously confused Kieran moves in with Claire and starts to date her flatmate Libby Jeffries
Libby Jeffries
Olivia "Libby" Jeffries is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was portrayed by Fleur Saville from 2006 to 2010....
(Fleur Saville
Fleur Saville
Fleur Saville in Auckland is a New Zealand television actress best known for her roles in the television sitcoms Being Eve and The Tribe in which she became known to international audiences for her portrayal of Ruby...
). A woman named Suchin (Kristine Caluya) arrives from Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
and Kieran regains his memory, remembering he was a pimp. He pays Suchin off and sleeps with Claire, ending his relationship with Libby. Claire soon ends up dead, with Kieran the major suspect. After Kieran's friend Meg (Emily Mowbray) is also murdered, Kieran is arrested but later released, only to discover he has a brain tumour, which is removed. Good friend Joey
Joey Henderson
Joseph James "Joey" Henderson was a fictional character that appeared on New Zealand's longest running soap opera Shortland Street, and was the soap's first serial killer. Although always a suspect, the audience did not learn Joey was the killer until December 2007...
(Johnny Barker) persuades Kieran to buy the bar; The I.V and Kieran tries to deny his attraction toward Libby.
In 2008, Kieran and Libby finally got back together and engaged shortly afterwards. Kieran was shocked when he learnt Joey was the serial killer who murdered Claire, Meg and three other women, resulting in Kieran nearly murdering his flatmate. Kieran became involved with gangs and the manipulative Ethan Pierce
Ethan Pierce
Dr. Ethan Pierce is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street and was portrayed by Owen Black from August 2008 to January 2009 and again from May to June 2009...
(Owen Black) and at the end of the year, hired a hitman to kill him. Upon Ethan's death, Kieran was a major suspect but was eventually revealed not to be the killer. Libby ended it with Kieran and he had a brief liasion with Brooke Freeman
Brooke Freeman
Brooke Freeman is a fictional character from the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street, played by Beth Allen. Brooke debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 24 July 2008. The role was written with Allen in mind to play her. Brooke arrived as a locum GP but later advanced in her career...
(Beth Allen
Beth Allen
Elizabeth "Beth" Allen has been acting since an early age and has appeared in several small productions and commercials since 1993. Her first major role was in Cloud 9's The Legend of William Tell in 1998, in which she played Princess Vara...
). His illegal involvements with the Whitetails Gang slapped him with a hefty fine, instead of a potential jail sentence.
Kieran was shocked and dismayed when 17 year old 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:...
) kissed him and soon the two were in a heated affair. Despite disaproval from Sophie's family, the two got engaged. The arrival of Kieran's brother Sean
Sean Mitchell
Sean Mitchell may refer to:*An alias of the voice actor Jim Taggert*Sean Mitchell , a character on the soap opera Shortland Street...
(Thijs Morris) in late 2009 causes strife for the couple and after an argument, Kieran accidentally runs over and kills Morgan Braithwaite
Morgan Braithwaite
Morgan Braithwaite was a fictional character in the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was portrayed by Bonnie Soper since February 5, 2008. Morgan died on December 18 2009 after Kieran Mitchell accidentally ran her over with Rachel's car.-Character:Morgan Braithwaite was quiet, polite...
(Bonnie Soper
Bonnie Soper
Bonnie Soper is a New Zealand film and television actress.-Early career:A graduate of the Unitec School of Performing and Screen Arts, her theatre credits include, Auckland Theatre Company's 2007 play The Pillowman which she co-starred in with former and current Shortland Street actors Oliver...
), an act he blames on a drunken Rachel McKenna
Rachel McKenna
Rachel McKenna is a fictional character from the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street, played by Angela Bloomfield. Rachel first appeared on the show from 1993 to 1999. Then from 2001 to 2003. Rachel then made a very brief appearance in 2007 before returning as a core cast member in October 2009...
(Angela Bloomfield
Angela Bloomfield
-Career:She starred in Shortland Street for nine years, transforming Rachel McKenna from the school girl daughter of clinic boss into a university student, bar manager and later, a Shortland Street clinic employee....
).
In 2010 Kieran is overwhelmed by guilt but after the police raid the chapel during his wedding, he admits to the crime only for Sean to take the wrap and flee the country. Kieran begins to get blackmailed for the crime by Jane (Sia Trokenheim) and his marriage to Sophie dissolves. In August Kieran is kidnapped and tortured by ex associate White Dragon (Matt Sunderland). The two end up in a forest, where an also kidnapped Sean tackles them off a cliff. Kieran admits his part in Morgan's death to best friends Gerald Tippett
Gerald Tippett
Gerald Heathcliff Tippett is a fictional character in the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street, who was played by Harry McNaughton from his first appearance in September 2007 up until his final appearance in September 2010.-2007-2008:...
(Harry McNaughton) and Nicole Miller (Sally Martin
Sally Martin
Sally Erana Martin is an actress from New Zealand.She has appeared in a range of television series, including The Strip, Shortland Street and in Power Rangers: Ninja Storm as Tori Hanson/the Blue Wind Ninja Ranger....
) before sacrifising himself off the cliff to save Sean.
Kieran's body was not retrieved. Brooke Freeman
Brooke Freeman
Brooke Freeman is a fictional character from the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street, played by Beth Allen. Brooke debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 24 July 2008. The role was written with Allen in mind to play her. Brooke arrived as a locum GP but later advanced in her career...
tells Gerald that knowing Kieran, he may still be alive. However in early December police inform Sophie they have found a body with matching dental records.
Reception
Kieran was a highly favourable character in the fan community, taking out multiple prizes in the Throng Shortland Street Fan Awards during his run. In his debut year, he won runner up in both "Favourite Couple" (for his relationship with LibbyLibby Jeffries
Olivia "Libby" Jeffries is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was portrayed by Fleur Saville from 2006 to 2010....
) and Rickitt for "Hottest Male Actor". In 2009 Kieran won runner up for "Favourite Male Character" while winning "Favourite Couple", again for his relationship with Libby. In 2009 he again won runner up for "Favourite Male Character" and Rickitt won "Favourite Male Actor" and "Hottest Male". Kieran's final year was highly praised, with the character winning "Most Missed Character" by a staggering 21%. The storyline which saw Kieran die, won "Favourite Major Storyline", "Best Thing to Happen in 2010", "Saddest Moment", and "Biggest Letdown". Fans notably mentioned in both 2007 and 2008 that they would like to see Libby and Kieran back together and married.
Kieran's death saw the show receive huge ratings, becoming the second ever most watched episode of Shortland Street to ever air.