Max Ramsay
Encyclopedia
Max Ramsay is a fictional character
from the Australian soap opera
Neighbours
played by Francis Bell
. He made his first on-screen appearance in the show's pilot episode on 18 March 1985. Max was the patriarch of the Ramsay family and Ramsay Street
is named after his grandfather. Max lived at number 24 with his wife, Maria (Dasha Bláhová) and their sons, Shane
(Peter O'Brien) and Danny
(David Clencie). Max departed on 2 May 1986 after Bell's contract was not renewed.
, the Robinsons and the Clarkes. Watson said that he wanted to show three families living in a small street, who are friends. Francis Bell was cast in the role of patriarch Max Ramsay, head of the Ramsay family.
In 1986, Bell believed he was not being paid enough for his work and the demands of his character, so the decision was taken not to renew his contract. A back injury also influenced Bell's decision to leave the show. Bell said "I was considering resigning before my back problems flared up. Negotiations had been under way between my agent and Grundy's for some time and I had decided I didn't want to do the show any more".
. Max has a better relationship with his older, more athletic son Shane
. Max is a longtime rival of neighbour Jim Robinson
.
Max's family life is plunged into turmoil when he learns he is not Danny's father. Danny was actually the product of Maria's extra marital affair. The marriage collapses and Max moves out of the family home, sharing a cramped flat with son Shane.
His wife Maria has an affair with Richard Morrison, an insurance investigator, in mid 1985. Maria bids Richard farewell when he is transferred to work in Hong Kong
. At the last minute Maria leaves Erinsborough to travel to Hong Kong with him. Max returns to the family home after Maria's departure.
Max had other troubles when he loses his driver's licence for driving under the influence
of alcohol. As a plumber he needs someone to drive him around to his jobs, something his new apprentice Terry Inglis
takes over.
Max abruptly leaves Erinsborough in early 1986. It is explained that he traveled to Queensland
to visit relatives. Later, after reportedly reconciling with estranged wife Maria, he sends word he will not be returning.
23 years after Max's departure, it was revealed that Max and Anne Robinson had had an affair and Anne gave birth to a daughter, Jill (Perri Cummings). Jill had 3 children; Kate
(Ashleigh Brewer
), Harry
(Will Moore) and Sophie
(Kaiya Jones
).
Ruth Deller of television website Lowculture
gave Max a 3 out of 5 for his contribution to Neighbours, during a feature called "A guide to recognising your Ramsays and Robinsons". Deller said "The patriarch of the Ramsay family in the early days of Neighbours. He was married to Maria, although they had a tempestuous relationship, not least because Max was a pretty hot-headed sort. To prove that the Robinsons aren't the only family with illegitimate children, Maria had a son, Danny, with a man that wasn't Max, and he, of course, fathered Jill".
In her book "Soap opera", Dorothy Hobson describes Max and his family as "more working class than other characters", also stating: "They had working-class jobs but were not represented as cloth cap wearing or dowdy, they were bright and modern and representative of a vibrant and working population." Andrew Mercado in his book Super Aussie Soaps brands the Ramsay family as being the backbone of the serial during the early years.
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 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,...
Neighbours
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 Francis Bell
Francis Bell (actor)
Francis Bell was a UK-born New Zealand resident actor who achieved international stardom playing the part of original character Max Ramsay in the early years of the popular Australian soap opera, Neighbours. during his career he also acted in Australian serials The Sullivans and Sons and...
. He made his first on-screen appearance in the show's pilot episode on 18 March 1985. Max was the patriarch of the Ramsay family and Ramsay Street
Ramsay Street
Ramsay Street is the fictional cul-de-sac in which the characters of the Australian soap opera Neighbours live. The street is set in the equally fictional Melbourne suburb of Erinsborough. Neighbours storylines primarily centre around the residents of the Street, which was named after the...
is named after his grandfather. Max lived at number 24 with his wife, Maria (Dasha Bláhová) and their sons, Shane
Shane Ramsay
Shane Ramsay is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Peter O'Brien. He made his first appearance on-screen in the first Neighbours episode on 18 March 1985. Shane is the son of Max and Maria Ramsay...
(Peter O'Brien) and Danny
Danny Ramsay
Daniel "Danny" Ramsay is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by David Clencie. He made his first on-screen appearance in Neighbours first episode on 18 March 1985. Danny became the first character to speak in the show...
(David Clencie). Max departed on 2 May 1986 after Bell's contract was not renewed.
Casting
In 1985, Neighbours started out with three families created by Watson - the RamsaysRamsay family
The Ramsay family is a fictional family on the Australian soap opera Neighbours. The cul-de-sac, which is the central focus of the series is named after the family.No.24 has been associated with the Ramsay family since the show began in 1985....
, the Robinsons and the Clarkes. Watson said that he wanted to show three families living in a small street, who are friends. Francis Bell was cast in the role of patriarch Max Ramsay, head of the Ramsay family.
In 1986, Bell believed he was not being paid enough for his work and the demands of his character, so the decision was taken not to renew his contract. A back injury also influenced Bell's decision to leave the show. Bell said "I was considering resigning before my back problems flared up. Negotiations had been under way between my agent and Grundy's for some time and I had decided I didn't want to do the show any more".
Characterisation
Bell based the character of Max on a person who helped raise him in New Zealand. He said "Max is based on a man whom I loved, but who gave me a very hard time". The head of the Ramsay family, Max has been described as being "almost the father figure of Neighbours" in the early days. He was always proud that Ramsay Street was named after his grandfather. He was also described as being "essentially a nice guy" who can be hard-headed, unmoving and "domineering at times". Max survives by dominating situations and he approves of those who comply.Storylines
Max is a loud, uncouth plumber. He has a fractious family life and frequently argues with his wife Maria, and he is disappointed in his sensitive son DannyDanny Ramsay
Daniel "Danny" Ramsay is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by David Clencie. He made his first on-screen appearance in Neighbours first episode on 18 March 1985. Danny became the first character to speak in the show...
. Max has a better relationship with his older, more athletic son Shane
Shane Ramsay
Shane Ramsay is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Peter O'Brien. He made his first appearance on-screen in the first Neighbours episode on 18 March 1985. Shane is the son of Max and Maria Ramsay...
. Max is a longtime rival of neighbour Jim Robinson
Jim Robinson (Neighbours)
James "Jim" Robinson is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Alan Dale. He made his first on-screen appearance on 18 March 1985, which was the shows first episode. Jim was the patriarch of the Robinson family. Dale departed the show in 1993 after...
.
Max's family life is plunged into turmoil when he learns he is not Danny's father. Danny was actually the product of Maria's extra marital affair. The marriage collapses and Max moves out of the family home, sharing a cramped flat with son Shane.
His wife Maria has an affair with Richard Morrison, an insurance investigator, in mid 1985. Maria bids Richard farewell when he is transferred to work in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. At the last minute Maria leaves Erinsborough to travel to Hong Kong with him. Max returns to the family home after Maria's departure.
Max had other troubles when he loses his driver's licence for driving under the influence
Driving under the influence
Driving under the influence is the act of driving a motor vehicle with blood levels of alcohol in excess of a legal limit...
of alcohol. As a plumber he needs someone to drive him around to his jobs, something his new apprentice Terry Inglis
Terry Inglis
Terry Inglis is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours played by Maxine Klibingaitis. She made her first appearance on 11 June 1985. Terry was employed by Max Ramsay as his plumber's apprentice. Terry dated Shane Ramsay and Paul Robinson who she married...
takes over.
Max abruptly leaves Erinsborough in early 1986. It is explained that he traveled to Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
to visit relatives. Later, after reportedly reconciling with estranged wife Maria, he sends word he will not be returning.
23 years after Max's departure, it was revealed that Max and Anne Robinson had had an affair and Anne gave birth to a daughter, Jill (Perri Cummings). Jill had 3 children; Kate
Kate Ramsay
Kate Ramsay is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Ashleigh Brewer. She made her first on-screen appearance on 15 May 2009. She is the eldest sibling of Harry and Sophie Ramsay...
(Ashleigh Brewer
Ashleigh Brewer
Ashleigh Brewer is an Australian actress. She is best known for playing Kate Ramsay in the long-running Australian soap opera Neighbours.-Biography and personal life:...
), Harry
Harry Ramsay
Harry Ramsay is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Will Moore. The character first appeared on-screen on 18 May 2009...
(Will Moore) and Sophie
Sophie Ramsay
Sophie Ramsay is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Kaiya Jones. She made her first on-screen appearance on 18 May 2009. The character was created as part of a new generation of the Ramsay family. Sophie is the youngest of the Ramsay siblings, which also...
(Kaiya Jones
Kaiya Jones
Kaiya Jones is a Scottish-born Australian actress best known for playing the role of Sophie Ramsay in the Australian soap opera Neighbours. She previously played Jess Cooper in The Saddle Club series 3.-Early and personal life:...
).
Reception
British critics suggested that as a plumber, Max would not have been able to afford the lifestyle of Ramsay Street. In Australia, they were surprised that Max chose to live in the area when he could be living elsewhere. In the 1980s, plumbers in Australia earned similar wages to doctors and lawyers.Ruth Deller of television website Lowculture
Lowculture
lowculture.co.uk is a UK television website founded in January 2003 by Paul Lang, who currently works as the art director of Doctor Who Adventures.-Purpose:...
gave Max a 3 out of 5 for his contribution to Neighbours, during a feature called "A guide to recognising your Ramsays and Robinsons". Deller said "The patriarch of the Ramsay family in the early days of Neighbours. He was married to Maria, although they had a tempestuous relationship, not least because Max was a pretty hot-headed sort. To prove that the Robinsons aren't the only family with illegitimate children, Maria had a son, Danny, with a man that wasn't Max, and he, of course, fathered Jill".
In her book "Soap opera", Dorothy Hobson describes Max and his family as "more working class than other characters", also stating: "They had working-class jobs but were not represented as cloth cap wearing or dowdy, they were bright and modern and representative of a vibrant and working population." Andrew Mercado in his book Super Aussie Soaps brands the Ramsay family as being the backbone of the serial during the early years.