Stuart Parker (Neighbours)
Encyclopedia
Stuart Parker is a fictional character
from the Australian soap opera Neighbours
, played by Blair McDonough
. He made his first appearance on 13 December 2001. Stuart lived with Toadfish Rebecchi
and Connor O'Neill
at number 30, during which time the house became known as "The House of Trouser". Stuart's storylines included becoming a policeman, temporarily losing his eyesight, joining a cult, which almost cost him his friendships and marrying Sindi Watts. Stuart departed on 5 April 2006 after McDonough quit to pursue other projects.
' bosses. McDonough had mentioned on Big Brother that he wanted to be an actor and as Neighbours was run on the same network, they believed that it be a good cross-promotion if McDonough joined the cast. McDonough had to audition for the part of Stuart Parker and he said "I didn't really prepare that much, I just went in and did it". He was offered the part, which was supposed to be for three months. Shortly before his debut episode aired, McDonough had his three month contract doubled and producers hoped the actor would commit to a permanent role.
McDonough told the Daily Mail
that he and Stuart were initially similar, but as time went on he was able to turn Stuart into a character that was unlike himself.
McDonough quit the show in October 2005 after four years to move to the UK. A spokeswoman said "It was an enormous opportunity... and he's a bit sad leaving Ramsay Street because he's had a great time. But it's time to move on."
and his friend, Drew Kirk
allows him to stay with him and his wife Libby
. Stuart is a trained mechanic and was given a job at Carpenter Mechanics. Stuart begins a relationship with Dee Bliss and she invites him to move into Number 30. Stuart's ex-fiancee, Tracey Slattery shows up in Ramsay Street and Stuart explained that she had cheated on him on the eve of their wedding. Upon Tracey's departure, Stuart and Dee split up. Stuart then begins to develop feelings for Felicity Scully
. Stuart then decides to join the army, but he isn't happy and decides to take a job as a hospital porter instead. Following Drew's death, Stuart promises Libby that he will be there for her and he quit his job at the hospital. Shortly after becoming a couple, Felicity tells Stuart that she is leaving for New York. Stuart proposes to her and she accepts. Once Felicity had left, Stuart began spending time with Libby and her son, Ben
. Stuart later admits that he had made a mistake getting engaged and calls Felicity to tell her their relationship is over. Stuart found the garage hard to run by himself, and he took on Stephanie Scully
. Stuart was accused of causing Dee's death when the car Toadie was driving on their wedding day was not deemed roadworthy.
Stuart meets Jonathan Verne at a festival and he tells him about his group, 'Life Mechanics'. Stuart joins the group and ignores his friends who say he is joining a cult. He began to spend more time with Jonathan and he started running his own meetings. His friends began to turn against him. It was then revealed that Jonathan had been conning money out of people all over the country. Stuart retreated away from everyone for a while, before making it up to them. Stuart then applies to be a police officer. On his first day, Stuart is partnered with Olivia McPherson, they get on well and Stuart begins to develop a crush on Olivia. However, when he discovers she is corrupt, he reports her. Stuart wasn't getting on well with Toadie's new girlfriend, Sindi Watts
, but during an argument, they kiss. Sindi told Toadie, and they stayed together. When Toadie breaks up with her, Stuart and Sindi begin a secret relationship.
During a fire at the pub, Stuart tries to rescue Sindi, but the pub collapses and traps them. When they are rescued it was discovered that Stuart had severe injuries to his eyes. The Helen Daniels Trust donated money to Stuart so he could have an operation to fix his sight. Stuart grew suspicious about Sindi's behaviour when his friends began to get injured. Liljana Bishop
slipped off a ladder and Susan Kennedy
hit her head on a cupboard door, while Sindi was around. Sindi tells Stuart that she is jinxed and goes through hypnotherapy
treatment. Sindi then proposed to Stuart, who accepted. Stuart began to grow suspicious of Sindi again when he found out that his friend, Trent Hoffa was hit by a car. After confronting Sindi, Stuart was forced to apologize when Trent woke up and said the driver had dark hair and glasses. Sindi showed up at Stuart's bucks' night, but when Toadie claims to have seen her, Stuart doesn't believe him. On the day of the wedding, Toadie finds evidence that proves Sindi was there. However, he knocks himself out and Sindi takes the evidence. Upon waking, Toadie goes to the church and tries to stop the ceremony. Stuart punches him and he and Sindi marry. Toadie turns up during the honeymoon with the evidence about Sindi. Stuart witnesses Sindi pushing Toadie down some stairs and realises that Toadie was right. Sindi is taken to a psychiatric ward and Stuart tells that he will stand by her. Sindi asks for an annulment and tells him that she is transferring to another clinic. When Stuart's father hurt his back and was unable to work, Stuart argued with his brother, Ned
, about which one of them would return home to help out. Stuart puts his sergeant's exam on hold and calls Sindi to ask if she would join him in Oakey. She agrees and he departs Ramsay Street with Angie
and Kevin Rebecchi
.
. In July 2004, British newspaper The Daily Mail called Stuart a "resident heartthrob" and added that he was "down-to-earth". Nick Levine of media and entertainment website Digital Spy
included McDonough in a picture feature of male soap stars.
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 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 Blair McDonough
Blair McDonough
Blair McDonough is an actor who is best known for playing the role of Stuart Parker in the Australian TV soap opera Neighbours. He first shot to fame in 2001, when he finished runner-up in the inaugural season of the reality TV series Big Brother Australia...
. He made his first appearance on 13 December 2001. Stuart lived with Toadfish Rebecchi
Toadfish Rebecchi
Jarrod Vincenzo Rebecchi is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Ryan Moloney. He debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 8 February 1995....
and Connor O'Neill
Connor O'Neill
Connor O'Neill is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Patrick Harvey. He made his first on-screen appearance on 19 April 2002. He is best known for his friendships with Toadie Rebecchi and Stu Parker with whom he lived at No.30, now better known as...
at number 30, during which time the house became known as "The House of Trouser". Stuart's storylines included becoming a policeman, temporarily losing his eyesight, joining a cult, which almost cost him his friendships and marrying Sindi Watts. Stuart departed on 5 April 2006 after McDonough quit to pursue other projects.
Casting
In 2001, McDonough became a runner-up in the first series of Australian Big Brother and his looks and personality attracted the attentions of the NeighboursMcDonough told the Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
that he and Stuart were initially similar, but as time went on he was able to turn Stuart into a character that was unlike himself.
McDonough quit the show in October 2005 after four years to move to the UK. A spokeswoman said "It was an enormous opportunity... and he's a bit sad leaving Ramsay Street because he's had a great time. But it's time to move on."
Storylines
Stuart turns up in ErinsboroughErinsborough
Erinsborough is the fictional suburb in which the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours is set. The show focuses on the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the suburb...
and his friend, Drew Kirk
Drew Kirk
Andrew "Drew" Kirk is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Dan Paris. He made his first on-screen appearance on 27 March 1998. Drew departed on 13 September 2002...
allows him to stay with him and his wife Libby
Libby Kennedy
Elizabeth Grace "Libby" Kennedy is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Kym Valentine. She made her first on-screen appearance on 3 October 1994 and departed in 2004, before returning on 12 November 2007. Libby is the only daughter of Karl and Susan Kennedy...
. Stuart is a trained mechanic and was given a job at Carpenter Mechanics. Stuart begins a relationship with Dee Bliss and she invites him to move into Number 30. Stuart's ex-fiancee, Tracey Slattery shows up in Ramsay Street and Stuart explained that she had cheated on him on the eve of their wedding. Upon Tracey's departure, Stuart and Dee split up. Stuart then begins to develop feelings for Felicity Scully
Felicity Scully
Felicity Jane "Flick" Scully is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Holly Valance. She made her first on-screen appearance on 21 October 1999 and she departed on 28 November 2002....
. Stuart then decides to join the army, but he isn't happy and decides to take a job as a hospital porter instead. Following Drew's death, Stuart promises Libby that he will be there for her and he quit his job at the hospital. Shortly after becoming a couple, Felicity tells Stuart that she is leaving for New York. Stuart proposes to her and she accepts. Once Felicity had left, Stuart began spending time with Libby and her son, Ben
Ben Fitzgerald
Ben Ian Fitzgerald is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Blake O'Leary. The character was previously played by Noah Sutherland and Sean Berends. He made his first on-screen appearance on 14 December 2001. Ben is the son of Libby Kennedy and Drew...
. Stuart later admits that he had made a mistake getting engaged and calls Felicity to tell her their relationship is over. Stuart found the garage hard to run by himself, and he took on Stephanie Scully
Stephanie Scully
Stephanie Jo "Steph" Scully is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Carla Bonner. She made her first on-screen appearance on 21 October 1999. Stephanie is the eldest daughter of Joe and Lyn Scully and the mother to a son, Charlie...
. Stuart was accused of causing Dee's death when the car Toadie was driving on their wedding day was not deemed roadworthy.
Stuart meets Jonathan Verne at a festival and he tells him about his group, 'Life Mechanics'. Stuart joins the group and ignores his friends who say he is joining a cult. He began to spend more time with Jonathan and he started running his own meetings. His friends began to turn against him. It was then revealed that Jonathan had been conning money out of people all over the country. Stuart retreated away from everyone for a while, before making it up to them. Stuart then applies to be a police officer. On his first day, Stuart is partnered with Olivia McPherson, they get on well and Stuart begins to develop a crush on Olivia. However, when he discovers she is corrupt, he reports her. Stuart wasn't getting on well with Toadie's new girlfriend, Sindi Watts
Sindi Watts
Sindi Parker is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Marisa Warrington. She made her first on-screen appearance on 19 July 2002. Sindi was initially a recurring character, before she was promoted to regular...
, but during an argument, they kiss. Sindi told Toadie, and they stayed together. When Toadie breaks up with her, Stuart and Sindi begin a secret relationship.
During a fire at the pub, Stuart tries to rescue Sindi, but the pub collapses and traps them. When they are rescued it was discovered that Stuart had severe injuries to his eyes. The Helen Daniels Trust donated money to Stuart so he could have an operation to fix his sight. Stuart grew suspicious about Sindi's behaviour when his friends began to get injured. Liljana Bishop
Liljana Bishop
Liljana "Lil" Bishop is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Marcella Russo. She made her first on-screen appearance on 9 October 2003...
slipped off a ladder and 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...
hit her head on a cupboard door, while Sindi was around. Sindi tells Stuart that she is jinxed and goes through hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy is a therapy that is undertaken with a subject in hypnosis.The word "hypnosis" is an abbreviation of James Braid's term "neuro-hypnotism", meaning "sleep of the nervous system"....
treatment. Sindi then proposed to Stuart, who accepted. Stuart began to grow suspicious of Sindi again when he found out that his friend, Trent Hoffa was hit by a car. After confronting Sindi, Stuart was forced to apologize when Trent woke up and said the driver had dark hair and glasses. Sindi showed up at Stuart's bucks' night, but when Toadie claims to have seen her, Stuart doesn't believe him. On the day of the wedding, Toadie finds evidence that proves Sindi was there. However, he knocks himself out and Sindi takes the evidence. Upon waking, Toadie goes to the church and tries to stop the ceremony. Stuart punches him and he and Sindi marry. Toadie turns up during the honeymoon with the evidence about Sindi. Stuart witnesses Sindi pushing Toadie down some stairs and realises that Toadie was right. Sindi is taken to a psychiatric ward and Stuart tells that he will stand by her. Sindi asks for an annulment and tells him that she is transferring to another clinic. When Stuart's father hurt his back and was unable to work, Stuart argued with his brother, Ned
Ned Parker
Ned Parker is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Daniel O'Connor. He made his first appearance on-screen on 9 August 2005, arriving to see his brother, Stuart...
, about which one of them would return home to help out. Stuart puts his sergeant's exam on hold and calls Sindi to ask if she would join him in Oakey. She agrees and he departs Ramsay Street with Angie
Angie Rebecchi
Angela "Angie" Rebecchi is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, portrayed by Lesley Baker.The character first appeared in 1995 to 1996. Angie later returned for several weeks in 2002, then for her youngest son, Toadie's ill-fated wedding to Dee Bliss in 2003. Angie also...
and Kevin Rebecchi
Kevin Rebecchi
Kevin "Big Kev" Rebecchi is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Don Bridges. He made his first on-screen appearance on 8 February 1995 and made his final appearance on 3 March 2008.-Storylines:...
.
Reception
For his portrayal of Stuart, McDonough was nominated for "Most Popular New Male Talent" at the Logie Awards in 2002Logie Awards of 2002
The 44th Annual TV Week Logie Awards were presented on Sunday 28 April 2002 at Crown Casino in Melbourne and broadcast on the Nine Network. Wendy Harmer from the Sydney radio station 2Day FM was the Master of Ceremonies.The ratings of the 2002 logie awards averaged around 1,865,000 and ranked at #5...
. In July 2004, British newspaper The Daily Mail called Stuart a "resident heartthrob" and added that he was "down-to-earth". Nick Levine of media and entertainment website Digital Spy
Digital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
included McDonough in a picture feature of male soap stars.
External links
- Stuart Parker at Perfectblend