List of Neighbours characters (2020)
Neighbours is an Australian television soap opera. It was first broadcast on 18 March 1985 and airs on digital channel 10 Peach. The following is a list of characters that first appear in the show in 2020, by order of first appearance. All characters are introduced by the show's executive producer Jason Herbison. Lisa Rowsthorn and Zenin Alexio were introduced towards the end of January. [|Owen Campbell], Emmett Donaldson, Levi Canning, and [|Louis Curtain] made their debuts in June. Nicolette Stone began appearing from July, while [|Rose Walker] will debut in August.
Lisa Rowsthorn
Lisa Rowsthorn, played by Jane Allsop, made her first appearance on 20 January 2020. Details of Allsop's casting as Lisa were announced on 13 January. The character is the mother of Hendrix Greyson, and arrives in Erinsborough to help with his rebellious behaviour, which resulted in him stealing a nude photo of his stepmother Chloe Brennan. Hendrix finds his mother is "surprisingly reasonable and understanding" about the incident, while Hendrix's father Pierce Greyson fears for his relationship with his son, knowing that Lisa is "controlling". Daniel Kilkelly of Digital Spy reported that Lisa's introduction would also test Pierce and Chloe's marriage, as she asks Pierce to father another child with her.Lisa flies to Erinsborough, after being contacted by Chloe Brennan, who has concerns about her son Hendrix's behaviour. Lisa learns that Hendrix has been living with the Kennedy family and not with his father, Pierce, but she is accepting of the situation. Lisa deduces that Hendrix did not tell her himself because he was embarrassed about why he was there – his crush on Chloe. Lisa gives Hendrix the chance to come back home with her, but he tells her that he wants to stay and make things right. Lisa wants to tell Hendrix about the deal between herself and Pierce, as she realises that Hendrix has spent his life thinking Pierce did not care about him. Hendrix overhears them arguing and Lisa explains that Pierce was only 18 when they dated, and they broke up shortly after he was born. Lisa later asked Pierce to father another child with her through IVF for money, which helped him set up his business. She gave him access to Hendrix and his sister Alana, but told him to focus on his own life, as she did not need him. Hendrix is hurt by the revelation. Lisa admits to Chloe that she thought she was doing the right thing. She then asks about Chloe and Pierce's plans to have a family, but Chloe reveals that she has Huntington's disease, which complicates matters.
Hendrix later moves back in with Chloe and Pierce, but his relationship with Lisa remains strained. Pierce demands honesty from Lisa and she reveals that she wants another child and for it to be Pierce's. Lisa explains that she is willing to move to Erinsborough with Alana and co-parent the child with Pierce and Chloe. They initially agree to Lisa's idea, but Chloe realises it is not what she wants and they inform Lisa. Chloe's brother Aaron Brennan and his husband David Tanaka later ask Lisa if she would have and co-parent a child with them. David's father Paul Robinson is against the idea and asks Lisa to put a stop to it, as he does not want the boys to get hurt. Lisa takes a pregnancy test and learns she is pregnant with her former boyfriend's baby. She tells David and Aaron that their plan cannot go ahead, before telling Pierce, Chloe and Hendrix. She decides to leave for Sydney right away to tell her ex, James, the news. Hendrix comes to see her before she goes and she tells him that she is proud of him. She knows that being with his father is the right thing for him and she will be calling him every chance she can get.
Zenin Alexio
Zenin Alexio, played by Axle Whitehead, made his first appearance on 24 January 2020. Whitehead's casting was reported in the 18–24 January 2020 issue of Inside Soap. He joins the cast for a short stint as "a shady looking guy" who watches Yashvi Rebecchi and Ned Willis in the local café, leading to speculation about his identity and interest in the couple. It was later confirmed that Zenin is linked to an illegal fight ring that Ned was involved with in late 2019. Hall explained, "Zenin is under the impression that Ned and Yashvi are on to his illegal operations, which were taking place behind the scenes at the fight club. Zenin threatens to hurt Yashvi, and anyone Ned is close to, if either of them goes to the cops." Hall said Whitehead "brought great energy" to his character, and he hoped Whitehead would stay with the cast for a while. Whitehead later said of Zenin: "My character is very dangerous, and he's someone who takes pleasure in threatening people. He enjoys the hunt, the game of cat-and-mouse, and he'll stop at nothing. Human life is cheap to him." Whitehead explained that playing a bad boy character was his favourite and called Zenin "a truly bad guy". He also said that he enjoyed playing out the hostage scenes involving Ned, as they involved a lot of action. He added that he would love to come back if viewers wanted to see more of Zenin.Zenin comes to Harold's Café and listens in as Ned Willis and Yashvi Rebecchi talk about her police academy exam. He makes a phone call and tells the person at the other end that they might have a problem. He briefly makes eye contact with Ned on his way out, and later follows him to Ramsay Street. Zenin breaks into Ned's home and is waiting for him when he returns. Ned works out that Zenin is connected with a fight ring he was involved in, however, when Zenin asks him what he saw while he was there, Ned does not know what he is talking about. Zenin brings up Yashvi and believes that Ned told her what he saw, as the police have been investigating. He tells Ned to make sure Yashvi keeps quiet and he leaves. Zenin later meets with Ned, who explains that his lawyer Toadfish Rebecchi has a written statement from him containing everything he knows, so if he or Yashvi are hurt, then it will be given to the police. Zenin then sabotages Yashvi's car, and sends Ned a text saying that he has seen his lawyer talking to the police. Toadie's office is broken into and Ned meets with Zenin, who threatens to break into Toadie's home, where Yashvi also lives, to search for the statement. Kyle Canning meets Zenin to exchange money for a 3D printed gun, and Zenin later texts Yashvi to say he is glad she has joined the team and gives her a job to do. Ned finds the text and contacts Zenin, who tells him that Yashvi approached him begging him to keep her family safe. Ned asks to take Yashvi's place but Zenin is not interested. Zenin later catches Ned at his warehouse and is about to shoot him when the police and Yashvi arrive. Zenin grabs Ned and holds him hostage, so Yashvi goes over to the waiting van and pushes the horn, causing Zenin to fire the gun into the air and allowing the police to arrest him. Ned then learns Yashvi was working with a police task force to catch Zenin and his associates.
Owen Campbell
Owen Campbell, played by Johnny Ruffo, made his first appearance on 8 June 2020. The character and Ruffo's casting details were announced on 28 May 2020. He filmed his six-episode guest stint in March. Ruffo remarked that the show was "very fast moving" when it came to filming. He said, "I thought Home and Away was quick, but Neighbours was so much quicker. You can't mess around, they were such professionals. I really enjoyed it. It's just Australian royalty, those two shows . It was such an incredible experience and now I'm fortunate to have been on both shows." Ruffo's character, Owen is a prison guard.While on duty in the visitation room at Goodwood Women's Prison, Owen meets Dee Bliss and recognises that she is related to Andrea Somers and Heather Schilling. Owen later goes to Harold Cafe, where Dee buys him coffee and they bond over gardening. Back at the prison, it emerges that Owen is conspiring with Andrea, who has seduced him. Owen gets Dee and Heather accepted onto a visitors gardening program. After their first session, Dee thanks Owen for organising it and he suggests that she schedule another visit soon, as the program is very popular. He tells her there is a spot free in a few days and Dee agrees to book it. Owen later tells Andrea that everything is going according to plan and asks for a shiv that Andrea has hidden. On the day of Dee's visit, Owen plants the shiv on an inmate to force the prison into lockdown. As Dee waits in the garden, Owen gives her some water, which has been drugged, and she passes out. Andrea swaps clothes with her and she escapes the prison with Owen. Andrea collects her son Hugo Somers and hides out at an apartment that Owen has found for them. Owen soon realises that Andrea has been using him when she no longer reciprocates his feelings. He takes some money she asked him to hide and calls Toadfish Rebecchi to tell him where Andrea is.
Emmett Donaldson
Emmett Donaldson, played by Ezra Justin, made his first appearance on 10 June 2020. The character and Justins's casting details were confirmed in March 2020. Emmett is introduced as part of a storyline focusing on adoption and fostering. He will be fostered by David Tanaka and Aaron Brennan. The character's initial episodes were directed by actress Deborra-lee Furness, who founded Adopt Change. Of the plot, she stated "By telling this story through characters that are known and loved by millions really brings the message home as to what it’s like to navigate this world. Kudos to Neighbours for shining a light on so many important issues and championing the stories of outliers and minorities in our communities."After his foster placement breaks down, due to a fight and school suspension, Emmett's social worker [|Leila Potts] introduces him to Aaron Brennan and David Tanaka, who agree to take him in for the night. This is later extended to a week. David's father Paul Robinson gifts Emmett a cricket bat, and he is introduced to Harlow Robinson and Hendrix Greyson. Emmett later overhears David and Aaron telling Aaron's sister Chloe Brennan and her husband Pierce Greyson about how they requested the agency place a younger child with them. Emmett deliberately smashes a window with a cricket ball and runs away. Chloe finds him at the rotunda and contacts Aaron and David, while Hendrix tells Emmett to give them a chance. Leila asks Emmett if he is okay to stay and to promise not to run away again, which he does, but he does not want to stay longer than a week. Aaron and David buy Emmett some new trainers and throw his old worn out pair away, but he retrieves them from the bin and Ned Willis fixes them up for him. Aaron and David apologise to Emmett for overstepping and not asking his opinion first. Emmett later asks if he can stay longer. The foster agency arrange a driver to pick Emmett up from his school, as it is an hour away, but when the driver fails to show, Emmett calls Aaron before his phone battery dies. Thinking that no one is coming, he attempts to catch a bus, but soon finds Aaron has sent Paul to pick him up. Emmett decides to move to Erinsborough High to makes things easier. He meets new counsellor Shaun Watkins on his first day, and Shaun helps him with his nine times table when Emmett leaves his maths class, after struggling with a question. He is later told that he may have to repeat Year 8 and Shaun becomes his tutor.
Emmett struggles to make friends, but he impresses classmate Louis Curtain when he takes the blame for trashing a school classroom. He tries to befriend Louis again by letting him use Hendrix's drone. Louis uses it to spy on Roxy Willis sunbathing in her garden, but when he loses control and ends up injuring Sheila Canning, Louis runs away, leaving Emmett to take the blame. Roxy confronts him for spying on her on front of David and Aaron. Emmett tells Aaron and David the truth, and they forbid him from spending time with Louis again. Despite doing extra homework, Emmett struggles with a maths test and clashes with teacher Marty Muggleton. Emmett's half-brother [|Brent Colefax] comes to Erinsborough to see him, but proves to be trouble when he tells Emmett not to worry about school. He also tells Emmett that he can move in with him once he turns 18, but Aaron and David point out that it would be hard for Brent to care for Emmett. Emmett wants Aaron and David to foster Brent as well and they agree to consider it. Brent encourages Emmett to climb on the roof of the house with him, but when Emmett tries to get down, he slips and falls. Emmett suffers a fracture in his neck and some swelling on his spinal chord leaves him unable to feel his legs, but David assures him and Aaron that he will be fine.
Levi Canning
Levi Canning, played by Richie Morris, made his first appearance on 15 June 2020. Morris's casting was announced on 5 June. He relocated from Sydney to Melbourne to accommodate filming and Neighbours marks his first television role. He called his first day on set "surreal". Levi is a member of the established Canning family and a series regular. He is Sheila Canning's grandson and cousin to Kyle Canning. Morris was glad to be joining the family, stating that it was "humbling because they are such a fun and iconic family on Ramsay Street, which provides not only loads of drama but also so much humour. I couldn't ask for more. Plus, I get to work and learn from both Chris and Colette, who I idolise." Morris later confirmed that Levi is Frank Canning Jnr's son. Levi is the show's new police constable. Morris admitted that the uniform helped him get into character and mindset of a policeman. He also hoped he would get a chance to use his martial arts skills while playing Levi in the future. Morris described his character as "very passionate, very cheeky and charming, and he takes his job very seriously." He added that Levi has a lot of secrets.Shortly after transferring to Erinsborough, Levi pulls his cousin Kyle's car over as a joke. Kyle introduces Levi to his passenger Bea Nilsson and then scolds Levi for not telling him when he was arriving, but Levi claims it would have ruined the joke. Kyle takes Levi to see their grandmother Sheila, who is not overly happy to see him. Levi leaves to interview Ned Willis and Yashvi Rebecchi about Andrea Somers, who has kidnapped Hugo Somers, after escaping from prison. Levi also speaks with Andrea's sister Dee Bliss. Hugo's father Toadfish Rebecchi demands to know what is being done to find his son and is not happy when Levi tells him to stay at home during the investigation. Levi interviews Andrea and Dee's mother Heather Schilling and works with her as she contacts Andrea and arranges to meet at the local high school. Levi waits outside the school with Toadie and Dee, as Heather goes in to convince Andrea to hand over Hugo. Toadie grows impatient and runs into the school to get his son, and Andrea is arrested. Levi moves into Number 26 Ramsay Street with Kyle and Sheila, who attempts to set him up with one of the women she found for Kyle. Levi goes to The Waterhole, where he meets and kisses Roxy Willis. Levi helps Yashvi to move on from Hugo's kidnapping at Ned's request, and he volunteers to help clean up the island where Kyle's father Gary Canning died. While working with Bea, Levi suffers an epileptic fit. He asks Bea not to tell anyone, and tells her that he was attacked when he was a child and hit his head, resulting in him developing epilepsy. Although he tells her that this is the first fit he has had in a long time, Bea remains concerned that he is keeping it from his family and colleagues. Following her graduation from the academy, Yashvi is partnered with Levi. On her first day in the job, Yashvi and Levi are called to the Erinsborough Backpackers after a tip off about drugs on the site. They find Yashvi's friend Harlow Robinson with a bag of pills and Yashvi is forced to arrest her. Levi tells Yashvi not to let work become personal, and not to get worked up over every case when she later questions why Harlow's charges were dropped. At a family barbecue, Levi learns that the men who attacked him when he was a child were actually looking for Kyle. This causes a rift between Levi, Sheila and Kyle. Levi moves out to a hotel, as he feels unable to forgive his grandmother for protecting Kyle.
Louis Curtain
Louis Curtain, played by Declan Dennis, made his first appearance on 26 June 2020. The character and Dennis's casting details were announced on 6 May 2020. Dennis is the son of actor Stefan Dennis, who plays Paul Robinson in the show. He said his son secured the part on his own, although he acted as "the dad taxi". Their characters will not share any scenes during Declan's two week guest role. Helen Daly of Radio Times called Louis "Erinsborough's latest villain". Asked whether his father helped him get into character, Dennis said "Dad didn't so much help me just play 'the bad guy' it was more about helping me develop the character as a whole. But it is fun being a bit of a chip off the old block."Emmett Donaldson attempts to befriend Louis by asking him to hang out over the school holidays, but Louis tells him to stick to his old friends, as no one at Erinsborough High rates him. A few days later, Louis meets Emmett outside Grease Monkeys and teases him about his lack of friends and spending time at the school during the holiday. When Louis learns that Emmett has access to the empty school, he asks him to hang out and trashes a classroom. Louis later learns that Emmett took the blame for him. Louis comes to Ramsay Street to spend the afternoon with Emmett, who borrows Hendrix Greyson's drone for them to use. Louis flies it above the street and spots Roxy Willis sunbathing in her garden. He flies the drone closer to spy on Roxy, who throws something at it and causes some damage. Louis loses control of the drone and it strikes Sheila Canning in the face. Louis then runs off, leaving Emmett to take the blame. Emmett tells Aaron and David what happened, and they ban Emmett from hanging out with Louis.