Guy Warner

Creation and casting

Craig Parker was cast as the role of Guy - Chris Warner's (Michael Galvin) brother, in 1992, a role he maintained for 4 years. Parker quit the role and filmed his final scenes in March 1996. Parker made his final appearance in an episode written by Steven Zanoski that aired in May that year. However producers ensured the character may return. Parker exited alongside screen brother Michael Galvin and originally this was going to be the start of the series ultimate ending, however the show continued to renew and ended up ongoing. In May 2007 it was announced that Guy would be returning as part of the shows 15th anniversary. Parker revealed that he originally turned down the role, but after learning of his storylines and the development of the Tuesday character, he agreed to return in a more antagonistic role, he stated; "Working with Michael [Galvin] again and Laura [Hill] (Toni Warner), who I haven't worked with before, I knew it would be great fun."

Storylines

Guy arrived in town in late 1992 and had a one-night stand with Meredith (Stephanie Wilkin) much to the annoyance of older brother, Chris (Michael Galvin). Guy made moves on Chris' ex fiance - Alison (Danielle Cormack) and departed. He returned early the following year and got together with Meredith. However the two broke up when it was revealed Guy had a mistress, older women - Jenny (Maggie Harper). He briefly dated HIV patient Deborah (Lisa Chappell) but ended up with good friend - Carmen (Theresa Healey). Guy cheated and they briefly broke up before Carmen fell pregnant and gave birth to daughter - Tuesday (Kelly Tate). In 1995 he was shocked to learn he was the result of an affair between father, Bruce (Ken Blackburn) and Chris' nanny. Carmen died following a truck crash in the hospital and Guy ended up leaving with Chris to seek surgery on a tumour Tuesday had developed neurologically.

Guy returned in May 2007 with a teenage Tuesday (Olivia Tennet) and Chris soon discovered Guy was a drug addict. Infuriated, Guy fled Ferndale with Chris' wife - Toni (Laura Hill), their son Harry (Henry Williams) and Tuesday. Chris located them 6 months later and they ended up getting in a severe car crash, landing Guy in a coma. When he awoke he continued his newfound relationship with Toni and resorted to rehab to kick his addiction. He realized Toni was still in love with Chris and had a one-night stand with Alice Piper (Toni Potter) before publishing a book that blamed Chris and the Warners for his drug addiction and subsequent chaotic lifestyle. Chris was devastated but the two brothers eventually reconciled before Guy returned to America in April 2008. Alice discovered she was pregnant shortly after with Guy being one of the potential fathers. Guy phoned in June 2008, saddened he could not make it to Toni's funeral. In 2012, chapters involving Chris in Guy's book were cited by management in hospital investigations surrounding Chris' possible inappropriate relationship with Hayley O'Neill (Michelle Blundell). In 2014 Chris stated that Guy would not be able to make it to his wedding.

Relationship with Carmen Roberts

Guy and Carmen Roberts began a close friendship in 1993 and their mutual friend Steve Mills tried to match make the two. However, after Steve's devastating death in 1994, the two finally got together at the staff party. Carmen's actress - Theresa Healey described why Carmen fell for Guy, saying; "I think she was trying to turn herself around. She saw the Warner family as a way out. As a way to become a little bit more acceptable and maybe she'd be happier. And she liked him. She actually liked him." The two ran into trouble when Guy admitted to an affair but both actors confessed the two would always return to each other with Healey stating; "His kooky sense of humour, his inappropriateness – like he's always doing the wrong thing and she always berates him for it. She loves him ... For all their fighting, they are addicted to each other and they love each other very much. But there is the baseline of no matter how horrible they are to each other, they know they'll always be able to say sorry ay some stage – well, Guy will say sorry!" Guy had a vasectomy but Carmen was shocked to learn she was pregnant, indicating an affair. However it soon turned out the vasectomy hadn't worked but Carmen was still hesitant to have the child. Carmen soon came round to the idea when she thought she had lost the baby during the pregnancy and the two got into bitter arguments as to what to name the baby. She was eventually named Tuesday. Guy was devastated when Carmen died in December 1995 and departed to America with Tuesday and Chris. Upon his return in 2007, it was clear Guy was not over Carmen, Parker stated: "Guy has never got over Carmen and was always searching for another Carmen. He's had a string of bad relationships and picked up some bad habits along the way."

Reception

Throughout his original stint, Guy was one of the most popular characters on the show. The character was described by a journalist as being "terminally nice". Producer Jason Daniel listed the return of Guy as one of his favourite storylines throughout his run on the soap. In the 2008 Throng Shortland Street Fan Awards, Guy was listed as one of the characters fans would most like to return. Charlotte Cowan of Entertainment Fix praised Guy's return storyline and compared it favorably to the returns of Hone Ropata (Temuera Morrison) in 2008 and Justine Jones (Lucy Wigmore) in 2009. It was later named as the 4th best ever character return storyline in the soap by the Shortland Street website in 2013. Laura Hill (Toni Warner) enjoyed working alongside Parker and Olivia Tennet (Tuesday Warner) during 2007, noting the "lovely new energy" they brought to the Warner family unit. In 2012, the character was named as one of the standout characters of the show's first 20 years.