List of Neighbours characters (2001)

Jess Fielding

Jessica "Jess" Fielding, played by Elisha Gazdowicz, made her first screen appearance on 14 February 2001. Jess was a student at Erinsborough High who reported Susan Kennedy (Jackie Woodburne) for hitting her and was accused of planting a bomb, a storyline which saw her make an immediate impact on the show. A writer for the Daily Record said Gazdowicz's character was "one viewers either love or hate" and they called Jess a "vixen" and a "wild child" who managed to upset everyone in Ramsay Street. Gazdowicz told the writer that she hoped she did not become a hate figure, saying "I was worried about the way my character comes across as I know it is seen by millions of people world-wide. I just want viewers to like Jess but I can understand why they don't." Gazdowicz also revealed she was the opposite to Jess when it came to school work. Following a confrontation about a low mark, Jess lashes out at her teacher, Susan Kennedy. Susan strikes Jess in self-defence and she is later suspended for her actions, while an investigation is carried out. Jess' boyfriend Tad Reeves (Jonathon Dutton) witnessed the incident and urges Jess to tell the truth about what happened. Jess initially refuses, but she eventually confesses that it was not Susan's fault.

Jess joins Year 12 at Erinsborough High and immediately attracts the attention of Tad Reeves. Jess makes an enemy of Susan Kennedy and she displays no interest in her school work. Tad asks Jess out and she agrees to a date. They work together on a school project and when Tad goes to Jess' home, he is shocked to see how wealthy her family is. Jess tells Tad that her sister, Mary, has had a baby and her parents have being ignoring her to spend time with Mary and their new grandchild. Jess' behaviour at school become worse and when a bomb threat is reported, Jess becomes the prime suspect. A bomb does go off on the school playing field and Jess finds herself under suspicion from Susan and Tad. It is later revealed Colin Rogers (John Tarle) set the bomb. Jess becomes angry with everyone who had accused her. A few days later, Susan gives Jess a low grade for an assignment and Jess confronts her. Susan takes Jess aside after class to talk to her about the mark and her behaviour. Jess lashes out at Susan and Susan puts her arm up to defend herself, causing Jess to fall to the ground. Jess makes everyone aware of the attack and her mother threatens to file a complaint with the school. Susan is suspended and Tad tries to work out why Jess is trying to ruin Susan's career. Eventually Jess admits Susan was not to blame and the complaint is dropped. Jess turns up at Tad's home asking if she can stay. She explains she had an argument with her parents and Tad manages to talk her into calling them. Tad realises his relationship with Jess is becoming too serious and he ends it.

Matt Hancock

Matthew "Matt" Hancock, played by Stephen Hunt, made his first screen appearance on 26 March 2001. Matt was the first member of the five strong Hancock family to be introduced. Matt is the eldest of the Hancock children and he tries to play an adult role in their household. James Joyce of The Newcastle Herald said Matt is intelligent, but has trouble applying himself to study. He added Matt's parents "despair about his future", but are proud of his looks and wit.

Evan Hancock

Evan Hancock, played by Nicholas Opolski, made his first on screen appearance on 13 April 2001. Evan was introduced as the head of the Hancock family and a new teacher at Erinsborough High. In early 2001, the Neighbours scriptwriters decided to introduce some "new blood" to the show to fill the void left by the temporary departures of six regular characters. The writers created the five strong Hancock family, consisting of two parents and three children. Opolski was cast as Evan Hancock the head of the family. Evan was previously married to Genevieve Murdoch (Julie Campbell), but they divorced when their sons; Chris and Matt (Stephen Hunt), were young. Evan then married Maggie (Sally Cooper) and they had two children; Leo (Anthony Hammer) and Emily (Isabella Oldham). A writer for Inside Soap said "conveniently Evan is a teacher who happens to land a job at Erinsborough High." The Hancock's were described as fun-loving and the "average Aussie family." A writer for the BBC described Evan as being committed to progressive education and a devoted father. They said "Evan's easy going manner made him popular with his kids and students alike. That's not to say he didn't run into problems. Sometimes, his kids were embarrassed to have a high school teacher as a father, while his students have been known to take advantage of his good nature." In 2002, the entire Hancock family was axed from Neighbours.

When Evan gets a job at Erinsborough High, he also decides to move his family to the suburb. Evan outbids Dee Bliss and Teresa Bell (Krista Vendy) for Number 32 Ramsay Street and manages to upset his new neighbours. Shortly after moving in, Evan's ex-wife, Genevieve, arrives and tries to convince their son, Matt, to go to Switzerland to attend a catering school. Evan is pleased when Matt turns her down, but he is upset when his other son, Chris, decides to stay with Genevieve. Evan gets off on the wrong foot with Susan Kennedy (Jackie Woodburne) when he reveals he has a radical approach to teaching. Evan's feuds with both Joe Scully (Shane Connor) and Karl Kennedy (Alan Fletcher). Leo tells Evan that his P.E teacher, Dean Hearn, is unfairly treating him and Evan witnesses Dean pushing his son to the ground. Evan goes to Susan with his concerns, but Dean convinces her he did nothing wrong. Evan is horrified when he hears Dean admitting to throwing a chalk duster at Leo and he gets angry with him. Susan asks Evan to leave the school to cool off, while Dean resigns. The Hancocks begin having money worries and Evan and Maggie are concerned by Leo's strange behaviour. When they see him taking money from his friends, they confront him and he tells them that he has a paper round. Evan is not convinced and later learns Leo has been selling essays to raise money for break dancing lessons. Evan then bans Leo from attending any more classes, but when he sees how talented he is, Evan relents. Things between Evan and Maggie become strained when her studies get in the way of home life. Evan runs for a position on the local council against Joe and wins. Evan starts becoming estranged from his wife and children and he helps Genevieve when she returns to ask for his support, following a break up. Evan keeps his meetings with Genevieve a secret. Evan is shocked when he learns Matt and Leo have been involved in a car crash and Harold Bishop (Ian Smith) was injured too. Evan is angry with Matt when he faces police charges and Matt runs away. He later returns and Evan and Maggie are faced with large legal fees to keep him out of jail. They decide to sell their house. Evan's marriage to Maggie is strained further when he learns Toadfish Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney) is in love with her and tried to kiss her. Evan asks her for a divorce, but he and Maggie later decide to work through their issues. Evan and his family then say goodbye to their neighbours and leave.

Following his introduction, James Joyce of the Newcastle Herald said Evan should prove extremely popular with the younger residents as he is the new maths teacher at Erinsborough High. A writer for the BBC said Evan's most notable moment was "Emailing The Chronicle about bullying and causing a huge row between him and Susan Kennedy.

Jack Scully

Jack Scully, played by Paul Pantano, made his first screen appearance on 17 April 2001. Following the introduction of the Scully family in 1999, Jack was often mentioned by his parents and siblings. Producers later decided to introduce the character and Pantano was cast in the role. The character was reintroduced in 2002, with Jay Bunyan taking over the role. Bunyan was auditioned for the role in New Zealand by Jan Russ. A writer for the BBC described Jack as being "a little feisty" and said he "certainly set the cat among the pigeons with the local teenage girls when he came to Erinsborough."

Maggie Hancock

Maggie Hancock, played by Sally Cooper, made her first screen appearance on 9 May 2001. The character was introduced alongside her family, after the Neighbours scriptwriters decided to add some "new blood" to the show to fill the void left by the temporary departures of six regular characters. Cooper was cast as Maggie, the matriarch of the Hancock family. Maggie is married to Evan (Nicholas Opolski) and they have two children; Leo (Anthony Hammer) and Emily (Isabella Oldham). Maggie is also a stepmother to Chris and Matt (Stephen Hunt). Maggie is a law student and a writer for the BBC stated "Maggie had a difficult task in negotiating her way through the world of the modern blended family. It was a role she managed well. Add all this to her legal career and you have one very busy woman." Maggie works alongside Toadfish Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney) and he later confesses his feelings for her. They almost share a kiss, but Maggie "nipped the romance in the bud". However, Evan finds out that Maggie and Toadie were more than friends and Maggie has to decide whether she is still fully committed to her husband. Hunt, who played Matt Hancock, commented "Toadie was the one who started it, but there was some doubt whether Maggie had feelings for him too." Evan and Maggie are united when Matt is involved in a car accident and when Maggie spots Evan and Matt sorting through their issues, she decides her marriage is worth saving and convinces Evan to try again. In 2002, the producers decided to write the Hancocks out of the show.

Maggie and her family move to Erinsborough after her husband, Evan, gets a job at the local high school. On the day they are moving into 32 Ramsay Street, Maggie and Evan realise that their youngest son, Leo, is missing. They drive round looking for him and eventually find him in the local pub with Toadfish Rebecchi. Maggie learns Toadie is in his final year of law and she reveals she is also a law student. They become friends and Maggie helps Toadie with his court case against UniFM radio. Shortly after their arrival, Maggie and Evan deal with the anniversary of their daughter Francesca's death. Maggie reassures Leo that it was not his fault Francesca died and learns he has spoken about it with Dee Bliss (Madeleine West). Maggie becomes eager to help Libby Kennedy (Kym Valentine) sue The Chronicle for unfair dismissal. Libby's father, Karl (Alan Fletcher), believes his daughter should not pursue her case as she is pregnant and he takes his frustrations out on Maggie. Libby eventually takes an out-of-court settlement. Maggie is not happy when she realises that Evan has been feuding with most of their neighbours. The family are also hit with financial difficulties, with matters being made worse when Emily loses a pair of expensive earrings and goes missing. The police tell Maggie and Evan that Emily boarded a bus, but ran off when the driver opened the door. They join the search and Maggie is delighted when Leo finds Emily.

Maggie takes on some work from a legal firm and she starts spending less time at home, which Evan resents her for. Maggie and Evan suspect Leo is taking drugs when they notice his strange behaviour. However, Matt discovers that Leo is actually writing essays for his classmates so he can pay for breakdancing lessons. Evan bans Leo from breakdancing, which causes a rift between them. Maggie finds it hard to concentrate on her studies and she fails an exam. After she pleads her case, Maggie is allowed to graduate and she begins working at a law firm with Toadie. Maggie learns he likes someone at work and assumes it is the sandwich girl. Maggie and Evan continue to grow apart and Maggie accuses him of trying to control the family. She also becomes fed up with Evan's ex-wife Genevieve (Julie Campbell), leaning on him for support. Toadie tells Maggie that he has feelings for her and it causes tension between them at work. However, as her family problems increase, Maggie becomes closer to Toadie. Just as they are about to kiss, Evan appears and announces Matt and Leo have been in a car accident. Maggie and Evan discuss selling their house to pay for Matt's legal fees and Maggie realises she needs to stay loyal to her family. She goes to see Toadie and tells him she is sticking by her family and rejects him when he tries to kiss her. Emily later finds and reads out a letter from Toadie, which mentions his feelings for Maggie. Evan becomes angry when Maggie tells him Toadie made her feel alive, and he demands a divorce. After selling their house, Maggie and Evan manage to resolve things and the family move to Albury.

A writer for the BBC said Maggie's most notable moment was when she rejected Toadie.

Larissa Calwell

Larissa Calwell, played by Leah De Niese, made her first screen appearance on 11 June 2001. De Niese previously appeared in Neighbours as Miranda Starvaggi when she eleven years old. Larissa was described as being a "sly manipulator" by a writer for the 10terrorists press kit. The character became involved in a love triangle between Paul McClain (Jansen Spencer) and Tad Reeves (Jonathon Dutton). Tad pretends to be Paul in a series of emails to Larissa. When they admit what they have been up to, Larissa "turns the tables" on them. Dutton commented "She's hurt when she finds out, but them she turns it to her advantage. She thinks that since she likes both of them, she'll give them both a trial run and then decide who she's most attracted to." Paul and Tad agree to Larissa's plan and try to out do each other on their respective dates. Tim Randall of the Daily Record said "Larissa is loving every minute of having two men fighting for her affections - and she just can't wipe that smug smile off her perky little face."

During a trip to Paris, Paul McClain befriends Larissa. Upon his return to Australia, Paul learns Larissa has been emailing him and Tad Reeves has been replying on his behalf. Paul believes Tad's personality will win Larissa over and he asks him to continue emailing her. Larissa calls Paul and tells him she is coming to visit him. Tad coaches Paul on some of Larissa's interests, particularly dance music. Paul and Larissa's first date goes well and she reveals that she wants to see him again. They go to the Coffee Shop for their next date, where Paul impresses Larissa with his knowledge of music and DJing. Tad tells Paul to make Larissa a mix tape, but when she wants to see him do it, they make an excuse about the mixing equipment being broken. Paul and Tad reveal to Larissa what has been going on and they decide to let her choose between them. Larissa tells them that she will go on a date with both of them and work out who she prefers. The boys initially protest the idea, but Larissa states that they have been messing her around and they relent.

Larissa picks Paul for the first date. They watch a movie and go for a pizza, which results in Larissa and Paul kissing on the doorstep. A few nights later, it is Tad's turn and he takes Larissa on a date which he makes up as it goes along. Larissa realises that while Paul is romantic, Tad is more exciting. Both boys call Larissa again to arrange another date and they confide in Felicity Scully (Holly Valance). Felicity realises what is going on and meets with Larissa to tell her to stop playing games. Larissa states that she is only having a little fun. After her parents catch her chatting online too often, Larissa is taken off the school correspondence course and she begins attending Erinsborough High. Larissa attends Paul's football game and runs into Tad. She tells him she it is a coincidence and that she had just gone for a walk when she spotted the game. Shortly after, Larissa goes to see Tad DJing at a nightclub. Paul also attends the event and catches Larissa and Tad kissing. Larissa leaves, while Paul and Tad fight. However, they realise she is not worth losing their friendship over and they agree to ignore her.

Tim Collins

Tim Collins, played by Ben Anderson, made his first screen appearance on 27 September 2001. Tim is a lawyer and has represented or worked with many of the Ramsay Street residents. Tim is Toadfish Rebecchi's (Ryan Moloney) enemy. He has been branded "ruthless" and "slimy" by reporters for the Daily Record. While a writer for the Sunday Mail called him a "creepy" lawyer. Anderson reprised his role as Tim in 2013. On 24 January 2016, Melinda Houston of The Sydney Morning Herald praised Anderson's appearance on the show, saying "Absolutely stealing the show tonight is Ben Anderson as Tim Collins, erstwhile crony of Paul Robinson and now a major player on the apparently powerful and prestigious Erinsborough Council."

Toadfish Rebecchi meets Tim when he begins working for legal firm Stewart, Whitehead and Moore. Toadie discovers an insurance company is about to go bust and he decides to break Tim's confidence to warn his friends. Tim acts as best man at his cousin, Marc Lambert's (David Karakai), wedding to Stephanie Scully (Carla Bonner). Later that same year, he begins working for Susan Kennedy (Jackie Woodburne) during her divorce. Tim leaves Stewart, Whitehead and Moore and asks Toadie to join him at his new firm, Tim Collins & Associates. Despite their differences, Toadie and Tim work well together. When Toadie and Tim lose their premises, they move into the offices at the Lassiter's complex. Tim starts spending a lot of his time in Sydney, leaving Toadie to run the practice. A few months later, Tim and his girlfriend, Molly Milevic (Abby Meates), go out with Toadie and Genevieve Doyle (Lulu McClatchy). Molly has a good time listening to Genevieve's stories about wrestling, but Tim is not impressed. He tells Toadie to break up with her because she does not present a good image for company. However, when Genevieve is hired to sing at the Lassiter's complex reopening, she manages to blow Tim away with her voice. Tim apologises and realises he should not have judged her. Tim takes more cases at the Sydney office, leaving Toadie and Rosetta Cammeniti (Natalie Saleeba) to run the Melbourne office. Tim gives Toadie and Rosie an ultimatum – whoever bills the most hours for a month will get a pay rise, while the loser will be fired.

Tim clashes with Toadie's brother, Stonefish (Anthony Engelman) and accuses him of stealing an expensive pen from his father. Tim later finds the pen in his briefcase, but does not apologise to Stonie. Tim displays a lack of compassion when Toadie suffers a panic attack and Rosie later catches him sleeping and listening to music instead of working. She and Toadie realise they are better off working for themselves and they set up their own law firm, Rebecchi Cammeniti. They also take over the lease for the office at Lassiter's. Tim represents Kirsten Gannon (Nikola Dubois) during her custody battle for her son. Kirsten tries to Tim and he rejects her. Tim tells Oliver Barnes (David Hoflin) that his adoptive brother is contesting his rights to their parent's hotel empire. Tim decides to purchase 26 Ramsay Street, so he can knock it down and build townhouses on it. Tim almost wins the house, but he is outbid by Steve Parker (Steve Bastoni) at the last minute. Tim represents Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis) when he is charged with the hit and run of his half-sister. Weeks later Tim is hired by Erinsborough Hospital during their fight with the Kennedy family, who had been denied the right to try IVF. Declan Napier (James Sorensen) hires Tim after he believes Steph was responsible for the accident that caused the death of his wife, Bridget (Eloise Mignon). When Declan realises he cannot afford the legal fees, Tim agrees on a no-win-no-fee case. When it is revealed that Johnno Brewer (Damien Aylward) was responsible for Bridget's death, Paul hires Tim to represent Johnno and lose the case.

Lyn Scully (Janet Andrewartha) asks Tim to appeal Steph's jail sentence. Tim tells her he has found some new evidence that could help, but Lyn struggles to meet his fees and later abandons the case. A couple of years later, Paul asks Tim to help him out when Ajay Kapoor (Sachin Joab) and Elaine Lawson (Sancia Robinson) bring a civil action against him, following an explosion on Lassiter's property that killed his wife and her son. Tim advises Paul to offer Elaine a cash settlement. Paul later asks Tim to represent Mason Turner (Taylor Glockner) and ensure that he is sent to prison. However, Mason changes lawyers at the last minute. Tim draws up a lawsuit for Paul when he decides to sue Georgia Brooks (Saskia Hampele). But Paul changes his mind and asks Tim to get his conviction for fraud expunged from his criminal record instead. The following year, Paul calls Tim to mediate between himself, Terese Willis (Rebekah Elmaloglou) and Ezra Hanley (Steve Nation), after the latter decides to sue them. Tim also sits in on Paul's police interview when he is questioned about paying Gary Canning (Damien Richardson) to assault Ezra. He berates Paul for talking and tells him he will be lucky to avoid a jail sentence. After Toadie is injured, Tim pays a visit to his wife, Sonya (Eve Morey), to try to find out whether they are planning on suing for compensation. He then relays the information back to Paul, but Naomi Canning (Morgana O'Reilly) asks Paul to call Tim off. Tim tells Naomi that she should listen to Paul, as the Rebecchi's will sue even if they are friends. A few months later, Tim takes Paul's place on the council. He later refuses to help Paul when the police want to question him. Tim is elected to the council and he becomes interim mayor.

After listening to Sonya and Aaron Brennan's (Matt Wilson) concerns about the closure of the community centre, Tim later informs them that it will be closed within a month as it needs too much work and money to maintain it. He later closes the bridge across the lake, after Sonya protests the removal of the love locks. Sonya runs against Tim in the mayoral election. Piper Willis (Mavournee Hazel) uploads a video of Tim hugging Courtney Grixti (Emma Lane) online, believing that he is having an affair. However, Courtney is actually Tim's daughter and she manages to talk her father out of taking legal action against Piper. Tim tries to ruin Sonya's character at a public debate, causing Courtney to vandalise his car. Sonya wins the election. Paul attempts to stop the West Waratah Star from printing a story about his daughter Amy Williams's (Zoe Cramond) involvement with a lingerie-cleaning business, but he soon learns Tim is the paper's new editor and the story is printed. Tim also uses the paper to run a smear campaign against Sonya. He comes to Terese Willis with an offer to smear Paul's name and write positive stories about Lassiter's, in exchange for a free hotel room, so he can conduct an affair. Tim is blackmailed by Ryan Prescott (James Sweeny), who planted hidden cameras in the hotel rooms, and he gives Terese a USB stick with the footage after paying Ryan. Terese is also blackmailed by Ryan, so she has his car towed. She and Tim watch, before Terese reveals that Ryan will also be visited by the tax office. Tim asks Terese to join him for a drink, but she tells him to go home to his wife.

Sandy Allen

Sandy Allen, played by Catherine Hill, made her first on screen appearance on 5 October 2001. After her husband, John (Adrian Mulraney), learns he has fathered Lolly Allen (Jiordan Anna Tolli) with Cheryl Stark (Caroline Gillmer), he and Sandy come to Erinsborough to meet her. John and Sandy meet with Lolly several times and they are eventually granted full custody of her. A few years later, Lolly (now played by Adelaide Kane) begins fighting with Sandy and John and they decide to let her visit Lou Carpenter (Tom Oliver). When Pepper Steiger (Nicky Whelan) discovers Lolly has some bruising, the teenager reveals she is being abused by Sandy. When her stepmother comes to Ramsay Street, Lolly decides she cannot live with the abuse anymore and sabotages the brakes on Sandy's car. Kane said "It's got to the point where Lolly can't live like this anymore, and this is Lolly's way of dealing with what's been happening. Trying to sabotage her car is a way that Lolly can avoid directly confronting Sandy and actually coming face to face with her because she's so terrified of this horrible woman." Lolly's plan fails and she and Sandy end up having a confrontation by a swimming pool. Sandy becomes aggressive and when she goes to hit Lolly, Lolly pushes her into the pool, where she hits her head. Lolly eventually jumps in and saves Sandy and confesses everything to Lou.

When a DNA test proves John Allen is the biological father of Louise "Lolly" Carpenter, Sandy encourages her husband to meet his daughter. John meets Lolly a few times, before Sandy asks if she can meet her too. John and Sandy meet up with Lolly and Lou Carpenter, the man who thought he was her father, and Sandy gets on well with Lolly. Shortly afterwards, Sandy beings working in a nursery close to Ramsay Street and she annoys Lou by constantly appearing at the local coffee shop. Sandy apologises to Lou and insists their meetings are simply coincidences. John and Sandy eventually apply for full custody of Lolly and they win. Sandy and John then move to the country. Years later Sandy gives birth to two children following IVF. Sandy starts to resent Lolly's presence as she reminds her of John infidelity. She begins abusing Lolly mentally and physically. Lolly returns to Erinsborough and Sandy visits her shortly after, when she hears Lolly ran away. Sandy warns her not to act up again and agrees to look after her, while Lou is away. Lolly later becomes upset and confronts Sandy, while she is cleaning the pool. They have an altercation and Sandy falls into the pool, hitting her head on the way in. Lolly pulls Sandy out and saves her life with CPR. While Sandy is at the hospital, Lolly tells Lou all about the abuse. Upon her return from hospital, Sandy finds her bags packed and she reacts angrily to Lolly's accusations. Lou tells Sandy he has been in contact with John and human services. Sandy leaves realising she has lost her husband and access to her children.

Mitch Foster

Mitch Foster, played by Hugh Sexton, made his first screen appearance on 14 November 2001. Mitch is a criminal and an acquaintance of Larry "Woody" Woodhouse (Andrew Curry). A reporter for the BBC's Neighbours website called Mitch "an opportunist" and a "sinister character". Mitch dates Woody's ex-girlfriend Stephanie Scully (Carla Bonner) and she defends him when he is accused of a crime, but they break up when she learns he has been lying to her. Mitch later robs the courier company Steph works for and disappears. Bonner told Inside Soap's Jason Herbison "After the robbery, Steph reported Mitch to the police and then tried to wash her hands of the whole thing. Then out of the blue, a brand new motorbike turns up on her doorstep, as a gift to her. The only person she knows who could've sent it is Mitch, so she decides to do the right thing and tell the cops." However, Steph finds herself under investigation as the police suspect that she either made the story up or she helped Mitch. When she is released, Steph goes to find Mitch. Bonner explained that Steph gave Mitch the benefit of the doubt while others were pointing the finger. Now Mitch is the only one who can get her out of the mess she is in. The BBC reporter added that Mitch took advantage of Steph's kind nature.

When Steph Scully finds herself attracting the unwanted attentions of a group of guys in the pub, Mitch comes to her aid. He later goes to the local garage where Steph is working and delivers a rig for Joe Scully (Shane Connor). Mitch asks Steph out for a drink and he explains that he is friends with her ex-boyfriend, Woody. He is shocked to learn Woody had died in a car accident a few weeks earlier. When asked about his time in prison, Mitch becomes evasive about the topic. Steph invites Mitch to dinner and her mother, Lyn (Janet Andrewartha), joins them as she does not trust Mitch. Mitch manages to impress Steph's family when he smooths things over with his employers, after Joe has an accident in his rig. Mitch and Steph begin dating and Mitch helps Joe out with a client, who threatens to financially ruin him. Steph and Mitch plan to go to Sydney for a holiday, but Woody returns and reveals he was in witness protection. He then tells Steph that Mitch had been in prison for killing a man. Steph decides that she cannot trust Mitch or Woody and decides not to see them again. Six months later, Mitch returns to Erinsborough with serious injuries and begs Steph for help. Mitch tells Steph that he fell from his motorbike and when his wounds have been cleaned up, he disappears again. The next morning, the paper carries a story about an armed robbery and Libby Kennedy (Kym Valentine) calls the police believing Mitch was involved. Mitch turns up at MOCO, Steph's workplace, and threatens her with a gun. He then takes the contents of the till and disappears, leaving Steph to be investigated for assisting a robbery. Steph and Stuart Parker (Blair McDonough) find Mitch in the bush, seriously ill from his injuries. They take him to the hospital and Stuart, an orderly, brings Mitch his lunch and starts talking about the robbery. Mitch admits that no one will ever prove that Steph is innocent and Stuart records the conversation. He gives the tape to the police and Mitch apologises to Steph, before he is arrested and taken away.

A BBC website writer named Mitch's most notable moment as "Holding up MOCO and robbing Steph." After the robbery scenes aired, Ben Doherty of The Newcastle Herald stated "Steph Scully's (Carla Bonner) habit of hooking up with undesirables has come back to bite her in the bottom after she's implicated in no-good Mitch's robbery."

Elly Conway

Eleanor Leanna Rose "Elly" Conway made her first screen appearance on 13 December 2001. The character was originally played by Kendell Nunn. Elly is the "rebellious niece" of Susan Kennedy (Jackie Woodburne). A writer for Neighbours.com said Susan and Karl (Alan Fletcher) would have their work cut out for them trying to keep Elly out of trouble, adding that she was "smart, insightful and just a touch rebellious". On 28 April 2016, Jonathon Moran of The Daily Telegraph reported that the character would be returning to the show with actress Jodi Anasta in the role. Anasta initially signed a three-year contract and made her first appearance as Elly on 18 July 2016. Elly is now a school teacher, like her aunt Susan, and Anasta said "I get to play out one of my childhood dreams of being a teacher and I get to have fun and be a little bit naughty.

Stuart Parker

Stuart Parker, played by Blair McDonough, made his first screen appearance on 13 December 2001. McDonough's looks and personality attracted the attentions of the Neighbours' bosses when he became a runner-up on the first series of Big Brother Australia. McDonough had to audition for the part of Stuart and he said "I didn't really prepare that much, I just went in and did it". Dan Silkstone of The Age branded Stuart a "goodnatured country boy." McDonough revealed 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.

Ben Kirk

Ben Kirk, played by Noah Sutherland, made his first on-screen appearance on 14 December 2001. Ben is the son of Libby Kennedy (Kym Valentine) and Drew Kirk (Dan Paris). Ben's birth placed Libby's life in danger and she was rushed to intensive care with blood loss, but she eventually recovered. Valentine told TV Week that Sutherland was "a complete natural" and that she had bonded with him "straight away". Paris admitted that he was a little nervous around the baby, saying "Working with Noah has been quite daunting - it's unfamiliar territory to me. Blake O'Leary was later cast in the role of Ben. A writer for Network Ten described Ben as being "his mother's biggest supporter and her rock".