Rewatching The Early Years

[nenehcherry2]

2 hours ago, j.laur5 said:

I wonder if Paula Forrest had not quit in 2002 and then Rhys and Shelley might stayed long term and took in teenagers after there children left or would they be axed in 2004 and they bring  in new family to replace them. 

 

Given that Shelley was a social worker and they were fostering Brodie, it's highly likely they were setting down seeds for them to become longer term foster parents... Although, perhaps unnecessary given that Irene was firmly established in more of a "fostering" (well, of sorts) role by then.

Of course, we don't know what went on backstage, as that can influence TPTB's longer term strategic planning. Were Kip and Paula happy in their roles? They both seem like very transient actors. Did they get on with their co-stars? We shall never know. 

Whilst it's a fact in the show's history that most of the actors over 30 have preferred to stay longer term, I recall reading an interview with Paula whereby she said she wouldn't want to be in a show like Home and Away forever. I also heard a podcast with Kip a few years back where he essentially stated that he didn't enjoy working on the show (nor with many of his co-stars). IF the Producers were aware of these feelings, it's unlikely that they'd have invested in their characters for the long term.

Edited January 7 by nenehcherry2

[CaptainHulk]

10 hours ago, adam436 said:

I have a feeling Paula Forrest wanted to leave (I think she had a young child at the time!), but the producers fought for her to stay, so the sporadic appearances were probably a compromise. As I said, the decision to write out Rhys must have been a fairly 11th hour decision, since they'd married him off to Beth and created the blended family. 

Kit was another character who departed the regular cast, but didn't really "leave" until 2007. I think Channel 7 wanted to get rid of the character, but the producers wanted her to stay for vice versa? 

They likely gave her a boomerang pass ala Damian 1995-96 and Sam throughout 2000 into 2001.

Edited January 7 by CaptainHulk

[Red Ranger 1]

I believe it was Paula's decision to leave and the original plan was to have Rhys and Shelley stay together, hence why their marriage suddenly ends over the course of about two episodes at the end of the season. I'm not so sure about Michael Beckley. I seem to remember Coral Drouyn had big plans for Rhys and Beth, but when Dan Bennett took over all of that got thrown out and Rhys, Dani and Max all got written out in quick succession, leaving only Kirsty to survive into 2005.

[Sb boy]

I remember David Callaghan. After it was mentioned. I also really liked. Shelly  Paula was a good actor unlike. The rest. Of the Sutherlands. Jade was good. But. Rhys. And  dani. And Kirsty to an. Extent.  Annoyed. Me to death is it just me or did. Paula look simler. To Natalie Nash. The first one  

Sam did return after his first departure to go on a surfing circuit.    I remember that also  he had the  dope problem and got  put in hospital. After. He and will come to blows  in the surf club  when  did Sam finally leave for. Good. Was it. The. 2001  season return. As my memory of 2001 is very hazy  I remember 2000 well and 2002 onwards. But. 2001. I can’t remember. Anything. Exciting happening  apart from the  start of the whole Dani Kane. Saga.   I can’t remember. Anything of the early part of that year

[adam436]

36 minutes ago, Red Ranger 1 said:

I seem to remember Coral Drouyn had big plans for Rhys and Beth, but when Dan Bennett took over all of that got thrown out and Rhys, Dani and Max all got written out in quick succession, leaving only Kirsty to survive into 2005.

Yes, I recall reading somewhere there were plans for Beth to fall pregnant and not know whether she wanted to keep the baby or not. 

I always assumed it was Tammin Sursok's decision to leave, since she had her eyes set on a music career, but Max, Rhys and even Noah for that matter were let go by the new producer. 

Dan Bennett wanted give Sally pride of place at Summer Bay House and have her come full circle as a foster mum, so that meant the decision to lose Rhys, Max and Rhys and Beth's marriage were collateral damage in that. The plan for Sally and Flynn fell apart somewhat quickly too though, since Joel McIllroy decided to leave and the producers stopped at two foster teenagers (who were also dating and looked way older than their characters' ages). 

[Sb boy]

lol  yeah  Sharni Vinson. Aka cassie born in 1983. Was meant to be 16 in 2004 and mark furze  born 1985. A year before I was born was. Meant to be 16 and both looked. 19 and 22 at the time. Not as old as. The actor who played Dylan. Russell though. He was. 23 or 24 wasn’t he in 2002 

[adam436]

I think I found it quite jarring because I was 16 in 2005, yet the actors who played Ric and Cassie looked so much older than me. Especially when you put them next to Tobi Atkins, who played Henry Hunter. 

I was a bit younger when Dylan Russell was on screen, so I probably didn't notice thr age difference so much at the time.

[Red Ranger 1]

Weirdly, I was the other way round. I was 25 at the time and, to me, Ric and Cassie looked young. I was shocked to learn Sharni was 22 in real life and that 22-year-olds looked that young to me. Mind you, I was the same with Peta, who was actually older than me in real life, about five years earlier, so maybe I'm just not the best judge!

[Sb boy]

Dylan Russell was born in 1977 so that makes him nearly 25 playing a  teenager  in 2002

[CaptainHulk]

On 08/01/2025 at 09:20, Sb boy said:

Dylan Russell was born in 1977 so that makes him nearly 25 playing a  teenager  in 2002

Almost like Yeardley "Lisa Simpson" Smith playing Putter in The Legend of Billie Jean who was 12-14, when she was 21!