Billy Kennedy (Neighbours)
Billy Kennedy | |||||||
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Neighbours character | |||||||
Former; regular | |||||||
Introduced by | Ian Bradley (1994) Ric Pellizerri (2005) Jason Herbison (2022) | ||||||
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Billy Kennedy is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera
Creation and casting
In 1994, the Neighbours storyliners decided to introduce a new "solid" family called the Kennedys.[1] The family, which consisted of five members – a mother, father, two sons and a daughter – moved into Number 28 Ramsay Street.[1] The storyliners felt that they needed to take the show back to its roots, as it seemed that all the houses on the street were populated with misfits and distant relatives.[1] Alan Fletcher and Jackie Woodburne were cast in the roles of parents Karl and Susan, while Benjamin McNair and Kym Valentine were cast as teenagers Malcolm and Libby.[2] Jesse Spencer was cast as Billy, the youngest member of the Kennedys.[3] Spencer originally auditioned for the role of Brett Stark, but was told that he was too young. The following year, he successfully auditioned for the role of Billy.[3]
Development
Relationship with Melissa Drenth
Billy's first long-term love interest was his school friend Melissa Drenth (Aimee Robertson).[3] Their relationship got off to "a shaky start", especially when Billy's father gave him a hard time about it.[3] Spencer was glad that his character was given a girlfriend, saying "It's about time. At last he's acting his age. Getting a girlfriend should help him become a bit more mature. He's not going to be the naive country boy any longer. There's no doubt Billy's completely smitten."[3] When Melissa mother found a packet of condoms in Melissa's school bag, she called for an end to the relationship.[4] However, she did not know that Billy and Melissa had not yet had sex, as they had had problems finding a suitable place.[4] Billy's brother, Mal, offered the couple the use of his house, but Billy and Melissa were interrupted by Mal's girlfriend, Danni Stark (Eliza Szonert) and Angie Rebecchi (Lesley Baker).[4]
Melissa received a "telling-off" from her mother over the condoms and the couple's plans to have sex were put on hold.
Relationship with Anne Wilkinson
Billy was later paired with Anne Wilkinson (Brooke Satchwell), who moved into Ramsay Street with her mother and brother.[6] Spencer thought the relationship lasted so long because the couple shared so much. Billy and Anne lived in the same street, had the same friends, went to the same school and grew up together.[6] Spencer said "In the early days, our relationship seemed perfect, but, as we've got older and wiser, there have been more problems."[6]
Billy became the centre of a love triangle following the arrival of Caitlin Atkins (Emily Milburn). One of Caitlin's top priorities, upon moving to Erinsborough, was to find a boyfriend and she set her sights on Billy, her training partner at the pool.[8] Milburn said Caitlin fell for Billy immediately and she did not care that he was dating Anne. Caitlin wanted Billy and she was prepared to "go all out" and get him.[8] Satchwell told Steven Murphy from Inside Soap that neither Anne nor Caitlin were prepared to back down over Billy.[9] As Caitlin and Billy began swimming together more, they grew closer and Anne could see that Billy was attracted to Caitlin.[9] Billy later shared a kiss with Caitlin, which Anne witnessed. Billy and Anne then briefly split up.[6] Satchwell thought that it would have made everyone's lives easier if Billy and Anne had just sat down and talked about their relationship problems in the first place.[9]
Departure and cameo appearances
Spencer chose to depart Neighbours in November 1999.[10] Speaking of his decision to leave, Spencer said "I'd been in Neighbours for five years and I'd had enough. The storylines were boring and I wasn't enjoying it any more. When I said I was leaving, I hoped they would make Bill's departure interesting - but he just moves away from Erinsborough, there's no drama to it. It's disappointing and typical of the last two years of storylines."[10] Spencer revealed that the door had been left open for a possible return in the future.[10] Spencer later said that Neighbours had been "a launchpad" for him.[11]
In 2005, Spencer reprised his role and became one of many former members who made a return to Neighbours to appear in the show's 20th anniversary episode "Friends for Twenty Years".[12] Spencer could not return to Australia to shoot his cameo because of his filming commitments in Los Angeles. Instead, he got a costume and asked a friend to film him on Malibu Beach, where he pretended Billy was on holiday, and sent it to the producers.[13]
Four years later, Spencer revealed that he had been approached about a return to the show and said he would not rule out a one-off appearance.[14] He later agreed to reprise the role for a cameo appearance in the show's then final episode, which was broadcast on 28 July 2022.[15]
Storylines
Billy arrives in Ramsay Street with his family after his father, Karl, buys Number 28 at an auction. Billy soon makes friends with
Billy plans to leave school and move out of home, but Anne and his parents are not keen on the idea. Shortly after, Billy and Anne receive letters for university placements and Anne is placed in
Seventeen years later, Billy sends a video congratulating Toadie on his wedding to Melanie Pearson (Lucinda Cowden).
Reception
Spencer earned several award nominations for his portrayal of Billy. In 1998, he received a nomination for Most Popular Actor at the
A writer for the BBC's Neighbours website stated that Billy's most notable moment was "Setting up a pirate radio station."[20] Spencer's looks made him a teen idol during his time with series.[21] A writer for Virgin Media called Billy a teen heartthrob during a feature called 'Who is soapland's hottest hunk?'.[22] During a feature called "Neighbours stars make it big", a contributor for Holy Soap said "Billy's gorgeous looks and sweet romance with Anne Wilkinson ensured his popularity among Neighbours fans".[23]
In 2010, to celebrate Neighbours' 25th anniversary, a writer for
References
- ^ a b c Monroe 1996, p.63.
- Channel 5. 20 August 2009. Archived from the originalon 5 September 2009. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
- ^ Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
- ^ a b c d "Caught in the act". Inside Soap (47). Attic Futura (UK) Ltd: 35. 20 April – 30 May 1996.
- ^ Trinity Mirror. 10 June 1996. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
- ^ IPC Media: 28–29.
- Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
- ^ a b Dasey, Annette (21 March – 3 April 1998). "I want your man!". Inside Soap (97). Attic Futura (UK) Ltd: 14.
- ^ a b c Murphy, Steven (7–20 March 1998). "Hands off!". Inside Soap (96). Attic Futura (UK) Ltd: 16–17.
- ^ Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
- Associated Newspapers. 1 October 2009. Retrieved 16 March 2010.
- Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
- Hearst Magazines UK. Archived from the originalon 20 October 2013. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
- Channel 5. 12 October 2009. Archived from the originalon 19 October 2009. Retrieved 16 March 2010.
- Irish Mirror. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
- ^ Browne, Rachel (19 April 1998). "Logies: A watching brief". The Sun-Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
- ^ Everton, Denise (9 April 1999). "Aussies in the spotlight". Illawarra Mercury. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
- Hachette Filipacchi UK: 34–5. 21 August – 3 September 1999.
- ^ "Jesse Spencer" (PDF). The Fleming Agency. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
- ^ "Character: Billy Kennedy". BBC. Archived from the original on 11 December 2003. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
- ^ "Jesse Spencer Biography". Yahoo!. Retrieved 17 March 2010.
- ^ "'Who is soapland's hottest hunk?". Virgin Media. Retrieved 17 March 2010.
- Channel 5. Retrieved 27 May 2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^ BSkyB. 2010. Archived from the originalon 23 March 2010. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
- Monroe, Josephine (1996). Neighbours: The First 10 Years. ISBN 978-0-7181-4212-4.