Jack Holden (Home and Away)
Jack Holden | |
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Home and Away character | |
Hugo Austin Xavier Austin |
Jack Anthony Holden is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, played by Paul O'Brien. He made his first on-screen appearance on 5 August 2005. Jack was a police officer. The Holden family — Jack, his father Tony and his brother Lucas arrived in Summer Bay in 2005. In November 2008, the season finale, Jack was accidentally shot in the chest at a construction site by fellow police officer, Angelo Rosetta. In the first episode of the 2009 season, it was revealed that Jack had died after paramedics failed to revive him at the scene. Paul O'Brien decided to leave the series in 2008 and Jack made his last appearance in the second episode into 2009.
Character development
Most of Jack's storylines were central to his on-off relationship with
Whilst the characters were separated on-screen, they had gained a fan base on the Internet that believed Jack should be with Martha and wanted the pair to reunite.[2] Gordon herself backed the pairing, stating that she believed they should be together and perfect for each other. Whilst interviewed she said: "I actually love Jack and Martha together, I'm a sucker for romance so, I want want them to be together [...] I want them to continue on, [...] the timing is not right, they are not mature enough. Jack's in a relationship with someone else as Martha is, there just seems to be things getting in the way of them getting back together all the time."[2] Gordon also hoped for a happy ever after type ending for the two characters if they were to ever leave the serial commenting: "If I had it my way, and I got to write the scripts then I'd make it happily ever after, Martha and Jack riding off into the sunset."[2] Gordon has spoken of her understanding from the audiences point of view, that together Jack and Martha are "the ultimate couple".[3] She also reiterated her belief that it would be to tough at the time of Martha's downward spiral for them to work together, but if Martha is to get through her troubles and have a happy ending, that it would be with Jack.[3]
On-screen Jack and Martha later reconcile, he helps her through her hard times. Gordon believed that their relationship was at its strongest peak whilst she had breast cancer.[4] During an interview with What's on TV Gordon spoke of the state of their relationship stating: "Martha and Jack have been through more than most and right now their relationship is as solid as it could be. But she's taking a big chance not being honest about her pregnancy."[4]
Storylines
Jack arrives with his father, Tony and brother, Lucas in Summer Bay. It is quickly revealed Jack is responsible for the death of a teenage girl in a shootout. The girl's father, Harry Chambers (Rodney Dobsen) arrives in town holding Jack responsible for his daughter's death. Following all the furore, A town meeting is held and it is revealed Jack had returned fire in self-defence and the locals believe him. Martha MacKenzie is often frosty towards Jack but he refuses to give up on her. They begins various contest against each other including a pool competition with a nudie run stipulation and a drinking contest. These games backfire when Martha exploits Jack's deathly fear of spiders and plants one in his room. Jack discovers it after coming out of the shower and falls and hits his head. He then rushed to hospital and is operated on but suffers temporary hearing loss. Upon finding out Martha is responsible, He is angry with her but later forgives her after she threatens to jump off a cliff after he jokingly suggests so.
Jack's colleague
Following an argument not long after, Martha accuses Jack of not putting enough effort into the marriage and being at work too much and she moves out. They separate and when Jack is badly beaten, Martha donates blood to him but admits to
Following death of Tony's partner, Beth Hunter (Clarissa House), Jack supports Tony and Lucas. Jack is part of a crew that go missing on a boat in a storm and when the others return he is not with them prompting worry. However, Jack never boarded. Martha goes over to house to call off the divorce but finds a newly returned Sam and Rory. George Watson (Paul Barry) frames Jack for a bank robbery and shoots Colin Marshall (Nathan Page), the shooter and frames Jack then shoots Jack. Jack remains comatose for several days and when he awakes he realises it is Martha he loves, not Sam. When Rory overhears Martha suggesting Jack postpone the wedding, Sam gets angry and bans Martha from attending. Jack and Sam marry but when they return from their honeymoon, they discover escaped criminal Johnny Cooper is hiding out. Sam later kills Johnny by hitting him over the head with a baseball bat.
When Jack finds out about Sam's drug deals via a letter left by Johnny, he ends the marriage with her and he threatens to call the police. Sam tells him she is pregnant and he gives her 12 hours to leave town. His day is further exacerbated when he sees Martha on a date with Roman Harris (
Reception
O'Brien earned various awards nominations for his portrayal of Jack. In 2006, O'Brien won a
References
- ^ Yahoo. Retrieved 14 July 2010.[dead YouTube link]
- ^ IPC Media). 2007. Archived from the originalon 18 March 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
- ^ a b Kimberley, Dadds (28 July 2007). "Soaps - Interviews - Jodi Gordon". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 7 July 2010.
- ^ IPC Media). 1 August 2008. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
- Ninemsn. Archived from the originalon 3 November 2010. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
- ^ "Rove leads Logie nominations". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Media. 2 April 2007. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
- News Limited. 7 April 2008. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
- Hachette Filipacchi UK: 50–52. 8–14 July 2006.
- ^ Green, Kris (3 July 2007). "Inside Soap Awards 2007: The Nominations". Digital Spy. (Hachette Filipacchi UK). Retrieved 10 July 2010.
- ^ "Inside Soap Awards 2008 - Nominations". MSN TV. Microsoft. 16 July 2008. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
- ^ Green, Kris (21 March 2008). "Digital Spy Soap Awards 2008: The Winners". Digital Spy. (Hachette Filipacchi UK). Retrieved 10 July 2010.