Joe Mangel
Joe Mangel | |
---|---|
Neighbours character | |
Kerry Mangel (adoptive) | |
Uncles | Cedric Mangel |
Aunts | Isabelle |
Nieces | Jane Harris |
Joe Mangel is a fictional character from the Australian
Casting
Actor Mark Little joined the cast of Neighbours in 1988. He took up the offer to play Joe Mangel, after being
Development
Characterisation
On Joe's arrival it became apparent that he was nothing like his mother
Little has branded Joe as a "massive character" within the serial, also stating that viewers still have enormous affection for him due to his storylines.[3] In an interview with the newspaper Derby Telegraph, Little described his persona and links to the British public stating: "He was a single dad, struggling to get along, a bit of a battler. He appealed to the English psyche and became a bit of a folk hero".[4] He also spoke about Joe still representing the old Australian archetype when he returned in 2005.[4] Little described this change stating: "Joe is like one of a dying breed – I don't know if there are really too many Joe Mangels left. He was a genuine, easy bloke that is dying out. He knew the language. He could have been one of the last Australians!"[5]
Departure and returns
In 1991, Little decided to quit the serial when his contract came up for renewal. Network Ten told
In 2005, Little agreed to reprise his role as Joe in a four-month guest capacity, as part of Neighbours' twentieth anniversary celebrations.[4] Little said that he was not sure if it was a mistake as he felt that Joe no longer fitted in because of Australia's change in culture.[4] The character had changed and Little believed Joe living in the countryside contributed to this. Once "a very suburban" character Joe returns as a "bushie" after living on a cattle station. He added that his character does not blend back into his former lifestyle.[7] In 2008, Little said it was unlikely he would ever return to the show again, describing Joe as "just a fond memory".[8] In 2010, former co-star Janet Andrewartha (who plays Lyn Scully) called for Joe to return for Lyn, also wanting to work with Little again.[9] However, Little gave confirmation that he would not return again because he felt that Joe has "had his time".[3]
On 7 May 2022, Dan Seddon of Digital Spy announced Little had reprised the role for the final episodes of Neighbours following its cancellation.
Storylines
Backstory
Joe was the youngest child of Nell and
1988–2022
While metal detecting, Henry Ramsay (Craig McLachlan) finds a pistol buried in the back yard of Number 32 Ramsay Street. Joe's niece, Jane, who lives there with her grandmother, Nell, asks about the gun. Nell tells her the gun belongs to Joe. Jane, with the help of Henry goes to track Joe down and they find him in Erinsborough. On their first meeting, Joe initially mistakes Jane and Henry for salespeople and slams the door on them. Jane refuses to give up and eventually Joe agrees to see Nell after years of estrangement once the gun was mentioned. The gun issue is resolved but Nell and Joe's relationship takes a while to develop. Joe eventually moves in with his mother.
When Nell begins courting
Joe later begins seeing
Noeline returns wanting Toby to live with her in Darwin, having got a new job there. Toby makes a hard choice and decides to go and live with his mother up north and shares a tearful goodbye with Joe and Kerry. This is short-lived as Noeline is hit by a car and instantly killed, forcing Toby to return to Joe and Kerry. Joe and Kerry help Toby through his grief when he begins bed wetting, sleepwalking and generally lashing out. A while later Joe and Kerry agree to adopt each other's children. Tragedy strikes later that year when Kerry is shot by a stray bullet while protesting against duck hunters; she is rushed to hospital, but she dies in theatre and also loses the baby she is carrying. Joe and Harold are left grief-stricken.
Following Kerry's funeral, Sky's biological father,
Joe later falls for his lodger Melanie Pearson (Lucinda Cowden) and they later marry. On hearing the news that Nell had had another heart attack, Joe realizes that he and Melanie will have to sell the house to afford the medical bills. On leaving for England, Joe arranges for Toby to live with school principal Dorothy Burke (Maggie Dence), who lives next door, while they were gone. Joe, Melanie and Sky later return to Australia and send for Toby to join them in the countryside. Dorothy also lands a teaching post at Toby's new school and they leave. Several years later, Joe and Melanie divorce.
Joe returns to Erinsborough on the eve of Sky's (now played by
17 years later, Joe speaks to Harold on a video call and explains that Melanie, who is marrying Toadie, was a good step mum to Sky and Toby. Joe tells Harold that he and Melanie broke up around his and Kerry's anniversary and he twisted the truth in anger. Joe explains that Sky and Toby stopped talking about Melanie in fear of being yelled at, however at Christmas, they explained how good of a step mum she was. Joe then fist bumps Harold through the screen before hanging up. Joe later sends Toadie and Melanie a video call, congratulating them after their wedding and telling Melanie that he wishes her all the best.
Reception
In 2010 to celebrate Neighbours' 25th anniversary
Joe became popular in the UK due to his personality.
References
- ^ The Huffington Post UK. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
- ^ ISBN 0-7181-4212-8. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
- ^ a b Flockhart, Gary (12 March 2010). "Interview: Mark Little, former Neighbours star". The Scotsman. (Johnston Press). Archived from the original on 25 March 2010. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
- ^ a b c d e "'Joe Mangel' now true Brit". Derby Telegraph. (Northcliffe Media). 2 April 2010. Archived from the original on 16 June 2012. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
- ^ Peterborough Evening Telegraph. (Johnston Press). 27 June 2010. Archivedfrom the original on 23 May 2012. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
- ACP Magazines. 4–10 May 1991.
- Hachette Filipacchi UK: 13. 21–27 May 2005.
- ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (25 October 2008). "Little rules out Ramsay Street return". Digital Spy. (Hachette Filipacchi UK). Retrieved 26 June 2010.
- ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (23 February 2010). "'Neighbours' Lyn 'wants Joe Mangel back'". Digital Spy. (Hachette Filipacchi UK). Retrieved 26 June 2010.
- ^ a b Seddon, Dan (7 May 2022). "Neighbours officially announces 23 returnees for final ever episodes". Digital Spy. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
- ^ "What Happens When?". Inside Soap. No. 28. 9–15 July 2022. p. 31.
- ^ a b Julians, Joe (4 July 2022). "Neighbours to air Joe Mangel return scenes after Melanie's engagement". Digital Spy. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
- ^ Sky. 2010. Archived from the originalon 23 March 2010. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
- ^ Cooper, Lorna (17 March 2010). "TV's Neighbours: where are they now?". MSN. Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
- Trinity Mirror). Archivedfrom the original on 13 February 2011. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
- Orange). Archivedfrom the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
- ^ Heath, Sue (19 October 2005). "Neighbours (BBC 1)". The Northern Echo. (Newsquest). Retrieved 5 December 2011.
- ^ a b Beresford, Adam (16 March 2020). "The Definitive Ranking Of The 35 Greatest Neighbours Characters Of All Time: #35-21". HuffPost. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
External links
- Joe Mangel at the Official AU Neighbours website