Kennedy family (Neighbours)
Kennedy family | |||||
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Neighbours family | |||||
First appearance | 20 September 1994 | ||||
Introduced by | Stanley Walsh | ||||
Duration | 1994– | ||||
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The Kennedy family are a fictional family from the Australian soap opera
Storylines of the Kennedy family have included troubles within Karl and Susan's marriage over their 20 years in the show, which included two separation periods in the 2000s and a divorce, teenage angst storylines for their three children
Creation and development
In 1994, the "solid" Kennedy family was introduced in an attempt to bring the show back to its family-orientated roots. Father Karl was given the job of GP and mother Susan was chosen as the new Erinsborough High principal to give the characters immediate links with other characters. Alan Fletcher, who previously appeared on the show in a minor role in 1987,[1] was cast as Karl, while former Prisoner actress Jackie Woodburne was cast as Susan. Benjamin McNair, Kym Valentine and Jesse Spencer played Karl and Susan's three teenage children, Malcolm, Libby and Billy, respectively. They replaced the Willis family on the show and also as occupants of Number 28 Ramsay Street.[2]
Karl and Susan's marriage was initially presented as strong, with both Woodburne and Fletcher commenting that they enjoyed them having a "really solid foundation for a marriage".
Libby remained in the serial until 2011. In this time she married twice and had a son, Ben Kirk (most recently Felix Mallard), whose father Drew (Dan Paris) died in a riding accident. Karl's father Tom Kennedy (Bob Hornery) made guest appearances between 1996 and 2007, and was the first major character on the show to suffer from Alzheimer's disease.[citation needed]
In October 2014, Malcolm returned to visit his parents and tell them that he and Catherine were expecting their first child. Malcolm then asked his parents to consider moving to London to help out with the baby.[6] The storyline marked Karl and Susan's 20th year in Neighbours and featured several flashbacks to previous episodes and storylines featuring the Kennedy family.[6] Woodburne commented "It was scary seeing them – and astonishing that we've been on Ramsay Street for two decades!"[6] After their friends gave them advice on whether they should stay or go, Karl and Susan decided to remain in Erinsborough.[6]
Storylines
The Kennedys,
Karl feuds with Libby's boyfriend
Susan slips on spilt milk and hits her head, resulting in retrograde amnesia. She fails to remember Karl or her children, believing she is a 16-year-old girl in 1972. After accepting what has happened to her, Susan still ends things with Karl, insistent that she does not know how to love him. They divorce, but decide to remarry after rekindling their feelings, and her memory returns in the wedding ceremony. Karl develops alcoholism when he is caught drink-driving and receives a large fine, but overcomes the addiction. Susan becomes suspicious that Karl has feelings for their neighbour, Izzy Hoyland (Natalie Bassingthwaighte), and Malcolm shares her suspicions when he briefly returns. He confronts her, and although he discovers there is nothing going on, Susan and Karl separate anyway and eventually divorce. Libby is reunited with Darren after moving on from Drew's death and they move away, leaving a separated Karl and Susan as the only remaining Kennedys.
While Karl and Izzy have a brief romance, Susan starts a relationship with
Susan develops
Wanting a new challenge, Susan enrols at Eden Hill University, but receives threats about her status as a mature student. She discovers her tutor is behind the threats as he has a petty vendetta against her relating back to when she was his teacher. Malcolm returns for a visit and causes trouble by seducing
In 2014, the two elder Kennedy children pay visits. Holly meets Libby and Ben when she visits from London and Libby acts as school principal for a while, while Susan recovers from the flu. Ben admits that he wants to be known as Ben Kirk again, and leaves with Libby for Drew's hometown of
Family members
- Tom Kennedy; married Molly Kennedy
- Karl Kennedy; son of Molly and Ron Davies-Smythe; adopted by Tom; married Susan Smith
- Malcolm Kennedy; son of Karl and Susan; married Catherine O'Brien
- Susannah Kennedy, daughter of Malcolm and Catherine
- Libby Kennedy; daughter of Karl and Susan; married Drew Kirk; married Daniel Fitzgerald
- Ben Kirk; son of Libby and Drew
- Billy Kennedy; son of Karl and Susan; married Anne Wilkinson
- Jackson Kennedy; son of Billy and Anne
- Unnamed twins; children of Billy and Anne
- Holly Hoyland; daughter of Karl and Izzy Hoyland
- Malcolm Kennedy; son of Karl and Susan; married Catherine O'Brien
- Karl Kennedy; son of Molly and Ron Davies-Smythe; adopted by Tom; married Susan Smith
Reception
The Kennedy family, and Karl and Susan in particular, are considered an icon of Neighbours not just because of their long tenure on the show but also due to their memorable mix of comedic and dramatic storylines. At the 2007 Inside Soap Awards, Fletcher and Woodburne were nominated for "Best Soap Couple" and "Best Storyline" for Susan and Karl's wedding.[8] This was the same the following year.[9]
In 2007, the
Teaching organisation TES commented on Woodburne's portrayal of Susan in terms of her suitability as a teacher. They said that "Susan Kennedy from Neighbours manages to be the comforting mother figure as well as coming down hard when necessary", and praised her for showing "the highs and lows of the job".[12] In June 2014, Kerry Barrett from All About Soap was pleased to see Libby return, saying "We were just as thrilled as the Kennedys were to see lovely Lib back in Erinsborough. And when Karl asked if she had anything to go home to, we thought how brilliant it would be if she stayed."[13] The returns of other characters including Holly Hoyland and Malcolm Kennedy were also praised as a worthy celebration of Susan and Karl's 20 years on Neighbours.[citation needed]
In January 2018, the Kennedy family were voted Australia's fourth All-Time Favourite TV Drama Family by readers of TV Tonight.[14]
Impact
In February 2015, British actor and
References
- Johnston Press Digital Publishing. 6 December 2007. Archived from the originalon 8 June 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2010.
- ISBN 0-7181-4212-8. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
- ^ Green, Kris (9 January 2009). "Jackie Woodburne talks Karl and Susan". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi (UK) Ltd. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
- Channel Five. 20 August 2009. Archived from the originalon 5 September 2009. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
- ^ Richards, Holly (30 April 2013). "Soap panders to love of Aussie lifestyle". The West Australian. Seven West Media. Archived from the original on 8 July 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
- ^ a b c d "Mal Kennedy's back!". Inside Soap (40): 24. 11–17 October 2014.
- Network Ten.
- ^ Green, Kris (3 July 2007). "Inside Soap Awards 2007: The Nominations". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi (UK) Ltd. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
- ^ "Inside Soap Awards 2008 – Nominations". MSN TV. Microsoft. 16 July 2008. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
- ^ a b "Your all-time favourite moment". Herald Sun. Herald and Weekly Times. 11 July 2007. Retrieved 11 June 2010.
- ^ Sky. 2010. Archived from the originalon 23 March 2010. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
- ^ Ritchie, Meabh. "Come back Mr Chips, all is forgiven". TES Global. Archived from the original on 10 June 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2010.
- ^ Barrett, Kerry (25 June 2014). "Neighbours: Libby's back!". All About Soap. Archived from the original on 2 July 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
- ^ Knox, David (28 January 2018). "Rafters top All-Time Favourite Aussie TV Families". TV Tonight. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
- ^ "Oscar nominee looks to Neighbours' Karl and Susan Kennedy for inspiration". TV Week. 13 February 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
- ^ a b c Bucklow, Andrew (23 February 2015). "Eddie Redmayne thanks 'amazing' Neighbours stars after Oscars win". News.com.au. Retrieved 12 March 2015.