Madge Bishop
Madge Bishop | |||||||||||||||
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Neighbours character | |||||||||||||||
Portrayed by | Anne Charleston | ||||||||||||||
Duration | 1986–1992, 1996–2001, 2015, 2022 | ||||||||||||||
First appearance | 20 January 1986 | ||||||||||||||
Last appearance | 28 July 2022 | ||||||||||||||
Classification | Former; regular | ||||||||||||||
Created by | Reg Watson | ||||||||||||||
Introduced by |
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Madge Bishop (also Ramsay and Mitchell) is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Anne Charleston. She made her first appearance during the episode broadcast on 20 January 1986. Madge was introduced as the sister of original character Max Ramsay (Francis Bell). She soon becomes the main matriarch of the Ramsay family. Madge arrives with her marriage in tatters, following a brief but passionate affair with Raymond Philips, her son in prison, and her daughter a runaway teen; she rolled up her sleeves and got a job in The Waterhole to support the family as a single mother. She departed on 27 November 1992, before making a return on 7 November 1996. Madge died on 6 April 2001 from terminal pancreatic cancer. Charleston reprised the role for the show's 30th anniversary celebrations from 4–20 March 2015, and for the intended finale on 28 July 2022.
Casting
Actress Anne Charleston was appearing in the television series Possession when she auditioned for Madge. A few days later, she received a phone call to say she had won the role.[1] Her casting was publicised in the 30 November 1985 edition of TV Week, where she revealed that she had signed to the show for six months. Writer Patrice Fidgeon speculated that she would continue beyond that.[2] Charleston admitted that she did not watch the early episodes of the serial, but when she did eventually tune in, she liked what she saw and became "hooked."[2] She found that the domestic situations in the show were "very believable" and it worked well.[2]
Shortly after her introduction, Charleston became one of the show's most popular actors.[3][4] She quit Neighbours in 1992, but when she suffered financial difficulties following a failed lawsuit and debts, she returned in 1996.[5] Of her return, Charleston said "When Neighbours asked me back, I didn't have any option. It was the only way to get back on my feet."[5]
Development
Characterisation
Madge was introduced as
Virgin Media describe Madge as being "strong, hot headed and tough". They compare her to other characters stating: "the husky voiced one was the opposite of prim and proper Harold and more than a match for anyone who crossed her path, like Mrs Mangel with whom she had a long running rivalry.[6]
Departure (2001)
In December 2000, it was announced that Charleston had decided to leave Neighbours for a second time and that she had already filmed her final scenes.[3] The official Neighbours website said Charleston had left the set on 24 November and details of Madge's exit storyline were being kept secret, but the door was not left open for a future return.[3] Of her departure, Charleston said "Leaving this time around is certainly very different to the last time. Although I thought the last time was also final, I am now leaving knowing that the door will be closed and I won't be going back. I'm happy with the way Madge has been written out - it's very strong and dramatic."[3]
The writers decided to kill off the character as they realised that Madge would never intentionally leave Harold.
In 2005, Charleston revealed that she left Neighbours because she did not agree with changes the production company made to her character.[9] She said "They tried to mess around with Madge, and tried to make her into a bit of a wimp really, a bit of a victim. I didn't enjoy it because I had spent all those years building up this wonderful strong woman and they tried to take her apart, brick by brick."[9]
Returns (2015, 2022)
In November 2014, it was announced that Charleston had reprised her role for
Storylines
1986–1992
Madge goes to Ramsay Street and moves in with her brother Max Ramsay and his two sons,
Madge briefly dates
After Harold suffers a heart attack, the couple decide to go on a tour of Australia. During a trip to a beach, Madge stops to speak to an artist and Harold goes missing. Madge finds his glasses on the rocks and it appears that Harold has been washed out to sea. Madge, Helen and Harold's son-in-law Joe Mangel (Mark Little) hold a memorial service for him on the beach. Madge then decides to leave for Brisbane. Madge returns to Ramsay Street a few months later, and she finds Lou living there. Lou proposes to her, but she tells him that she cannot commit to him so soon after Harold. Lou eventually persuades Madge to give their relationship a chance and when he proposes again, she accepts. She also helps him buy his own car yard. Lou later realises that he cannot replace Harold and calls off the wedding. Madge and Lou remain friends and she sells the coffee shop lease to Cathy Alessi (Elspeth Ballantyne). She then returns to Brisbane to help Scott and Charlene with their new baby, Daniel.
1996–2001
Four years later, Helen contacts Madge and tells her that Harold is alive. Harold is suffering from amnesia and Madge flies back to Erinsborough to see him. Madge tries to make him remember her and their life in Erinsborough. Madge decides to stay in Erinsborough and she moves in with Helen. Lou tries to win her back again, but gives up. Harold eventually regains his memory and he and Madge renew their wedding vows. They later move back into Ramsay Street and buy back the lease of the Coffee Shop. Madge and Harold host a French exchange student,
Madge joins the senior ladies basketball team and finds an enemy in the coach,
Madge collapses one night when she is locking up the Coffee Shop. She suffers abdominal pains and Karl Kennedy (Alan Fletcher) sends her to the hospital for tests. Madge learns that she has pancreatic cancer. Madge prepares to fight the cancer, but she is told that it has spread to her liver and she only has six months to live. Madge is angry and refuses to accept her fate, but she soon comes to terms with her situation and tells her family. Paul does not handle the news well as his own mother died of cancer. Harold decides to take Madge to Paris and Lou arranges for them to fly in business class. Madge also starts attending Paul's football matches and listening to Tad's music. Madge develops septicaemia after cutting her finger and Dee Bliss (Madeleine West) finds her collapsed on the living room floor. Madge is rushed to hospital and the doctors tell Harold that Madge only has a short time left. Madge returns home to die. Paul and Tad tell her how much she means to them and Lou confesses that he still loves her. Madge then dies in Harold's arms.
2015, 2022
Years later, when Harold returns to Erinsborough, he starts thinking about Madge. He begins hearing her voice and smelling her perfume. After he crashes his vehicle through the Erinsborough Festival, he sees Madge sitting beside him. At the hospital, Madge appears to him again, telling him she has returned as she knows he needs her. They discuss Daniel's upcoming wedding, and Madge declares she wants to meet his fiancée Amber Turner (Jenna Rosenow) to see what she thinks of her. Madge disapproves of Amber and believes Daniel should be with Imogen Willis (Ariel Kaplan), as she reminds Madge of herself. Madge encourages Harold to go on a date with Sheila Canning (Colette Mann), but he tells her that she is the only one for him. When Sky asks Harold to move to Port Douglas to be with her and her children, she mentions Madge came to her in a dream. Harold and Madge take a last look at Number 24, and Madge confirms that she will not be coming with Harold on his journey. They say a final goodbye and Madge promises that she will always watch over Harold and that they will one day be reunited.
Madge appears as a figment of Susan's imagination while Susan is imagining lost friends during a Ramsay Street party. Madge is seen talking with Harold and Doug Willis (Terence Donovan).
Reception
For her portrayal of Madge, Charleston won the Performance by an Actress in a Series or Serial accolade at the 1987
In 2007, Australian newspaper the Herald Sun placed Madge's death at number two on their list of Neighbours Top Ten moments.[17] They said "One of the most memorable characters in the show was Madge Bishop, played by Anne Charleston, who now lives in the UK. After enduring so much, she and husband Harold were looking forward to a happy retirement until Madge was diagnosed with cancer, dying a few months later in the arms of Harold in 2001. It was a death that rivaled Daphne's in the sadness stakes".[17] Holy Soap also named Madge's death as one of their top Neighbours moments. They called her one of the most memorable characters in the show and said viewers were left in mourning when she died in Harold's arms.[18] Tony Squires from The Sydney Morning Herald branded Madge a "classically over-the-top character", who producers should have given more screen time to.[19]
Ruth Deller of television website
Virgin Media included Madge in their top ten favourite soap characters poll in 2007.[6] Orange UK describe Madge's style as being "slightly transsexual" and they stated "She was the gravel-voiced matriarch of Ramsay Street. When she was not busy fending off the advances of Lou Carpenter, ruling tomboy daughter Charlene with an iron grip or running the coffee shop, she was marrying Harold Bishop."[22] In 2013, Rachael Misstear from Western Mail included Madge's death in her list of the "10 tear-jerking soap opera exits". She commented "It was one of the most heartbreaking deaths in the Ozzie soap's history. When one half of the golden couple in Aussie soap-land died, it left an army of fans bereft. How would Harold Bishop go on without his beloved Madge?"[23] Madge was placed at number five on the Huffpost's "35 greatest Neighbours characters of all time" feature. Journalist Adam Beresford described her as a "classic soap matriarch" and quickly established herself as "one of the audience’s favourite characters."[24] He added that her early infamy came from exasperated maternal cries of "Charleeene!" when shouting her daughter and her nightmarish "hoarse wail".[24] Beresford assessed that Madge was "representing generations of Aussie women whose toughness earned the respect of their menfolk, Madge was a forthright force of nature."[24] In 2022, Kate Randall from Heat included Madge and Harold in the magazine's top ten Neighbours characters of all time feature. Randall profiled the duo stating "love's old dream, these two were everything we adored about Neighbours."[25] In a feature profiling the "top 12 iconic Neighbours characters", critic Sheena McGinley of the Irish Independent placed Madge and Harold as joint tenth place.[26] Sam Strutt of The Guardian compiled a feature counting down the top ten most memorable moments from history of Neighbours. Strutt included Madge's death as the fourth most memorable.[27] Anne-Marie O'Connor of New Ross Standard branded Madge a "gruff voiced old vixen". O'Connor found Madge's funeral so emotional that she stated "pass the Kleenex and be prepared to blub your way through Neighbours this week."[28]
References
- ^ TV Week Soap Extra. No. 16. pp. 28–31.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Fidgeon, Patrice (30 November 1985). "From Black Bess to Mad Madge". TV Week. p. 27.
- ^ a b c d "Shock News! Anne Charleston Leaves Ramsay Street!". Neighbours.com.au. December 2000. Archived from the original on 15 February 2001. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
- ^ Ray, Ian (10 July 2010). "My Favourite Things". The Argus. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
- ^ a b Cunningham, Tessa (11 May 2002). "Interview: Anne Charleston – The Neighbour who came back from hell". Daily Mirror. UK. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
- ^ a b "Top ten soap characters". Virginmedia.com. (Virgin Media Inc.). 25 January 2007. Archived from the original on 30 September 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
- ^ a b Everyon, Denise (6 April 2001). "Farewell Madge". Illawarra Mercury. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
- Wales on Sunday. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
- ^ a b "Look, behind you! A big bad Neighbour!". The Age. Australia: Fairfax Media. 4 December 2005. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
- ^ a b Byrnes, Holly (16 November 2014). "They're back together! Iconic Neighbours couple Madge and Harold plan a ghostly return to Ramsay Street". Herald Sun. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
- ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (5 January 2015). "Neighbours star Ryan Moloney: 'Harold imagines Madge's return'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
- ^ @neighbours (3 March 2015). "How is Madge alive!? Tune in for Madge's return tomorrow night, 6:30 on Eleven! #neighbours #neighbours30" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ a b c Dainty, Sophie (7 March 2015). "Neighbours Madge return, Home and Away injury – spoiler pictures". Digital Spy. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
- ^ Anderton, Joe (25 July 2022). "Neighbours lines up another shocking return for show finale". Digital Spy. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
- ^ "Winners 1968–2006" (PDF). Australian Writers' Guild. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 October 2012. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
- ^ a b "Your all-time favourite moment". Herald Sun. Australia: The Herald and Weekly Times. 11 July 2007. Retrieved 11 June 2010.
- Channel 5. Retrieved 13 March 2011.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b c Deller, Ruth (23 July 2009). "A guide to recognising your Ramsays and Robinsons". Lowculture. Archived from the original on 14 August 2009. Retrieved 26 May 2010.
- ^ Sky. 2010. Archived from the originalon 23 March 2010. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
- Orange. Archived from the originalon 30 September 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
- ^ Misstear, Rachael (29 December 2013). "10 tear-jerking soap opera exits that will have you reaching for your hanky". Western Mail. Archived from the original on 20 February 2014. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
- ^ a b c Beresford, Adam (16 March 2020). "The Definitive Ranking Of The 35 Greatest Neighbours Characters Of All Time: #10-1". HuffPost. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
- ^ Randall, Kate (19–25 February 2022). "Top 10 Neighbours characters". Heat. No. 1179. (Bauer Media Group). pp. 16–17.
- Independent News & Media). Retrieved 19 March 2022.
- ^ Strutt, Sam (3 March 2022). "Neighbours: the 10 best memories, from Scott and Charlene to Madge's ghost". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
- Independent News & Media). p. 72. Retrieved 26 September 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
External links
- Madge Bishop at the Official AU Neighbours website