Philip Martin (Neighbours)
Philip Martin | |||||||||||||||||
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Neighbours character | |||||||||||||||||
Portrayed by | Christopher Milne (1985) Ian Rawlings (1992–2023) | ||||||||||||||||
Duration | 1985, 1992–1999, 2005, 2022–2023 | ||||||||||||||||
First appearance | 21 June 1985 | ||||||||||||||||
Last appearance | 13 November 2023 | ||||||||||||||||
Classification | Former; regular | ||||||||||||||||
Introduced by |
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Spin-off appearances | Neighbours vs Time Travel (2017) | ||||||||||||||||
Christopher Milne as Philip Martin (1985) | |||||||||||||||||
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Philip Gordon Martin is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera
Casting
In September 1999, Jason Herbison of Inside Soap reported that the Martin family had been written out of Neighbours and that they had already filmed their final scenes.[1] On 14 April 2005, Kris Green of Digital Spy announced Rawlings would be reprising his role of Philip and joining many ex-cast members in returning to Neighbours for special episodes celebrating the show's 20th anniversary.[2]
In 2017, Rawlings reprised his role for an appearance in the five-part web series
Development
In 1995, Philip is introduced to Jen Handley (Alyce Platt) and he becomes aware that she likes him.[4] Jen faces an uphill struggle to get Philip to go out with her because he cannot believe that a beautiful and younger woman is interested in him.[4] Philip thinks Jen simply feels sorry for him because he is a widower and single father. To show her he does not need sympathy, Philip decides to "play the field" and embarks on a series of random dates.[4] Eventually Jen persuades Philip to go out with her and they begin a "passionate" relationship.[4] Philip provides some much needed stability in Jen's life and is different from the other guys that she has been out with before.[4] Jen and Philip's relationship later breaks down and Jen leaves Erinsborough.[5]
Philip meets Ruth Wilkinson (Ailsa Piper) the following year when she comes to care for Helen Daniels (Anne Haddy).[6] Initially Philip and Ruth do not get on well, but when Ruth's ex-husband Bill Hails (Ian Stanley) appears, Philip becomes a "useful ally."[6] Philip becomes nervous about asking Ruth out and he is "egged on" by Helen who plays matchmaker.[7] The Daily Record said "the makers of Neighbours can stretch out this relationship for several episodes before we have a clear idea if it's actually going anywhere."[7] Philip and Ruth share a kiss and they begin a relationship.[6] Ruth and Philip later get engaged and they marry, while Ruth waits for results of tests for breast cancer.[8] Philip's son, Michael (Troy Beckwith), returns for the wedding and Ruth arrives at the ceremony on the back of a Harley Davidson motorbike.[8] Piper said that there is an atmosphere of madness, happiness and excitement to the day.[8] After Philip has a mid-life crisis, he decides to move the family to Darwin. Ruth initially considers commuting thousands of miles, but ultimately chooses to follow her husband when she gets a top job at a Darwin hospital.[9]
Seventeen years later, Rawlings reprised his role for the show's then
Storylines
Philip is first seen when
The Martins return to Erinsborough for the funeral of
Philip and Julie's marriage continues to go from bad to worse, but they decide to go away on a Murder Mystery weekend with several neighbours. Things are still tense. The next day, neighbour Cheryl Stark (Caroline Gillmer) discovers Julie's body at the foot of the stairs. Julie lies comatose in hospital for several days and Philip keeps a bedside vigil. Julie dies and Philip is grief-stricken. He is subsequently arrested at Julie's cremation and charged with her murder. Debbie eventually reveals that she saw Julie fall from the top balcony of the hotel whilst drunk the night before her body was discovered. Philip is then exonerated and falls into a depression and begins drinking. After being arrested for drink-driving and learning that Hannah had an accident while he was drunk, Philip begins to pull himself together.
With Julie dead and Michael and Debbie gone, Philip relies on help from Helen to bring up Hannah. Philip begins a relationship with Jen Handley, which Hannah is ecstatic about. However, the relationship later ends. Shortly after Helen suffers a stroke and is hospitalised, Philip meets Ruth Wilkinson, the mother of Hannah's ex-boyfriend, Lance (Andrew Bibby) and they clash over Helen's care. Philip and Ruth kiss on Christmas Day 1996, which is witnessed by Lance who handles it badly. Eventually, all their respective children accept the couple. Philip and Ruth's relationship goes through several tests including Helen's death in 1997, Philip's proposal seconds before Ruth's other son, Ben Atkins (Brett Cousins) is injured in a racing car accident and Ruth's breast cancer scare. The couple marry, but Hannah finds it hard to adjust and she goes to stay in Paris for six months.
Philip gets a new job in Darwin, he and Ruth are keen to pack up and move, but Hannah is reluctant at first as she feels she will be leaving behind memories of various friends and family who have died in the years previous, but she agrees to leave and in 1999 they bid farewell to Erinsborough. The family settle in Darwin near the Willis family.
A few years later, in 2005, Philip and
) wedding.Reception
For his portrayal of Philip, Rawlings was nominated for "Best Supporting Actor" at the 1997
References
- ^ Herbison, Jason (21 August – 3 September 1999). "Neighbours stars axed!". Inside Soap (134): 45.
- Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 26 May 2010.
- ^ Dainty, Sophie (31 October 2017). "Neighbours brings back Philip Martin and Stingray Timmins for Halloween time-travelling series". Digital Spy. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
- ^ a b c d e "Jen makes her move!". Inside Soap (40): 12. November 1995.
- ^ Malins, Sue (14 August 1996). "Don't label me another Kylie". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
- ^ a b c "Character: Ruth Wilkinson". BBC. 13 April 2005. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
- ^ a b Miller, John (14 August 1997). "Love is never black and white". Daily Record. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
- ^ a b c "And so are we!". Inside Soap (112): 18–9. 17–20 October 1998.
- ^ Baker, Tina (November 1999). "The long kiss goodbye...". Soaplife (4): 40.
- ^ a b @neighbours (12 August 2022). "Final Scene BTS" – via Instagram.
- ^ Anderton, Joe (6 November 2023). "Neighbours confirms full list of 12 returning characters for Flashback Week". Digital Spy. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
- ^ Hibbs, James (6 November 2023). "Neighbours confirms major cast returns with teaser for flashback week". Radio Times. Immediate Media Company. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
- ^ "The 1997 Inside Soap Awards". Inside Soap (76): 48, 49. 31 May – 13 June 1997.
- ^ "Character: Philip Martin". BBC. Archived from the original on 21 May 2004. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
- ^ Sky. 2010. Archived from the originalon 23 March 2010. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
- ^ Beresford, Adam (16 March 2020). "The Definitive Ranking Of The 35 Greatest Neighbours Characters Of All Time: #35-21". HuffPost. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
- ^ Patterson, Stephen (29 July 2022). "11 easter eggs, throwbacks, questions and references you might have missed in Neighbours' huge finale". Metro. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
External links
- Philip Martin at the BBC
- Philip Martin at the Official AU Neighbours website