Scott Robinson (Neighbours)


Scott James Robinson is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, originally played by Darius Perkins, and then later by Jason Donovan. He made his debut screen appearance during the show's first episode broadcast on 18 March 1985. He appeared in 559 episodes.

Casting

played the role of Scott from the show's first episode. Producers had concerns over Perkins' reliability and after a series of rows they decided to recast the role of Scott when production moved to Network Ten. Jason Donovan then 19, was given the role following his graduation from school. He had initially been offered the role of Danny Ramsay, but he turned it down. Scott became the serial's new "pin-up" character and Donovan's image and popularity in the role set the high standard for casting directors, which they felt they had to meet each time they were introducing a "stud" type character.
On 7 March 1989, a reporter for The Canberra Times confirmed that Donovan would leave Neighbours the following month to pursue a singing career. Donovan signed a new contract with Network Ten that allowed him to leave the show earlier than his original contract stipulated. Donovan stated, "They have been great and afforded me many opportunities. My contract allows me to return to Neighbours, so I'm still going to leave my options open." The network's publicity director, Brian Walsh, commented that Neighbours would continue to be a success after Donovan's departure and thanked him for being part of the cast.
In 2009, Donovan revealed that he had been asked to return to the show for the 25th anniversary celebrations. He could not return due to work commitments, but he said that he was "very proud" of having been in Neighbours. Donovan was invited to return for the 30th anniversary celebrations in 2015, but he declined the offer, adding "it's just not something I want to do". However, he agreed to take part in the documentary special Neighbours 30th: The Stars Reunite, which aired in Australia and the UK in March 2015.

Storylines

Scott lives on Ramsay Street with his father Jim, grandmother Helen Daniels and his siblings Paul, Julie and Lucy. Scott's mother died giving birth to Lucy. Scott becomes close friends with his neighbour Danny Ramsay. Scott falls for his classmate Kim Taylor but her mother, teacher Marcia disapproves. When Danny and Eddie Sherwin doctor a recorded conversation between Scott and Kim to make sound more sexual than it really it is, Marcia forces Eddie to play the tape in class which humiliates Kim. Despite Scott protesting his innocence, The Taylors forbid him to see Kim and threaten to call the police. Scott and Kim then run away and hide out in an abandoned monastery. Scott returns home but Kim runs away. Scott later tracks down Kim who is pregnant and helps her reconcile with Marcia.
Scott and Danny witness their neighbour Carol Brown being mugged and try to go to her aid but she accuse them of attacking her prompting the boys to flee and hide out on Mrs. Forbes' farm where they work for her tending to her land. They eventually return home. Scott and Danny then squabble over Wendy Gibson but eventually patch up their friendship. When Scott is late back from a school trip, Jim and Helen worry and further grief comes when the police find a body of a 16-year-old boy in the river, with Scott's wallet. Jim identifies the body and is relieved it is not Scott. Scott phones from a country hospital and explains he ran away from the school trip after being accused of rape and tried to hitch a lift but was mugged in the process. Soon after, Scott notices someone breaking into Number 24, the house next door to his. On challenging the intruder, he receives a punch for his troubles. Madge Mitchell arrives on the scene to discover it is her daughter Charlene, who has not seen Scott since they were children.
Scott befriends Mike Young. Scott and Charlene begin dating and go through teething problems. Scott proposes and Charlene accepts. Jim and Madge are against the engagement. Helen acts as a mediator and points out that Jim and Anne were roughly Scott and Charlene's age when they got married. Scott and Charlene marry and soon move into Number 24 together. Their marriage's first test comes when Jane Harris starts to help Scott with his HSC retakes, they become close and kiss. Charlene wants nothing to do with either of them upon finding out. Jane eventually convinces Charlene to give Scott another chance. Scott and Charlene's marriage undergoes another test when Steve Fisher begins giving Charlene driving lessons and attempts to make advances on her, but Scott and Charlene reconcile towards their first anniversary.
Charlene is offered a mechanic apprenticeship in Brisbane and is forced to make the difficult choice of leaving Erinsborough and the couple share an emotional farewell. Scott stays on at Number 24, but visits her frequently. Scott fights off the affections of Sylvie Latham and Poppy Skourous, before moving to Brisbane for good. Scott and Charlene later have two children, a son Daniel and daughter named Madison.

Reception

For his portrayal of Scott, Donovan won Most Popular New Talent at the 1987 Logie Awards. A year later, he won the Logie for Most Popular Actor and was nominated for a Gold Logie for "Most Popular Personality". Donovan was again nominated for the Gold Logie for Most Popular Personality in his final year on Neighbours in 1989.
Scott and Charlene's wedding was seen by 20 million viewers in the United Kingdom and was voted the "Most Romantic TV Nuptials of all Time". The wedding episode made the cover of TIME magazine Australia and Minogue and Donovan's promotional appearance at the Westfield Parramatta shopping centre caused a stampede among 4000 people. In October 2006, Australia Post brought out five stamps celebrating fifty years of television. Network Ten's stamp featured both Minogue and Donovan as Charlene and Scott. According to Andrew Mercado in his book " Super Aussie Soaps", Scott's romance with Charlene became hugely popular with Neighbours viewers in both the United Kingdom and Australia, helping the show to gain high ratings after an initial rocky start.
Ruth Deller of television website Lowculture gave Scott a 3.5 out of 5 for his contribution to Neighbours, during a feature called "A guide to recognising your Ramsays and Robinsons". Deller said "One of the many Robinsons to undergo a hair and face transplant, Scott soon transformed from a dull brunette into Jason Donovan. An all-round nice guy, Scott was part of the first iconic Neighbours teen gangs, with Jane, Mike and Charlene. She added that his relationship with Charlene was a "Romeo and Juliet style romance".
In 2010, to celebrate Neighbours' 25th anniversary, satellite broadcasting company, Sky, profiled 25 most memorable characters from Neighbours. Scott is in the list and describing him they state: "Scott Robinson is really only remembered these days for his teen romance, but his track record on the show could perhaps be better summarised in music. Early on, Scott formed a band with Mike 'Guy Pearce' Young. He eventually married Kylie and made Angry Anderson the soundtrack of people's memories of the eighties forever more." British tabloid The Daily Mirror said Scott was "the boy next door". In her book Soap opera, Dorothy Hobson praised Scott's on-screen relationship with Charlene, branding them positive, immense images for young people. In 2011, Scott's wedding to Charlene was placed at number three in Channel 5's "Greatest TV Weddings" programme. Sue Heath from The Northern Echo said that Scott's mullet "remains one of the great TV crimes of the century".