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Interactive > Missing a Matriarch? by Barry and Rhys

We take a look back at the campaign to save Rosie Hoyland from the axe, the extent to which the audience have any influence over decision making on the show, and explore the massive gap left in the show since Helen Daniels passed away. Bringing all this together, we discuss why Ramsay Street is Missing a Matriarch...

As Helen Daniels, or 'Gran' as she was affectionately known, Anne Haddy portrayed one of the most memorable characters in Neighbours' history from the very first episode, through to 1997. Helen's appeal filtered through generations of viewers who could all, in one way or another, relate to her. It's fair to say that no female character of a similar age will ever reach the iconic status that Helen has, but that's certainly no reason for excluding the same virtues from another female character of a similar age. Reg Watson famously created Helen to 'dispel the myth that all mothers-in-law are battleaxes'. He succeeded, and for over a decade Helen ruled No.26 and its inhabitants, and to a degree the entire programme. Contrasting with Helen was the acidic Mrs Mangel, dithery Eileen and 'salt of the earth' Madge. These women played a regular and staple part of the 'Neighbours mix' - but, above all, they truly fitted into the matriarchal role needed in a serial drama like Neighbours.

The definition of a matriarch is best summed up by the following interpretation: 1. A woman who rules a family, clan, or tribe. 2. A woman who dominates a group or an activity. 3. A highly respected woman who is a mother.

Since the 1980s and days of the original Neighbours cast, many women have gone on to fill many of the roles required of a matriarch in the series, however, none of them - with the exception of Dorothy Burke played by Maggie Dence, have been women over the age of 45. Put quite simply, any so called 'mature' women of the latter half of Neighbours' existence have not filled in any way the criteria of a matriarch.

In 2001, much excitement spread through fans when it was rumoured that Maggie Millar, renowned performer in Australian television, theatre and film, would be joining the cast to play a love interest for Lou and Harold. As little else was known about the character Maggie would play it was assumed that she would be implemented to fill the recently vacant 'Madge' role. Although Madge had been altered considerably during her 1996-2001 stint on the show (changes which ultimately forced the resignation of Anne Charleston) she was still fondly remembered in her original guise by older fans of the programme as being feisty, protective, loud and opinionated. However, Rosie Hoyland's entrance proved pleasantly surprising for very different reasons. Firstly, Rosie was a vicar, the first time such a vocation had been written permanently into the show via a character. Immediately, images of an upstanding figure of the community presented themselves, not least because of the taboo that still surrounds female vicars to this day. Secondly, Rosie was not a clone of Madge. Her strength was conveyed via her intellect, broad knowledge, kindness and sincerity. No stuffy blouses and skirts conveying restraint and timidity, nor loud, daggy outfits designed to mock her. Rosie power dressed in the truest sense of the phrase. From these initial observations, then, surely Rosie had the makings of a matriarchal figure in Ramsay Street? Her scenes with other key characters displayed all the characteristics that had made Helen so popular years ago, whilst being thrown straight into the midst of a love triangle with Harold and Lou showed just how much life she could bring to two characters who had become rather staid.

When Valda Sheergold appeared on the scene later in 2002, it was pleasing to see yet another veteran actress joining the cast. Valda provoked division among fans because she was loud, brash, insulting and a laugh-a-minute. Some criticised Neighbours for trying to appeal too much to the younger viewers - the suggestion being that Neighbours had taken it upon itself to assume younger audiences would only take to an older character if he or she was made the butt of the jokes. More outrage soon followed when it was announced that Maggie Millar's contract would not be renewed, despite original claims to the contrary. While at first the character of Valda could be endured by the many who found her irritating because of the calming and sensible influence of Rosie, it soon became clear that Valda was the sort of the character intended to satisfy the 'grandparents' in modern-day Neighbours. Quite why television, in particular, feels the need to dictate what younger viewers want from a show is a mystery. Though a comparatively old programme, Neighbours is only nineteen years of age, meaning that many of its present day fans now reaching their early and mid-twenties are old enough to remember the original Neighbours episodes from the 80s, but are still of that age considered most important to TV producers and schedulers in terms of ratings. Most Neighbours fans will happily impart their fondness of 'classic Neighbours' and its characters, and by far the most mentioned characters are Mrs Mangel, Harold and Madge and Helen. Even Scott and Charlene are often overlooked in favour of these veteran residents of the street. It would seem that these older female characters are the ones most fondly remembered as being representative of Neighbours.

All this evidence makes writing out Rosie seem all the more bizarre. She was instantly popular with fans of all ages - a fact justified by the huge response generated by her axing. Emails and letters were sent in their hundreds with a very large percentage coming from young people. Maggie Millar's work in all media receives acclaim all over the world, which makes her removal from a cast ensemble made up of a large proportion of unknown teenagers incomprehensible. Despite the largest campaign to save a character in Neighbours (rumoured to be the biggest of its kind for any TV show) Rosie was sent to Papua New Guinea for 'three months' to help with cyclone relief. Over a year later and there's still no sign of Rosie being written back in.

In November 2003, shortly after Rosie had left, fans were surprised to see her daughter Izzy turn up in Ramsay Street to visit Max and the kids. Her appearance was even more peculiar since Rosie had never once acknowledged her existence in the year she was in the show. Despite little being known about Izzy when she arrived, she has become one of the most exciting additions to the cast in a long time. Natalie Bassingthwaighte is perfect in the role as a troublemaker and has already become popular with fans.

Izzy's appearance in the show makes a return for Rosie even more plausible, as it has continually been stated that mother and daughter do not see eye to eye. As Izzy continues to wreak havoc in Erinsborough it would be a joy to see some new scenes with Maggie back in her role as Rosie. Similarly, the Reverend's relationship with Harold and Lou was left far from resolved, and fans have yet to find out anymore about the history of the character.

Essentially, Rosie has been the only character in recent years to come close to becoming a new 'matriarch', reflecting the strength and importance of such a character Anne Haddy had spent years creating within the show. A matriarch in a soap opera is without question an invaluable contribution, especially in Neighbours when only two senior males represent the over fifty age group in the full time cast.

While the support for Rosie's return to Neighbours has never dwindled, it has proven somewhat difficult to make the producers aware how much support there is for a character of the show. The campaign to 'Rescue Rosie' was the only way in which the fans were collectively able to voice their disapproval of the axing of such a popular character. For so many people to respond to a character leaving, we felt it was definitely something worth fighting for.

Almost one thousand Neighbours fans from all over the world joined the campaign - with excellent publicity from BBC PureSoap, BBC Newsround, Inside Soap magazine and the highlight being the international BBC News webpage. Support for Rosie came from fans of all ages, particuarly younger generations who were enjoying the character, once again highlighting the fact that younger viewers are not always interested in storylines featuring characters who are a similar age to themselves. One obvious explanation for this popularity with the young is that the majority of younger fans will not be of the generation who recall Helen, Madge, Mrs Mangel et al in their prime, and so to see a character filling a role long left vacant would naturally generate interest when compared to yet another 'generic teenager'.

Highlighting the varied age groups and genders who took to the character of Rosie, and were shocked by her axing, are the following excerpts from correspondence generated by the campaign:

"I am shocked by the Neighbours producers in their decision to axe Rosie from the show. My grandparents now watch the show because of Maggie. Rosie fits nicely into Ramsay Street along with the all the others. I hope Maggie will stay. All the best.
Yours Faithfully, Michael Woods"