Ned Parker

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Ned Parker is a fictional character in the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Daniel O'Connor. He first appeared in 2005, though is set to leave in 2008.

[edit] History

Ned is Stuart Parker's (Blair McDonough) younger brother. He arrived in Erinsborough to help Stuart through his ordeal with Sindi (Marisa Warrington) - despite their parents' wishes, as it was lambing season on their farm in Oakey. He won the Mr. Erinsborough competition run by Toadie's (Ryan Moloney) bikini shop, "Bounce". From the start he was a mysterious character, often disappearing for no apparent reason. Toadie mistakingly assumed he was gay - his attempts to discover if this was the case led Ned to mistakingly assume Toadie was gay. Ned's ambiguous behavior actually stemmed from his secret passion for acting and musical theatre, which he believed his family would never understand.

Ned eventually became the lead in Gino Esposito's (Shane McNamara) play, overcoming both his shame and his difficulties in reading. His brief fling with fellow castmember Elle Robinson (Pippa Black) ended badly, almost driving both to leave the street. Izzy Hoyland (Natalie Bassingthwaighte) averted this by seducing Ned, making Elle jealous and thus giving both a reason to stay.

Ned grew close to Sister Mary Catherine, aka Carmella Cammeniti (Natalie Blair). When he heard her sing he encouraged her to make a recording, she did it to make him happy but later insisted on destroying the tape, uncomfortable with the idea of her singing being broadcast. When Ned started to become nosy with Carmella's business, she ended the relationship. Ned then grew close to Katya Kinski (Dichen Lachman), and a jealous Carmella tried to win him back with increasingly sexual advances - as did the elderly Loris Timmins (Kate Fitzpatrick), who wanted Ned as her "toyboy".

Carmella soon realised her feelings for Ned were causing her to compromise her vows, while Loris found a love interest closer to her own age in Harold Bishop (Ian Smith). His relationship with Katya ended when she was blackmailed into several crimes, even assaulting Ned when he caught her stealing a car. Around this time, Ned was dragged into the conflict between his housemates Pepper Steiger (Nicky Whelan), Frazer Yeats (Ben Lawson), Rosetta Cammeniti (Natalie Saleeba) and Will Griggs (Christian Clark), who each demanded that someone must be evicted. Attempting to be fair, Ned put the situation to a vote, only to receive the majority vote himself. Now homeless and alone, Ned was taken in by Steph Hoyland (Carla Bonner) in exchange for babysitting her infant son. Ned's run of bad luck continued as he was lured into gambling by Frazer, and Paul (Stefan Dennis) then lured Ned into a life of crime to repay his debts. Ned admitted to Elle that he hated the person he had become, and the two contemplated running away together. Ned then ran away but left Elle with evidence to help take revenge on Paul Robinson.

Ned later returned to Erinsborough. In June 2007, Ned's ex-girlfriend Kirsten (Nikola Dubois) appeared at his doorstep and informed him that he has an eight-year-old son, Mickey (Fletcher O'Leary). Kirsten left Mickey with Ned, who has enlisted Janae Timmins's (Eliza Taylor-Cotter) help to raise the child. Mickey was the result of a high school romance when Ned was 15. It was evident that Ned and Janae are developing a mutual attraction. When they both finally revealed their feelings for each they decided to move into Janae's house with Mickey.

In the past couple of months Ned had been fighting for main custody of Mickey against Kirsten as Kirsten had returned wanting Mickey back. In the end Ned won, as Mickey decided he would rather live with Ned than Kirsten.

On 8th February 2008, after the breakdown of his and Janae's relationship, Janae leaves Ramsay Street to go and live with her mother in Cairns.

Recently, Ned, Steve, Dan and Steph decided to go to an SES training exercise. Steph and Dan accidentally slipped and got stuck down one of the mines. Ned and Steve were able to help them and try to help them but got stuck on the other side, leaving Ned unconscious and Steve panicking because of he claustrophobia. Once Steph and Dan were rescued, Dan went to help them, even though he was still seriously injured. They were rescued and Ned and Dan had to stay in hospital because they were injured. While Ned was in hospital Steve told Ned the truth about his father. Ned was stunned by the revelation that his father had once been a vicious drunk and a cheating husband.

Ned has now recovered and has decided to go on a holiday with Kirstin and Mickey. Ned has also decided to use this holiday to take Mickey to meet his grandparents. When Ned returns from his holiday, he unexpectedly brings he and Steve's father Jim Parker (Roger Oakley)

[edit] Family Tree

• James "Jim" Parker (father)
• Steven Parker (brother), married to Miranda West
  • Riley Parker (nephew)
  • Bridget Parker (niece)
• Stuart Parker (brother), married to Sindi Watts
• Ned Parker had a relationship with Kirsten Gannon
  • Mickey Gannon (son, with Kirsten)
• Raylene Manson (aunt)

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