| Josh West | |||||||
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| Home and Away character | |||||||
| Portrayed by | Daniel Collopy | ||||||
| Duration | 2001-03, 2005-06 | ||||||
| First appearance | 21 November 2001 | ||||||
| Last appearance | 16 May 2006 | ||||||
| Classification | Former; regular | ||||||
| Profile | |||||||
| Date of death | 2006 | ||||||
| Occupation | Lifeguard (2001-03) Mayor (2005-06) |
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Joshua "Josh" West is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Daniel Collopy. He debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 21 November 2001. The character departed in 2003, but made several reappearances later that year. He returned in a semi-regular stint in late 2005, which lasted until his death in 2006.
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In September 2001, actor Daniel Collopy successfully auditioned for the role of Josh and moved from Melbourne to Sydney to begin filming. Josh was introduced as the serial new trainee lifeguard and a potential new love interest for established character Dani Sutherland (Tammin Sursok).[1][2] Josh was Collopy's first regular television role and he felt it was a "fantastic opportunity" to work on Home and Away.[3]
Network Seven describe Josh as being part of a "high-society family" and initially being "about as laid-back as they come". Josh likes "learning and broadening his mind" and has a passion for surfing. Josh's "tall, dark and handsome" appearance has made him popular with the female characters. The also said that Summer Bay lifestyle suited Josh in his early appearances.[4] Collopy said there were no similarities between himself and Josh.[1]
Collopy was written out of the serial when Josh is murdered in a whodunit storyline. It was later revealed that Barry Hyde (Ivar Kants) shot Josh by accident.[5]
Josh arrives in Summer Bay in late 2001 while on Schoolies and begins hanging around with Kirsty Sutherland (Christie Hayes) who lets him and his friends come back to her home at the Summer Bay caravan park and have a party while her parents Rhys (Michael Beckley) and Shelley (Paula Forrest) are away. They wreck the house and scramble to put it back in order before Rhys and Shelley return. When Rhys sits on a chair and falls through, he throws Josh and his friends out.
Josh then sets his sights on Kirsty's sister, Dani who rejects his advances at first but they later began dating. Josh quickly finds employment as a lifeguard at the Surf Club, taking over from Vinnie Patterson (Ryan Kwanten), who has recently taken paternity leave. This arrangement becomes permanent when Vinnie is sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for fraud after being framed by his father, Ralph (Alan Cinis). After Josh receives his HSC results, he isn't phased despite scoringly high. He reluctantly agrees to attend University in the City as per his wealthy parents' wishes but decides to return to the Bay and continue being a lifeguard. Josh settles into the bay and begins befriending several local teens Brodie Hanson (Susie Rugg), Noah Lawson (Beau Brady) and Hayley Smith (Bec Hewitt).
When Josh wants to take his relationship with Dani a step further, she is reluctant as she was raped the previous year by Kane Phillips (Sam Atwell). Kane's presence in the bay angers Josh, which puts a strain on their relationship. Josh also becomes privy to the fact that Kane is dating Kirsty. After a difficult time, Josh and Dani finally become intimate on the beach one night. Dani later moves in with Josh, Noah and Hayley to an apartment the four dub "The Palace". Josh's mother, Jackie (Julieanne Newbould), arrives in the bay and she pens an article that could potentially ruin local doctor and counsellor Flynn Saunders (Martin Dingle-Wall). Josh manages to talk her out of writing the article, and Flynn's reputation is saved. Josh faces his biggest test as a lifeguard when local doctor Charlotte Adams (Stephanie Jacobsen) goes for a final swim before leaving to work in an orphanage in Vietnam. Charlotte nearly drowns but is resuscitated by Josh. Unfortunately, Charlotte in hospital dies of complications a week later and Josh blames himself and decides to change career track. When Josh shares a kiss with Hayley, shortly after his breakup with Dani. Noah is incensed with rage and Josh moves out of the palace and into the flat above the Diner. Josh and Hayley date for a while but Alf Stewart (Ray Meagher), who is suffering a brain tumour, sees visions of an unhappy future for the couple. Hayley eventually breaks up with Josh.
After being one of many suspects in the frame for the murder of Angie Russell (Laurie Foell), Josh discovers his father, Greg (Dane Carson) is ill and leaves to take over his business. Later in the year Josh makes several sporadic returns, including making plans to destroy and develop the drop in centre, destroying Colleen Smart's (Lyn Collingwood) mobile home, firing Jesse McGregor (Ben Unwin) from the Surf Club Gym. During one of Josh's visits, he learns Dani is to stand trial after running Kane down with her car and Josh is later subpeonaed to be a witness for the prosecution. He gives evidence against Dani and leans on Kirsty to sell her story about her romance with Kane to him so he can have it published in Jackie's paper. He causes further irritation when he tries to manipulate Tasha Andrews (Isabel Lucas). Eventually, Josh leaves town and nothing is heard of him for two years.
In 2005, Josh returns to town and runs for Mayor which doesn't sit well with Alf, who is also running. Josh later wins the election and proceeds with project 56, with which he enlisted the help of Amanda Vale (Holly Brisley). Alf's sister, Morag Bellingham (Cornelia Frances) is keen bring Josh down and a battle soon ensues. Josh continues to do illegal dealings including taking backhanders from local cult The Believers. In early 2006, Josh is shot dead in his office and numerous Summer Bay residents are under suspicion as a lot of people had axes to grind with him. Robbie Hunter (Jason Smith) initially confesses when Tasha, now his wife is facing jail. However, Robbie's confession is dismissed. It later is revealed to viewers via confession from Barry to Morag, and shown in flashbacks, that he had killed Josh in a struggle after Josh had found an incriminating file belonging to Barry, which contained information of his wife's murder. Josh reached for the gun to deter him, but ended up getting shot in the struggle.
For his portrayal of Josh, Collopy was nominated for the "Most Popular New Male Talent" Logie Award in 2003.[6] Micheal Idato of the said that Josh was the "new hottie" in Summer Bay and credited Josh's on-screen romance as transforming Collopy into the "No 1. TV Week coverboy".[7] Channel 5 said that Josh was a "good boy gone bad" and was not short of enemies. They opined that using Amanda to scam Graham was a memorable storyline and said that his murder was karma.[8]
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