Ringo Brown

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ringo Brown
Neighbours character
Portrayed by Sam Clark
Duration 2007–10
First appearance 24 January 2007
Last appearance 18 October 2010
Introduced by Ric Pellizzeri
Classification Former, regular
Profile
Occupation Erinsborough High student (2007–09)
Delivery boy (2007–08)
Paramedic trainee (2009–10)
Laborer (2010)

Ringo Brown is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Sam Clark. Clark was given the role after he entered and won a Dolly magazine competition. He made his first on-screen appearance on 24 January 2007. Ringo's storylines have included his ongoing battle with an eating disorder, a bus crash, a relationship with an older woman, the collapse of a warehouse roof at an illegal dance party and his on-off relationship with Donna Freedman. In July 2010, it was announced that Clark had decided to leave Neighbours. He filmed his final scenes at the end of the month and Ringo made his last credited appearance on 18 October 2010.

Casting

In 2006, Australian teen magazine, Dolly, held a competition offering two readers a chance to win a three-month contract with Neighbours. Dolly received 7,000 entries for the competition.[1] Clark auditioned with his best friend, Tim Phillipps, who went on to play Fox, the figment of Paul Robinson's (Stefan Dennis) imagination.[2] Clark subsequently won the competition, along with Adelaide Kane (Lolly Allen), and he was signed to a three month contract to play the part of Ringo Brown.[1] Compared with other Neighbours cast members who were cast through more traditional casting processes, Clark ultimately went through a longer audition process, auditioning four times before being cast, compared to the two auditions most cast members were required to go through.[1] On his audition Clark said "I really didn't think I'd have any chance of getting anywhere. Apart from trying to do something a bit different with the script, I kept mine pretty simple".[3] Just before the episode in which Ringo made his Neighbours debut was screened, Clark's contract was extended from the three months to nine months.[1] Clark has since remained with the show for three years.[4]

In 2009, it was announced that Clark would be taking a three month break from Neighbours to focus on his music career.[5] When Clark returned to filming in February 2010, it was announced that he would perform one of his songs for departed character, Bridget Parker, played by Eloise Mignon.[6]

Character development

Characterisation

When his first episode went to air, Clark described Brown as a "a good-hearted kid, he doesn't want to hurt anyone, and he does the normal things that a 16-year-old kid does".[1] Clark later went on to explain that Ringo has "basically left home and come to live the life his brother is living", he also added that Ringo is a typical boy next door.[7] Network Ten describe Ringo as someone who had "often drawn the short straw in life".[8] He is not an academic, but he is clever at reading people.[8] Ten said "he's a good boy at heart, but he isn't averse to bending the rules to score a win. With the world at large he's cocky, cheeky and good-humoured".[8] They added that when he gets a crush on a girl, he is left nervous and is likely to say the wrong thing.[8]

Eating disorder

One of Ringo's biggest storylines saw him develop an eating disorder. Holy Soap have said that this is one of the first times in a soap opera that a male character has been at the center of such a storyline.[9] Ringo had suffered with anorexia in the past and he later had a relapse.[10] Ringo refuses to admit that he has a problem with his addiction to losing weight.[11] He almost drowns in a school swimming race due to lack of food and this leaves him feeling bad about himself.[11] Rosetta Cammeniti (Natalie Saleeba) catches Ringo taking appetite suppressants, which leaves her upset by the situation.[11] Clark said that until that moment, Ringo had concealed his problem from everyone but Pepper Steiger (Nicky Whelan).[11] He added "Even Pepper thought he had the issue under control, but this is where it all comes to a head."[11] Rosetta confronts Ringo and he is embarrassed and takes his anger out on her because he has been struggling with his problem for a long time.[11] During an interview with Last Broadcast, Clark said that he believes guys are going through the same insecurities as girls, where they want to look like their heroes, such as soccer stars.[10] He added that he was able to deal with the storyline because a close friend had suffered from anorexia.[10] Clark later said that as eating disorders are on the rise among males, he believed the storyline was "realistic."[11] On whether the storyline would carry on, Clark said "The only drawback was giving it the attention it requires. Because of the limitations of storylines, it would have been impossible to continue with this subject for too long. In reality, of course, eating disorders can continue for years."[10] During a 2008 interview with TV Week Clark named the eating disorder storyline as his favourite storyline on the show so far. He also called it the hardest storyline because he had to really focus and get involved in it.[12]

Relationship with Carmella Cammeniti

In 2007, Ringo began a brief relationship with the much older Carmella Cammeniti (Natalie Blair). They share a kiss in a swimming pool during their siblings' pre-wedding celebrations at Lassiters Hotel.[13] Ringo had fancied Carmella for a while and Carmella had just ended her relationship with Oliver Barnes (David Hoflin). Of Ringo's reasons for his crush on Carmella, Clark said "She treats him like an adult and in a completely different way to how Rachel treated him. Then there's the fact that they get along really well together".[13] When Ringo discovers that Carmella is starting to feel the same way about him, he lets her know that he senses her interest.[13] Blair said that her character gives into Ringo advances because she is in an "insecure place".[13] She also said "Ringo makes her feel wanted and appreciated – he's constantly saying wonderful things to her". Carmella thinks that it is a bit of fun, something she has not had in a while.[13] Blair added "I think she's using him to make herself feel better".[13] Clark said that the new relationship is embarrassing for Carmella and because Ringo is "so head-over-heels" for her, he does not mind when she asks him to keep quiet about it.[13] Carmella later ends the relationship with Ringo, but he cannot accept it is over. At Sky Mangel (Stephanie McIntosh)'s farewell party, Ringo declares his feelings for Carmella in front of everyone.[14] Carmella is then forced to tell him that she was never in love with him.[14] Clark said he felt sorry for his character and called the situation "the ultimate embarrassment for him".[14] Ringo then decides to leave town with his mother, Clark said "He just feels so embarrassed and as though he doesn't fit in anymore in the street".[14]

Marriage

Ringo and Donna marry as part of the 25th anniversary celebrations. Clark was delighted with the storyline stating: "It was really lovely. Their relationship has been on and off over the past couple of years, so it was a nice culmination of that. It's great to see them rock solid now.[15] The wedding was filmed on location and Clark said it was more meaningful than any studio or tiny church.[15] Clark also had the least amount of filming to contribute to the storyline, whilst others characters spent whole days filming.[15] He branded Donna as "the bride from hell" during the preparations.[15] The wedding drew comparisons to the previous wedding of Scott Robinson (Jason Donovan) and Charlene Mitchell (Kylie Minogue).[15]

Departure

In July 2010, Clark announced that he was to leave the show to concentrate on his music career.[16] He filmed his final scenes at the end of the month.[16] On his departure, Clark said it was one of the hardest decisions of his life.[17] He added "I've been working on music for a very long time now and it was getting too hard to fit the two together and do them to the level I wanted. I feel as though the decision is right but that doesn't make it any easier".[17] Clark said Ringo's departure from the show was a "decent send-off" and he hoped that Ringo would be a "character who is remembered for years to come".[17] When he was asked if the door was open for his return, Clark said it was up to the script writers.[17]

In October, it was revealed that a "much-loved character" was to die in a drink-driving accident. Ringo was one of two potential fatalities, the other being Stephanie Scully (Carla Bonner).[18] Steph is suffering from postpartum depression and after a confrontation with Libby Kennedy (Kym Valentine) she takes off on her motorbike. Steph had also been drinking the night before and she is speeding.[18] Ringo, Kate Ramsay (Ashleigh Brewer) and Declan Napier (Erin Mullally) are returning to the car after Ringo had to go out to buy cupcakes for his and Donna's wedding anniversary.[18] Ringo is in the wrong place at the wrong time, which also puts his life in danger.[18] Steph comes around the corner on her bike and Clark explained that as Kate steps on to the road, Ringo sees the bike and pushes Kate out of the way.[18] However, Clark added "[Ringo] tries to get out of the way himself – but he may not manage to."[18] Ringo later dies and Steph is charged with driving under the influence of alcohol.[19] Clark later said that his exit plot was "a lot of fun" and that he got to perform the stunt himself.[20] Of this, Clark said " [I] narrowly, in real life, just missed a motorbike coming at me! It's an exciting way to leave a show."[20] Clark added that as filming on Neighbours is shot out of sequence, this was not his last scene and he left on a "high" as his last scene was a humorous one.[20]

Storylines

Background

Ringo is the youngest in a line of siblings named after The Beatles.[8] As a child, Ringo idolized his older brother George and was distraught when George left home and changed his name to Frazer Yeats, leaving Ringo alone with their small-minded parents and elder brother Johnny.[8] Ringo resented his brother for leaving and desperately wanted to become a part of Frazer's cool, new world.[8]

2007–10

Ringo arrives in Ramsay Street to see Frazer (Ben Lawson) and is mistaken for an intruder by Zeke Kinski (Matthew Werkmeister). Frazer explains to Ringo that he came to Erinsborough to win the heart of their brother's ex-fiancee, Rosetta Cammeniti (Natalie Saleeba). Frazer allows him to stay in Ramsay Street and he later enrolls at Erinsborough High. Ringo quickly develops a crush on Zeke's sister Rachel Kinski (Caitlin Stasey) and turns to Lolly Allen (Adelaide Kane) for advice. However, he finds himself helping her out when she admits that her stepmother, Sandy, has been abusing her. When Sandy falls into the pool, Ringo rescues her and Rachel is impressed that he pulled her out from the side. Ringo then admits that he cannot swim and Rachel decides to teach him. After their first lesson, Ringo and Rachel share their first kiss and begin a relationship. Rachel asks Ringo to put their relationship on hold following the death of Stingray Timmins (Ben Nicholas), but they later reconcile.

Ringo began working for Carmella Cammeniti's (Natalie Blair) Fruit and Vegetable company. Ringo grew close to Carmella as she listened to him and treated him as an adult. Ringo helped her to overcome her addiction to anti-depressants and helped her through her relationship with Oliver Barnes (David Hoflin). After finding themselves alone one day, Carmella and Ringo almost kiss, but Carmella backs off and Ringo later breaks up with Rachel. He then asks Carmella to meet up with him, when she does not show, he goes home to confront her and they almost kiss again. The night before Frazer and Rosetta's wedding, Ringo decides to go to Lassiter's pool, Carmella joins him and they share a kiss. However, Carmella realises that it was wrong and she walks away. After the wedding, some of the residents are being driven back home in a minibus by Toadfish Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney). During the journey, Ringo moves to the back of the bus to talk to Carmella. The minibus is hit by a removal van, causing it to crash. Ringo is trapped in the wreckage and he tells Carmella that he loves her. Carmella tells him that she loves him too. Ringo is rushed to hospital where he suffers a cardiac arrest and the medical staff decide to put him into a coma. When he is brought out of the coma, he remembers what Carmella said to him and confronts her. Carmella tells him that she does not love him and she lied. Ringo then decides to go home with his mother, Prue (Penny Cook).

On his return, Ringo became very body conscious and he began to lift weights, running and not eating properly. Pepper Steiger (Nicky Whelan) realises that these are the signs of an eating disorder, but when she confronts Ringo, he denies he has a problem. Pepper eventually gets through to him and he begins to eat normally again. Just before Pepper leaves Erinsborough, she tells Daniel Fitzgerald (Brett Tucker) and Rosetta about Ringo's problem. Rosetta soon discovers that Ringo is using appetite suppressants and tells Frazer about Ringo's condition. After nearly drowning during a swim trial, Ringo is confronted by Daniel and Frazer and refuses counselling. When Ringo learns that Rosie and Frazer are expecting a baby, only to find out it was a wrongly diagnosed phantom pregnancy, the stress causes his eating disorder to flare up again. Ringo admits that he is struggling and Rachel begs him to tell Frazer. Ringo goes to the beach for a swim, but he swims out too far and struggles to get back to shore. His disappearance leaves everyone worried and a search party is organised. He is found unconscious on the beach by Bridget (Eloise Mignon) and Steve Parker (Steve Bastoni). While recovering in hospital, Ringo eventually decides to take control of his life and moves in with the Kennedy/Kinski family. During a surprise 18th birthday party for him, Ringo confesses to everyone that he has an eating disorder. On the same day as the party, Ringo said goodbye to Frazer and Rosetta who leave for Italy.

Ringo is instantly attracted to Donna Freedman (Margot Robbie) and tries to date her, but he is rebuffed. The pair eventually develop a strong relationship, despite a few hiccups along the way. When Susan finds some photographs of Donna in Zeke's draw, Ringo believes that they were having an affair and broke up with Donna. She later explains that nothing was going on between her and Zeke and Ringo apologized. Following Bridget's death, Ringo decides that he wants to become a paramedic. Karl introduces Ringo to some of his paramedic friends and Ringo enjoys learning about his potential career. Declan Napier (James Sorensen) tells Ringo that Bridget would have been proud. Ringo is offered a chance to attend a paramedic course in Sydney, but he gives it up to stay in Erinsborough with Donna. When Ringo finds out that Donna has been cheating on him with Andrew Robinson (Jordan Smith), he leaves for Sydney to attend the course. Ringo returns to Erinsborough after Rebecca Robinson (Jane Hall) calls him asking if he'll help support Declan through Bridget's birthday. He speaks to Donna and tells her that they should be friends. On his first day as a trainee paramedic, he messes up his first job. However, he later diagnoses a collapsed young woman's condition as anaphylaxis. He goes to visit her in hospital and she tells him her name is Naomi (Kate Bell). Ringo then begins a relationship with her, but he breaks it off after discovering that she stole his ID card. Naomi doesn't take the breakup well and blames Donna. She frames Donna after stealing her own hospital records. Ringo goes to Naomi's house to look for evidence and finds a shrine dedicated to him. Naomi is arrested, but she later calls Ringo and begs him to meet her. Ringo ignores the calls and Naomi is later admitted to hospital after she is hit by a car. Ringo visits her and she blames him for everything that has happened, Ringo then decides that he does not want to be a paramedic anymore. He gets a job working on a building site, but discovers that Toadie is serving a writ on his boss, Jim Dolan (Scott Parameter) over a previous job. When Donna goes to pick Ringo up from the site, she leans on some scaffolding that had been tampered with by Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis) and it falls on her. Ringo rushes to help Donna and he has to help her when she stops breathing. At the hospital, Ringo faces hostility from Donna's father Nick (Brian Vriends). Ringo tells Nick he loves Donna and she overhears. She says that she needs some time alone, but Ringo decides to propose. Donna turns him down because of her father, but she changes her mind and proposes to Ringo, who accepts. Donna persuades Ringo to return to being a paramedic. He wins a Green Card lottery to work in the USA and he and Donna bring forward their planned marriage so that she can go with him. During Ringo's bucks night, his mother, Prue, arrives to meet Donna early. On the morning of the wedding, Donna tells Ringo that his mother and her father slept together. Ringo confronts his mother, who tells him that she and his father split up months ago. When he finds out about Declan kissing Candace Carey (Sheona Urquhart), Ringo tells him that he is no longer best man. He chooses Karl instead. Ringo panics when Donna is late to the ceremony, but she turns up in a police car and they marry. Ringo leads Donna to believe that he has forgotten their anniversary, before going out with Declan and Kate to get her favourite cupcakes. As the group are walking back to the car, Stephanie Scully (Carla Bonner) appears speeding on her motorcycle. Ringo pushes Kate out of the way and he is hit by the bike. Kate calls for an ambulance and tells them that one person is not breathing. Ringo is taken to the hospital where he dies from his injuries.

In other media

In 2009, Neighbours became the first Australian series to establish Twitter accounts for its characters.[21] Ringo was one of four characters to have an account set up, with the others being Declan, Donna and Zeke. They began sending daily updates to their fans, giving advice and talking to each other.[22] The updates are "complementary to the show's on-air storylines".[21] FremantleMedia Enterprises vice-president of licensing Ben Liebmann said, "We thought it was a really great way to continue or allow the audience to engage with the Neighbours world off-screen".[21] The messages are overseen by the Fremantle digital team, which is integrated with the story department of the Neighbours production team.[21]

Reception

For his portrayal of Ringo, Clark received a nomination for Most Popular New Male Talent at the 2008 Logie Awards.[23] At the 2007 Inside Soap Awards, Clark was nominated for Best Newcomer.[24] The 2009 ceremony saw Clark nominated for Sexiest Male.[25] A writer for Holy Soap named Ringo's eating disorder storyline as his most memorable moment, saying "Ringo broke soap barriers when it was revealed he suffered from an eating disorder, with which he still battles".[9] Ringo was named one of OK! magazine's Top 10 Neighbours characters of all time by OK! Twitter users. They said "Ringo Brown (Sam Clark) – A newbie whose name was all over our Twitter page. Was given the role after winning a competition and has clearly got a lot of you smitten."[26]

The character has received a mixed response from critics. During Ringo's AFL storyline, critic Larissa Dubecki of Wa Today described Ringo as a "regular nice teenage boy" who was transforming into a "footy hero dickhead".[27] Ringo has been negatively received by Ruth Deller of television website Lowculture who called him "a bit of a dick who doesn't have any purpose whatsoever on the show right now".[28] Fergus Shiel and Michael O'Reilly from The Age stated "Poor Ringo Brown. The boy's a nong but don't judge him too harshly. He's been through a hell of a lot. Named after a Beatle. Off his grub for much of his youth. Perennially unlucky in love, in traffic and beneath falling masonry on the dance floor. Now Donna's openly likening him to a bulldog clip and Zeke's sweetness has become her weakness."[29]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Nicholson, Sarah (6 February 2007). "What Girls Want". Courier Mail (News Limited). Retrieved 3 February 2010. 
  2. ↑ "All Hail The King And Queen". Neighbours.com. Network Ten. 6 March 2008. Retrieved 24 June 2010. 
  3. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (20 April 2010). "'Neighbours' actor gives star hunt tips". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi (UK) Ltd. Retrieved 17 June 2010. 
  4. ↑ Horan, Ocean (14 October 2010). "We talk to Neighbours newbie Poppy and departing favourite Ringo". This Morning. ITV. Retrieved 17 October 2010. 
  5. ↑ "Sam to take a break". Holy Soap. Channel Five. 4 September 2009. Retrieved 12 March 2010. 
  6. ↑ "Second Sam Clark song on Neighbours". Metro (Associated Newspapers). 11 February 2010. Retrieved 12 March 2010. 
  7. ↑ "Moving in!". TV Week. Ninemsn. Archived from the original on 8 June 2010. Retrieved 8 June 2010. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 "Ringo Brown Bio". Neighbours.com. Network Ten. Retrieved 12 March 2010. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Cast – Ringo Brown". Holy Soap. Channel Five. Retrieved 4 October 2010. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 "Sam Clark (Ringo Brown) Interview". LastBroadcast. Retrieved 4 October 2010. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 Brygel, Jackie; Stewart, Carolyn (27 October – 2 November 2007). "Losing Everything". TV Week (ACP Magazines): 15. 
  12. ↑ "You Asked...Sam Clark". TV Week (ACP Magazines): 102. 23–29 August 2008. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 13.6 Brygel, Jackie (14–20 July 2007). "Rebound Romance?". TV Week (ACP Magazines): 14. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 Brygel, Jackie (4–10 August 2007). "Ringo Rejected". TV Week (ACP Magazines): 10–11. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 Ellis, Sarah (2010). Inside Soap Yearbook 2011. Hachette Filipacchi (UK) Ltd. p. 67. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Kilkelly, Daniel (23 July 2010). "Sam Clark to leave 'Neighbours'". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi (UK) Ltd. Retrieved 23 July 2010. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 "Sam: UK fans are so loud!". Holy Soap. Channel Five. 23 September 2010. Retrieved 4 October 2010. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 18.5 Brygel, Jackie (25 September – 1 October 2010). "Who will die?". TV Week (ACP Magazines): 12–13. 
  19. ↑ Brygel, Jackie (16–22 October 2010). "Ringo dies!". TV Week (ACP Magazines): 18. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 Allen, Chris; Kilkelly, Daniel (23 November 2010). "Exclusive: Sam Clark praises shock 'Neighbours' exit". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi (UK) Ltd. Retrieved 23 November 2010. 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 Bodey, Michael (7 September 2009). "Neighbours takes roles to twitter". The Australian (News Limited). Retrieved 19 April 2010. 
  22. ↑ "A real Tweet for Neighbours fans". Holy Soap. Channel Five. 2 September 2009. Retrieved 4 September 2010. 
  23. ↑ "50th Annual TV Week Logie Awards winners". TV Week. Retrieved 12 March 2010. 
  24. ↑ Green, Kris (3 July 2007). "Inside Soap Awards 2007: The Nominations". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 11 June 2010. 
  25. ↑ "Inside Soap Awards 2009: Nominees". Sky. BSkyB. Retrieved 29 June 2010. 
  26. ↑ "Top 10 Neighbours characters (prepare for a trip down memory lane)". OK!. Northern & Shell. 27 August 2010. Retrieved 23 January 2011. 
  27. ↑ Dubecki, Larissa (24 March 2009). "Tuesday, March 24 – Critic's view". WAtoday (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 3 February 2010. 
  28. ↑ Deller, Ruth (17 February 2010). "Who's that boy?". Lowculture. Retrieved 29 May 2010. 
  29. ↑ Shiel, Fergus; O'Reilly, Michael (5 March 2009). "Friday, March 6 – Critic's view". The Age. Retrieved 7 February 2014. 

External links

Characters
Crew members
Families
Locations
Storylines
Episodes
Music
Related articles
Neighbours characters
 
Sam Clark
Studio albums
Singles
Related articles
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.