Hilary Robinson

For the children's author, see Hilary Robinson (author).
Hilary Robinson
Neighbours character
Portrayed by Anne Scott-Pendlebury
Duration 1987–90, 2005, 2015
First appearance 25 June 1987
Last appearance 26 February 2015
Introduced by Reg Watson (1987)
Don Battye (1988–89)
Ric Pellizzeri (2005)
Jason Herbison (2015)
Classification Former; regular (returning)
Profile
Occupation Librarian
Home Erinsborough

Hilary Robinson is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Anne Scott-Pendlebury. The character first appeared on-screen during the episode broadcast on 25 June 1987. The character departed the show on 28 February 1990 following her decision to quit in 1989. Scott-Pendlebury reprised her role in 2005 for the serial's 20th anniversary episode, and again in February 2015 ahead of the 30th anniversary. She is characterised as a bossy and meddling woman who lacks romance and seeks comfort interefering with her Neighbours' personal lives. Hilary's main storyline was mothering an illegitimate child Matt Robinson (Ashley Paske). He arrives in Erinsborough to forge a relationship with his birth mother. The character's "hard-edged approach to life" mellowed during the storyline.

Casting

Scott-Pendlebury decided to leave the series in 1989 at a time many of her fellow cast members left.[1]

In April 2005, it was announced that Scott-Pendlebury had returned to make a cameo appearance in the 20th anniversary special episode.[2]

On 28 November 2014, it was announced that Scott-Pendlebury had reprised her role as part of Neighbours' 30th anniversary celebrations.[3] Hilary returned on 25 February.[4] Neighbours had written Hilary as living back in Erinsborough. Jason Herbison told Daniel Kilkelly from Digital Spy that the move would allow Hilary to continue making appearances in the show.[5]

Development

“ Hilary Robinson was like an older Julie - on the surface, a very nice person who genuinely wanted to help others. But those very do-gooder qualities were what drove everyone up the wall. Hilary was an organiser of other people's lives. She liked to take over and manipulate, always for the other person's "good". Her intentions were the best, but the way she carried them out was often infuriating. ”

—A Neighbours.com writer on Hilary. (2002).[6]

Hilary is characterised as a "stuffy and proper" woman and not an ideal mother figure.[7] Her bossy manner and liking to organise everyones lives angers other characters. This surprises Hilary because she never sets out to offend others and is not vindictive. She is an honest person which is important to her, though others perceive it as tactlessness.[6] Hilary enjoys meddling in other people's personal lives. She does so because she lacks romance in her own life and does not have male friends. But the character does have a neat and attractive dress style but men become alarmed by her bossy tendencies. Hilary also believes that men only want sex and is wary of any attention.[6]

Hilary was introduced into the show as the cousin of Jim Robinson (Alan Dale).[8] She arrives in Ramsay Street to attend Scott Robinson (Jason Donovan) and Charlene Mitchell's (Kylie Minogue) wedding. Her first storyline saw her nearly exposing the secret that relative Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis) has married Gail Lewis (Fiona Corke) for business reasons after spying on them.[8] Dennis later recalled the storyline as one of his favourites because "it was just silly, fun stuff to play."[9]

The show later invested in a backstory for the character. They played a storyline in which she had an illegitimate child.[7] Matt Williams (Ashley Paske) was introduced into the show when he tracks Hilary down. She had become pregnant with Matt following a short romance when she was aged twenty. Hilary rejects Matt because she feels ashamed and fears a negative reaction from her Neighbours. But he decides to stay and convinces Hilary to tell the Robinson family the truth. They go onto create a strong relationship.[7] A writer from Neighbours.com assessed that "her slightly 'hard-edged' approach to life was softened slightly" through her relationship with Matt.[6]

Storylines

Hilary arrives in Ramsay Street to attend Scott and Charlene's wedding. While staying at Number 22, she discovers Paul has married Gail for business reasons and nearly exposes their secret. Hilary interferes with Jim's love life, match-making him with her friend Beverly Marshall (Lisa Armytage), whom he eventually marries. She is thrown out of the Robinson household for telling Nick Page (Mark Stevens) he is not part of the Robinson family. She moves in with Sharon Davies (Jessica Muschamp) while Edith Chubb (Irene Inescort) is away. She then begins feuding with Joe Mangel (Mark Little) and Kerry Bishop (Linda Hartley-Clark). Kerry becomes enraged by Hilary after she sets up an aviary; Kerry, an animal rights activist, releases the birds and Hilary argues with her. She attempts to save some of the birds, but falls from a ladder. Bronwyn Davies (Rachel Friend) finds her and saves her life.

Matt is revealed to be Hilary's son. She initially tries to keep it a secret until he blackmails her, telling her he will walk out on her for good, in turn making Hilary publicly reveal him as her son. Hilary begins a relationship with Kenneth Muir (Roger Boyce); they later split up when he finds out Hilary has been tax evading. Hilary decides to leave Ramsay Street permanently; this angers Paul, after Hilary withdraws her funding of the Robinson Corporation. Hilary suggests Matt come back to Adelaide with her but he decides to stay and she leaves alone. Hilary later makes a cameo appearance in Annalise Hartman's (Kimberley Davies) documentary. She credits her time living in the street as helping her rebuild her relationship with Matt.

In 2015, Hilary and her friend Janice Stedler (Helen Noonan) go to the Erinsborough community centre for their flu shots, and Hilary complains about the waiting times to Karl Kennedy (Alan Fletcher). She later apologises and explains that she is unhappy about the mayor cutting community services to help fund the Erinsborough Festival. When the mayor, Paul, turns up to talk about the festival with a journalist, Hilary interrupts to say she is a victim of his budget cuts. Paul takes Hilary back to his apartment and berates for her actions. While waiting for her bus, Hilary meets Daniel Robinson (Tim Phillipps), Scott and Charlene's son. She admits to Paul that she moved back to Erinsborough after a falling out with Matt's wife. Hilary threatens to stay at Paul's apartment for the night, so he gives her money to start up some of the community services again. Harold Bishop (Ian Smith) drives Hilary home.

Reception

Ruth Deller of entertainment website Lowculture commented on Hilary stating: "Jim's cousin Hilary was one of the street's best busybodies. She was mostly a recurring guest character in the series, although she did have a stint as a permanent resident. She was a bit of a 'fusspot' but with her heart in the right place".[10] In her book, "The Neighbours Programme Guide" author Josephine Monroe assessed that "Hilary is not anyone's ideal mother - she barely scrapes through in the wicked stepmother stakes - and Matt was disappointed when she showed no interest in getting to know him."[7] To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Neighbours, the BBC asked readers to nominate their 20 favourite obscure characters. Hilary came in fourth place and the readers called her "perpetually bitchy and irascible – got on everyone's nerves and was hugely funny".[11] They added, "Appeared sporadically in the late 80s. She wasn't based in Erinsborough but somehow got Jim and Beverly together – as if Dr Bev would ever have been a friend of such an old witch!!".[11]

In Neighbours: The Official Annual 1991, John McCready and Nicola Furlong said that Sharon Davies (Jessica Muschamp) never got any peace and tranquillity when Hilary was around. They also said Scott-Pendlebury had made a mark on Neighbours.[12] The Evening Times said Hilary "is the tactless cousin of The Robinson family who despite all her faults did bring Beverly and Jim together."[13] A writer from Inside Soap branded Hilary Ramsay Street's "strait-laced resident".[14] In 2015, a TV Week columnist praised Hilary's return and wrote "here's to you, Hilary Robinson. Yep, she's back! Older Neighbours fans will get a real kick out of seeing Hilary (Anne Scott-Pendlebury) once more. They'll remember her as the bossy, meddling, do-gooder cousin of Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis)."[15] A Coventry Evening Telegraph reporter branded Hilary "irritating".[16]

References

  1. ↑ Hopwood 1990, p.27.
  2. ↑ Green, Kris (14 April 2005). "More Neighbours returns confirmed". Digital Spy. (Hachette Filipacchi UK). Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  3. ↑ "More Neighbours icons return for 30th Anniversary". Tenplay. 28 November 2014. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
  4. ↑ "The guides". TV Soap: 40. 5–19 February 2015.
  5. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (18 March 2015). "Neighbours producer shares 30th anniversary gossip and teasers". Digital Spy. (Hearst Magazines UK). Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 "Hilary Robinson A.Scott- Pendlebury". Neighbours.com. (Network Ten). Archived from the original on 4 June 2002. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Monroe 1994, p.151.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Monroe 1994, p.104.
  9. ↑ "Neighbours celebrates 25 years on UK screens". Channel 5. 27 October 2011. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  10. ↑ Deller, Ruth (23 July 2009). "A guide to recognising your Ramsays and Robinsons". Lowculture. Retrieved 6 May 2010.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Your 20 favourite obscure Neighbours characters". BBC News (BBC). 21 October 2005. Retrieved 11 July 2010.
  12. ↑ McCready, John; Furlong, Nicola (1990). Neighbours: the official annual 1991. Hamlyn. p. 59. ISBN 978-0-600-57045-5.
  13. ↑ "Ashley's set to be new heart-throb". Evening Times. (Newsquest). 8 May 2009. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
  14. ↑ "Are you a Neighbours nut?". Inside Soap (101): 32–33. 16–29 May 1998.
  15. ↑ "Wednesday's pick: Neighbours". TV Week. February 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  16. ↑ "Hollyoaks Mon-Fri C4 Lockie Meets [...]; We love soaps". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 7 March 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.(subscription required)

External links