Madge Bishop

Madge Bishop
Neighbours character
Portrayed by Anne Charleston
Duration 1986–1992, 1996–2001, 2015
First appearance 20 January 1986
Last appearance 20 March 2015
Created by Reg Watson
Introduced by Reg Watson (1986)
Stanley Walsh (1996)
Jason Herbison (2015)
Classification Former; regular
Profile
Other names Madge Ramsay (maiden name)
Madge Mitchell (1st married name)
Occupation Secretary (1986)
Barmaid (1986, 1997)
Coffee shop owner (1990–92, 1997–2001)
Councillor (1990)
Grease Monkeys manager (2000)
Columnist (2001)

Margaret Mary "Madge" Bishop (also Ramsay and Mitchell) is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Anne Charleston. She made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 20 January 1986. Madge was the main matriarch of the Ramsay family. An earthy character, Madge arrived on Ramsay Street with her marriage in tatters, her son in prison, and her daughter a runaway teen; she rolled up her sleeves and got a job in the Waterhole to support the family as a single mum. She departed in 1992, before making a return in 1996. Madge died on 6 April 2001 from terminal pancreatic cancer. Charleston reprised the role for the show's 30th anniversary celebrations and returned on 4 March 2015.

Casting

Actress Anne Charleston was appearing in the television series Possession when she auditioned for Madge. A few days later, she received a phone call to say she had won the role.[1] Charleston shortly became one of the show's most popular actors.[2][3] Charleston quit Neighbours in 1992, but when she suffered financial difficulties following a failed lawsuit and debts, she returned in 1996.[4] Of her return, Charleston said "When Neighbours asked me back, I didn't have any option. It was the only way to get back on my feet."[4]

Development

Characterisation

Virgin Media describe Madge as being "strong, hot headed and tough". They compare her to other characters stating: "the husky voiced one was the opposite of prim and proper Harold and more than a match for anyone who crossed her path, like Mrs Mangle with whom she had a long running rivalry.[5]

Departure and death (2001)

In December 2000, it was announced that Charleston had decided to leave Neighbours for a second time and that she had already filmed her final scenes.[2] The official Neighbours website said Charleston had left the set on 24 November and details of Madge's exit storyline were being kept secret, but the door was not left open for a future return.[2] Of her departure, Charleston said "Leaving this time around is certainly very different to the last time. Although I thought the last time was also final, I am now leaving knowing that the door will be closed and I won't be going back. I'm happy with the way Madge has been written out - it's very strong and dramatic."[2]

The writers decided to kill-off the character as they realised that Madge would never intentionally leave Harold.[6] Smith commented, "because of the way the two have been portrayed, the way they feel about each other, one couldn't just walk away from the other. It would never work."[6] On-screen, Madge was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and she contracted septicaemia shortly afterward. With Harold by her side, Madge died in her bed.[7]

In 2005, Charleston revealed that she left Neighbours because she did not agree with changes the production company made to her character.[8] She said "They tried to mess around with Madge, and tried to make her into a bit of a wimp really, a bit of a victim. I didn't enjoy it because I had spent all those years building up this wonderful strong woman and they tried to take her apart, brick by brick."[8]

Return (2015)

In November 2014, it was announced that Charleston had reprised her role for Neighbours' 30th anniversary celebrations in March 2015.[9] Charleston said she "didn't even stop to think about it" when she was asked to return, adding that the anniversary is "so special" that she would not have missed it.[1] She found returning to the set strange as it had changed a lot since her departure.[1] Holly Byrnes from the Herald Sun reported that Madge was expected to appear as a ghost due to her on-screen death in 2001.[9] Actor Ryan Moloney (Toadfish Rebecchi) later confirmed that Madge would be a figment of Harold's imagination.[10] Madge returned on 4 March 2015.[11] After Harold returns for the Erinsborough Festival and Madge's grandson, Daniel's (Tim Phillipps) wedding, he began hearing her voice and smelling her perfume.[12] Harold became distracted by his thoughts of Madge and crashed his vehicle through the festival. When he came to, Madge was sitting beside him.[12] She later appeared to Harold again and told him that she would be with him for as long as he needed her.[12]

Storylines

1986–92

Madge goes to Ramsay Street and moves in with her brother Max (Francis Bell) and his two sons, Shane (Peter O'Brien) and Danny (David Clencie). Madge's best friend Helen Daniels (Anne Haddy), lives next door and Madge gets a job with Helen's grandson, Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis), at the Daniels Corporation. Paul believes that Madge would be better off at the Waterhole pub and she becomes the manager. Max leaves for Queensland and their brother Tom (Gary Files) moves in and takes over his business. Madge's daughter Charlene (Kylie Minogue) also comes to Ramsay Street to live with Madge on being dismissed by her father, Fred (Nick Waters). Charlene holds Madge responsible for the break-up of her and Fred's marriage and she hurts her mother further, when she reveals she is friends with Susan Cole (Gloria Ajenstat), the woman Fred left Madge for. Fred later turns up and Madge initially believes he has changed, but she sees he is still the same and he leaves. When Charlene starts dating Scott Robinson (Jason Donovan), Madge fears things between the couple are moving too fast. When Charlene brings home a baby, Sam, she tells Madge that it is hers. Madge is shocked, but grows fond of Sam. Susan turns up at Madge's home and it is revealed that Sam is her child. Madge is hurt, but she lets Susan and Sam stay with her because Fred walked out on them.

Madge briefly dates Ray Murphy (Norman Yemm). Her school sweetheart Harold Bishop (Ian Smith) is invited to Ramsay Street by Charlene and Shane and he and Madge realise that they still have feelings for each other. They start dating and Harold moves in with Nell Mangel (Vivean Gray). Madge's son Henry (Craig McLachlan) is released from prison and arrives in Erinsborough for a fresh start. Madge tells him to leave, but Charlene convinces her to let him stay. Harold proposes to Madge and she accepts. When their old friend Lou Carpenter (Tom Oliver) hears about the engagement, he flies to Erinsborough to try and win Madge for himself. Madge chooses Harold and they marry. Charlene also gets married to Scott and when they leaves for Brisbane, Madge lets Henry's girlfriend, Bronwyn Davies (Rachel Friend), move in. Madge and Harold win the Lottery and they take a trip around the world. In London, they meet Eddie Buckingham (Bob La Castra), who comes back to Australia with them and works in their cafe. Harold's daughter, Kerry (Linda Hartley-Clark), moves in and Madge is happy to be a grandmother to Kerry's daughter, Sky (Miranda Fryer).

After Harold suffers a heart attack, the couple decide to go on a tour of Australia. During a trip to a beach, Madge stops to speak to an artist and Harold goes missing. Madge finds his glasses on the rocks and it appeared that Harold had been washed out to sea. Madge, Helen and Harold's son in law, Joe (Mark Little), hold a memorial service for him on the beach. Madge then decides to leave for Brisbane. Madge returns to Ramsay Street a few months later, and she finds Lou living there. Lou proposes to her, but she tells him that she cannot commit to him so soon after Harold. Lou eventually persuades Madge to give their relationship a chance and when he proposes again, she accepts. She also helps him buy his own car yard. Lou later realises that he cannot replace Harold and calls off the wedding. Madge and Lou remain friends and she sells the coffee shop lease to Cathy Alessi (Elspeth Ballantyne). She then returns to Brisbane to help Charlene with her new baby, Daniel.

1996–2001

Four years later, Helen contacts Madge and tells her that Harold is alive. Harold is suffering from amnesia and Madge flies back to Erinsborough to see him. Madge tries to make him remember her and their life in Erinsborough. Madge decides to stay in Erinsborough and she moves in with Helen. Lou tries to win her back again, but gives up. Harold eventually regains his memory and he and Madge renew their wedding vows. They later move back into Ramsay Street and buy back the lease of the Coffee Shop. Madge and Harold host a French exchange student, Claire Girard (Adele Schober), for a few weeks and Helen dies. Harold and Madge become foster parents to Paul McClain (Jansen Spencer). Paul is initially hostile towards Madge, but he eventually warms to her. Madge is diagnosed with a cerebral aneurysm and undergoes brain surgery. She loses her eyesight for a while and almost sets the house on fire, when she tries to do some cooking. Her sight later returns.

Madge join the senior ladies basketball team and finds an enemy in the coach, Portia Grant (Sue Ingleton). When Portia is injured, Madge takes her place as captain in the finals. Madge and Harold become surrogate parents to Tad Reeves (Jonathon Dutton). Madge goes to Queensland for a few months to look after her new granddaughter, Madison, after Daniel is hit by a car. Madge and Lou go into business together creating a cookery website, Ozechef. Madge also writes a cookbook called Ramsay Recipes, with help from Harold and Lyn Scully (Janet Andrewartha). Libby Kennedy (Kym Valentine) asks Madge to become the Erinsborough News' new agony aunt and Madge agrees. She keeps it a secret from Harold and he is appalled when he finds out the truth as her advice to readers had angered him.

Madge collapses one night when she is locking up the Coffee Shop. She suffers abdominal pains and Karl Kennedy (Alan Fletcher) sends her to the hospital for tests. Madge learns that she has pancreatic cancer. Madge prepares to fight the cancer, but she is told that it has spread to her liver and she only has six months to live. Madge is angry and refuses to accept her fate, but she soon comes to terms with her situation and tells her family. Paul does not handle the news well as his mother died of cancer. Harold decides to take Madge to Paris and Lou arranges for them to fly in business class. Madge also starts attending Paul's football matches and listening to Tad's music. Madge develops septacemia after cutting her finger and Dee Bliss (Madeleine West) finds her collapsed on the living room floor. Madge is rushed to hospital and the doctors tell Harold that Madge only has a short time left. Madge returns home to die. Paul and Tad tell her how much she means to them and Lou confesses that he still loves her. Madge then dies in Harold's arms.

2015

In 2015, Harold returns to Erinsborough and starts thinking about Madge. He begins hearing her voice and smelling her perfume. After he crashes his vehicle through the Erinsborough Festival, he sees Madge sitting beside him. At the hospital, Madge appears to him again, telling him she has returned as she knows he needs her. They discuss Daniel's upcoming wedding, and Madge declares she wants to meet his fiancée Amber (Jenna Rosenow) to see what she thinks of her. Madge disapproves of Amber and believes Daniel should be with Imogen Willis (Ariel Kaplan), as she reminds Madge of herself. Madge encourages Harold to go on a date with Sheila Canning (Colette Mann), but he tells her that she is the only one for him. When Sky asks Harold to move to Port Douglas to be with her and her children, she mentions Madge came to her in a dream. Harold and Madge take a last look at Number 24, and Madge confirms that she will not be coming with Harold on his journey. They say a final goodbye and Madge promises that she will always watch over Harold and that they will one day be reunited.

Reception

The episode featuring Madge's death earned writer Shane Porteous (under the pen name John Hanlon) the Australian Writers' Guild award for "Best Episode in a Television Serial".[13]

In 2007, Australian newspaper the Herald Sun placed Madge's death at number two on their list of Neighbours Top Ten moments.[14] They said "One of the most memorable characters in the show was Madge Bishop, played by Anne Charleston, who now lives in the UK. After enduring so much, she and husband Harold were looking forward to a happy retirement until Madge was diagnosed with cancer, dying a few months later in the arms of Harold in 2001. It was a death that rivaled Daphne's in the sadness stakes".[14] Holy Soap also named Madge's death as one of their top Neighbours moments. They called her one of the most memorable characters in the show and said viewers were left in mourning when she died in Harold's arms.[15]

Ruth Deller of television website Lowculture gave Madge a five out of five for her contribution to Neighbours, during a feature called "A guide to recognising your Ramsays and Robinsons".[16] Deller said "The longest-serving and most loved member of the Ramsay clan was the formidable Madge".[16] Deller added that "Madge was a force to be reckoned with on the street" and she called Madge's death "one of the most emotional storylines in the show".[16] British satellite broadcasting company, Sky, named Madge one of their twenty-five most memorable Neighbours characters of all time.[17] Of Madge, Sky said "If Helen Daniels was the kindly matriarch of Ramsay Street, Madge was happy to croak her way to being the fiery, fiercely protective mother figure of her pop brood, Craig McLachlan and Kylie. Her temperament made her romance with mild-mannered Harold all the more touching, from initially choosing him over Lou, to being the right and proper owners of the coffee shop, and finally the teary scenes when she died of cancer in 2001. That being said, it's the voice that she's really remembered for, standing on a causeway and yelling Harold's name at the ocean like a demented fishwife."[17]

Virgin Media included Madge in their top ten favourite soap characters poll in 2007.[5] Orange UK describe Madge's style as being "slightly transsexual" and they stated "She was the gravel-voiced matriarch of Ramsay Street. When she wasn't busy fending off the advances of Lou Carpenter, ruling tomboy daughter Charlene with an iron grip or running the coffee shop, she was marrying Harold Bishop."[18] In 2013, Rachael Misstear from Western Mail included Madge's death in her list of the "10 tear-jerking soap opera exits". She commented "It was one of the most heartbreaking deaths in the Ozzie soap's history. When one half of the golden couple in Aussie soap-land died, it left an army of fans bereft. How would Harold Bishop go on without his beloved Madge?"[19]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Wulff, Alana (26 February – 11 March 2015). "Reunited at last". TV Week Soap Extra (16): 28–31.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Shock News! Anne Charleston Leaves Ramsay Street!". Neighbours.com.au. December 2000. Archived from the original on 15 February 2001. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
  3. ↑ Ray, Ian (10 July 2010). "My Favourite Things". The Argus. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
  4. 1 2 Cunningham, Tessa (11 May 2002). "Interview: Anne Charleston – The Neighbour who came back from hell". Daily Mirror. UK. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
  5. 1 2 "Top ten soap characters". Virginmedia.com. (Virgin Media Inc.). 25 January 2007. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  6. 1 2 Everyon, Denise (6 April 2001). "Farewell Madge". Illawarra Mercury. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  7. ↑ Misstear, Rachael (29 December 2013). "Just why we get so close to our soap families". Wales on Sunday. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  8. 1 2 "Look, behind you! A big bad Neighbour!". The Age. Australia: Fairfax Media. 4 December 2005. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  9. 1 2 Byrnes, Holly (16 November 2014). "They're back together! Iconic Neighbours couple Madge and Harold plan a ghostly return to Ramsay Street". Herald Sun. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  10. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (5 January 2015). "Neighbours star Ryan Moloney: 'Harold imagines Madge's return'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  11. ↑ @neighbours (3 March 2015). "How is Madge alive!? Tune in for Madge's return tomorrow night, 6:30 on Eleven! #neighbours #neighbours30" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  12. 1 2 3 Dainty, Sophie (7 March 2015). "Neighbours Madge return, Home and Away injury – spoiler pictures". Digital Spy. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  13. ↑ "Winners 1968–2006" (PDF). Australian Writers' Guild. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
  14. 1 2 "Your all-time favourite moment". Herald Sun. Australia: The Herald and Weekly Times. 11 July 2007. Retrieved 11 June 2010.
  15. ↑ "Neighbours: Top moments". Holy Soap. Channel 5. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  16. 1 2 3 Deller, Ruth (23 July 2009). "A guide to recognising your Ramsays and Robinsons". Lowculture. Archived from the original on 14 August 2009. Retrieved 26 May 2010.
  17. 1 2 "Neighbours: 25 Top Characters". Sky. 2010. Archived from the original on 23 March 2010. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  18. ↑ Pattison, Claudia. "Neighbours stars – where are they now?". Orange. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  19. ↑ Misstear, Rachael (29 December 2013). "10 tear-jerking soap opera exits that will have you reaching for your hanky". Western Mail. Archived from the original on 20 February 2014. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
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