j.laur5

I think Pippa should just be in those two episodes in 2009 and have her come back sort out Belle while she was in rehab. She could convince Belle to see Geoff and Annie and leave instead of just having her doing Irene's weekly scenes in Diner for week. Colleen was also absent that week that Pippa was back and there was no onscreen reason for Colleen's sudden absence, she just didn’t appear. Maybe Lyn Collingwood needed to take unexpected time off as I just checked that week's episodes and Colleen was credited in a couple of episodes but she didn’t appear. So maybe Pippa/Debra was back to fill both for both Irene and Colleen while both Lynne Mcgranger and Lyn Collingwood were taking time off. Or even just bring back Sally for a couple of episodes and have Sally make a flying visit to let everyone know Cassie and the baby are fine and while she's there she helps Belle though rehab. Besides I don’t know why Geoff and Annie even needed babysitting as Geoff was almost 18 and Annie was 15 and ended up staying alone together at the Beach House for more weeks until Belle was out of rehab and Irene got back from her trip. Could they just had Miles or Colleen temporarily move in beach house if they were that desperate for them to have babysitter for Campbell siblings or Campbell Siblings stay with Miles or Tony and Rachel for bit. I remember Pippa saying when she returned I am staying for couple weeks to Campbell siblings and ended up leaving next week and look what happened as soon as Pippa left Geoff was involved in possibly life threatening situation in caravan fire and if I remember correctly Geoff had stay night in hospital and therefore Annie ended up being on her own anyway for bit and survived and just makes Pippa return feel unnecessary in many respects. I think be better to bought back Pippa bit later when Irene hit bottle again after prison and once again Pippa the one that puts Irene straight and narrow after Pippa put Irene in line first time.

No I haven’t made a topic on this before.

But when they killed off Chloe we got epic battle between Morag and Diana as those characters I always wished had screen together and was so glad when happened. When watching Diana in 90s I thought Morag would be best person to bring her down and at least Morag even at her worst wouldn’t crossed lines Diana did .

She said many times in interviews that it was her choice to leave. But I think we’re lucky that we had Judy as long as we did as she already done her first novel Eye in the Storm as early as 1988 so Judy was writing novels in her entire time she was on H&A. I think H&A did very well having 5 original characters by tenth anniversary even though Pippa was recast. Dont forget in current show we have four characters who have stayed well over 20 years and though Marilyn hasn’t consistently been on show for 20 years but if you add her three runs it’s now over 20 years.

I think if Judy had stayed interested in acting she would stayed on H&A as she knows she was getting steady income and as you said Ailsa was very easy character to play expressing when she was just in background in Diner given advice to people. Lynne also said interview that she happy playing more background role with Irene and I think Irene is also pretty easy character to play for Lynne to play when she in background more.

I know they gave Pippa an open ended exit even though we knew she left permanently, but just say if Pippa had been leaving Summer Bay for good and sold the house, would you have liked to see new foster family move in? As remaining foster kid Sam could easily have moved in with Donald, and Justine and Tiegan could have moved in with Alf & Ailsa, or Irene or even another one moving in with Donald. Rebecca and Travis just did not seem believable as foster parents as they seemed too young, at least when Natalie and Joel moved in they seemed more believable given they were older.

Debra said she wouldn’t return as regular. Fair enough given her life in Melbourne. But I do think Debra would do guest appearances if asked and she was available. I think even if Debra Lawerence had stayed on the show till this day the direction of show still would have changed.

Wherever I read Pippa Fletcher I think of Vanessa Downing as Pippa and when I read Pippa Ross I think of Debra Lawrence as Pippa . Even though Vanessa Downing never played Pippa when being Pippa Ross.

I think show writing and direction would not change much even with new producer for H&A . H&A & Neighbours have always had different style about them both in there writing of storyline’s and characters and even though they have shared similar storyline’s at times. Main reason why I have always preferred H&A over Neighbours is that writing of H&A always be more down to earth weather stories are written more realistic or more dramatic as H&A always be more straight with there writing of storyline’s and characters on H&A are written more nurturing as Neighbours characters are written more with lager then life characteristics.

Judy Nunm recently said in podcast if they often me more money to stayed they probably would bought me . But I think PTB respected Judy Nunn wanted to leave to focus on her writing books and do think PTB would always had job for Judy Nunn if wished to had stayed and Judy herself said too I don’t miss it because I know it was my choice to leave and could still be there today if I wanted too. It’s shame she didn’t stay though as I enjoyed Ailsa/Colleen/Leah all working together in diner as they work well together and all being very different woman it bought interesting dynamic between them. Like how Ailsa was one off few people that seemed to take Colleen seriously but at same time could put her in line with Colleen Interference and judgement toward others . I would like to see how Ailsa would taken to mellowed Morag .

I wonder if they might have given Alf and Ailsa a long period of being broken up if Alisa had lived and eventually reunite them like Karl and Susan.

Tane is becoming more and more of overbearing character as time going along and longer he stays more issues he seems to have. I know lot character in past have become overbearing as time goes on but Tane is just getting too much.