1995: July 1-7

Kimberley’s death threats
Being in such a high profile role, Neighbours star Kimberley Davies (pictured) could expect to receive some form of unwanted attention, but for the young star it has taken its toll on her social life. “Most people who approach me are lovely, but you do get the odd person calling out, ‘Slut’ or stupid things like, ‘You think you’re so good’,” she told TV Week. “As a result of all this, I just don’t go out anymore. You become a homebody.” Some of the attention comes in the form of threatening letters. One correspondent threatened to kill her. “That’s just lovely,” she said. “It is a bit of a worry that someone will take the trouble to write that they want to kill you.” She attributes some of this behaviour to certain media outlets that have painted her in a negative light. “The problem with people who write stories like these is that they just don’t care how the public sees you. It really upsets me. I don’t like being made to look like an airhead.” Although she is happy being in Neighbours, Davies does have an inkling to get back to study. “It’s three years since I’ve studied. I still love acting but I’m thinking that at some point I’d like to study physiotherapy part-time.”

A matter of life or death
Actor Simon Bossell (pictured) has played an impressive array of roles in his relatively short career. Upcoming TV appearances include Singapore Sling and Cody telemovies and Police Rescue. But possibly his most controversial role will be in this week’s episode of GP, tackling the topic of euthanasia. “I’m playing a gay guy, HIV positive, whose boyfriend, Jeremy (Stuart Bennett), is more of a concern than he is,” Bossell told TV Week. “Jeremy discovers he has a lymphoma on the brain which means he doesn’t want to risk being non compos mentis ever again. He wants to finish his life.” The two-part storyline also marks the series exit of Dr Martin Dempsey (Damian Rice) from the Ross Street surgery.

John cops a TV daughter
Blue Heelers‘ John Wood gets to show a softer side to his character, Tom Croydon, with the return of Tom’s daughter Susan (Beth Buchanan). “The nicest thing about having Beth on the show for a few episodes is that it gives me, as an actor, the opportunity to relate to someone on a personal level, rather than ordering people around,” Wood told TV Week. Former Neighbours star Buchanan has been busy with theatre roles, with her only TV appearances being the few episodes of Blue Heelers last year and again now.

Real-life drama on ABC set
An explosion stunt during filming of ABC‘s Bordertown has seriously injured a production assistant. Despite crew being moved 100 metres away from the explosion site, a railway sleeper was thrown into the air and landed on an outside broadcast van, then fell and hit the assistant on the head. “Production was stopped, an ambulance called and she ended up having to have 20 stitches to her head,” an ABC spokesperson confirmed.

Briefly…

• Sale Of The Century (with Glenn Ridge and Nicky Buckley, pictured) will celebrate its upcoming 15th anniversary with a one-hour special to go to air later this month. Since its debut in 1980, the show has presented almost 3300 episodes, given away over $45 million in cash and prizes and asked over 150,000 questions.
• The Nine Network‘s planned new soap, Breakers, has been re-named Pacific Drive. No cast have been announced as yet but production is due to begin in August.
• The Seven Network has picked up the Australian television rights to Kylie Minogue‘s new US film, Bio-Dome. But it will be two to three years before it will be able to be aired because it has to clear cinema, pay TV and video releases first. This timeframe is set to be the norm for film releases to make it to free-to-air television now that pay TV is in the equation.

TV’s Top 20 (Week Commencing 11 June): 

Lawrie Masterson: The View From Here:

“Funny, farcical and often downright charming, The Vicar Of Dibley has been an instant hit for the ABC. With (Dawn) French’s old partner in crime, Jennifer Saunders, due back in AbFab towards the end of this month — also on a Monday night — things could be looking up at the start of the week for a little while to come. The bad news is that the new series of AbFab is almost definitely the last. The good news is that Dawn French, having completed The Vicar Of Dibley, is working on another series of Murder Most Horrid.”

Program Highlights (Melbourne, July 1-7):
Saturday: Beyond 2000 (5.30pm, Ten) features a solar-powered lawn mower that works automatically. Comedy-variety show Mulray (8.30pm, Seven) is back for a new series. Former Good Morning Australia and Hard Copy presenter Gordon Elliott hosts a new US talk show, screening on Ten (9.30pm).

Sunday: AFL Sunday (1pm, Seven) includes Sydney versus Essendon, live from Sydney, followed by Fremantle versus Carlton, live from Perth. In Heartbreak High (5.30pm, Ten), Southgate (Tony Martin) and Suzie (Belinda Giblin) call off their relationship. SBS begins 23 days’ coverage of the Tour de France, with a package of highlights each evening (6pm) and repeated late at night. Sunday night movies are Father Of The Bride (repeat, Seven), Assassin (Nine) and A Child Too Many (Ten).

Monday: Children’s series Ocean Girl (4.30pm, Ten) returns with new episodes. In Home And Away (7pm, Seven), Chloe (Kristy Wright) tries to apologise to Jack (Daniel Amalm) for her father’s racist behaviour. Wimbledon (10.35pm, Nine) resumes for its second week.

Tuesday: In GP (8.30pm, ABC), Martin (Damian Rice) is under investigation following allegations by Jeremy’s (Stuart Bennett) sister after his death by euthanasia.

Wednesday: Kerri-Anne Kennerley is guest host of Bert Newton‘s Good Morning Australia (9am, Ten). In Echo Point (6pm, Ten), Hopper (David Woodley) and Coral’s (Roxane Wilson) romance is nipped in the bud when an old girlfriend arrives. In Home And Away (7pm, Seven), Angel (Melissa George) and Shane (Dieter Brummer) buy their house. The special Peter Allen — The Boy From Oz (8.30pm, ABC) traces the career of the late Peter Allen, from his beginnings at a bush pub at age 11.

Thursday: In Neighbours (6.30pm, Ten), Brook (Felix Nobis) sets the challenge for Philip (Ian Rawlings) — may the best man win Jen’s (Alyce Platt) heart. In Police Rescue (8.30pm, ABC), a highly dangerous building demolition becomes the site of a tense rescue.

Friday: In Home And Away (7pm, Seven), Selina (Tempany Deckert) tells Pippa (Debra Lawrance) she thinks Shannon (Isla Fisher) is anorexic. Friday Night Football (9.30pm, Seven) includes delayed telecast of Collingwood versus North Melbourne from the MCG.

Source: TV Week (Melbourne edition), incorporating TV Times and TV Guide. 1 July 1995. Southdown Press